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Friday, July 18, 2025

The Sunset Test: Success on Your Own Terms

 

On a quiet beach, wrapped in golden light and the hush of rolling waves, a fisherman sat with his pole buried gently in the sand. He wasn’t in a hurry. His line stretched out into the surf, his hat shaded his eyes, and his heart was at peace. The sun was warm, the breeze soft, and his world—simple and content.

That was when a businessman, still wearing his city shoes and the weight of deadlines, wandered down the shoreline. He noticed the fisherman and, in his own way, felt compelled to "help."

“You’ll never catch many fish just sitting there,” the businessman said, half-joking but also half-serious. “You should be working harder—think of your future, your family.”

The fisherman looked up, smiled kindly, and replied, “And what would my reward be?”

“Well,” the businessman began, warming up, “if you worked harder, you could buy better nets and catch more fish.”

“And then?” the fisherman asked again, still smiling.

“Then you could make more money. Maybe even buy a boat, hire others to help. Grow your business.”

“And then?” the fisherman asked again, his tone still calm and curious.

The businessman’s voice rose, slightly exasperated. “Then you could own a fleet of boats! Build a fishing empire! Become rich!”

“And then?” the fisherman asked once more.

“Well,” the businessman said, now nearly shouting, “you could retire. Relax. Sit on a beach. Watch the sunset. Fish a little. You know… enjoy life!”

The fisherman chuckled gently. “And what do you think I’m doing right now?”

The businessman paused. He looked around—the golden sky, the endless sea, the slow, quiet joy of the moment. And for a second, he understood.

The Lesson:
In a world that equates busyness with value and hustle with success, it’s easy to forget that peace, joy, and fulfillment aren’t things you buy later—they’re things you can choose now. Sometimes, the life you’re rushing toward is the one someone else is already living. Not with more, but with less. Not with speed, but with stillness.

So before you run, ask yourself: What’s the real reward?

________

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