Who knew shopping for a book could be so stressful?

Imagine you are about to buy a new book. Quite an exciting event for many, including me. You anticipate its untouched pages; just waiting to be bent out of shape, to have its corners folded over, to be smeared with your fingerprints, to have rings from endless cups of tea and coffee imprinted on its cover. There is just something magical about buying a new book. Shiny. Crisp. Yours.


Imagine that new book has been recommended to you. The anticipation builds! You know it will be worth buying. Useful, thought-provoking, hopefully enjoyable!


Imagine you have searched online and the shop you are heading to has that book available! Oh, the wonders of modern technology; you know before you get there that the book is in stock. Those magical words. It is there...waiting for YOU.


Sure, you could order it online. But you want it in your hand, that day. Hey, the shop is a mere half an hour walk away. You need some fresh air. You can be reading your very own copy of the book this very day!!
Off you go.


And when you arrive at the shop, having fought your way through crowds of people (August, Edinburgh, busy), you have to catch your breath before you enter. It is a rather large shop. But you know from past experience where the section is you are looking for. It is upstairs; not just one set of stairs, but two. Worth it, worth it, worth it, you chant to yourself as you pant on the uphill climb.


You get to the right section. Breathe, recover composure, find book.


But imagine the book you are looking for is nowhere to be seen. You search nearby shelves; certain that its catchy title will, indeed, catch your eye. Nothing.


Frustrated, you seek help. You approach the nearest desk and, flustered, you muster the following words to the reasonably helpful-looking member of staff:
"Excuse me, I'm looking for a book, I searched online before I got here, and you have it in stock, only I've got here and I don't see it, and I wondered if you could help me, and maybe find the book, and I'm sure its here, thanks, cheers"
"No problem, what is the title of the book you are looking for?"
"Ah, um, well you see, its called, um, Overcoming Anxiety"
"Ok, I'll just have a look for you......yes, it seems to be in stock, follow me and I'll get it for you".


Reasonably helpful member of staff then takes you right back to where you were and proceeds to search in exactly the same way you did, just those five minutes ago. And despite his super insider member of staff knowledge, he can't find it either!!


"Oh. I'm very sorry, it seems to have been moved from where it should be. It is definitely in stock, it must be in the store somewhere. There's no way of knowing where exactly it is. You should probably order it online. Sorry."


And off he goes.


Feeling frustrated? Annoyed? Wanting to start hunting round the whole store to find who the hell has your book? Perhaps even slightly anxious? Where is the book????

Imagine all those feelings. Then scroll back up this post a bit, and re read the title of the book I was searching for that day.
Overcoming anxiety.
Test number one: spectacular fail.