“Who Says You Can’t Teach an Old Dog a New Trick or Two”

Today I was watching the sparrows, ducks, geese and squirrels running around in the park. To me it was simply amazing that they could live completely within the moment and at least from my perspective, appear happy. In fact not one of these animals, not even a squirrel was hording food for tomorrow or appeared concerned about the future.

So what is it that makes humans so different and why do we need more and more?

I mean once we have a roof over our head and enough food to eat, just what is it that pushes us to add all the extras that really plays no part what-so-ever in improving our life – in fact most of it ends up in a garage or a basement?

For me the interesting question is; when is enough, enough and more importantly why?

Or has our internal pain become so great that our only hope for happiness is to throw up enough smoke to trick ourselves that an inflated external persona will fill the void we have internally?

It is quite a gift to realize when enough is enough and that more may not be the answer in life.

The Businessman and the Fisherman

A businessman was on a holiday in a Mexican fishing village. One day he watched a fisherman pull his little boat up onto the beach. After counting the number of fish, the businessman asked the fisherman how long it had taken to catch them.

“Not very long.” answered the fisherman.

“Then, why didn’t you stay out longer and catch more?” asked the businessman.

The fisherman explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.

The businessman asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”

“I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and rest in the afternoon in my hammock. In the evenings, I go visit my friends, have a few beers, sing a few songs….. I have a full and happy life.” replied the fisherman.

The businessman replied, “I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you…… You need to fish longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat. With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one, until you have a large fleet. Instead of selling your fish to a middleman, you can negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to a city here or maybe even in the United States, from where you can run your huge company.”

“How long would that take?” asked the fisherman.

“Oh, ten, maybe twenty years.” replied the businessman.

“And after that?” asked the fisherman.

“After that? That’s when it gets really interesting,” answered the businessman, laughing, “When your business gets really big, you can sell it and make millions!”

“Millions? Really? And after that?” pressed the fisherman.

“After that you’ll be able to retire, move out to a small village by the sea, sleep in late every day, spend time with your family, go fishing, take afternoon naps in a hammock and spend relaxing evenings having a few beers with your friends.”

Life isn’t about what you want – it’s about what you need.

Author Unknown