“Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.” - Henry David Thoreau
I spent the day with a Southeast Alaskan family, tagging along on their trip to Sullivan Island, just south of Haines. We reached it by skiff, navigating the waters to a place known for its dense deer population. The plan? To bring home some venison to stock up for winter. But the deer remained elusive, leaving the family empty-handed this time.
What stood out to me was their quiet resourcefulness and a steady appreciation for the experience itself. Whether you come back with what you hoped for or not, it’s about being out there and knowing there’s always a next time.
It reminded me of fishing: you throw the net out and hope to catch something, but regardless of the outcome, you keep fishing and strategizing. One minute, you can sink the net full of fish; the next, you might get a waterhaul. It takes perseverance, consistency, and patience to achieve your objectives.
But as the old saying goes, “Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.” Whether hunting or fishing, the process teaches you patience, humility, and the ability to adapt. It’s a reminder that why you do something and how you approach it matters more than simply achieving the end result.
