Victor and the fisherman

Victor is a fifty-year-old Dutchman who moved to Dubai for work and has lived there for many years now. His life is nothing short of enviable: a growing career, profuse wealth, and the dream of a splendid family that he has achieved in the setting of the United Arab Emirates.

One day Victor, during one of his travels, meets Massi, a humble fisherman who lived in a small house near the ocean.

Victor had taken a break and went to sit on the beach, as he loved to do when he wanted to be alone with his thoughts and as he took off his shoes… he saw a man, standing a few meters from him, with a fishing rod in hand and greeted him:

«Good morning, what are you fishing? Is this a lucky day?»

«Hi, I’m fishing for mullets but it’s not easy to find them here near the shore, I usually take the boat and go out to sea. But today, my desire was to stay barefoot and free my pressing thoughts… for this reason even a lean peach will brighten my day.»

«Uh… I understand, I come here too, as often as I can and ask the sea, about the thousand whys of life and it seems that it, through the waves, sends me the answers. I never got the wave only to a single question and disenchantment doesn’t calm the storms in me.»

«Please, allow me to be indiscreet and know what you’re asking for?»

«Of course, I ask him why I can’t feel happy and satisfied, despite the fact that I’ve achieved everything from life: work, success, wealth, a family… yet it’s like if something is always missing.»

«I believe the sea has already answered you!» said the fisherman.
«Maybe you should stop wondering and start enjoying your fortunes. For example, even being seated in front of such a spectacle, flat calm, is to be considered a fortune, don’t you think?»

«Yes, this is true. As a matter of interest, what were you thinking about, before I bothered you?»

«Me?… I was thinking about how happy I feel, to not wanting anything other than everything I have in my humble life: a small house, a fishing rod, and the sea.»

It always depends on what point of view we observe things but, mostly, on how we live them. Sometimes looking too far makes us lose sight of what is beautiful in the palm of our hand.