"Knots of Life"

“Persistence and Resilience only come from having been given the chance to work through difficult problems.” - Gever Tulley

Untangling the Knots of Life: A Fishing Story That Became a Life Lesson.

Introduction

My son had been saving for weeks, determined to buy a particular fishing braid—an expensive, high-quality line that he was convinced would change the way he fished. When he finally had enough money, we went to the store, and as soon as we left, he was eager to test it out.

But the weather had other plans. The wind howled, the sea churned, and I hesitated. “It’s probably not the best time,” I warned. “The conditions aren’t right.”

He insisted it would be fine. He was confident, ready, excited. So, despite my reservations, we headed down to the beach.

1. The Struggle - A Universal Experience

Within minutes, his excitement turned into frustration. The wind picked up, the waves crashed harder, and his brand-new braid got tangled in thick seaweed. It was dragged further down the shore, twisted and knotted beyond recognition.

We spent an hour trying to remove the weeds, frustration building with each pull and tug. As I reeled the line in, the braid tangled even further—this time around the reel itself. The tension in the air mirrored the tension in the line. Harsh words were exchanged. Silence followed.

2. The Turning Point - Choosing Patience Over Giving Up

As we sat in quiet defeat, my son sighed. “We’ll just have to cut the line.”

His words struck something deeper in me. After all the effort he had put into saving, after the excitement of finally owning the braid, could we really just cut it and throw it away?

I looked at him. “You saved up for this gear. How about we try to untangle it instead?”

He shook his head. “That’s going to take too long.”

But that night, when the frustration had settled, I sat down with the reel. What did I have to lose? Slowly, carefully, I began unknotting the tangled braid.

3. The Journey - Unknotting, Unravelling and Understanding

My son walked in, saw me working, and laughed. “I don’t know why you’re bothering—it’s ruined.”

I handed him a piece. “Help me,” I said.

And so, together, we began untangling. Hour after hour. Night after night. It wasn’t easy—knots twisted tighter the more we tried; impatience reared its head—but we kept going.

Little by little, we made progress. Some nights, we’d sit in silence, just working through the mess. Other nights, we’d talk—about fishing, about life, about nothing in particular.

What we thought was ruined began to take shape again.

4. The Resolution - A Changed Perspective

After a week of painstaking effort, the braid was finally untangled. My son stared at it, eyes wide with disbelief.

“I can’t believe we actually did it,” he murmured.

And in that moment, I realised something powerful: this wasn’t just about a fishing line. It was about life.

Too often, we get caught in situations that seem impossible—frustration, failure, anger, silence. And too often, we walk away too soon, convinced the problem is beyond fixing. But sometimes, if we just sit with it, if we take the time to untangle what’s in front of us, we find clarity.

5. Call To Action - Inviting Reflection

How many times have you wanted to cut the line? How often have you walked away from a challenge, convinced it was beyond saving?

Maybe the answer isn’t in running or giving up—but in patience. In sitting with discomfort. In untangling the knots, little by little.

Because sometimes, on the other side of frustration, lies something worthwhile. A lesson. A new mindset. A different way forward.

Give yourself the time. Give yourself grace. Unravel what feels broken. You might just find something unexpected waiting for you.