Losing My Phone Brought Me Peace

An unexpected surprise.

Photo by author

Phone, wallet, keys.

It’s the three essential items I double check I have every time I leave the house.

We all do. Adam Sandler even wrote a song about it.

It’s all one really needs to survive the day.

For me however, there’s also a slew of other random items I pack with my bag before heading out, such as:

1. A book to read on the bus.
2. A portable phone charger because I’ll use up my battery scrolling social media instead of reading the book.
3. A pen.
4. Another pen because I lost the other one.
5. Mints. Because it seems everyone is in need of a mint, and I never want to be the person someone says not subtly to, “Do you need a mint?”
6. Small notebook. This is meant to be a journal for thoughts, but it is better used for tearing out a piece of paper to make a grocery list.
7. Sunglasses. A cheap pair because I will lose it along with my pens.
8. Headphones. Not wireless ear buds. Wired because I want people to notice that I’m wearing headphones so they don’t attempt to talk to me.
9. Lint roller. I have carried this with me for years in hopes…