The Parable of the Mexican Fisherman

What you are passionate about is most likely different than what others are passionate about. What you want with your life is most likely different than what others want with their lives. The differences in desires, dreams, and destinations among us are what make us individuals. This individuality should be cherished. The Parable of the Mexican Fisherman is a story that showcases the difference in desires for what life can look like. It also showcases the simplicity of life and the importance of doing what you love.

The parable starts late morning with an American investment banker on vacation standing at a pier in a small Mexican village. He sees a small boat docked at the pier and inside of the boat there was one fisherman who already had caught several large fish. The American compliments the fish and asks the fisherman how long it took to catch them.

The fisherman replied, “Only a little while.”

The American asked the fisherman what he did with the rest of his time and the fisherman said, “I sleep late, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, and stroll into the village where I sip wine, and play guitar with my friends. I have a full and busy life.”

The American scoffed and suggested that he should spend more time fishing. With more time fishing, the fisherman could sell the extra fish at the market.

The fisherman asks, “But why would I do that?”

The American replies that with the extra money, the fisherman could then hire some of his friends and buy a bigger boat.

The fisherman asks, “But why would I do that?”

The American replies that with the extra money, the fisherman could keep growing his fishing operation until he has a fleet of fishing boats and could eventually open up a canning factory in America to control the whole enterprise. This canning operation could eventually be sold for a lot of money.

The fisherman asks, “But why would I do that?”

The American replies, “So you could sleep late, play with your children, take siestas with your wife, and stroll into the village where you sip wine, and play guitar with your friends.”

The fisherman was already living the life the American businessman described he could be living in the future. The story showcases the idea that you don’t need to wait for retirement to do what you love and be with who you love. You don’t need to wait for “someday” to start doing what you love. With your life, you can start living the way you want to live now. Seek purpose and joy, and start living the life you want to live today.