Eleanor Tiernan: Being an awful loser makes me feel so powerless 

When I left my bag on the tram, I was reminded that the kindness of strangers is a beautiful thing. 

Eleanor Tiernan

I used to be an awful loser. Not just small things like keys and wallets. When I lose, I lose big. Once on holiday, in the days before smartphones I left my passport and plane tickets in a nightclub. I only realised they were missing when I returned to the venue a week later and the lady at the counter recognised me from my passport photo. If it wasn’t for that angel I’d have been at the airport two days later asking to be let on a plane to Ireland with no documentation.

This was a long time ago though. Having maintained a loss-free record for a while I thought my days of leaving things behind me were over. I am in control of my life now. What’s that they say about pride coming before a fall?