I was thinking... October 15, 2023
My goal is to write at least 100 words a day for at least five days each week. Here's this week's collection.
Responsibility
Louis Cahill, of Gink and Gasoline fame, wrote an intriguing article, “Competitive Fishing and Responsibility”1 that got me thinking. I share Cahill's view of fishing competitions for many of the same reasons. They have their place and following, but they aren't my cup of tea. What got me thinking was this: “The kind of fishing I do, if you’re a better angler, you’re obligated to help others.”
Read the article to see what lead to the comment. As a guide, I get paid to help others. It's a side hustle that won't make me rich. I don't do it for the money anyway. I do it because I like it because of the psychic income that comes from helping others. My experience is fly-fishing, and my experience validates Cahill’s statement. I hope it is always so.
Is it necessary?
A quote from Oscar Wilde, “We live in an age when unnecessary things are our only necessities,“ got me thinking. Unnecessary casts a wide net. It can be words, action or stuff. After I read the quote, I started mentally cataloging the unnecessary things I say or do or carry with me, especially fishing. I asked, “are these really necessary?” I’m about to change from my summer fishing vest to my fishing pack. As I do that, I’ll be thinking hard about the unnecessary. As I go about my day, I’ll be thinking more about the unnecessary word, action or response, especially on social media. In social situations, I already know less can often be more.
Don’t panic
I read something on Threads2 the other day that got me thinking. It related a story about problem-solving. The first step to problem-solving is don’t panic. Why? Because we know more than we think. Of course, I immediately recalled all the times I was fishing when the situation had started to unravel and the tendrils of concern, frustration or panic started to tickle. I’m not talking about the full-on debilitating panic, although this still applies. I was thinking more about the everyday situations that annoy or aggravate me. In each case, after a few calming breaths, I got my act together and started resolving the situation.
Correction
This one can be trouble. I can be a loudmouth, opinionated jerk sometimes. I rarely intend to be. I let the situation or my less than better angels overwhelm my good sense, education and upbringing. I also have a low tolerance for bad behavior. That can be a volatile mix.
Kirk Deeter offered some good advice in his article, Teaching versus Telling,3 “In the guide context, however, I definitely think something should be said at some point. It should be ‘taught, not told.’ That needs to happen peer-to-peer, from one guide to another. It shouldn’t happen in front of the clients, rather, it should be a mentoring conversation that happens at the takeout,or over cold suds somewhere. But it should happen.” The balancing act between not falling victim to righteous indignation and just letting it go is tricky. I’d like to think my guiding experience has helped me teach more than tell. I agree with Deeter that calling out unacceptable behavior should happen. But as Deeter also points out, how I do it matters.
Obligations
When I was younger, say half as old as I am now, I used to say yes to a lot of things that took time away from other things. Saying yes created an unwritten obligation to fulfil the request. And, truth be told, those obligations were my fault. I could have said no, but for whatever reason, I didn’t. And the guilt feeling that came with either not wanting to do it any longer or having to back out were pretty unpleasant. These days “no” or “no thanks” is an easier response and I’m not feeling the least bit guilty. I’m measuring my time more carefully and trying to pack the most fulfilling things into the time remaining. And yes, I realize this might conflict with the first item in this series, but those obligations, for me, are responsibilities, and that is a whole different enchilada.
Find me on Threads @tsadler540
I have considered becoming a guide in my spare time. What is stopping me currently is how much time I spend ‘guiding’ now in my business and a fear that I will get burned out. I am one of the fortunate ones to have benefited from you quest to teach.