Living a Better Life Now
If you read enough personal finance books you’re bound to come across the parable about the businessman and the fisherman. I’ve certainly read the story numerous times. It goes something like this: An American businessman is vacationing in a small coastal village in Mexico when he meets a fisherman returning to shore with a few... The post Living a Better Life Now appeared first on A Wealth of…
In a story about the importance of happiness over money, a businessman visiting a coastal village in Mexico meets a fisherman. The businessman compliments the fisherman's catch and asks how long it took to catch. The fisherman replies that it was not long at all. The businessman then asks why the fisherman doesn't stay out longer to catch more fish.
The fisherman explains that he has enough fish to feed and support his family. The businessman then asks the fisherman what he does with the rest of his time, to which the fisherman replies that he sleeps late, fishes a little, plays with his children, takes a siesta with his wife, and strolls into the village at night where he sips wine and plays guitar with his friends.
The businessman scoffs, saying the fisherman is thinking too small and suggesting that he should spend more time fishing and buy more boats, eventually becoming wealthy enough to retire to the beach and do whatever he wants. However, the fisherman points out that he is already doing exactly that. The story goes on to say that George Clooney had a similar realization in real life.
After making millions from his role on ER, Clooney took a motorcycle trip to the Italian Alps and stopped by a small town on Lake Como to visit some friends. He was invited to stay at a lovely estate on the water owned by a member of the Heinz ketchup family. Despite his wealth, Clooney thought the offer was ridiculous and bought the estate instead.
Later, while sitting by the pool alone, he saw construction workers returning from work, singing and passing a bottle of wine. Realizing that they were living their lives better than he was, Clooney decided to put Lake Como on the map as a tourist destination. While discussing the Italian way of life, the author notes that the people are happy and smiling, much like the construction workers Clooney witnessed.
They have a slower, less frantic way of life, enjoying their meals, walking more, and spending time with friends and family over coffee or wine. The author concludes that one does not need a certain amount of money to enjoy their life and that the Italian way of life seems to have it figured out better than the American way.
Written by urgent.news from A Wealth of Common Sense's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
