Skip to main content

What's in Your DNA?



We all experience a stage where we are of a confused lot. Not quite sure what's in store for us or where life is going to take us. At this point its common to look at life in disbelief and doubt our capabilities. We tend to miss what comes naturally to us, even discard our strengths.




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.

The visionary sheikh’s dream however gets stalled as a result of strong opposition to removing salmon from British rivers. The Government suggests that he used farmed salmon instead. Not quite sure if a farmed salmon which has not run upstream for two generations and bred for dinner table will run, the sheikh declines the offer.

The British government ends involvement in the project. Dr. Alfred has to resign from his government job in order to continue with the project. Back home during a confrontation with his wife Mary, he gets rebuffed for falling in love with his colleague on the project. She refers to him as weak and tells him he will be back within six months begging to be taken back. For it’s in his DNA. Though Mary departs the thought stays on with Alfred making him realize what he has missed. Alfred convinces the sheikh to give the farmed salmon a try telling him it is neither research nor his finding but his faith that the farmed salmon will run upstream.

The farmed fish when are finally released from their holding tanks into the river swim upstream much to the delight of everyone as predicted by Dr. Jones. For it’s in the DNA of the fish. It's what make them unique (and us too). Swimming either upstream or downstream comes naturally to a fish. It makes no difference how many generations have passed or for what it has been bred. It’s there embedded in the DNA. It's best thing that they know. Come an opportune time, it comes out in a flurry.

Likewise many times we fail to realize who we are, discount what we have achieved and never quite believe what lies within us and more importantly what comes naturally to us. We rarely tend to reflect what’s in our DNA. What binds the fabric of life? What is it that comes naturally to us? What is it that makes us unique? It's all there within us. Its in our DNA. No matter if we have used it before or not. No matter what the odds are. In such times its not what prevails as a norm nor what we have done before but what matters is the leap of faith, a belief within that helps us swim through, take the leap to swim against the tide. For its in our DNA. 


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Day One -- What Am I Going To Write About?

To be honest, I’m not sure. I didn’t have a plan for this. A few ideas popped into my head yesterday, but I let them slip away without writing them down. So now, I’m here, wondering... What should I write about? I’ve always admired how writers seem to find the words. They don’t just tell stories; they make sense of life. Whether it’s fiction, essays, or poems, their words flow effortlessly, drawing you into their world. It’s like magic—captivating and transformative. Somehow, they’ve mastered the craft of turning simple words into gems that stay with you long after you’ve read them. And then, there’s me. I just write. I let my thoughts spill out, raw and unfiltered, without much structure or thought. No carefully woven narrative, no grand flow—just whatever comes to mind. Sometimes, I wonder if I’ll ever get to the level of those writers who make it all seem so easy. Maybe I will. Maybe I won’t. But right now, that doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’m writing. I showed

Day 2 - What's Your Purpose?

Have you ever truly asked yourself, What’s my purpose? It’s a question many ask, but few genuinely pursue. We often move through life, following routines without stopping to consider why we’re doing what we do. Many choices are made simply because "that’s how it’s always been done," without questioning the deeper reasons behind them. Think about it: How often do people choose a career because it's popular, without ever asking themselves, Why do I want to do this? It’s rare to pause and reflect on what drives us at our core. But those who are in pursuit of purpose— they ask the important questions. They don’t just accept choices blindly; they challenge the status quo, question the outcomes, and evaluate the significance of their actions in relation to their larger goals. Purpose provides clarity. It’s the compass that guides decisions and actions, ensuring every step is intentional. It’s not just about achieving success; it’s about creating meaningful change,

Day 3 - The Power of Letting Go: Why It's Okay to Give Up

In a world that glorifies perseverance and celebrates grit, we're often told to keep pushing through no matter the cost. "Winners never quit, and quitters neve win" has been drilled into us since childhood. But what if sometimes the strongest, wisest choice is to let go? What if walking away could be your key to unlocking a better future? There are moments in life when we know—deep down—that continuing down the same path is futile. Yet, we keep going, fueled by hope that maybe, just maybe, things will turn around. We tell ourselves, "I'll give it one more try," even when we know it's unlikely to work. So why do we hold on? There are many reasons, but they often come down to fear: What will people say? Will I be seen as a failure? How can I let go when I’ve given it my everything? I can’t imagine my life without this. There must be a way to make it work! These thoughts cloud our judgment, keeping us stuck. But the real point is not the reason