Word count: 388 Reading time: 3 min.

 

One of the perks of living organized is not losing stuff—at least not often.

 

Over the past two decades, I can recall misplacing only three valuable items. When I was 16, I lost my parent's promise ring. I was wearing it while we were in a rental car, and I took it off, but it slipped in between the seats. In our rush to catch a flight (which we missed), I couldn't retrieve it. Years later, I lost my favorite necklace, a gift from my husband. I wore it almost daily, even at our wedding. Despite searching everywhere when we moved from our first home, I couldn't find it. And just last week, I lost our son's Apple Watch. I usually keep it charging in our office, but we had overnight guests, and I moved it to avoid misplacing it. Ironic, right?  

 

"Give yourself grace." This is a phrase I hear often and even share with others. I trust the concept, but sometimes, it's challenging to apply it to myself. Although I don't lose things often, when I do, I'm incredibly hard on myself. After three days of ruminating, I realized why giving ourselves grace is so essential:

1. You're human. Granting yourself grace is a humble act that acknowledges your imperfection and allows room for error.

 

2. Avoid guilt. Grace acts as a powerful defense against unhealthy emotions like worry and guilt. A mentor once told me that guilt is like glue, and that analogy stuck with me.

 

3. You can change. While losing things is inevitable, I've identified a theme with my lost items—jewelry. So, I've created a designated "vacation home" for when the our jewelry needs to travel. Having a plan makes me feel better.