Maria made a great comment last month on my measurements post in regards to "living in the present." Sometimes we get too caught up in achieving certain results that we forget to have "joy in the journey" throughout our lives. I completely and totally agree.
I read a great story today that helps explain how some people often live for the future and forget to live in the present, whereas others understand this important concept. An American business man takes a vacation to a small Mexican village on doctor's orders. One day he saw a Mexican fisherman docking his boat. The boat had some high quality yellow-fin fish in it. The business man asks the fisherman how long it took to catch the fish. "Only a little while" was the reply.
"Why don't you stay out there longer and catch more fish?"
"I have enough to support my family and give a few to friends."
"But, what do you do with the rest of your time?"
The Mexican tells him that he sleeps late, fishes a little bit, plays with his children, takes a siesta with his wife, and strolls into the village every evening and enjoys it with his Amigos.
In response the business man told the fisherman that he had an MBA from Harvard, and he had the perfect solution for the fisherman. He could spend more time fishing, catch more fish, and using the business mans practices could eventually own an entire fleet. He would have to move away, eventually to New York to manage his new empire. He would eventually take the business public and would be worth millions. It wouldn't take more than 25 years.
The Mexican asks what he would do after he had made his millions. The business man responded, "then you would retire and move to a small coastal fishing village, where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife..."
I think this makes a great point. Live your life now. Goals are important, results do matter. However, if we get too caught up in trying to achieve the wrong results, we will waste our life away. Focus on living and enjoying your life all the time. Not 20-50 years down the road.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
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3 comments:
I liked the story. It's probably one of the great secrets of happiness to enjoy what you have, especially if what you have is what you ought to enjoy. I love this quote from Aristotle: "To enjoy the things we ought and to hate the things we ought has the greatest bearing on excellence of character." By nature, we pursue the things that we value, so it's worthwhile to pause and reflect on what is valuable to us and why, or maybe whether or not such a thing even should be valued by us. We can get tricked into chasing one man's junk instead of our treasure.
I absolutely agree. Very nice story.
Thank you for sharing the story. I think I needed to hear it right now. :)
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