WHEN WHAT’S LOST FINDS ITS WAY BACK

One of the things I’ve loved most since moving to South Africa is the people I’ve met—and the depth of the conversations that naturally unfold here.

Last year, at a local swimming pool, I met my friend Jonty.

We kept showing up at the same time, started chatting, and before long, our poolside conversations turned into deep discussions about life, meaning, and perspective.

Today, I want to share his story—and what it taught me.

A Ring Lost… and Found 14 Years Later

Jonty got married in Mauritius in 2007.

For his wedding, he had his ring handcrafted by a local jeweller in Umhlanga (Gary Cherry).

Shortly after returning to South Africa, while diving and swimming in the local ocean tidal pool, he lost the ring.

It was gone.

Never found.

Or so he thought.

Fourteen years later, the same local jeweller who had crafted the ring called him and asked:

“Did you ever lose your wedding ring?”

Of course, Jonty said yes.

What followed was incredible.

A man on the beach—who had recently lost his job in construction during Covid — like so many others. With bills to pay and no clear path forward, he did what he could. He bought a metal detector and started walking the coastline. One day, after hours in the sun, exhausted, he decided to cool down at the local tidal pool in the souther coast of Umdloti. He walked into the water, dove under… and saw something shining.

A ring.

When he picked it up, he noticed a mark engraved inside—the signature of the local jeweller in Umhlanga.

Instead of selling the ring and making money, he chose a different path.

He traced the mark back to the original maker, who then contacted Jonty.

Even more surprising?

The man who found the ring lived just one kilometer away from Jonty.

They met.

And the ring was returned.

When Jonty asked him why he didn’t sell it, the man replied:

“The value of this ring isn’t money.It represents a marriage.”

What This Story Teaches Us

Jonty reflected deeply on this moment and came to two powerful realizations.

First:

Even when something feels lost—ended, broken, or gone—that doesn’t have to be the end of the story.

There is hope for things to come back around.

Or for something new and even greater to emerge.

When we fix our eyes on something bigger than the present difficulty, our actions change. We stop reacting to what’s lost and start moving toward what matters.

Second:

The man with the metal detector lived by clear values.

His moral compass mattered more than financial gain.

Returning the ring aligned with who he wanted to be.

Two Principles That Matter

1. Vision gives hope beyond the moment

If you’re a professional or NCAA athlete, ask yourself:

What is your vision beyond injury?

Beyond results?

Beyond the day you eventually stop competing?

Without a vision that extends past what you’re most attached to, setbacks can feel like the end of everything.

With vision, they become part of a larger journey.

2. Values anchor how you show up

If you’re a CEO, entrepreneur, or manager, you know this well:

Pressure rises.

Sales fluctuate.

Conflict appears.

Tension builds.

Without clear values, external circumstances will dictate how you lead, speak, and act.

But when you choose 1–2 core values that define how you want to show up, leadership becomes an inside-out process.

Your decisions stop being reactions—and start becoming expressions of who you are.

A Final Thought

Vision gives direction.

Values give stability.

Together, they shape how we move forward—especially when things feel uncertain or difficult.

And sometimes, as Jonty’s story reminds us,

what seems lost… may still find its way back.

If you’d like support clarifying your vision or anchoring your values, feel free to reach out.

I’d be happy to help.