08/12/2023
As I strolled along the tranquil shores of a quaint Calabrian fishing village, a peculiar exchange unfolded before me. A tourist, with an air of urbanity that seemed out of place in such a rustic setting, approached the local fishermen.
"Your fish are truly exquisite! How long does it take to catch them?" The tourist inquired with genuine curiosity.
"Not very long," came the collective reply from the weathered fishermen, their voices carrying the weight of generations spent at sea.
Undeterred, the tourist pressed on. "Why not stay out longer and reel in a greater haul?"
The fishermen exchanged knowing glances before one spoke up, "We catch just enough to sustain our families and savor life's simpler pleasures."
Perplexed, the tourist persisted, "But what occupies the remainder of your time?"
With a gentle smile, the fishermen revealed their daily rituals of familial bonds and communal camaraderie. "We chat in the piazza, play with our children, and relish evenings filled with music and merriment."
The tourist, evidently a man of ambition, interjected eagerly, "I have an MBA from Harvard. Allow me to impart some wisdom. Expand your operations, increase your profits!"
"And then what?" countered the fishermen, their curiosity piqued.
The tourist painted a picture of grandeur—of opulent boats and bustling businesses in faraway metropolises. "You could reside in Milan, London, or even New York City!"
The fishermen exchanged bemused looks, their weathered faces betraying a sense of skepticism. "How long would such a venture take?" they inquired.
"thirty years," came the reply, if you really worked hard, perhaps only twenty-five years.
"And what then?" The fishermen pressed, their voices tinged with curiosity.
The tourist chuckled, "Why, then you'd retire in a beautiful seaside village and spend your days fishing, chatting with friends, and enjoying time with friends and family, enjoying the fruits of your labor?"
With a shake of their heads, the fishermen offered a poignant reminder: "Respectfully, sir, we have all that now. Why postpone happiness for a distant future?"
As I walked away, their words lingered in the salty breeze, a poignant reminder to cherish life's simple joys, for true wealth lies not in material riches but in the richness of experience.
And the moral of this story is:
Know where you're going in life, you may already be there! Many times in life, money is not everything.
“Live your life before life becomes lifeless”
Discover the village in the photo on https://www.italymammamia.com/scilla-chianalea.html
More from Italy on https://www.italymammamia.com/most-beautiful-places-in-italy.html
Story inspired by Anekdote zur Senkung der Arbeitsmoral by Heinrich Böll which many believe was set in Italy. Certainly not in Mexico which later versions implied.
