Investments! Kind of a scary word right now, isn’t it. With the problems in our economy and downturn in the stock market, the word investment has different meanings for all of us. If you’re nearing retirement and your dreams have taken a hit financially, you might wonder if it was worth it at all.
If you’re about half way there, your thought process might be one that wonders whether to pull out, put in or get on the sidelines. If you’re just starting out, you might not know exactly just what to do.
Investment is a good word though, and should be part of our life strategy. It means putting something somewhere, hoping for a return greater than the original investment later on. Investments are not a sure thing, especially in the monetary realm, but there is one investment that will always pay off big time.
That investment would be time; time well spent with our youth, especially if you have children. In many of the articles written over the years, I have spoken about the times in my youth when men took me hunting or fishing. My dad spent much time with his six boys in the outdoors that paid off in great dividends.
I can still see that wooden flat with a 7.5hp Evinrude heading down the 21” canal with a baby “Lucky 13” tied on the end of my line. I can see it hitting the water in the corner of the many sloughs, then the “chug, chug”, then the explosion of a bass trying to engulf that bait. My dad took us hunting, camping, crabbing, frogging and all sorts of things in the outdoor arena. He taught us how to take care of the outdoors he so enjoyed.
Was it worth it? You bet. You see the dividends are still coming. My dad is gone now but the time he invested with his children is still collecting interest. The memories are priceless and I can relive them any time I want to. But the best thing is that I have taken what he invested in me and have invested it in my children and now am doing the same in my grandchildren.
We will have many opportunities in life to do things with our kids. Many of them will be things that we may not particularly care to do. But just like it takes sacrifice to invest some of our money for our long-term financial future; we must sacrifice our time for the good of our youth. Only this sacrifice will always pay off in spades.
One of those great opportunities for investment will take place next Saturday, July 31st at Twin Lakes Mobile Estates located on Hwy. 74 in Dutchtown. The East Ascension Sportsman's League will host its 50th Annual Kid’s Fishing Rodeo.
What’s the investment; waking up to getting back home; about six hours? The weather will be hot and we will pray for no rain. Getting the kids up won’t be lots of fun and loading the gear and kids could be a little testy as well.
Finding an unoccupied spot around the ponds could take a long walk in wet grass and if you have more than one kid, separation could present a problem. Boredom usually sets in for those kids that are young and the fish might not be biting. You’ll get frustrated for one reason or another; get worm dirt under your nails, sweat more than you could ever imagine and wonder if it’s all worth it.
I can testify as one of those kids that fished 50 years ago, participated in helping put the rodeo on, took my kids for years until they were too old to fish and will have a couple of my grandkid fishing this year; Yes, Yes, Yes!
I’ve also had the pleasure of covering the event as co-host of Ascension Outdoors TV show and walked around both ponds and watched all of those kids fishing. All I can say is, “Wow.” It’s almost indescribable by words the memories that are created by the events of the day, especially when a kid catches their first fish and this happens every year, multiple times.
Come on folks! Take a little of your time for half of a Saturday and bring a kid, especially one that’s not your own for an investment that will pay off for generations. Contact Wesley Johnson at 225-324-3035 for all the information.
Remember to keep the slack out and set the hook hard. So until next time have fun in the outdoors, be safe and may God truly bless you.
