Fish On!

“Passion is the genesis of genius.”     Tony Robbins

“Fish on!” he eagerly hollers. Immediately, his eight-year old brother Rylen and the rest of our fishing team focus on Brayden, the 10-year  old who is enjoying his first-ever offshore fishing adventure. Our team of 11 are bottom-fishing in the Gulf of Mexico on The Great Gab-Sea in search of red snapper. Rylen is also making his maiden offshore fishing excursion. All eyes are on Brayden.

His passionate and energetic exclamation is a response to the early morning boating tutorial I  gave as we headed offshore. As captain, the routine instructions I teach my crew  include a few safety mandates and specific for this trip, some tips on how to catch red snapper, the targeted fish for the day. I tell our team to shout “fish on” when hooking a fish so that we can all  assist in landing the fish. Brayden not only heard the message, but has made it his own personal victory celebration.

As host on many offshore fishing expeditions, I have noticed that the interjections of some seasoned fishermen are somewhat less enthusiastic.   In fact, sometimes their words are hard to hear over the sound of the running diesel engines and generator. However, the passion meter seems to be operating at a different level today with Brayden onboard. First time offshore . . . first time ever to catch a red snapper!  Passion.  Energy.

We expect it, don’t we? We inwardly smile as we watch a newcomer become excited about his introduction and success into a new sport. He is joining us old-timers who have enjoyed and witnessed many such moments over the years.  Catching fish. Been there, done that.

Do you remember initial success in a hobby or career? What about that first day on a special vacation? The first date in a new relationship that later becomes permanent? The word ‘romance’ has historically been the term used in describing a budding new relationship. But, that term can also apply to hobbies and careers.

Romance. The early moments. Newness. We imagine a bright future, full of special moments, repeated over and over.

“Fish on!” the young angler Brayden hollers for the fifth time – in less than 30 minutes. He is on a roll! And, in the presence of experienced fishermen, he is enjoying great success. It seems like it could not get better. Have you been here before? When was the last time you had such a significant moment?

As the years elapse in the successes we have enjoyed in a career, retirement, hobby or relationship, has the romance disappeared? Even though we may  still be enjoying success, it has become routine . . . the early passion  has vanished Hmm . . . Where has the romance gone? When did  the lights go out?

What do you do when time and events have rendered an erosion of the new and exciting original journey? We cannot replace those special first steps, can we? We are now in the repeat steps of our journey . . . hmm. Have we lost the luster? Where is that spark of  ‘the good old days?

The essential question most would  ponder is so universal that it was used in the dialogue of the movie, The Preacher’s Wife,  as a pivotal question the clergyman’s wife posed to an angel, sent to assist in restoring vitality to the ministry as well as in rejuvenating a  struggling marriage that had seemingly lost its reflective gleam. She asks, “What do you do if the romance has died?”  The response is extremely simple yet full of wisdom:  “You don’t let it.”

You may be thinking, ‘Are you kidding me? That’s the wise answer? Is that even realistic’?

Can we really ever find a way back to the romance we enjoyed in the beginning?  Duplicate that first joy of discovery?  With routine replacing newness, disintegrating into boredom, is passion even possible?

Yes! Absolutely. A resounding yes. Because, romance, like many good things in life is possible if . . .  we choose. Passion is a choice we can make. And choice, in simple terms, is a success principle around since the beginning of time.

We can choose romance. We can choose passion. We can choose our attitude. We can also choose boredom. We can choose less enthusiasm. We can choose minimal energy. Our choices, in the long-term, will decide our fate.

Success is a choice.

Not a lucky draw. Not a winning lottery ticket. Not unexpected. It is planned, sought after, and embraced.  It does not have to be a surprise. It can be a choice. It should be a choice.

Today, I choose passion, energy, romance and a great attitude.

 Today, I choose success.

 Fish on!

How can you generate passion?   Generate Passion