Food For Thought

There are very few places where the adage "food for thought" actually has real meaning but whenever I go to Jimmy John's Sandwich Shop, not only is the food fast, nutritious, and delicious but the signs they have are really interesting and fun to read as well. Just the other day I read the following sign and I think it does have a great meaning behind it. I think it can be summed up in one short phrase: success does not create happiness but happiness creates success.

Here is what the sign actually said:

How Much is Enough?

The American businessman was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow-fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied only a little while. The American then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs. The American then asked, but what do you do with the rest of your time?

The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full and busy life, senor.”

The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise.” The Mexican fisherman asked, “But senor, how long will this all take?” To which the American replied, “15-20 years.”

“But what then, senor?”

The American laughed and said that’s the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions.

“Millions, senor? Then what?”

The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”

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I think a lot of people do not have a real sense of what is important in life. I think they have their priorities all wrong. It is true. A lot of Americans are more worried about money and making money. But do they know how to truly enjoy in life? Do we lose sight of what makes us happy in our attempts to provide ourselves with luxury and security? What is the point of all of that? Is it worth the cost of letting memories and experiences pass us by?

 

For me, the most important thing in my life are the relationships and friendships that I have. God is first. Once I am married, my wife will be the next most important person in my life. Following her will be the relationship I have with myself, then my kids, then my family, and everyone else. Still, I realize that I need to enjoy my life. Just because I am not married or have a family yet, does not mean that life sucks. Life is good. I can be happy as I wait for opportunities to come along. Every once in a while, I have those days when I have to remind myself that my life is blessed and that God is watching over me. This doesn't mean that my life is easy or that I expect it to be. That would be naïve. Despite the hardships and tough experiences, I know that I am blessed and that I can overcome anything with His help.