Sometimes the smallest misplaced thing can stir up the biggest reminder. A set of keys on a walking path, a phone left behind in a restroom, or eight tiny screws tucked away in a "safe place" can all feel like inconveniences at first. But I've been thinking about how these moments also invite us to slow down, pay attention, and notice what life may be trying to show us.

After my recent move, I found myself searching for the antique screws that hold my grandparents' dining room table together. I knew I had put them somewhere special, but of course, that special place escaped me when I needed them most. What started as a frustrating search turned into motivation, resilience, prayer, laughter, and a deeper commitment to organize my life with more intention. In today's Wise Walk, we're looking at what we can gain from what feels misplaced and how we can rewrite the story from loss into growth.

• When you misplace an item in your life, can you chuckle, reframe the narrative, and consider how it might benefit you?
• How might misplacing an item actually be good for you on some level?
• What surfaces for you when you think about misplaced items?
• When you find someone else's misplaced item, how are you able to support that stranger, unknown person, or someone in your life?
• How can we heighten our awareness of the ways misplaced items might serve a greater purpose for us and for others?
• As you take yourself on a Wise Walk and reflect on the misplaced items in your life, what stands out as a hidden gift in the experience?
• How has a misplaced item motivated you or improved your organization for the future?
• How has misplacing something helped you slow down and recognize that you may be tired or carrying too many things at once?
• How can you slow down so the pattern of misplacing things does not repeat itself?
• If you misplace something today or in the future, how can you see it as a lesson, a gift, or an opportunity for growth?
• How can you rewrite the narrative and focus on what you gained, not just what you lost?
• What in your life feels like you gained more than you lost, even though you went through a temporary struggle?
• When you found something you thought was lost, did you feel relieved, giddy, or reassured that it was not gone forever?
• How can you give yourself credit for being resilient, staying motivated, and learning from the experience?
• How can you improve your organization or habits so that the same type of situation does not happen again?

We expand when we misplace things, and we have to rise to the occasion. I would love to hear what you took away from today's episode. I would love to hear what is coming in and out of your life and how you are growing more resilient.

Thank you so much for listening.Thank you for being such a support to this community, the Striders community. I am grateful for each and every Thursday and going on these Wise Walks with you.

In this episode:

• [02:44] I've recently moved, and there are so many things that I've accidentally misplaced from putting them in a "safe place".
• [03:58] I put the screws to my grandparents' table in a "safe place". Not being able to find them became very stressful.
• [04:31] Looking for antique screws gave me motivation to go through everything.
• [05:41] It was just a matter of time, energy, intention, and effort. Knowing this helped me move through and unpack everything.
• [06:03] I benefited from going through boxes and bins much faster than I normally would have, and I've taken a vow to be more organized in the future.
• [07:17] I love how we can reframe the narrative when things happen.
• [09:06] In life, we misplace things, whether we find them again or not, it's still an opportunity to reframe the narrative.
• [10:33] The great news is that I found the screws. Of course, they were in the last bin.
• [11:16] This gift of being highly motivated helped me get through a lot of boxes and bins.
• [13:50] We learn more from our mistakes than we do from our successes, because we expand when we misplace things or when things don't go as planned.

Memorable Quotes:

• • "We expand when we misplace things, we expand when we make a mistake, we expand when things don't go the way we hope." - Mary Tess
  • "This theme of misplacing things is connecting me to things that are more meaningful, that are more important for my growth at this moment." - Mary Tess
  • "Hopefully, we gain more than we lost in the moment, and we can reframe the narrative in our life so that we can see that and appreciate it." - Mary Tess

Links and Resources:

• Mary Tess Rooney
• Email
• Heart Value

Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram