The Day Forgetfulness Cost Me

Being forgetful is not something we can do without; at one point in time or another, we'll just find out that particular information or planned event has slipped out of our mind, and by the time we remember, it's sometimes too late and could even cause some damage that we aren't too pleased about, and these have made different people take drastic measures to stay informed and up-to-date about every single thing they ought to do. I'm a big victim of forgetfulness, and after several incidents of falling prey, I am continuously working towards sailing through it.

It's not like this happens to me often, but then sometimes I just find myself in a tight spot that I'm placed in by forgetfulness, and I believe it can be annoying. I remember sometimes it could be a simple contribution I want to have patterning an ongoing discussion, and before you know it, when an opportunity for me to talk comes up, I'll realize I've forgotten most of what made me raise my hands in the first place, and when I'm allowed to speak, I'll just stand there and be saying garbage that isn't of importance as what I planned on saying initially.

After seeing how that made me feel twice during a public discussion, I knew I had to do something, or else it'll get to a point where I won't be given the platform to speak because they'll assume that most times I request to speak, I end up saying I've forgotten what I wanted to say or just say things that aren't really essential or worthwhile of raising one hand to cut short the speaker.

Realizing this was happening, I decided I needed to do something, and two things I did that helped us sail through this forgetfulness were to always have a book and pen or a notepad on my device to jot down every single piece of information that popped up in my head and made me want to contribute in the first place, and if not that, another thing I do is to just bring out my phone and record myself saying the exact words I want to use as my contribution, and doing this has played a huge role in refreshing my memories in time to contribute well enough after reading through what I jotted down or listening to my recordings.

But the talking about one act of forgetfulness that ruined the day for me, I'll trace it back to a few years ago, during my undergraduate days, I was in 300 level and was supposed to go for teaching practice. I intentionally chose a place far from where my institution was and chose a place closer to one of my relatives places, with the aim of using the opportunity to bond with them and as well cut costs during the teaching practice. On the day I was leaving school for the place, I had packed my bag and got a car from the park to take me to my destination.

Before the car took off, there wasn't enough space in the car, so I was asked to put my bags in the boot of the car, and after that we moved on. Getting to my destination, I highlighted from the car and totally forgot about my bag that was in the boot of the car, but by the time I realized what happened, the vehicle had already zoomed off, and that occurrence completely ruined my plan for that day.

Initially I had planned to visit the school where I'll be doing my teaching practice to submit my letter before heading home to relax and prepare for the next day (Monday) when I'll begin my program, with my letter, credentials, laptop, and clothes all inside the bag. I had no choice but to enter another vehicle and go back to where I just came from. Why I went back is because I need to visit and inform the park about my missing bag, and then they can help me call the driver, and he'll take note of it and keep it safe till he comes back to the park again.

Assuming I had the park official number or that of the driver, I wouldn't have traveled back to where I just came from, but without any of that, I have to act fast so my bag won't be carried by someone else who'll pretend like they own it and cart away with all my belongings inside. That act of forgetfulness ruined my plans for that day; the teachers from the school I ought to submit a letter to called me to inquire why I didn't come like I had informed them I would be coming.

I had to explain my ordeal to them, and the same thing happened with my relatives who had been expecting me because I told them I'm on the way; in fact, my cousin was even angry, saying she has cooked a special delicacy for me. Well, at the end of the day, I ended up waiting for two whole days before that driver came back to the Moto park, and that was when I got back my bag and then traveled back to my destination. It's annoying seeing how a simple forgetful act made me overspend more on transport and also delayed me for two extra days.

And since then, I mostly just try to keep my bags beside me when traveling so I won't forget, and if peradventure it's too big and needs to be in the boot, well, I try to ring it on my head to myself to not forget anything, and most times now when I'm traveling and come down from a car, I firstly always check myself to be sure I didn't leave anything behind.

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All photos are taken and edited on canva.

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