A few days ago the house cat got out of the house. In literally a few minutes the house was thrown into a flurry of confusion. After searching the entirety of the house, we ventured outside to find her. The cat had never been outside, so we did not know where she might go or hide. We continued to search for a few hours with no results or signs of the cat. Desperation kicked in and we put up some lost and found signs to expand the search a bit more.
Opening my Eyes
This whole incident seemed to open my eyes to the way that a lot of us don’t plan for events such as this. What I mean to say is that we don’t plan for the odd events to take place. Our minds reside within reason and do not often leave this plane. I think that the priority of events is based on importance. Even though losing something is most often considered very important, we don’t think about it because we don’t actively think of it as possible. When these events do arise, our life is thrown out of whack. The impossible just took place. So it takes a little time to rearrange priorities and gain your bearings again- A feeling that is usually a jumbled stream of thoughts searching for possible explanations.
Take for example car problems. Most people drive a car to and from work. Standard maintenance of our car is also something the majority of us make sure to keep up on. The day comes when something within the interworking of the car fails. Everything comes to screeching halt. Everything seemed to be working so well before and now you are left on the side of the road trying to find a ride. Planning does play a big role in this situation as any, but without the proper mind-set you will spend a large amount of the time stumbling and trying to land on your feet again.
Plan of Action
A plan of action is needed immediately when the uncommon does arise. Even though every plan must be tailored to see results, there is in fact a common structure to follow.
From the beginning of the problem it is crucial to start thinking along the correct path. The best way to start is with a positive outlook on the actual problem at hand. An easy way to understand this is to imagine the problem has already been solved. This way thinking puts you in your shoes at the goal. From here you can imagine what it took get here. It always seems easier to look back and figure out how things happened or took place, as opposed to the other way around.
Now that your mind is in a positive state, we move onto the plan. In the process of seeing and feeling the goal, you may have already seen the next step. This step basically encompasses anything that will get you closer to the goal. Such as calling for a ride if you car just broke down. Or putting up posters if you cat ran away. These actions are a start and lead to effective problem solving. Rather than worrying and sitting around waiting for results, you are taking action.
Using Resources
When looking for the cat, I came across a very useful community website. Every city has a human society, so this is where I began my search. The resolution to finding a lost pet is actually outlined in steps on the site.
1. Call you local animal shelter. See if anyone has picked up you animal or if it has been captured and brought in.
2. Call the County Animal Control. This is a more direct step. Calling here lets you know if they picked up your pet so you can go retrieve it.
3. Post a flyer. Start with places nearby the disappearance. Spread out and place flyers at convenience and grocery stores. Common and community places are best. Just think of this method as advertising to find something. More people seeing it increases you chances of finding your pet.
In conclusion, we did find our cat named Chicken-Rat. All thanks to placing a lost poster on a street corner nearby. Without it we may have not found her at all. Even though you may not be able to plan for the specific unforeseen events of the future, it is wise to at least know how to go about solving them.
