Dear class,

I will be starting another series on this blog, and will be naming it “The Fisherman and Sam” series. While the “Talent” series provides a factual description of the various talents in us through our personalities, “The Fisherman and Sam” series will take on a narrative style in the form of a story. From the stories in this series, I hope that we are all able to draw some lessons of life through the interactions of the primary characters, which in this case revolves around The Fisherman and Sam. So, do keep a lookout for it.

Below are the character introduction of The Fisherman and Sam:

Sam: Sam is a typical corporate employee working in a multinational company (MNC).  He is academically-inclined and regards life as a journey to achieve his goals.  Hence, he has always put in his best effort in everything he does. This probably explains his quick climb up the corporate ladder, and being promoted to be the Director of Advertising within a year. Few among his friends ever made it made it that far within such a short time. And this is something that Sam has always took pride in. That is, his achievements.

Nevertheless, Sam always feels that something is missing in his life. He is always looking, always searching. Initially, Sam thinks that he can find the missing puzzle of his life in his work. Thus, he has spent long hours in the office, wrapping up every last piece of documentation that requires attention and closing every sales deal that is possible. “Super-achiever” is a term that is associated with Sam in the office, a mark of recognition given to him by his colleagues and peers who often held Sam in high regard.

However, over time, Sam realises that fulfillment cannot be found in his work.  So, he looks for it outside the office, in the company of friends. Still, Sam feels that his life is empty. So, he went for romance. After several attempts, Sam finds himself in a daze, as romance gives him a different type of happiness but a different kind of pain as well.

Feeling disappointed, Sam decided to stop looking. And just when he’s just wandering along the pier going nowhere, Sam met The Fisherman. Through the interactions that he made with The Fisherman, Sam’s life begins to change for the better. And finally, he found happiness.

This is often the case, isn’t it? Just when we are so exhausted in looking for something and are on the verge of giving up, the thing that we are searching for all this while appears right before our eyes.

The Fisherman:   The Fisherman has no name. Or maybe, he once has a name. It just does not matter to him anymore. People now know him only as The Fisherman. The Fisherman probably likes to be called this way. As the name implies, The Fisherman loves to fish. In fact, he often spends an entire day fishing. In good weather, of course. He lives in a hut just by the side of the lake with his wife and two children, a son and a daughter. And the other children playing by the lake like The Fisherman for his good-natured disposition and humour.

Throughout his life, he has never worked in an urban city before. Not even when people tell him that riches can be found in the faraway cities. The Fisherman delves in simplicity and is never one who succumbs to consumerism. And urban cities have an allure that attracts the unaware and the uninitiated.  The cities have a way of stuffing one with irrelevant information and commodifying things and people. And these are things that The Fisherman is aware and steer clears of.

But life has a way of bringing people from different walks of life together. This is probably the reason why The Fisherman chances upon Sam one fateful early evening, along the lake of Ceranest while fishing.  This chance encounter will change both their lives forever.