A Simple Life

Published on by J. Kelland Perry

I love this little story because it embodies my outlook on how we need to enjoy life today. Success doesn’t have to be a future, “pie-in-the-sky” notion of something to strive for or wait for, but what we love and cherish about our lives in the present.100_00461-e1339358593925A Simple Life

A businessman was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The businessman complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied only a little while.

The businessman then asked why he didn’t stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The businessman then asked, but what do you do with the rest of your time? The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos; I have a full and busy life, señor.”

The businessman scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and I could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats; eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the processor and eventually open your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually New York City where you would run your expanding enterprise.”

The Mexican fisherman asked, “But señor, how long will this all take?” To which the businessman replied, “15-20 years.” “But what then, señor?” The businessman laughed and said, “That’s the best part! When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions.” “Millions, señor? Then what?” The businessman said, “Then you would retire. 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, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”

The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, “Isn’t that what I’m doing right now?”

– Author Unknown

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What is your idea of success?
Do you believe you will only find happiness after all your goals are reached?
Or are you happy with what you have right now?

33 thoughts on “A Simple Life”

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  11. I had read this some time ago, but glad I came across your post. I believe that IF we have the basics (adequate food, shelter and enough money to not have to stress over the light bill every month) that success is measured by our feeling of self worth. Whether it be giving a homeless person a couple dollars or helping an elderly or handicapped person load groceries in the car, that feeling of having done something to ease another’s burden or put a smile on their face is a measure of success that others may not see, but we feel inside. Wishing you a lovely day

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    1. Of course, Deb. Not having possession of those basic essentials is not the kind of “simple life” I was suggesting. But if you do have the basics and believe in your own self worth, then you may not realize you already have everything you dreamed of, that is the point of this post. I hope your own situation has improved since the last time I checked in with you. 🙂 Hugs.

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