Putting it all in perspective

Topic: Putting it all in perspective (Read 3324 times) previous topic - next topic

Putting it all in perspective

February 04, 2006, 11:09:49 PM

Read this on another forum. Thought I would share it with you guys, really makes you think.

[COLOR="Blue"]A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village. An American tourist complimented
the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took
him to catch them.

"Not very long," answered the Mexican.

"But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" asked the
American.

The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs
and those of his family.

The American asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with
my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a
few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs . . I have a full life."

The American interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you!
You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat."

And after that?" asked the Mexican.

With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one
and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers.
Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate
directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You
can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or
even New York City! From there you can direct your huge new enterprise."

"How long would that take?" asked the Mexican.

"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years," replied the American.

"And after that?"

"Afterwards? Well my Friend, That's when it gets really interesting,"
answered the American, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you
can start selling stocks and make millions!"

"Millions? Really? And after that?" said the Mexican.

"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the
coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta
with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."

And the moral is: Know where you're going in life... you may already be there!!!![/COLOR]

Putting it all in perspective

Reply #1 – February 05, 2006, 04:44:13 AM

I must be in a mood or something.

"there are two dates on your tombstone, it's not about the date you where born and it 's not about the date you have died it the dash in the middle that counts"

Putting it all in perspective

Reply #2 – February 05, 2006, 11:41:14 AM

Siestas and minimum work are great ... until the kids go to college and someone in the family needs surgery

Money makes the world go round :(

Putting it all in perspective

Reply #3 – February 06, 2006, 12:40:19 AM

Its not about having what you want, its wanting what you already have that counts.

Money may make the world go around but its the stuff you get for free that makes it worth sticking around.

I never could understand why a person would want to work 9 hours a day 5-6 days a week for 40 years just to retire and die 5 years later.

Right now I get to watch my step father fight cancer, after dealing with numerous health problems for the last 6 years (mainly lungs) and being diagnosed with mild MS. He retired 3 years ago and has spent most of his retirement sick going in and out of hospitals.

He spent 28 years at the same job, working long hours and tons of overtime just so he can 'comfortably retire' and a lot of good that money is going to do him now, He'll probabally die within 5 years of retiring like 60% of the people he worked with in that time.

I'll take poor and happy over rich and miserable any day.

Putting it all in perspective

Reply #4 – February 06, 2006, 01:42:42 AM

I know what you mean...I value my free time like nothing else. I'm less than a semester away from graduating college and not looking forward to possible 40+ hour weeks at a job.

Putting it all in perspective

Reply #5 – February 06, 2006, 10:04:28 AM

Quote from: tbirdscott

I'll take poor and happy over rich and miserable any day.

Amen, brotha.

That's why I'm leaving the land of beer and honey to live at home, with my family and friends, in the place I belong. I'll be taking a hefty pay cut, assuming I find a job, but cost of living is much lower, the people are far more friendly, and life is just more relaxed and slow there.

If I stayed in the city, sure I'd be fairly well off, and I could have all the toys I want, but I'm positive my heart would explode from stress mixed with road rage within ten years. Not worth it.

Putting it all in perspective

Reply #6 – February 06, 2006, 11:23:40 AM

Quote from: oldraven

Amen, brotha.

If I stayed in the city, sure I'd be fairly well off, and I could have all the toys I want, but I'm positive my heart would explode from stress mixed with road rage within ten years. Not worth it.

I know the feeling! If I moved away I could be making much more than I'm making here. Even if I just moved to Halifax I could be making $5k per year more doing the same job.

I want to move back "'round da bay" but my wife won't hear of it. I told her when I retire we're selling the house and I'm moving back. She can either stay or come with - it's up to her BUT I'M GOING. :)

Putting it all in perspective

Reply #7 – February 06, 2006, 11:30:39 AM

I agree with it all, mostly.

"you cannot buy happiness" TRUE, very very true, but it also hard to be happy when you are poor and fighting just to buy groceries and pay for gas to get to work and fighting over money with your wife.

a little bit of money goes along way, I don't need to be rich, but it would be nice to be able to not stress over money either.

Putting it all in perspective

Reply #8 – February 06, 2006, 12:13:31 PM

Quote from: Funky Cricket

I agree with it all, mostly.

"you cannot buy happiness" TRUE, very very true, but it also hard to be happy when you are poor and fighting just to buy groceries and pay for gas to get to work and fighting over money with your wife.

a little bit of money goes along way, I don't need to be rich, but it would be nice to be able to not stress over money either.

No matter how much money you have, you will always stress over it. Don't be fooled by the machine.

Putting it all in perspective

Reply #9 – February 06, 2006, 01:09:39 PM

In the words of Notorious B.I.G.

"Mo' money, mo' problems."

Being happy with your life and who you are can never be bought with a bigger paycheck.

Putting it all in perspective

Reply #10 – February 06, 2006, 03:38:56 PM

That`s exactly i was talking with mom, yesterday. about the true meaning of "money" and "happiness"....

Of course, she lives in a tiny mexican village...

Sorry, i`m not good since i knocked my head with something and dont remember certain things....

Putting it all in perspective

Reply #11 – February 06, 2006, 03:42:45 PM

Quote from: jkirchman

In the words of Notorious B.I.G.

"Mo' money, mo' problems."

Being happy with your life and who you are can never be bought with a bigger paycheck.

Jim your so cool for qouting Notorious! I'll give you the first rep point I've ever given!

Putting it all in perspective

Reply #12 – February 06, 2006, 03:56:51 PM

Hmm, well I used to live in a $250,000 house with my dad pulling at least $5000 a month. And we had lots of nice things. After my mom and dad got divorced, now he makes maybe $2000 a month and we live in a 100,000 house.

I hated it at first, but I like living where I do more. Rich people can be pretty stuck up all the time. All my old freinds I play nintendo and things like that. All my new freinds, we just hang out and talk. Some times help each other with our cars.

I like just hanging out way more then the new xbox 360's.

Putting it all in perspective

Reply #13 – February 06, 2006, 04:19:00 PM

Hey me and my wife talk about htis all the time. We make enough to be comfortable but not rich by any means.......We think back to when we first got married I was working Full time for minimum wage she was working part time for minimum and going to college. We had our own place and everything. Its funny when we were both making 4.25 an hr, how much simpler life was and how much more we enjoyed things we did. When you can afford to do the things you once couldnt they tend to loose their appeal. We wish sometimes things were back like they were. When going out to dinner and a movie was the best evening together that you could have., or even to go walking on the beach cause you couldnt afford anything else. Once you have the money to do other things these small enjoyable things seems to disappear.

Putting it all in perspective

Reply #14 – February 06, 2006, 11:41:07 PM

yup i agree but with money it helps you think your happy cuz you end up a the shrink and then you can get drugs

but seriously you need money for chicks