I hope you had a meaningful Thanksgiving yesterday.
The day after a holiday can feel a bit strange. It carries part gratitude, part exhaustion, and part sense of going back to normal, but not quite. It is one of those quiet reset moments where you can actually feel the contrast between busy and still, between expectation and presence.
Today feels softer. Less loud. Less demanding.
And in that stillness, it reminded me of a story I love and return to often.
The businessman was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The businessman complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied only a little while.
The businessman then asked why he didn’t stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The businessman then asked, but what do you do with the rest of your time? The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos; I have a full and busy life, señor.”
The businessman scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and I could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats; eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the processor and eventually open your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually New York City where you would run your expanding enterprise.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But señor, how long will this all take?” To which the businessman replied, “15-20 years.” “But what then, señor?” The businessman laughed and said, “That’s the best part! When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions.” “Millions, señor? Then what?” The businessman said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”
Why This Story Always Lands Differently
The reason I love this story is because it never lands the same way twice.
It lands differently depending on where you are in your life, what season you are in, and what you are chasing or questioning at the moment.
Today, the day after Thanksgiving, it lands as a gentle reminder.
What Today Quietly Teaches Us
We do not need to wait to practice presence.
We do not need to earn rest.
We do not need a perfect future moment to appreciate what is already here.
Yesterday may have been full, chaotic, joyful, complicated, or all of the above. Holidays often are. But today offers something different.
It offers a pause.
- A slower morning.
- A warm cup of something.
- A breath that does not feel rushed.
- A moment to reset without expectations.
These small things are easy to overlook, but they are often where life is actually happening.
A Moment of Gratitude
I also want to say how grateful I am for you.
You have allowed us at Mindful Wellness to be part of your care, your growth, and your story. In the five years since starting MW, helping thousands of people change how they see themselves and their lives has been the most meaningful work of my career.
That trust is never taken lightly.
A Gentle Closing Note
Before I sign off, a quick note in case it is helpful.
