I lost Shankar's $500 pen.

It all began with the best of intentions. Shankar Poncelet had this old, second-hand blazer that was too short and wrinkled beyond salvation. I loved him too much to let him keep wearing it, especially to important events. So when we flew to Phoenix for a wedding reception, I made it my secret mission to find him the perfect replacement.

In an Arizonan mall, I saw a sleek linen blazer that I knew would look way better on him. Not one to shop, Shankar tried it on at my request, "This works," he said, like all men ready to get out of a mall.

Once we were back in San Antonio, I asked him to try it on again. "Yes! Now to just get my pen John Lee gave me from the other blazer..." he said walking towards the closet.

That's when the slow panic set in.

"Blazer? You kept the pen in your...blazer? Why?"

"Because I always know where it is and I'm always ready to use my spiffy pen for important events."

"About that...."

You see, in my enthusiasm for decluttering, I had already whisked away the old blazer, along with a bag of other clothes, intending to donate them. Shankar, tired of seeing bags of clothes lying around, had unknowingly tossed them in the garbage. Our treasures weren't at a thrift shop – they were in a landfill. Or so I thought. But no way could I make it all worse.

The pen wasn't just any pen. It was a $500 Mont Blanc, a gift from our mentor John Lee during a highly impactful retreat in Bali. I remember John telling us an entire story about the hassle it was to even just bring over 30 expensive pens through customs without paying a bribe. But he was resilient and didn't let up until he got through and was proud to give them to us all. I felt so privileged.

When I confessed to Shankar, his reaction stunned me. Instead of expressing anger, he took a deep breath, let out a calm sigh, and simply spoke the words he learned from Ken Honda :

"Money flows."

And that was it.

When I frantically offered my own pen as a replacement, he gently declined, acknowledging the irreplaceable sentimental value.

"It's not the same."

Silence filled the air.

I was in love again.

BUT, with time, despite his zen-like patience, guilt weighed on me like a stone. I felt helpless. I couldn't look at my own box with zeal. Every time I passed the closet I got sick. The blazer also held a Bitcoin pin, a symbol of Shankar's passion and financial philosophy. Both, now seemingly lost to my overzealous tidying.

A thought crossed my mind that maybe I should contact John Lee's team. But how could I explain that I'd thrown away such a meaningful gift? So I remained silent, hoping for a miracle I didn't believe would come.

Weeks passed, and life moved on. But just yesterday, as I finished preparing for our month-long road trip from San Antonio to Nashville for the Bitcoin conference, I made a joyous discovery. While going through the closet, I reached into a different blazer's pocket, and my fingers brushed against something smooth and cylindrical.

I wanted to shout, but I didn't know if my coworkers were in a meeting. So I sent a message:

As I held the recovered pen, its inscription caught my eye: "Find Your Freedom." John Lee's gift was not a luxury writing instrument for me. It was almost magical. Any time I had to do anything that required confidence and faith to believe it would happen, I would use that pen.

But all that time I had fretted over its disappearance, I realized I was doing the opposite of what it encouraged though. Perhaps true freedom wasn't in possessing things, but in letting go, in trusting the flow of life - just as Shankar had demonstrated with his zen-like patience.

One day before our anniversary, and five years down the line, I couldn't wait for all the adventures to come with my Mr. Zen – starting with our Bitcoin conference road trip, now complete with recovered talismans. In the end, our anniversary has become celebration of the love, understanding, and deep connection we have fostered.

Here's to many more years of patience, discovery, and love – both big and small – with my beloved Shankar. I'm reminded that our greatest treasures - love, patience, understanding - are always with us, even when we think they're lost.

Happy Independence Day to you!

I've got my fireworks!

By the way, I'm COO at YouGrow.Club. Sign up for Growth Academy updates, insights, and challenges to grow your brand on LinkedIn. Feel free to share this reflection and join the conversation in the comments.