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Starting Again

Failure is a part and parcel of life. What's a life without failures? But then not everyone rises up from failures. Likewise, nor does everyone get a chance to start all over again, especially after everything that one has built has been washed away and destroyed. It could be for reasons within or even beyond control. Mistakes one made or did not make.

But the most important lesson when starting again is to be able to realize the mistakes that one made and accept them. That's the first thing one needs to do. Then evaluate and learn from them. There is no point in starting all over again to make the same mistakes again. That's far worst than not getting an opportunity to start again.

In the movie, Salmon Fishing in Yemen, a visionary sheikh believes his passion for the peaceful pastime of salmon fishing can enrich the lives of his people, and he dreams of bringing the sport to the not so fish-friendly desert. Willing to spare no expense, he instructs his representative to turn the dream into reality, an extraordinary feat with the help and involvement of Dr. Alfred Jones, Britain's leading fisheries expert.

However when the project is being inaugurated terrorists break into the dam upstream and open the flood gates. Although most people survive the resulting flash flood, the valley is left in ruins with the project almost washed away. The sheikh blames himself for the tragedy, and vows to rebuild—this time with the support of the local community.

Picking up the bits and pieces post the flood the sheikh sees a salmon jumping from the water, indicating that some fish survived which he brings it to the notice of Dr. Alfred Jones who has been equally involved in the project. 



Believing it to be a second chance to make a difference and correct the mistakes, Dr. Jones outlines the steps he is going to take ensures the project is a success.

For that he is willing to start again. Take a different approach.  He also intends to involve the local community and making it their own project. For he has realized, it’s the best way to protecting it and ensuring success.

It’s worthwhile to reflect if we do get an opportunity to start again what is the different approach we will take? Are we ready to accept our mistakes and learn from them? Start small? Involve others? How do we make it their own project? Does our passion lead us to see why we failed and how we can better it? Does it blind us to obvious?

And last but not the least or rather the most important question for starting again as the Sheikh puts it is "Will we try again?" Are we really willing to start again?
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