To Catch A Fish
Fear of death resides in the abyss of our minds. We claw at its inevitability at some point in our lives. Immortality reigns in all of us then fades, leaving the clear knowledge that yes, we all die—shit, me included.
We go through life with doors opening in front of us, and doors closing behind us. I’m not talking about job opportunities; I’m talking about life. For example, there came a time after the birth of my second child that I acknowledged life’s door to childbearing had shut.
My cousin Tony has achieved the age of 71. Despite his age, he has the drive to excel. But doors have slammed shut in both directions, so he has found a way to capture the endorphins of success in a different way. He fishes.
Each time Tony catches a fish, it is a blast of success—a blast of endorphins. He is driven to fish to experience this. I have no doubt he is masterful at fishing.
Tony and I had a conversation in which he told me he constantly faces his mortality. As our bodies break down, our minds feel the need to propel us forward regardless of the consequences. Our minds drive us towards life often at the risk of the body’s demise. He very well may die with a fishing pole in his hands.
I relayed to Tony my experience on beBee—how every time that little golden globe indicating response or reaction to my work appeared, I would think to myself, I caught a fish. I related the experience to happy days when my youngest and I went deep-sea fishing, and the exhilaration I felt when I caught a fish. Bang—those endorphins strike. I can relate to Tony. I face my mortality every day. I would love to die at the keyboard.
Why do we put our aging, dying, and disabled out to pasture? There is a wealth of experience to be had. The drive to succeed drives on despite obstacles. It seems one has to be able to run through an office appear useful.
In the meantime, Tony and I will fish. We’re here. We’re alive. Those little blasts of success sustain us.
In the end, many of us go fish.
Copyright 2017 Joyce Bowen
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Sobre el autor: Joyce Bowen es un escritor independiente y orador público. Las consultas pueden hacerse en crwriter@comcast.net
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Comments
Devesh 🐝 Bhatt
7 years ago #15
let him fish. Keep writing. Enrich my reading :)
Milos Djukic
7 years ago #14
Milos Djukic
7 years ago #13
Milos Djukic
7 years ago #12
Dear Joyce \ud83d\udc1d Bowen Brand Ambassador @ beBee, I'm more afraid of death of the soul when we are alive. And it is happening occasionally. Your spirit is strong and that's what counts most of all.
Joyce 🐝 Bowen Brand Ambassador @ beBee
7 years ago #11
Thank you more than you know, Milos.
Joyce 🐝 Bowen Brand Ambassador @ beBee
7 years ago #10
Astute observations, as always, Manjit. I have known of people in their 20s killed by our disease. For the very young to face death in the full bloom of life is difficult to swallow. Facing death at any moment brings thoughts of, "it's too soon." I remember the temporary death of my legs in 2012, and this is what came to mind. And the little deaths when we are alive are what grieves us when we're still breathing.
Milos Djukic
7 years ago #9
CityVP Manjit
7 years ago #8
Pascal Derrien
7 years ago #7
Joyce 🐝 Bowen Brand Ambassador @ beBee
7 years ago #6
heheh. Thanks, Fatima. Just a little blurb to complete my Sunday morning, and something that's been buzzing around in my head for a few days now. This was a refreshing write regardless of the subject. It has diverted me from more serious matters and I am grateful.
Joyce 🐝 Bowen Brand Ambassador @ beBee
7 years ago #5
It is my hope that I can convince Tony there are always alternatives. Thanks for the response.
Joyce 🐝 Bowen Brand Ambassador @ beBee
7 years ago #4
😅 I like to think I can move past those moments of bliss, and for now, I still can. Here's hoping I can convince others of that.
🐝 Fatima G. Williams
7 years ago #3
Devesh 🐝 Bhatt
7 years ago #2
Gert Scholtz
7 years ago #1