“The Treasure I Never Found”

“The Treasure I Never Found”

There are stories of people stumbling upon treasures — a long-lost coin glinting in the sand, an old letter tucked behind a cupboard, or a childhood trinket rediscovered in the attic. The world seems to delight in rewarding those who chance upon forgotten wonders. But as for me — I must confess — I have never found a thing worth keeping. Not even a lost button that could claim some sentimental worth!

Perhaps, fate has decided that my share of treasures must come not from things, but from thoughts. While others have tales of lucky finds, I have had only fleeting moments that slip like sand through my fingers — a smile from a stranger, a sunset too beautiful to photograph, a tune that hummed itself into silence. Each time I tried to hold on, life whispered, “Not everything found can be kept.”

As a child, I dug under mango trees in the hope of finding ancient coins — none appeared. As an adult, I rummaged through drawers expecting to find forgotten notes — not a penny. Even my attempts to unearth “treasures of wisdom” often ended in misplaced spectacles or vanished pens! It seems the universe delights in keeping me guessing, while others walk away with their pockets full of surprises.

But over time, I realised something profound: the coolest thing I never found is perhaps contentment in not finding. There’s a certain liberation in emptiness — a quiet joy in knowing that life owes me no souvenirs. The beauty of the journey lies not in what we clutch, but in what we observe, feel, and remember.

So, while others boast of coins, curios, and crystals, I celebrate my unclaimed discoveries — laughter shared with family, moments of solitude that bred creativity, and memories that outshine material finds. Maybe the coolest thing I ever found is that I needn’t find anything at all.

And as for ending on a lighter note — here’s my poetic confession:

I sought for gold beneath the ground,
But worms were all that I had found.
I searched the attic, dust and gloom —
Sneezed my way right out the room!

I checked my coat for coins of yore,
Just lint and crumbs — and nothing more!
Yet through it all, I’ve come to see,
The best finds… often find you — free!

So if life’s pockets turn out bare,
Don’t sulk or curse what isn’t there;
For laughter’s light and friendship’s sound —
Are treasures best when never found!