Waking up Tuesday morning, October 4th was just like any other day.  After helping get the children off to school, I packed my
     bag for a speaking engagement the next day in Alabama. 

     Then life happened!  Running late, I finished packing, grabbed my carry-ons and rushed out the door to catch my flight.  Arriving
     at the airport I placed my bags on the belt to be scanned.  For some reason, it seemed to be taking a long time, so I asked
     the TSA agent what was going on.  He indicated that there was something suspicious in a bag.  I was struck with absolute horror 
     when I realized that I had mistakenly left my gun in my briefcase.   A few years ago, I acquired a concealed weapons permit
     and had completely forgotten my handgun was in my bag.  

     You have a good imagination.  Picture me in handcuffs.  Picture me being dragged to the county jail.  Picture me being
     booked, fingerprinted, photographed, charged, and thrown in the holding cell with a lot of other “inmates”.  Picture me waiting
     for six hours to be brought to pre-trial..

     When the court worker saw me, she smiled and said, “You certainly don’t look like you belong here!  Believe it or not, I see
     someone in your position about once a week.” 

     I was quickly released without bail.

     Well, the system sees someone in my position about once a week. Like others before me, I was the lucky enough to make
     the 9:00 o’clock news and the morning paper.

     An innocent decision often brings unintended consequences.  Choices we have control over.  Consequences we do not. 
     When we experience consequences, we are put in a position to make a lot of decisions about how to handle those consequences. 
     And how we handle those consequences makes all the difference.

     I could take a victim stance and be furious about the “post 9-11 laws” or accept ownership that I made a serious mistake and
     that law enforcement was doing their job. I could take my frustration out on the police officers or be courteous. I could be angry
     with the other inmates or treat them with dignity. I could be belligerent in front of the judge or remorseful for my mistake.  It
     was all up to me.

     When was the last time that a decision you made brought unintended consequences?  Did you accept ownership for your decision
     or try to place the blame on another person, circumstance, or event? 

     Accepting ownership puts you in a position of power even if it is only power over your own “self.” 

     Accepting ownership puts you in a position to move forward quickly instead of getting stuck in the endless, mucky mire that
     blame and accusations always suck you into.

     Accepting ownership puts you in a position to have positive interactions with people instead of negative.

     Accepting ownership puts you in a position to laugh at yourself today, instead of waiting weeks, months, and years down the road.  
     Let me tell you, at the same time I have kicked myself in the seat of my pants over and over and over, I have also laughed and 
     laughed and laughed.  Honest mistake?  Serious mistake!  YES, but owning it is key to moving forward.  

     So here is my invitation for you.  The next time you get slapped with an unintended consequence, take a deep breath, choose 
     to take ownership for how you will handle it positively, and laugh with yourself sooner, rather than later.

     Smooth sailing even in the storms,

    Doug Nielsen, CSP