You know when you have one of those embarrassing but instructive moments in life, one where you think,

“When I can tell people about this, it will be helpful and instructive,

but at the moment I’m just feeling a bit embarrassed,

and this is going to be buried for a bit.”

I have one I’m ready to share.

This happened a couple of weeks ago.

It’s pretty tiny, but I think it’s quite useful.

Maybe you agree—we’ll see.

My simple screw-up

I had a long day at work.

(Isn’t that how so many stories begin?)

Long day at work, and I was heading toward my car in a hurry, probably thinking about my appointments from the day.

Maybe I was rushed.

Maybe I was tired.

I walked up to my car, keys out, unlocked it and tried to get in. But the handle wouldn’t budge.

And then I saw them.

The Cheerios in the backseat.

What caught my attention

Thanks, guys. Couldn’t have done it without you.

It was the Cheerios that clued me in.

I haven’t had Cheerios in probably 25 years.

And I surely don’t keep a stash of them in the backseat of my car.

So. It was the Cheerios that told me, “Uh– hey. This isn’t your car.”

I let go of the door handle I had been fruitlessly tugging on like it was hot.

Caught in the act.

What if the car alarm goes off?

What if someone sees me and thinks I’m trying to steal their car?

And then I heard someone chuckling across the parking lot.

Some guy sitting in his car, watching me. He was onto me, me and my little brain fart moment.

I waved sheepishly, looked for my car, and made a fast getaway.

The accidental carjacking

Most carjackings are deliberate, I imagine.

You can’t exactly make off with someone else’s car without meaning to, am I right?

Except I almost did.

I’m kind of wondering, though.

If the Cheerios hadn’t clued me in, how long would it have taken me to figure it all out?

So, what’s the lesson here?

It’s a lesson in autopilot, friends.

Because we all can spend a fair amount of time in that zone, if we’re not careful.

And it’s not always a bad thing, I’ll grant you.

Being stuck in Austin traffic is a great time to autopilot, or to tune into some music and tune out of being stuck on MoPac.

But how many of us live up in our heads most of the time?

Planning,

plotting,

worrying,

ruminating.

And we multitask fiercely, running the radio while we’re driving and sneaking looks at the text messages on our phone.

Or watching a TV show while we eat.

Or listening to music while you steep tea, tidy the kitchen, and browse Facebook.

(I’m pretty sure you’ve done this.)

Break the spell

So, come on. Let’s break the spell.

You may be trying that cosmic door handle, trying to get into someone else’s car by browsing Facebook.

Or studiously ignoring some piece of pain that won’t quiet so fiercely that you don’t even notice it’s Tuesday and you’re hungry.

Or trying to frenetically plan for some disaster that may never come,

or already came and went,

and you’re just tiring yourself out with your sparring partners.

Maybe you’re doing it right now.

Are you reading this post because you want to?

Where are you?

What day is it?

Are you tired or hungry or happy?

Hi! Hi, there.

Take a moment.

Quit trying door handles haphazardly.

Go choose.

Tune in.

Go do something on purpose.

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