Growing up, fishing was a family affair. We aren’t good at it, we never catch anything worth eating or mounting, and we didn’t have a boat to get us to the quiet part of the lake. Fishing for us had a lot less to do with actual fish than it did spending time being disconnected from the world together.
I like the casting and reeling part. Of course I love catching a fish, and yes, I can take it off the hook all by myself. But waiting for the bobber to sink under the water was never my strong suit. I am impatient. So, I would cast out as far as I could, wait about 2 minutes and swear I felt a tug on the line and start reeling in. Generally, I would lose my bait in the process. Hopefully we were using minnows. I can bait that hook. Worms…NOPE. That is Dad’s job.
My Dad is the type that will have three poles set up and he is watching all of them while simultaneously untangling me from branches, taking a hook out of my little brother’s hand, and keeping the youngest one from drowning. All without a word of complaint. Just enjoying the peaceful chaos of parenthood.
One particular evening, watching the sun set into a bright orange horizon, I was casting and reeling per my usual method.
“Dani,” Dad said. “You can’t catch nothin’ if your hook ain’t in.”
I stopped and stared at him. Even as a teenager, I knew that he wasn’t talking about fishing.
What a simple way to make such a profound statement.
You can have all the gear and be ready to go, hook, line and sinker, but if you don’t stay patient and keep your hook in the water you will never bring in the catch.
It doesn’t matter if you have all the skills, the best training, or loads of natural talent. If you aren’t out doing the work and pursuing the goal and staying focused, then you will achieve nothing.
You must be persistent. You must be intentional. In order to succeed in life you can’t just dabble in the water every once in a while. You have to stay deeply invested. You can’t call it quits when you hit a snag.
Sometimes you have to try new tactics. You may have to move to another side of the pond. But the main thing is to keep placing yourself in a position to win and be diligent. Strategic. Focused. Patient.
And be alert. Be ready. When the big one hits the bait, you better have your eyes on the water and be ready to set the hook to bring in the catch.
Life strategy. That is what my Dad taught me in one simple sentence on a hot, concrete dock with nothing but a $30 fishing pole and a container of nightcrawlers. I got a life lesson I will never forget and a darn good hook for my next song.
Wise man.
~Dani Nicole
Well Water Life 