Have You Seen My Keys?

It was one of those days.

I was mentally juggling far more than usual, trying to leave the house, get to where I needed to be, and somehow hold together the scattered pieces of an overwhelmed week.

And then it happened: I couldn’t find my keys.

Unfortunately, in true Tessa fashion, I wasn’t running super early. So I didn’t have time for a peaceful, methodical search. I needed to find them now.

They weren’t in the basket by the door where I usually put them. Not in my purse. Not on the counter. Not in any of the usual other spots they might have landed.

I was retracing my steps, getting more and more flustered—and thinking, I should really have one of those little "find my keys" beeper things.

And then I found them.

In the fridge.

Yes. That’s what I said. The fridge.

Apparently, in my whirlwind of unloading groceries and trying to be efficient, I had tossed them in alongside the almond milk.

I stood there blinking, holding my cold keys and laughing out loud as I rushed out the door.

What This Has to Do With Leadership

When we’re overwhelmed, even our most ingrained habits can slip. We forget things we normally remember. We get reactive instead of responsive. We do things that make no sense at all, because we’re human.

And in leadership? That stress can show up as:

• Snapping in a meeting you meant to facilitate with calm

• Forgetting to follow up on a promise

• Zoning out in a conversation that deserved your attention

  
  

We don’t just lose our keys. We lose access to our best selves when we’re flooded.

The more frazzled we are, the less present we become.

Just like I wished for a "find my keys" tracker in that moment, leadership requires an internal tracker: a sense of self-awareness that helps us catch ourselves before we spin out too far.

The practice is this:

• Notice when you're scattered

• Slow down long enough to ask, Where am I emotionally right now?

• Breathe

• Reset before you react

  
  

You don’t need to be perfect. You just need a way back to yourself.

Sometimes that means asking for help. Sometimes that means laughing at the absurdity. Sometimes it means giving yourself grace when you realize you put your metaphorical keys in the fridge.

Reflection Questions

• Where in my leadership do I feel scattered or overwhelmed lately?

• What routines or anchors help me stay grounded?

• When I get off track, what helps me come back to myself?

• Who can gently help me "find my keys" when I lose my way?

  
  

Let’s Stay Connected

You’re going to have moments where your keys end up in the fridge.  What matters is how you respond, how you reflect, and how you realign.

For more real-life stories and leadership insights rooted in self-awareness and humor, visit tessabrock.com.

You matter. Even when you forget where you put your keys. 💛