Long time ago, my father told me a story, in those days I didn't pay too much attention to it but many years later I came across again with the same story, however this time the moral for me has changed.Maybe you've heard of it, it's the fisherman's story and its moral can differ depending on the reader ideas. You can share yours in your replies if you wish. I'll be pleased to read them.A successful businessman tourist visited a small coastal village, there he saw a young fisherman arriving to the harbour in his boat, he asked how long it took to fish what he brought.- 'around three hours' he replied.- oh! I figure out that your job must be hard, so what do you do the rest of your time?- well, I wake up late, play a little with my kids, take siesta with my wife, and in the evenings I use to take some drinks with my friends.The tourist got amazed and told him...- What!? But why don't you spend more time working!?- why so?- if you worked more you could get a bigger boat.- and?- then you could set up shop in your village and with the boat proceeds you could get a fleet of fishing boats.- I see, and what for?- after some years you could own many fish markets along the whole country with a lot of employees working for you.- and how long will all these take?- if you work hard you can get it in 20 years- o.k. But, what then?- oh, here is the best part my friend, then you can sell your business and you'll be rich!- so I'll get millions? Wow...! it sounds good. But, then what?- well, it depends on you, then you could move to a beautiful coastal village, fish a little, wake up late, play with your grandchildren, have siesta with your wife and going out with your friends.
Thank you for your sincere advice. Nothing can compare with the beliefs summarized from one’s real experiences and dialectical thinking. I’m touched by your words and lost myself in deep thought for quite a while. I get your point that maybe I should not keep struggling in the dilemma, but try to focus on what I really want and how I feel right now. There might be regret in the future about what if… but who knows, like you said, our thoughts do change in the journey of life. Make up for it when we realize as soon as possible, after all no one is perfect in the world and no one can tell the fortune from the view of gods .
I’d like to make a list of what I truly want my life to be before I’m confused again . Then find a practical way to realize it. There might be something I have to give up, but as a principle, health and love should never be thrown away or took for granted.
Thank you so much for your meaningful blog and suggestion. I really appreciate that.
By the way, it’s never too late to travel the route 66, doing paragliding. 40s, it’s the beginning to harvest. You’re very charming, wise and mature, that’s how I want to be when I am 40. I’m very happy to know you.
Hello Jade, nice to meet you too and wellcome here :)
As I replied to Rajib, this is a personal matter so I just show my own experiences and thoughts. As you Well say, we grow up in society that try to inculcate us to do our best to success in life and I'm not against this since it's also a feature that makes us humans. The problem is when this struggle makes us to become robots and even worse what you mentioned; when it steals our health.
Anyway, age is an important factor to bear in mind. In our youth we want to conquer the world but in a middle age, in my case I start to ask myself these questions and want to do things I've never done before it's too late like hmmm... travel the route 66, doing paragliding, or why not? To get married again in Las Vegas lol... o.k. I just mean that it comes a point when you realise that not all in this life is working and I don't wanna have the feeling of wasting my time. Well, here it has a name; 40's crisis hahaha...
I'd just tell you to to try to be happy whatever you do being confident. Live you life and love yourself ;)
Hi, Estains, this is the first time I say hi to you, since I joined EC last month. Nice to meet you, and I am very lucky to see your blog, because I am the one who’s in the trouble right now. I’ve been thinking about the question for such a long time that I begin to doubt is there really a balance point between work and personal life. Promotion or start a company with more income and self-accomplishment but more overtime work and responsibility, or stay still wondering why am I here being a small gear of the whole machine. I’m stuck. I heard one of my schoolmates had cancer when his company was on track in his early 30s, due to his hard work and irregular lifestyle. And there were news about sudden death in their office when they had too much overtime work, which is very common in the field I work. I’m shocked by the news, and I decide to consider health first.
I’m eager to become the one who leaves office on time, but the reality is no one does except those who earn the least. What should I do if almost all the companies take devoted overtime work as a good culture in a country? I don’t want be in the situation of passive aggressive, which I used to be. Should I fight with the culture, or just give up either the need of achievement or enough spare time for myself?
I think there must be a balance between work and life, if a person devotes his life to work, he is only a good worker but he isn't a good spouse, father and friend.
Nice to meet your alter ego. Please, don't suppress her too much, that's not healthy for you both.
As for serious Evan's comment, I must say I agree too. I'd summarise all the comments in this blog like the searching of a balance between our goals we should set as humans we are and the leisure time we also need to enjoy many things or moments we overlook in an hectic lifestyle.
Again, thanks for reading and comment. I'll start thinking in my next year blog :p
As you well say money is necessary nowadays for better or for worse and our children expect us to be at the height of the society we live in. I didn't mention it but they're another reason why it's supposed we must try to improve and success. Sadly it not only depends on the education we give them but the society we live in too. I wouldn't like if my son was the only boy who don't have a cell among his friends, by other hand if he own any is because he earned it.
Anyway, struggling against society is a loosing battle today.
I,m glad to see you here and I wish you countless successes in your life. We both know you deserve it :)
I consider that taking initiatives in life needs a lot of courage and skills;for some people life is a continuous challenge and they want always more and to prove themselves and to others that they are capable to do certain things....I really apreciate them ,they are astute people and they are always in action .
On the other side there are the other kind of people who are more ”relaxed”....they pretend they don t need too much things in life and that they are happy and content ;I personally think it is almost impossible to be happy without money and without certain things in a society that develops every day ,especially when you have kids ...cause they will never understand what means happiness if you will not provide for them at least an ipod or a smart phone :)
Comments
Dear Estanis,
Thank you for your sincere advice. Nothing can compare with the beliefs summarized from one’s real experiences and dialectical thinking. I’m touched by your words and lost myself in deep thought for quite a while. I get your point that maybe I should not keep struggling in the dilemma, but try to focus on what I really want and how I feel right now. There might be regret in the future about what if… but who knows, like you said, our thoughts do change in the journey of life. Make up for it when we realize as soon as possible, after all no one is perfect in the world and no one can tell the fortune from the view of gods .
I’d like to make a list of what I truly want my life to be before I’m confused again . Then find a practical way to realize it. There might be something I have to give up, but as a principle, health and love should never be thrown away or took for granted.
Thank you so much for your meaningful blog and suggestion. I really appreciate that.
By the way, it’s never too late to travel the route 66, doing paragliding. 40s, it’s the beginning to harvest. You’re very charming, wise and mature, that’s how I want to be when I am 40. I’m very happy to know you.
As I replied to Rajib, this is a personal matter so I just show my own experiences and thoughts. As you Well say, we grow up in society that try to inculcate us to do our best to success in life and I'm not against this since it's also a feature that makes us humans. The problem is when this struggle makes us to become robots and even worse what you mentioned; when it steals our health.
Anyway, age is an important factor to bear in mind. In our youth we want to conquer the world but in a middle age, in my case I start to ask myself these questions and want to do things I've never done before it's too late like hmmm... travel the route 66, doing paragliding, or why not? To get married again in Las Vegas lol... o.k. I just mean that it comes a point when you realise that not all in this life is working and I don't wanna have the feeling of wasting my time. Well, here it has a name; 40's crisis hahaha...
I'd just tell you to to try to be happy whatever you do being confident. Live you life and love yourself ;)
Hi, Estains, this is the first time I say hi to you, since I joined EC last month. Nice to meet you, and I am very lucky to see your blog, because I am the one who’s in the trouble right now. I’ve been thinking about the question for such a long time that I begin to doubt is there really a balance point between work and personal life. Promotion or start a company with more income and self-accomplishment but more overtime work and responsibility, or stay still wondering why am I here being a small gear of the whole machine. I’m stuck. I heard one of my schoolmates had cancer when his company was on track in his early 30s, due to his hard work and irregular lifestyle. And there were news about sudden death in their office when they had too much overtime work, which is very common in the field I work. I’m shocked by the news, and I decide to consider health first.
I’m eager to become the one who leaves office on time, but the reality is no one does except those who earn the least. What should I do if almost all the companies take devoted overtime work as a good culture in a country? I don’t want be in the situation of passive aggressive, which I used to be. Should I fight with the culture, or just give up either the need of achievement or enough spare time for myself?
I will appreciate your advice. Thank you.
Totally agree. That's the way.
Thanks for dropping by, it's always nice seeing you around :)
Hello Estanis
Nice blog!
I think there must be a balance between work and life, if a person devotes his life to work, he is only a good worker but he isn't a good spouse, father and friend.
Nice to meet your alter ego. Please, don't suppress her too much, that's not healthy for you both.
As for serious Evan's comment, I must say I agree too. I'd summarise all the comments in this blog like the searching of a balance between our goals we should set as humans we are and the leisure time we also need to enjoy many things or moments we overlook in an hectic lifestyle.
Again, thanks for reading and comment. I'll start thinking in my next year blog :p
As you well say money is necessary nowadays for better or for worse and our children expect us to be at the height of the society we live in. I didn't mention it but they're another reason why it's supposed we must try to improve and success. Sadly it not only depends on the education we give them but the society we live in too. I wouldn't like if my son was the only boy who don't have a cell among his friends, by other hand if he own any is because he earned it.
Anyway, struggling against society is a loosing battle today.
I,m glad to see you here and I wish you countless successes in your life. We both know you deserve it :)
I've read your travel blogs so I find out that you know well how to invest time, money and who with, so no advices needed to you :)
Ohh.. so you also though of moving to a far dessert island!? Lol... glad that i,m not the only crazy here :D
Hello Estanis,
I consider that taking initiatives in life needs a lot of courage and skills;for some people life is a continuous challenge and they want always more and to prove themselves and to others that they are capable to do certain things....I really apreciate them ,they are astute people and they are always in action .
On the other side there are the other kind of people who are more ”relaxed”....they pretend they don t need too much things in life and that they are happy and content ;I personally think it is almost impossible to be happy without money and without certain things in a society that develops every day ,especially when you have kids ...cause they will never understand what means happiness if you will not provide for them at least an ipod or a smart phone :)
Estanis ,thanks for sharing !
Dear Estains, thanks for sharing your ideas; You are right we all like tourist in practice, few are like fisherman. :)
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