time or money

water color of st joseph sound dunedin fl

the choice

A few years ago, a very rich businessman decides to take a vacation to a small tropical island in the South Pacific. He has worked hard all his life and has decided that now is the time to enjoy the fruits of his labor. He is excited about visiting the island because he’s heard that there is incredible fishing there. He loved fishing as a young boy, but hasn’t gone in years because he has been so busy working to save for his retirement.So on the first day, he has his breakfast and heads to the beach. It’s around 9:30 am. There he spots a fisherman coming in with a large bucket full of fish!"How long did you fish for?" he asks. The fisherman looks at the businessman with a wide grin across his face and explains that the fishes for about three hours every day. The businessman then asks him why he returned so quickly."Don’t worry", says the fisherman, "There’s still plenty of fish out there."Dumbfounded, the businessman asks the fisherman why he didn’t continue catching more fish. The fisherman patiently explains that what he caught is all he needs. "I’ll spend the rest of the day playing with my family, talking with my friends and maybe drinking a little wine. After that I’ll relax on the beach."Now the rich businessman figures he needs to teach this peasant fisherman a thing or two. So he explains to him that he should stay out all day and catch more fish. Then he could save up the extra money he makes and buy and even bigger boats to catch even more fish. The he could keep reinvesting his profits in even more boats and hire many other fisherman to work for him. If he works really hard, in 20 or 30 years he’ll be a very rich man indeed.The businessman feels pleased that he’s helped teach this simple fellow how to become rich. Then the fisherman looks at the businessman with a puzzled look on his face and asks what he’ll do after he becomes very rich.The businessman responds quickly "You can spend time with your family, talk with your friends, and maybe drink a little wine. Or you could just relax on the beach."

author unknown

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i have never subscribed to the idea 'time is money' or that i could get ahead by working a lot of overtime. my theory is.....if you cant make it in 40 hours then you have either the wrong job or the wrong lifestyle. the only reason for working overtime would be if it would prevent the sky from falling. ive tried to live by this idea all my life. and ive never stayed on a job i disliked for very long. maybe ive done it wrong...but im happy..out of debt..and pursue my passion [art].

my objection to the idea of chasing every dollar thats out there isnt because im lazy or have no ambition. i work here everyday....im not at all a couch potato. the deal is that the lure of money is a carrot dangling before us from a stick. we never seem satisfied while occupying our time with the chase. we always seem to need more.... to keep up with the jones..to find financial security..its never enough.

there is a middle path which i try to travel...that is to be happy with my work..to be able to provide for my needs .. put a little under a rock ..and have a little for those in need. and i use a little for things i want while trying to remember that they will not provide lifetime happiness for me. i of course like the idea of financial security but i try to remember that it is folly to think we will ever feel financially secure and that even if we did we are subject to having the rug pulled out from under us at any moment....as has just happened to many.

this is not ingraind in my being but it is my ideal.

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"if you have the coice between time and money...choose time." anonymous wise man

From the promise land in Lipscomb Alabama
Where golden eagle table syrup and buffalo rock
Flow freely
And the train whistle blows