I went fishing this morning.

Didn’t catch anything. Didn’t expect to, really. 

I went for a little peace of mind more than anything.

I woke up angry, you see. I often do, these days. I’ve a lot going on and my brain’s got a lot to say.

Anyway, fishing helps clear my head. So I dragged my annoyed ass down to the shoreline at 6:00AM.

My mind raged as I walked from the car to the lake. I tried to stop thinking maddening thoughts but it only provoked that bastard in my brain.

“You lost your job!”

“You can’t find a job!!”

“You just stepped in fresh goose shit, slipped, and then spilled hot coffee on your arm!!!”

Seriously. I was ready to smash my rod into pieces and toss my tackle box into traffic.

Then, an old man appeared on the path. He walked slowly toward me with two tiny dogs. 

I noticed his kind eyes as he gave me a small smile and said, “Good morning.”

“Good morning,” I replied.

[The weight got lighter. The voice got quieter.]

I saw a pair of elderly ladies a few minutes later. One pushed a walker and looked about, her eyes moving from the sky to the trees to the wildflowers next to the path.

She caught sight of me and grinned. “Good morning!”

“Good morning,” I said as her companion strolled up with a friendly dog.

I reached down and let him smell my hand before giving him a few pats on the head. He looked up at me with puppy-dog eyes, inquiring about treats, no doubt.

“C’mon now. Let the fella go fishing.”

“Have a good morning,” she said. The dog gave me another pleading look before turning and following his owner.

[Even lighter. Even quieter.]

I continued on my way. But I no longer looked down. 

I looked around at the ducks meandering by the lakeside. Some floated listlessly on the water, not a care in the world.

I looked to the clouds just in time to see them give way to the rising red sun.

I took a deep breath. The air smelled better, felt cleaner in my lungs. It was purifying.

A long, slow exhale until empty. I let it all out, tried to let all that shit go.

I arrived at my fishing spot and set my tackle box down on a rock. I placed what’s left of my coffee next to it and put my two-piece rod together.

I stared across the lake.

A gentle breeze blew, sunlight dazzled as it surfed the rippling surface.

I took the first cast and reeled it in.

“Good morning.”