Identifying False Assumptions
Photo: Emily Giacomini, Tasmania- find the three wallabies
Over the holidays I had the privilege of joining a four-day tour of wild Tasmania as part of a trip to explore Australia’s east coast during its glorious summer months. One night we stayed at a lovely spot with three rows of cabins on a gently terraced slope overlooking a former golf course turned open field where wallabies and wombats roamed freely to feed at dawn and dusk.
After a delicious BBQ dinner at the small picnic area we all split off to our own cabins to rest. I woke up around 4am and remembered it could be an excellent time to spot some wildlife feeding before sunrise, so I slipped on my shoes and made my way slowly down the hill, watching for movement in the forests lining the gravel path and in the dark field below. My early sojourn was rewarded with a view of a dozen wallabies scattered across the field, watching warily as I approached. I also spotted a family of Tasmanian native hens, small flightless birds known locally as “turbo chooks” since they can run 50km/hour!
When I’d had my fill of watching the animals in their habitat, I made my way back up the hill to my cabin. A light was on inside and it looked like my roommate was up early to pack her bag before our 7am departure as her items were spread out on the table. Since she had our shared key and the area felt pretty safe, I’d felt fine to leave the door unlocked when I’d left on my excursion. Now however, the door was locked so I couldn’t get back inside. She must have checked it and locked it after finding it open when she woke up in the night.
I knocked on the sliding glass door and waited for her to appear around the corner. She didn’t come so I hammered a bit louder, thinking she might be in the bathroom at the end of the long corridor. When she still didn’t come, I imagined she might have drifted off to sleep again after unexpectedly rising early and using the time to pack her bag.
When I contemplated whether I could stay outside for an hour or two until she woke up, I realized it would be uncomfortable to sit on the wooden patio without a blanket or hat, as the night was still a bit chilly. I reflected on my quandry and chose to knock on her bedroom’s sliding glass door, reasoning that she might have only just gone back to sleep. No answer. How odd! I was knocking quite loudly, alternating between the living room and her bedroom. Could she have gone out to see the animals too and I’d just missed her? I paused and looked around yet again, wondering what to do next.
A few minutes later, I saw a light coming up the patio stairs and along the walkway toward the door and me. I had nowhere to hide and really no reason to hide, so I stood there waiting, a bit nervously, I’ll admit, to see who it was. Our tour guide Tim came around the corner, saying on his phone, “I’m here. It’s Emily. Yes- she’s at your cabin.” I still didn’t understand what was happening until two of the other women on the trip appeared at the door inside the cabin and I finally realized I’d approached the wrong building entirely. I was embarrassed and apologized profusely. They had called his cell in alarm when they heard repeated knocking on the front door and first bedroom of their cabin in the early morning hours and he’d stumbled out of bed to discern what this misguided tourist was doing. The kind Tim, promising it wasn’t a problem, then led me a little farther up the hill to my actual cabin, also the end cabin on a row, but one level above theirs on the hill.
What had gone wrong?! Aside from the well-documented fact that I’m directionally-challenged, how could I have misinterpreted the signs so dramatically, even reasoning away facts that might have revealed the truth a little faster? I had dismissed the evidence that on my “return” the lights were on, luggage was in the living room and the door was locked. Yet, for each of them I had an explanation. It’s still a bit baffling to me that I didn’t stop to ask, what else could be true here? In my case it took not just one but three other people showing the way for the penny to drop.
Hopefully you’re amused by my story. When have you encountered a similar situation?
Recall a time when you badly misunderstood a situation.
Reflect to identify what it was that finally gave you insight into the reality of the scenario.
Remember how many prior hints you might have misread.
Remind yourself next time you’re baffled (or in another state of strong emotion) to stop and ask yourself what assumptions you’re making and what else might be true instead.
Rejoice when you notice you’re seeing the truth faster in future events- it’s worth celebrating, for the drama it spares you and others!