Trout Fishing Saved Me

A wholesome post!

I (26M) just watched this movie titled A River Runs Through — many of you have likely seen it. If not, it’s worth the watch.

Last year, I lost one of my greatest friends from my undergraduate friend group (all ranging in age from 26-30). He died on Super Bowl Sunday, and it gutted our entire friend group. These guys are not just good buddies, these are the people that you call family even if they aren’t blood-related to you.

Not too long after our friend passed, we almost lost another one of the guys due to a mass shooting. The grief I felt in that time turned me to therapy, which in turn led me to the waters.

I grew up fishing, but had stopped for the last 3 years as I pursued my graduate studies and moved all over the place for it. Now entering my final year of my doctoral studies and hoping to soon become a professor, I gathered that I needed an outlet that let me get a little bit closer to my spiritual being and health. Trout fishing was the answer.

This movie vocalized many things that I cannot explain, but only acknowledge deep within. I’m moved to my core and at a loss for words, but I walk away with a grateful heart for what fishing has done for me. It’s not even about the catch, but it’s the quiet conversations that I have with myself and everyone I wish I could speak with but can’t — whether they’re present or not. The fish is just the tangible benefit of spending the time out there.

I wish you all tight lines and bent rods, my friends — in life, and on the waters.