Today was one of my two office days this week. The other three days are home office, so naturally, the one day I actually had to commute had to come with an unexpected transportation problem.
My husband was working from home, and he planned to drive to pick me up after work. Everything was normal until the car suddenly stopped working while he was on his way. Thankfully, he was not far from home. If it had happened somewhere much farther away, the situation could have been a real headache. It was already after 5 p.m., most repair shops were closed, people were done with work, and having the car picked up and transported to a repair shop would have meant paying a lot more than we wanted to.
And, of course, we had no replacement car.
So, instead of getting picked up as planned, I had to take the bus home.
That would not normally be a problem, except for the fact that I had forgotten my wallet.
This is where I was reminded that being prepared is not an outdated idea. I could have bought a bus ticket online, but it would have cost more. And while Germany has plenty of modern technology, public transportation can still be a good reminder that cash has not completely lost its place. Sometimes a bus will not accept the payment method you expect, your card might not work, or your phone might suddenly be useless because of a technical issue.
Fortunately, I was working the same shift as one of my close colleagues. She is the complete opposite of me in this particular area. She always has her wallet and some cash with her. Without hesitation, she lent me enough money for my bus ticket.
Small problem solved, thanks to a kind person who happened to be prepared.
It made me think about how much of everyday life depends on things going according to plan. The car had never broken down like this before. In fact, it had just been repaired because the brake was loose. We had no reason to expect another problem so soon. But unexpected things rarely send us a calendar invitation first.
That is probably the real lesson from today. Being prepared does not mean expecting something bad to happen. It simply means giving yourself a backup plan when life decides to change the plan for you.
So, I am taking this as a reminder to be a little more like my colleague. Bring the wallet. Carry some cash. Have an alternative payment method. Do not assume that your card, phone, or Google Pay will always come to the rescue.
In other words, be a Girl Scout. Always be prepared.
And I am grateful that I had someone nearby who was. My colleague did not hesitate to help me, and I made sure to pay her back through PayPal because she will soon be going on holiday. It may have been a small amount, but I believe even small debts should be repaid. It is not really about the amount. It is about keeping your word and maintaining trust.
Because you never know when you might need help again. And when people know that you appreciate their help and can be trusted to return it, kindness becomes something you can pass back and forth without hesitation.
So today gave me an unexpected bus ride, a reminder to carry my wallet, and a little appreciation for the kind people who make inconvenient days easier.
Not exactly how I planned my office day, but not a bad lesson to take home either.
