Food For Thought: December Issue [Hopefully there will be more or you'll think that I only have one thought each month!]

A development planner strolling on the shores of the public lake in a developing community met a fisherman stretched out happily in the sun.

Planner: Why are you not out on the lake fishing?
Fisherman: I caught a big haul yesterday. It brought me enough in sales to last me three days. Why should I fish today?
Planner: Because if you fish today, you can have more money than you have today.
Fisherman: That is true. But why should I have more money than I have today?
Planner: Because with more money you can buy a large mechanised fishing boat.
Fisherman: That is true. But why should I have a large mechanised fishing boat?
Planner: Because with it, you can catch ten times more fish and have ten times more money.
Fisherman: That is true. But why should I catch ten times more fish and have ten times more money?
Planner: Because with that money you can build yourself a large palatial house and a swimming pool.
Fisherman: That is true, but why should I have a large palatial house and a swimming pool?
Planner: Because you can enjoy life and lie in the sun all day.
Fisherman: That is true. But is that not what I am doing now?

10 points for you if you can correctly guess where I got that from?
Y’know, it make me wonder sometimes, just how we got to this stage when we have people like this who can fully appreciate life as it comes by and not just think of the swimming pool and large house at the end.

Of course, my parents would tell me that the large palatial house is better than lounging around now, but it comes down to the same concept. Our concepts and wants are so basic it’s laughable. Why did the planner want him to work hard? In the end, it just boiled down to wanting to have a good rest and a lounge. Which was what the fisherman was doing anyway. If not for the goal of a large palatial house and swimming pool, we could all probably just do the same thing. And with less harm to the environment and those around us too! Just think of the side effects of you wanting to get that house and pool. First you’d have to work yourself to the bone fishing. Stress factor number 1. No time spent with family, no rest time, no social life, nothing. Then once you did manage to get that mechanised fishing boat (possibly after a long and hefty divorce settlement, much paying of bail of the children due to lack of interest in the family and many trips to the doctor for stress medication) you’d begin contributing to the problem of over-fishing, and of destroying the delicate balance of the oceanic ecosystem.
And finally, once you gained yourself that large palatial house and swimming pool, you’re back to where you originally would’ve been. Resting, lounging around, and possibly with half the amount of happiness if you’d resorted your priorities earlier on.
Yeah, sound like a scene from ‘Switch’ the movie, doesn’t it?
Still, I’ve gained an important moral from this story: next time I’ve worked hard, rest. I’d better share this story with my Chemistry teacher then…XD

And yeah, I got it out of the back of my history textbook. Go figure, now you know what we do in history…=S

Mishy <3