I once heard an old Polynesian proverb, ‘the Gods do not take from a man’s life the time spent fishing’.

The cynic in me suggests it might have been invented by ancient island chiefs to curb laziness and promote survival of island clans through promoting ongoing fishing and the provision of food. I wonder if the proverb might have a spark of truth in our modern stress filed lives though.

I am not a fisherman but I am around them quite often and one thing I notice is that when fishers are fishing, nothing else matters. Work, finances, the car needing repairs or the home needing maintenance all seem to fade at least for a while and if there is a group of friends there almost always laughter and playfulness. It does not even seem to matter if they go home empty handed. It is about the shining, not the fish.

I know for a fact this fisherman went home with an empty catch but while he was there he was happy and maybe he will live a little longer for it.

Photo: Robert Rath, ‘Day 491, Empty Catch’ 1/80s f/11 ISO125 15mm