Safal Niveshak

Wit. Wisdom. Value Investing.

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The 41st Lesson

I read this story recently about a man who went fishing in his boat. After some waiting, something tugged on the line. He got it out.

He saw the fish had silver and gold-coloured fins. It was very beautiful. He put it in the boat, even as the fish started struggling for life.

Then, to his surprise, the fish spoke, “Let me go into the river. Just put me back in the water. I will give you three wishes. You can ask for anything but put me back in the water now.”

The man thought for a few minutes. The fish was struggling for life, getting weaker and weaker.

Then he said, “Okay make it five wishes, I’ll let you go.”

The fish said, “No, three.” Its voice was already weak.

The man then thought for a few more minutes and said, “Okay four-and-a-half.”

The fish was very weak, but managed to say, “No, only three, I can do only three.”

Then the man again said, “Okay let’s make a deal – four.”

The fish didn’t say anything.

It was dead.

I remember this story on my birthday today. Birthdays, after all, serve as reminders that life isn’t standing still and is, in fact, passing by quickly.

Turning forty-one has made me look back and reflect on the last four decades of my life. And like I have done over the past few years – see here, here, here, here, and here – I wanted to share one key life lesson – the 41st lesson – that has guided my life over the past few years.

And that lesson is to live life as it is, without trying to deal with it.

Life is short. It is just slipping all the time. And if we use our limited time here trying to make deals with it, it will be over before we know what’s happening.

Instead of regretting about the past and worrying about the future, if we put all our attention and energy towards living in this moment – which is all that we have – and working on our inner wellbeing – which is all what we can control, whatever the situation – that should be a life well lived (not dealt with, but lived).

As I look back at these forty-one years, I have run into quite a few bumps and climbed over a few mountains. And who hasn’t?

But the fact that I have survived to tell you the tale makes me realize how lucky I am to be here, right now, writing these words. And how grateful I should be, every waking moment, for this miracle called “life,” instead of trying to make deals with it.

Who knows how many birthdays I will see?

Let me not waste time dealing, only living.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  5. Madan Lal Sikri says

    Wish you many many Happy Returns of the Day Vishal…God bless you with good health n Happy life ahead..Keep enrichting the tribe members with your wise words on living life n investing..Best Wishes.

    • Suresh says

      Happy birthday vishal. 41st birthday is nothing. Still a lot of steam left. 40s are the right period to assimilate our experience. I really enjoyed my life during 40s and 50s. No regrets. At 62, life seems still good. All the best

  11. Ketan Desai says

    Wish you many many happy returns of the day, dear Vishal. Good reflections, as usual. Keep writing, and inspiring people like me!
    Cheers. Ketan

  14. Dr Suresh S Sarda says

    Vishal, you are rare combination of knowledge and peace. You are calm, even though you are in a volatile field. God bless you.

    Many many happy returns of the day! It’s never late for a celebration!

  16. Rajeev says

    Happy Birthday Vishal

    Hope you have a healthy year. Enjoy every moment. Wonderfully expressed by you… Let’s live in the moment.

  22. Deepak pandey says

    Happy b’day Vishal!! Every post of yours make me richer in my understanding about Life. God bless you!!

  25. Sanjai Saxena says

    A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip.

  26. Arun Kanakal says

    Dear Vishal : wish you a Happy Birthday. GOD bless you and wish many many more Birthdays so that we keep on learning lessons from you. 🌹🌹🌹

  32. Amit says

    Happy birthday Vishal ,
    I wish that we will be receiving many more lessons on each of your future birthdays.
    God bless..

  34. Shashikant Patel says

    Happy Birthday Vishal
    have a Vishal life ahead and keep
    making people’s life Vishal like yours

    🙏Thanks for your Vishal wisdoms
    Truly a meaningful name of your

  35. Vineet Nagpal says

    Many many wishes on your birthday. keep writing your stories as it really opens up mind and heart and the way we should live and lead our life . Stay blessed.

  41. Chakor says

    Happy birthday Vishal.
    You will definitely live this life king-size as you have chosen path of deliverying and serving people unselfishly.

    • Girish Deo says

      Vishalji,
      Happy birthday.
      Wish you a happy, healthy, prosperous and a long peaceful life.

  50. MOHIT SINGAL says

    Yours writing always enlighten me.
    I wish I could write likes you.
    Please suggest me some books.
    May God bless you good health and long life.
    Warm regards
    MOHIT SINGAL

  53. Shambu Padma says

    Belated Happy Birthday Sir
    Upcoming year gives you lot of prosperity & health,wealth
    More importantly Energy for teaching & inspiring the newcomers to Financial world

  54. Prashanth says

    Wish you many many Happy Returns of the Day Vishal…God bless you with good health n Happy life ahead..Keep enrichting the tribe members with your wise words on living life n investing..Best Wishes.

  58. anand says

    Belated best wishes and a nice thought provoking story which talks volumes. But again it all depends on the circumstances and its relevance to the particular context setting.

  59. R.Sridhar says

    Vishal, Wish you a very happy Birthday and a great year ahead. You have a unique way of writing and keep us all engaged through out the year and give us many interesting things to learn. We are all extremely lucky to receive your wisdom and wish you a long life.

    • Eric Grau says

      A very happy birthday to you, Vishal, and may you live many long years the way you did till today and continue to enrich your readers with your wisdom.
      Best wishes, Eric

  64. Timothy Davis says

    Excellent message Vishal and today (7th) is my 56th birthday so cheers to both of us🎉🎂🥂

  69. Faisal says

    Happy Birthday Vishal sir, I have learnt a lot from you, your articles are so simple to read yet packed with great wisdom. Thanks for doing what you have been doing.

  76. BHAVIN SOLANKI says

    Many many happy returns of the day sir.

    Thank you for your knowledge sharing and guidance.

  77. Sumedh Bhadkamkar says

    Happy birthday, dear Vishal sir….Under your guidance, we “tribals” are becoming
    financially literate…Keep going, sir…

  79. Mohan Lal Tejwani says

    Happy B’day Vishal Ji.
    God bless you 🙏
    Very insightful article 👍 👌
    Thank you.

  80. A BHASKARAN says

    Happy birthday Vishal. Have a wonderful day and years ahead. Its always a pleasure reading your articles.

  81. Lalit Khurana says

    Belated happy b’day Vishal ji….may god bless u with many more super exciting and healthy years…..great article and thought provoking….live life at present and be happy, humble and always have a feeling of gratitude…..thnk u

  82. Ganesh says

    Happy Birthday Vishal… my Guru!
    I`ve been learning a lot from you, and I`m very grateful for that.

    Regards,
    Ganesh

  87. claudio says

    Its nice to read these sorts of posts from time to time Vishal. Most of us are so hell bent on understanding equities markets etc which is great but there’s also something assuring about looking within and finding resolve on just being.
    Thank you and happy birthday