The Fisherman's Boy

In a small village by the sea, there once was a boy who dreamed of becoming a fisherman. He grew up watching his dad, a respected fisherman, leave for the horizon every morning and return with a boat full of fish.

As the boy grew older, his desire to follow in his dad's footsteps grew bigger. Whenever he got a chance, he began asking his dad about the fish he caught, where he caught them, and how he caught them. The dad, eager to see his son take an interest in his work, shared everything he knew.

In his excitement one day, the boy decided he had learned enough. He decided it was time to put it to the test. Early one morning, the boy snuck off with his dad's boat to fish in his stead and surprise him with all the fish he caught. He was going to make his dad proud.

However, when the boy came to shore later that afternoon, his net was tangled, the crates were empty, and the boat rocked awkwardly from his poor balance. The other fishermen at the dock laughed at him, "Fishing isn't for everyone, you know? I'm sure you have other talents. Perhaps you should leave the fishing to your dad."

Humiliated, the boy went to hide in the shed behind their cottage. His father, having heard what happened, came into the shed quietly and sat beside him. He sat there a while and eventually spoke, "I heard you took my old boat out for a drive. How'd it go?" The boy told him everything and how embarrassed he was.

The dad asked, "Did what they said bother you?" With his gaze glued to the floor, the boy nodded and said, "Maybe they're right. I don't think I'm meant to be a fisherman like you." The dad smiled and shared how he made a fool of himself the first time he went fishing. They both laughed.

He then said, "I didn't think I was cut out to be a fisherman either. But you know what? The humiliation you felt today tells me you care more about fishing than anyone, and if that doesn't make you a fisherman, I don't know what does."

He continued, "The truth is, if you want to be a great fisherman, you have a lot of learning ahead of you. Learning means you'll need to try new things you haven't tried before, and that involves making a fool of yourself from time to time. So, if you learn anything from me, learn to be embarrassed every now and again. It's your way of knowing you're on the right path."

With tears trickling down his face, the boy smiled and hugged his dad. He knew now that he was meant to be a fisherman and would never doubt it again. The next morning, the boy and the dad sailed into the horizon, equally excited to discover what the day had to teach them.