# Test out the power of positive thought, prayer, whatever... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 23, 2008, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-out-the-power-of-positive-thought-prayer-whatever/450416 "2008-05-23T21:04:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-out-the-power-of-positive-thought-prayer-whatever/450416/1 "2008-05-23T21:04:45Z")
I Need Your Help I have lost my passport :eek: I firmly believe it to be within the confines of my quite small flat/apartment but I have been looking for 2 days solid and I can’t find it. :smack: :smack: :smack: I need my passport by Wednesday or I loose £100 on non-refundable plane tickets :mad: Please send positive vibes by whatever method your belief system supports. It might not help me find offending document but it might make me feel better. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-out-the-power-of-positive-thought-prayer-whatever/450416/2 "2008-05-23T21:09:57Z")
Thats why you shouldn’t use your passport as a bookmark. 🙂 Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-out-the-power-of-positive-thought-prayer-whatever/450416/3 "2008-05-23T21:18:17Z")
I’m guessing that in your kitchen or bedroom, you have a drawer that collects random detritus–stuff that you need/want to keep, but which doesn’t really _belong_ anywhere. Empty the drawer and go through the pile for the passport. Go through the pockets on your luggage, and on any coats or jackets hanging in your closet. If you still haven’t found it, check your refrigerator. I have found some of the damnedest things in my fridge. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-out-the-power-of-positive-thought-prayer-whatever/450416/4 "2008-05-23T21:19:06Z")
Never mind the magical thinking. If prayers and such worked, there would be an awful lot more people alive or in better circumstances than there are today. Walk to one corner of your apartment. Search everything in it, then basically move outward in a back-and-forth diagonal pattern, about one foot apart, searching thoroughly through every pile of papers, drawer, bookshelf, box, and piece of furniture you encounter. Look under, behind, and within the drawers and furniture. Keep going until you’ve covered every square foot of ground in it, or you find the passport. Also, keep explicitly picturing the passport in your head while you’re doing it – not just “front on,” but also what it would look like from behind, from an edge, and open. This is basically the one-man version of a patterened search, and is the best way I know to overcome search blindness – skipping someplace you “know” that it isn’t, and the really irritating effect of having the desired object in your hand and just spacing it. ---
**Author:** ![MissMossie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@MissMossie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissMossie)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-out-the-power-of-positive-thought-prayer-whatever/450416/5 "2008-05-23T21:20:50Z")
Saint Anthony! **Ticker** needs your help! ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-out-the-power-of-positive-thought-prayer-whatever/450416/6 "2008-05-23T21:29:29Z")
If you’re willing to try anything, I’ve got two suggestions. 1. Stand on the same spot as the last time you remember touching in, and call for it. Pause between calling to give it a chance to answer. This will get the irrational parts of your brain involved and you might remember where you put it. 2. Deep cleaning. Deep, deep cleaning. You may run across it. You may get tired enough of the cleaning to remember where you put it. This includes opening every box and cupboard and moving every bit of furniture. It includes vacuuming down to the FULL EXTENT of the creases in the furniture. I once discovered that the couch that I had owned for years had a back crease under the cushions that I could stick my arm into up to the elbow. When I went excavating I found several socks, a hair brush, and an entire set of cold chisels. All luck to **ticker** , may the passports be found. Psst! Passport! Make a noise like a vague memory. ---
**Author:** ![trupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@trupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trupa)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-out-the-power-of-positive-thought-prayer-whatever/450416/7 "2008-05-23T23:03:47Z")
[QUOTE=MissMossie] Saint Anthony! **Ticker** needs your help! [/QUOTE] Ditto again, St-Anthony! Please pray for **Ticker**! Has helped me countless times. But I think **Ticker** needs to pray too. Hmm. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2008, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-out-the-power-of-positive-thought-prayer-whatever/450416/8 "2008-05-24T00:35:37Z")
Or, as I learned in Catholic school, “Dear St. Anthony, come around! Something’s lost that can’t be found!” ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2008, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-out-the-power-of-positive-thought-prayer-whatever/450416/9 "2008-05-24T00:40:40Z")
My mom is the all-time champion when it comes to losing stuff, and St. Anthony always helps her out. So, I’m sending out a prayer to him for you. And follow the advice **TimeWinder** gave you…God (and St. Anthony) help those who help themselves! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2008, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-out-the-power-of-positive-thought-prayer-whatever/450416/10 "2008-05-24T00:57:09Z")
Prayers, good thoughts and the ever popular doper vibes headed your way **ticker**. Of course, we will need updates. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2008, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-out-the-power-of-positive-thought-prayer-whatever/450416/11 "2008-05-24T01:02:22Z")
You hid it, remember. It’s in the fold of the bottom sweater in your drawer. Red pattern I think. ---
**Author:** ![Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_Emma_Sasha)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2008, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-out-the-power-of-positive-thought-prayer-whatever/450416/12 "2008-05-24T07:29:12Z")
Did you look in the freezer under the ice trays? ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2008, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-out-the-power-of-positive-thought-prayer-whatever/450416/13 "2008-05-24T08:46:49Z")
check your pocket. And not just the clothes that you remember wearing the past couple days. Check the clothes that you don’t remember wearing 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2008, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-out-the-power-of-positive-thought-prayer-whatever/450416/14 "2008-05-24T09:13:06Z")
Where did you last go that you needed it? Check the luggage/bags and clothing/coats you took that time. Often people have drawers or files of ‘important papers’, including ID docs - check there. Where do you put stuff down when you first come in the house? Keys, mail, etc. Check there. After that, check systematically room by room under things, in all drawers, pockets etc. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2008, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-out-the-power-of-positive-thought-prayer-whatever/450416/15 "2008-05-24T09:31:22Z")
Have you done any laundry in the past two days? Check everything you have washed or is waiting to be washed. MRW ---
**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-out-the-power-of-positive-thought-prayer-whatever/450416/16 "2008-05-24T16:53:14Z")
Progress so far is… No progress ☹ I have a place where I normally put my passport + other stuff - not there. I have a place where I put stuff when I come in and sometimes things get left there for a while by mistake - not there. I have a place where I keep papers, bank statements etc. Not normally where I would purposefully put my passport but an obvious place to look - not there. I have been to all those places where I can imagine how the passport could have gotten there - not in those places either. I am now methodically going through everything as my best bet now is it has got mixed up with something else. More positive vibes required as my own are running low ☹ ---
**Author:** ![IrreverentTone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@IrreverentTone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IrreverentTone)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2008, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-out-the-power-of-positive-thought-prayer-whatever/450416/17 "2008-05-24T17:15:45Z")
[QUOTE=TimeWinder] Also, keep explicitly picturing the passport in your head while you’re doing it – not just “front on,” but also what it would look like from behind, from an edge, and open. [/QUOTE] This is what I have to do. Do you have a trusted family member or friend who could come help you look? A pair of fresh eyes may help. Can you leave and do something totally unrelated for a little while (gym, or movie or something)? Again, you can return with fresh eyes. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2008, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-out-the-power-of-positive-thought-prayer-whatever/450416/18 "2008-05-24T19:25:39Z")
I lost a hundred dollar bill FOR A YEAR once, inside my small apartment. It was in the chest pocket of a hideous, yellow plaid, travelling-salesman-type-of-sportcoat. I NEVER EVER wear it. It’s hideous! Of couse I never looked there, because I never ever wear it. Until I was going through the pockets, right before throwing it out. That’s when I remembered trying it on for A MINUTE AND A HALF, just long enough apparently to absentmindedly put the damn thing in the pocket. Don’t just look likely, look everywhere! (As many have said.) The “likely” part may not be apparent to you until after you find it. ---
**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-out-the-power-of-positive-thought-prayer-whatever/450416/19 "2008-05-25T21:41:59Z")
Hooray!!! Not sure I can unequivocally credit doper-vibes for success but many many thanks for those who took the trouble 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂 After 96 hours I finally have my identity back. I had in fact just about given up but decided to turn the whole enterprise into a massive tidy up (threw out at least 10 large trash bags of worthless crud). It had gotten half pushed under a tiny gap at the bottom of a fitted unit. Ticker is content. 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂 ---
**Author:** ![IrreverentTone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@IrreverentTone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IrreverentTone)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-out-the-power-of-positive-thought-prayer-whatever/450416/20 "2008-05-25T21:45:13Z")
What a relief. Have a great trip! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-out-the-power-of-positive-thought-prayer-whatever/450416.md?page=2)