What makes you happy? Scratch that…what brings JOY into your life? I am a happy person in general, but there are things that really add a lot of joy to my life. This is one of those things…
Clearly in this picture you can see that Fly Fishing brings me joy. Catching that gorgeous brown trout way back in a rugged canyon on a small stream in AZ was one of the best moments of my life. My Dad was with me, and he netted the fish and took the photo. It was an amazing experience. And by the way, since I catch and release everything, I caught that same fish again this summer too!
Fly Fishing isn’t the only thing that makes me happy, there are several things I love to do. I consider myself a happy person in general; I don’t lead a perfect life, devoid of all things that would be stressful or irritating. Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you deal with it. It’s funny though, I don’t want to go fly fishing every day. The reason moments in time like this are so special is because they are rare and unique. If I hiked into that same canyon every day and caught a big brown trout, it wouldn’t be special. Even if I was the only person doing it, the moment would not have the same weight after a short time. We as humans are cursed with the need for variety and challenge, otherwise we get bored. No wonder the divorce rate is so high!
As I write this on Sept, 7th, 2019 I am one day away from something I consider practically a dream come true. I am taking a client on a fly fishing trip. That’s right, I am getting paid to fly to Colorado and fish for two days with a local guide on the Dream Stream…and all on the company dime. I have only been there once before, but I remember it like it was yesterday. It is considered to be one of the most technical fly fishing streams in the country, meaning that the fish are pickier here than almost anywhere else. By hiring a local guide, we up our chances of catching fish, but as with life in general, there are no guarantees.
We will walk several miles each day, combing the stream bed, looking for big fish lying in wait. The air will be crisp and clear, the temperature a pleasant 70ish degrees. I will feel the sun on my skin, hear the light breeze rustling the open plains grasses surrounding me, blended with the gurgling sounds of the water. It will be glorious, and I am more excited about this than most things I do.
Whatever it is that brings this kind of joy into your life, cherish and protect it. Make time for it; you deserve to feel this way too. Carve out time to make sure you stop and smell the roses in your life. We are all busy, we all have priorities, but you have to make sure that you are one of your priorities. No one else will.
Create your own moments like this one, and be sure to enjoy it, as they are fleeting.
