Yes; But, can you Pivot?
I am a painfully punctual person. I will show up 20-30 minutes early to an appointment and just sit there, for anything. If I live 5 minutes away, I will leave a half hour early. Consequently, I tend to beat anyone I am meeting. That means, here I was; waiting in my car for a building to open for the class I was teaching. I suddenly wondered, “What do I do if the docent doesn’t show up?” Some people don’t worry until a problem develops. They consider it a waste of time and energy. Others don’t even know what to do & wait for a rescue or try to make phone calls. Then there are people like me who like solving puzzles. That is what problems are to me and one of the things I turn over when I am waiting.
While I waited, I considered my options; 1, It’s sunny - could I teach the class on the lawn? Possibly. Cons: it might not stay sunny and there isn’t much level area to set up in. Pros: I could easily find everything in my car and not worry about making up the class. 2, Could I do it someplace else? Where: A library? Cons: we are 7 people and it is short notice. Pros: we are only 7 people and we aren’t either messy or loud. The local art supply store? again, it is short notice and I would have to pay $20 for the space. The Gallery classroom: It is farther away but I don’t have to pay for it.
I like having some options in a crisis and treating problems that might arise as a puzzle, makes it easier to pivot when you need to. People think I am calm in a crisis and it is because I tend to figure out how to solve problems before they arise. I also tend to panic learn. Emotional stress; in low levels, helps me remember what happened the last time something derailed. Being the youngster I was, stuff derailed a lot. I’ve blown car engines, had fires next door and in my house, animals injured, people injured; the main thing is to keep calm and look for options. You can’t always rely on people answering their phones and sometimes, most times; you are best if you can rescue yourself. I do understand that there are folks out there who like to rescue people, and sometimes it might be our significant other who wants to play the Paladin. If that is your jam, give them the chance. Otherwise, figure out the problem and look for an off ramp from crisis avenue.
Some advice: AAA is actually cheap for what you get and can help in a pinch. Get to know the neighbors, be there for them so they might be able to be there for you. Learn to treat law enforcement like what they are; people doing a job that others won’t do. Wave at them when they are on the job and try to make them laugh so that you feel more comfortable calling them when you need them. The other thing; when I show up early, I have time to solve a problem. If you are late, the disaster might be a full blown meltdown by the time you arrive. Be calm; unless there is arterial bleeding, you have time to fix anything. Good Luck!