Fishosophy

     They say a person can learn a lot about life from fishing.  This is, as our ancestors said, as may be.  I can’t speak to it.  I gave up fishing at the ripe old age of eight or so when my excitement at actually catching a fish was dashed when I was told I had to throw it back (it was ALMOST as long as my thumb.)  But I WILL say there are life lessons to be learned from looking at POSTCARDS about fishing.

     BE PROACTIVE.  Our postcard cartoonists were nearly unanimous in rejecting the old saying that “All things come to those who wait.”  Postcards flourished in the age which honored the go-getter, the person who went out and took the good things in life without waiting in line.

     UNDERSTAND YOUR PRIORITIES.  Before you can go out and get what you want, of course, you need to decide what that is.  Once you’ve made that decision your course becomes clearer.  As the fine old motto has it: Plan your work and then work your plan.

     REMEMBER YOUR GOALS: Don’t let yourself be distracted from your main aim by other possibilities.  You need to stick to your plan once you’ve planned your stick.  (Wait, that’s not quite…..)

     NEVER SETTLE.  The go-getting ideal does not accept substitutes, or “almost good enough”.  Keep aiming for the stars.  (note: you need to be fairly definite about that.  I can find almost no postcards which involve going after starfish.)

     ON THE OTHER HAND, LET’S BE REASONABLE.  Hey, Captain Ahab went after what he wanted, knew what it was, and wouldn’t settle.  And look what it got him: star billing in a classic tragedy.  You should sometimes reassess your priorities and goals.  Beats drowning.

     FOLLOW THROUGH: Yes, getting there is half the fun.  But if you want ALL the fun, be prepared to deal with what you wanted once you get it.

     THINK TWICE, SPEAK ONCE.  Many postcards remind us of the main work hazard of being a fish.  If a fish would just keep his mouth shut….

     WHENEVER POSSIBE, JUST TELL THE TRUTH.  One of the downfalls of those who talk too much is that when they have something actually significant to say, no one is listening any more, especially if they are known for giving in to that common fishing fib habit.

     PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE.  You will often find they know what they’re talking about.  (This doesn’t mean you HAVE to believe that story about the three hundred pound catfish, or always put your hat on backward until you get in the boat.   But you can’t sort out the good advice from the so-so unless you listen to all of it.  Speaking of which, never forget this blogger’s main watchword: Everything In the World is Off By a Quarter of an Inch.  If that fish back in nineteen-aught-whatever had been a quarter of an inch shorter, I wouldn’t even have been able to see it, and might not have become so disillusioned so young.)