Forgot Where You Parked

Psalm 20: 1 – 9

Forgot where you parked

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you; 2 May He send you help from the sanctuary and strengthen you out of Zion; 3 May He remember all your offerings and accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah 4 May He grant you according to your heart’s desire and fulfill all your purpose. 5 We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the LORD fulfill all your petitions. 6 Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God. 8 They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright. 9 Save, LORD! May the King answer us when we call.

The big football game that you finally were able to go to has ended. You leave the stadium out with a flood of fans and realize you have no idea where your car is parked. Has this ever happened to you? This is not a good feeling. This is what nightmares are made for. In large, crowded parking lots it can be difficult to remember exactly where your car is at. Locating your car doesn't need to be a stressful task, and here are some helpful strategies for making sure you don't forget where you parked.

First of all, you need to not let your emotions crowd out your thinking. Retrace your steps mentally to help you remember where you parked. Think back to when you drove into the parking lot—do you remember which side you drove towards? How far did you have to walk from your car to the door of the building? Trying to recreate your route to the building will help you remember where the car is parked.

If you came out of a different door than the one you entered through, try to navigate back to that door first so that you're more likely to remember your route.

Try to remember any identifying marks. Consider whether you saw anything specific or unique before or after you parked that will help you remember the spot. Were you near a section of trees? Maybe you were close to a fence, street, or light poll. Try to picture the parking spot in your mind.

If you parked in a parking deck, try to remember the color of the deck, or how many flights of stairs you walked up or down.

Use a phone to call an attendant for help, if applicable. If you truly have no idea where your car is parked and think you need assistance, many parking lots have signs posted with a number to call for help. Just dial the number on the sign and an attendant will be able to use technology (usually using your license plate number) to help you locate your car.

Press your car's panic button. If you have a remote key fob that sets off your alarm or horn, try pressing it to locate the sound of your car alarm. Be prepared to turn your alarm off again promptly. (Remember that if you're not within range, your alarm won't be set off.)

Park your car near an identifying landmark. If you have a choice of where to park, choose a spot near something distinctive. If you park near a vibrant sign, large tree, or tall lamppost, you'll be much more likely to remember where you've parked when you return. The landmark that you pick should be seen from far away so that you'll notice it as soon as you begin looking for your car.

Many places such as sport complexes and theme parks often already have landmarks (signs, pillars, lights, etc.) with numbers, letters, or pictures on them in the parking lot to help you remember where you've parked.

Many parking structures mark floors, rows, and spaces. If you have cues like these, note them, especially if you will be spending a long time inside.

Take a photo or video of where you parked. Using your cellphone's camera to take a picture or video of where you parked is an easy and efficient way of remembering where your car is located. It's an instant reminder, and you can delete the photo or video when it's no longer needed.

Make sure to include identifying landmarks next to your car in the picture as well, especially if you are in an unfamiliar place.

Use the old fashion method by writing down notes reminding you of where you parked. If you have a scrap piece of paper and a pen with you, jot down notes to remind yourself where you've parked. Writing down the landmarks surrounding your car will ensure that you don't forget where it is.