Day 80/365 - "Lost & Found"
365 Days 365 Stories, Come, Slow Down with Stories.
"Lost & Found" - What did you lose? How long did it take for you to find it? Tell a funny one today.
This too is an old World Storytelling Day theme!! One from 2022, I remember the world opening up after spending two years in lockdown. Connections that were lost were being found. (Bad) Habits that were lost were found again. The good ones that were found were lost again!
Of all the things that I remember 2022 for, THIS - 365 Days 365 Stories is my fondest memory. The story goes that this project came out as a result of all that we lost during covid. We lost family members, parts of our lives and memories that kept us together. I didn’t want to us to lose our stories!
80 days into 2025, I hope, 365 Days - 365 Stories has let you find some new stories to tell!
We’ve all been there—frantic, frustrated, and convinced that thing is gone forever. Only to find it in the most ridiculous place. Stories of losing and finding tap into a universal experience. They start with the tension of what’s lost and resolve with relief, surprise, or humor—naturally building a story arc without much effort.
More importantly, "Lost and Found" stories carry layers. Sometimes what we “lose” is an object, sometimes it’s our way, our cool, or even our sanity. Telling these tales, especially the funny ones, gives us a chance to laugh at ourselves and share a slice of real life that everyone can connect with.
Yesterday, at The Story Hour (our community meetup), I shared the story of a moment where I ‘lost’ my temper! Funnily, what I remember is that I lost my temper. I couldn’t recall the story! I remember being very angry. But I couldn’t recall the story! Finding that story, eventually, was a story in itself. You missed it!
How to Use This Story?
✅Icebreaker — Perfect for opening conversations, especially with groups where humor helps break the formality.
✅ Relatability Builder — Use it when you want to humanize yourself or create easy rapport—think team meetings, networking events, or social media posts.
✅ Hidden Sparks — Some of these stories can sneak in a moment of clarity - a spark, like I call it — the virtue of patience, the value of double-checking, or simply the futility of panic. Great for parenting moments or casual mentoring.
Storytelling Tip:
Exaggerate the search! Stretch out the suspense—describe the frantic digging through bags, retracing your steps, blaming the universe. Then, reveal the twist! The best Lost & Found stories work because they make us laugh at the absurdity of everyday life. So have fun with it!
Tell us your Lost & Found moment today! Maybe, just maybe, you’ll find something else along the way. 😊
#SlowDownWithStories and join #365Days365Stories journey!
✨New to 365 Days 365 Stories? Begin here.
✨Spend an hour with yourself. While this prompt will drop into your inbox in the morning, carry it with you through the day. Take a break during the day to recall the events in the story.
✨Journal your story privately if you don’t want to share it openly. Write to me [contact@yourstorybag.com] if you’re following the prompts & enjoying the process.
✨Share your story with your family, friend, colleague, customer, team or even a stranger. Feel free to lead them to **365days365stories.substack.com** so they can join the movement.
✨ If you share it on Instagram [tag @yourstorybag & @rituparna.storyteller] or LinkedIn [Rituparna on LinkedIn] with the hashtags #365days365stories #SlowDownWithStories
✨ If a prompt doesn’t click with you, make your own! I would love to add your prompt to our repository.
✨ Don’t feel like working on a story? Focus on living the story!
Happy Storytelling!
Rituparna