Summary

A surgeon humorously recounts various instances of forgetfulness and absent-mindedness, including finding his lost car keys in his hand and other comical mishaps, to illustrate the universal nature of such experiences and the importance of laughter in coping with our distracted minds.

Abstract

The article, titled "I Admit I Found My Lost Keys in My Hand," is a lighthearted reflection on the author's personal experiences with everyday absent-mindedness. The surgeon, who once urgently searched for his car keys only to find them in his hand, uses this anecdote and others to highlight the humorous side of our often preoccupied and multitasking lives. He shares stories of mistaking a hospital badge for a car key, forgetting to press elevator buttons, and searching for glasses while they are already being worn. The piece emphasizes that such silly mistakes are a common human experience, and it encourages embracing these moments with laughter for mental well-being. The author also references a wider social phenomenon, where friends and colleagues share their own similar stories, reinforcing the idea that we all engage in these amusingly forgetful acts. The article concludes by urging readers not to overlook the inherent humor in life's little blunders.

Opinions

The author believes that laughter is a healthy response to the silly things we do, keeping us grounded and sane.
He suggests that our multitasking, distracted selves often lead to nonsensical actions, which are inherently funny.
The author values the shared human experience of forgetfulness, as evidenced by the anecdotes from his friends and the broader community.
He implies that recognizing and enjoying these humorous moments can enhance our quality of life and perspective on our own humanity.
The author sees these forgetful instances as a testament to our innately humorous nature, rather than as sources of embarrassment or frustration.

I Admit I Found My Lost Keys in My Hand

Never be afraid to laugh at our distracted minds

911 Emergency. The hospital needs me right now, but I can’t find my car keys. Panicking, I ransack the house and dig through the car. I discover a Starbucks card from 2014, a broken pen, 57 cents in change, and a fossilized french fry.

No car keys.

I check my coat and pant pockets. I retrace my steps checking the kitchen and bathroom. Then, I look in my left hand.

Car keys.

Now off to do surgery.

Not the first time

The other day, I left the hospital after delivering a baby. I swiped my hospital badge against the door handle of my car. Hospital security is quite essential, but hospital badges do not unlock car doors.

Once, during a power outage, my wife and I scrambled to locate a candle. I tried to turn on the light switch to find one…in three different rooms.

Last week, I got into a hotel elevator on the first floor but neglected to push any buttons. A few minutes later, still on the first floor, the elevator doors open. An elderly couple waited for me to step off. I awkwardly made a welcome motion with my hands inviting them to enter. Welcome to my elevator.

We all do silly things

I posted a picture of my “lost” keys on Facebook. Hilarious responses followed. One friend often finds her keys in the refrigerator. I suppose she likes her keys nice and chilled.

My friends’ replies reflect our innately humorous nature. Human beings are funny. After work, we transform into Uberparents getting children from one activity to the next. Our multitasking, distracted selves do nonsensical things. Our minds wander.

Wandering minds do silly things. We place the cereal box in the fridge and the milk in the pantry. Perhaps we drive the grocery store to buy one simple item and arrive home with a bag full of everything except the one thing we needed.

I love to stop and enjoy these moments. We need to laugh at ourselves. Laughter is healthy. Laughing at the crazy things we do keeps us sane and grounded.

Where are my glasses?

Among my Facebook friends, eyeglasses are particularly problematic. One friend often locates his chronically lost sunglasses on top of his head. Another repetitively searches for his reading glasses….while wearing his reading glasses.

Phone trouble

My friend observed his wife yelling, “Where is my phone?” while talking on it. Another confessed to spending an excessive amount of time searching his car for his lost phone. He was using his phone flashlight app to see.

I forgot what I was going to say

Everyone has had a moment where our mind goes completely blank. We start to speak preparing to impart important and profound words. Then, we completely forget what we wanted to say.

I remember the republican primary debates in 2016 when Rick Perry confidently declared the three government agencies he would eliminate.

“It’s three agencies of government, that are gone — Commerce, Education and the, um, what’s the third one there? The third agency of government I would do away with — let’s see. I can’t — the third one. Sorry. Oops,” Governor Rick Perry Presidential election 2016

Don’t beat yourself up.

Just laugh.

It happens to all of us…just not usually in front of 40 million people watching on live TV.

Don’t miss the funny moments

We never want to be so preoccupied with getting through life that we miss the comedy of it all. Giggle when the waiter says “enjoy your meal,” and we reflexively reply “you too.” Have a chuckle when the TSA airport agent says, “have a great flight,” and we answer “you as well.”

Next time you realize you have worn your shirt inside out all day, just slow down and laugh.

We are funny.

Enjoy being human.