What’s It All For?

Jun 23

Not long ago, I found myself sitting at a little café by the water, sipping a cup of coffee I didn’t rush to finish. No meetings to run to, no one to reply to. Just time. Time to watch the way the light hit the boats, to feel the breeze roll off the bay, and to remember what I used to think life was supposed to be.

I live in the Bay Area—one of the wealthiest, fastest-moving, most opportunity-packed corners of the world. People here chase big things. Big salaries, big houses, etc. And for a while, I thought I had to do the same.

But something cracked open in me after losing almost everything — I was pursuing a life I thought was my ticket to “making it”, but it was just a mirage. And what’s strange is… losing it all gave me everything I actually needed.

I think about that old parable—the one about the businessman and the fisherman. If you haven’t heard it, it goes like this:

A wealthy businessman is on vacation in a small fishing village. He meets a local fisherman who catches just enough fish to feed his family, then spends the rest of the day playing music, napping, and enjoying life with his loved ones.

The businessman says, “You should catch more fish. Then you can sell them, buy a bigger boat, eventually build a fleet, take your company public, and make millions!”

The fisherman asks, “Then what?”

“Well,” the businessman replies, “then you can retire, move to a quiet village, sleep in, fish a little, and enjoy time with your family.”

The fisherman smiles. “Isn’t that what I’m doing already?”

That story hit different after everything I’ve been through. I used to think I had to build something big before I could relax. But what if you build something small and meaningful—and just start living now?

That’s what I’m doing with photography. It’s not about getting rich. It’s about having enough. Enough time to surf. Enough time to travel. Enough peace in my life and to be with the people I love. Enough presence to notice the world around me.

I live simply on purpose. Not because I gave up—but because I finally stopped running.

There’s a lie people are sold in places like Silicon Valley. That you have to sacrifice now to enjoy life later. But what if later never comes?

I don’t want to spend my best years grinding just to afford a life I’m too tired to enjoy. I want to live slowly, love deeply, and make things that feel real. That’s why I take pictures. That’s why I write. That’s why I left the rat race behind.

So if you’re feeling the pressure to chase more, build bigger, or keep up with people who don’t even know your name—maybe pause for a second. Look around. Ask yourself honestly.