What's Your Why

"Once, someone posed a critical yet sincere question: 'What's your why? Why do you fish?'

It wasn't just the question, it was the tone in which it was delivered. Heartfelt and considerate, as if they knew that there was a deeper meaning that needed to be found. In that moment, my answer lingered in the realm of self-discovery, an introspective journey that unfolded as I began to comprehend the profound and indispensable role fishing has played in shaping the course of my life. It all began at the innocent age of five, a fascination that has, for half a century, woven itself into the very fabric of my existence."

"Each day, in the years that have followed, somewhere between sunrise and sunset, I embark on a quest to connect the dots and unravel the reasons why. I've been cautious not to offer an answer too hastily, avoiding clichés or contrived explanations. To be honest, I believe the answer has been quietly cultivating ever since I watched my first bobber dance. It's something that must be experimented with as you explore and develop techniques, not to be rushed as we navigate the intricacies of the reasons and species that make us tick. It's a prospect of growth as we refine our skills and mature through the process.

With enough casts, you begin to develop an appreciation and awareness for the adaptation of living things. If time is on your side, as it has been for me, passion will find purpose and the understanding that everything changes. The trials and errors of youthful exuberance become meaningful lessons that provide the knowledge for middle age. As we progress towards the wisdom that only nature will allow.

For now, with more years behind me than I likely have in front, the answer is easier to understand than it once was, and I doubt it will change no matter how many casts the future holds. Why do I fish? Because they teach the lessons I struggled to teach myself:

Patience,

Acceptance,

Perseverance,

Determination,

Humility,

Focus.

They taught me how to compete only with myself."

This is my why. This is why I fish.

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