There have to be more of you out there who have an emergency ChapStick. I have one. Or, I thought I did. Yesterday, I panicked when I found myself at work without my pocket ChapStick, my emergency ChapStick, and my car ChapStick.
I’m not really writing about lip balm. This is about dependency on tiny items that seem insignificant until they are missing.
These small objects are miniature security blankets. Yesterday, I only suffered a mild panic when I reached into my pocket and found nothing but keys. So what? I left it at home. It happens. That’s why I keep an emergency supply in my purse.
I rummaged through my purse and remembered a recent job interview. I had also forgotten my ChapStick that day, so I took the emergency supply from my purse and put it in my pocket. I swore I’d remember to put it back in my purse. Obviously, I didn’t.
Level two panic began. I soothed myself quickly because I always kept one in my car as a last resort. I could retrieve it in a few minutes.
Level three panic began before I could plan a trip to my car. I just bought a new used car. The car ChapStick hadn’t been placed inside yet.
At that point, I felt my entire face begin to dehydrate. Do I need lip balm applications multiple times during a normal day? Probably not. Nevertheless, it was all I could think about.
Stupid story short, there is a cashier at the campus book store who is probably telling this same story today. I was overcome with gratitude when I was told I could buy a new one there.
The point of this? That I would never survive in a true tragedy? That I have some mental health issues? That I need a better skincare routine? All of those things are true.
It’s the little things. If you’ve spent a day with a shoe rubbing a blister on your heel, or if you’ve suffered the sudden surge of sweat (for no reason) when you realize you forgot to put on deodorant, or you can’t get a single bar on your phone when you need connectivity for less than one minute, you know what I’m talking about. Also, if those inconveniences never happened, you would never appreciate the little crutches that help us through the day.
