“Don’t Forget Your Keys!”

I recently locked myself out in the rain. Now I know, you are probably rolling your eyes thinking wowzers… smart much? But there’s a back story… 

The Back Story

The last couple of weeks of 2025 were manic for me, I’m sure it was the same for you, we tried to boil the ocean (as we do every year) in the last two months of the year. With multiple meetings, almost all back to back, and  me trying to commute between cities, I was not winning. During one of these crazy weeks, a friend made a generous offer for me to use his apartment for an evening board meeting, whilst he was away for work travel. Grateful for a home away from home, I accepted this kind offer. Using the spare keys, I unlocked and entered, settled in and set up for my meeting. It was a rainy evening, feeling slightly chilly - I decided I needed my jacket from my car. I grabbed my car keys and headed out, and pulled the front door behind me (after all its Jo’burg and I was taking zero chances being entrusted someone else’s home) BUT, as that door closed behind me -  it hit me, this door locks automatically (now, don’t judge me! I live in the bushveld and we don’t lock doors where I live). Anyway… there I stood starring at the door thinking…. its raining outside - I have a meeting starting in 10mins, and I have no phone to call anyone and I’m at an apartment building where I don’t know anyone. 

Thankfully, I had the good sense to look for the building care taker and called my friend. Luckily for me, he was away for work but still in Johannesburg, who then drove at the speed of light, in the rain, to let me in and help me make my meeting (just slightly late — hes’s tot friend goals right?). On his way out he wrote me a note which he stuck on the door that read “Don’t forget your keys!” Whilst this was a little cheeky of him….it was also very thoughtful and extremely kind. 

The Deeper Story

I’m now sitting and reflecting back on 2025, I have this sudden realisation that those forgotten keys were metaphorical and the note “Don’t forget your keys” is a ‘clarion call’ each time we leave for something ….(okay … just stick with me here).

TRAVEL: My sister and I travelled to Uganda in January 2025, we arrived in Entebbe with our luggage left behind in South Africa. In the slightly delusional spirit of travelling light (on a short 4 hour flight), we took no hand luggage. This means, no spare set of clothing, no toiletries, no contact lens holders -nope -nothing! After the not so comforting ground staff having taken our details - we headed off to get essentials at the mall. We attended a new client meeting the very next day looking rather sketchy! As seasoned travellers - we both left home and  “forgot our keys!” We forgot the cardinal rule of travel - be prepared for the worst (delayed or lost luggage). 

Personal or Professional Relationships: Ever left one of those and forgot your keys? Keys could mean different things to different people, it could mean you leave with those relationships or friendships safe in hand as you transition a job or a city. Those keys could mean you leave a bad relationship with your dignity and self-worth, secure in hand, or you leave a toxic workplace with your peace, joy and your talents safeguarded and in hand!

I am sure you can think of several instances of leaving - but none is most consistent as when we leave our homes - in default mode we grab our house keys, our car keys (if you drive that is) our phones and wallets, its almost second nature and requires very little thought.

Here are some other keys that should be the new default as you transition spaces in 2026:

• Leave with your dignity intact.
  Whether you’re exiting a role, a relationship, or a season; don’t abandon your self-worth at the door. No opportunity is worth losing yourself for.

• Carry hope like a master key.
  Hope opens doors logic can’t. In uncertain times, it’s not naïveté - it’s your strategic fuel.

• Choose the energy you bring. Every room responds to it.
  Kindness, grounded confidence, and calm are not soft skills - they’re leadership signals.

Some doors lock automatically. So do seasons. So do moments. So do relationships. And when they do, you want to be the person who walks away with what matters still in hand: hope, kindness, dignity, peace.

So do yourself a favour — “DON’T FORGET YOUR KEYS!!”.