When Things Don’t Go Quite to Plan: A Gas Leak Adventure
- Kirsty Heap
Reflecting on the events, I saw how my dyslexia and neurodivergent strengths had helped me navigate a crisis effectively.
Working from home has its perks, but it also demands reliable broadband speed for all the online meetings and training sessions. So, we decided to upgrade our internet. What should have been a straightforward task quickly became a series of unexpected challenges.
First, we discovered that the channel where the new line needed to come up had been blocked during some previous building work when we added a porch. We dug down to expose the area; however, when the BT technician arrived, he realised the space was not quite large enough. Being kind, he offered to make the hole slightly larger, and set to work with his screwdriver, chisel and drill.
Then came the firm rapid banging on the door. As I opened the door, I inhaled a scent no one wants to smell…. gas! The smell was filling both our nostrils and the porch as the technician explained, speaking rather swiftly with a tense sound in his voice, how he had accidentally hit a gas pipe. I could see the panic on his face. Normally, I would take a deep breath to ensure I remain calm and to buy myself some time to think about what my first step would be, but standing right above the leaking gas pipe did not seem sensible. Instead, I asked if he knew how to turn off the gas at the mains, which were located by the porch. He did, so I advised him to do that while I called emergency gas repairs. I closed the door behind me and took the deep, slow, soothing breath I needed, said to myself out loud, “Right, let’s get this resolved, girlie”, and set to work to find the right number I needed to call.
I felt calm and focused, my mind swiftly moving into problem-solving mode to handle the situation without increasing the technician’s stress. Once the necessary calls were made, I realised I wouldn’t be doing any of my scheduled calls that day. I sent emails to clients explaining the situation and cancelling my meetings. My mind today needed to be focused on the new obstacles that had presented itself today, gas!
I offered the technician a cup of tea; being a Brit, I feel this is always one of our go-to resources to soothe nerves—and spent the next 45 minutes calming him down. We talked about his frustrations and concerns about his company’s reaction. I listened actively, reassured him where I could, and supported him as best as possible. Another technician arrived to ensure the gas was properly turned off and assess the damage.
While the second technician couldn’t repair the pipe himself, he reassured me that someone would be sent that day to fix it. Just like the gas dissipated, so did the panic and stress that initially filled the air with the first technician; I think he was worried he would be leaving us without gas for an unknown period of time. We only use gas for the heating, and it was not that cold now, so it was nothing that a good pair of fluffy socks and a hot water bottle and blanket could not resolve. As we waited, the technicians and I discussed what I did for a living. I am a neurodivergent coach and trainer, I said. I find this can be met in a variety of ways, a puzzled look, which I take as, please explain more, but not today. Today was met with, wow, that is great; they both shared stories of people they knew who were neurodivergent, their children, and work colleagues. The conversation flowed a bit like the gas had at the start of this situation and concluded with how everyone is unique, and there are many strengths with various neurotypes which can lend themselves well to different situations.
By the end of the day, the gas pipe was repaired. The next morning, whilst out walking as I do most days, I felt unusually exhausted and realised that although I had remained calm, my energy had been sapped more than I’d noticed. It reminded me of the swan analogy: calm on the surface but paddling furiously underneath.
Reflecting on the events, I saw how my dyslexia and neurodivergent strengths had helped me navigate a crisis effectively. Problem-solving came naturally, guiding me through an unfamiliar situation with clarity. This experience reaffirmed the value of understanding and leveraging neurodiverse strengths in everyday life.
This experience highlighted how crucial it is to understand and embrace our neurodivergent strengths. Whether you’re facing an unexpected crisis or navigating daily challenges, knowing your unique abilities can make all the difference.
