On a recent plane ride home, the in-seat entertainment screens were acting up some intermittently. I was patient with the staff as they reset systems multiple times, trying to fix the root cause. Regardless, for some odd and unexplained reason, I could not watch certain options that were contained within their current cinematic catalogue. Interestingly enough, though, I was able to view some of the media there as I tried to pick and choose. I patiently expanded my scope of considerations1 and enjoyed a few new discoveries that I may not have seen otherwise. Technology can be so finicky. I can fight it in a frustrated way, or I can patiently flow with it as best as I and it can. Long story short, I am very thankful for Oliver White as a result of being able to watch “A Thousand Casts.”
There are times to stay put, and what you want will come to you, and there are times to go out into the world and find such a thing for yourself.
-Lemony Snicket
The difficulties that Oliver has already endured during his existence are simply surreal and astounding in my opinion. I am quite thankful for his patience and perseverance. Who knows if he always felt calm, cool, and collected in each of the moments, but I certainly appreciated and valued his tone and pace as he patiently presented on his past problems.
Great difficulties may be surmounted by patience and perseverance.
-Abigail Adams
When he was younger, Oliver broke his lower back in addition to other bones in a skiing accident. As he patiently waited, allowing his body to slowly recover, he discovered fly fishing, an activity that has transformed his life path. It allowed him to meet a Wall Street executive during a guided fishing expedition that he offered in South America. This exec was so impressed by Oliver that a job was offered. Talk about being a fish out of water when he moved to the Big Apple and joined a hedge fund. He patiently waited amidst the concrete jungle of NYC and the dog-eat-dog world of Wall Street. Oliver knew his true calling still existed out in nature, though. He patiently progressed on his life path, receiving support from that same exec who backed him. While creating his next passion project, he ran into a nightmare scenario. Down in the Caribbean, Oliver was kidnapped from his own property and hogtied for money in the back of his own vehicle. Throughout this one wild ride, he patiently endured multiple beatings, being hung in a noose, and an attempt at trapping him in his own truck as it was set aflame. In one event, he patiently endured how many nearly-unspeakable misfortunes? Nevertheless, he prevailed, and he is still with us. He has since settled back in the States and begun to establish a family.
Patience is the best remedy for every trouble.
-Plautus
When his son was born, though, this new baby spent his first month in the NICU. Talk about really trying a parent’s patience. All those devices and all those sounds when you are completely out of your element. Seeing the two together in the video was one of the cutest things ever. You can tell he can be a great dad. Patience can prove your power. Patience will show your potential and what all is truly possible if you let time tell.
Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.
-Aristotle
I do not know much about fishing, let alone fly fishing, but it sounds like Oliver obtained a golden opportunity to fly to Bhutan and spend days chasing after golden mahseer. I also do not yet know that much about many fish, but the golden mahseer appear to be one of the rarest and most highly revered creatures of the sea, at least in that region of the world. Oliver did not travel across the world to collect a trophy for a wall. He caught one after days of practiced patience, he cherished the moment while celebrating it with his current companions, and then he let the beautiful being return to its life in the water.
It strikes a very different tone than that dentist from Minnesota and his horrific act that is now jumping to mind from years ago. Countless other examples litter the past. Patiently build beautiful moments and make memories that will last a lifetime. We do not need to collect more stuff that will simply collect more dust. If we are patient and prolong our lives well enough, well, we will be enough dust in the end anyway. Anyway, keep your ledger clear and pure like Oliver White. Patience can help you stay clean and pristine.
Maybe it is wise. Maybe it is dumb. Time will tell.
- A sugjestion: are you expanding or contracting your scope of considerations? ↩︎