Last week, I went on a fishing trip to Canada with some guys from my neighborhood.

Let me tell you two stories about that trip. They’re both true, but they focus on very different things.

Story 1: The vacation that went wrong

It’s a 12-hour drive to Lake Windemere. We spent all day Sunday traveling, and long drives always leave me stiff and sore. The primitive bed in the cabin didn’t help, and then there were the swarms of mosquitoes I encountered while unloading the car—yikes!

Monday, we finally got out on the water. I managed to catch three bass, but in the middle of fishing, I drove over a rock and damaged the propeller. That was a mistake that would cost me about $400.

On Tuesday, with a repaired propeller, we made our way across the lake to what looked like a fantastic fishing spot. I put on a brand-new lure, and on my very first cast, I lost control of the rod, and it went overboard into the lake.

I could see it lying there on the bottom, so we paddled the boat over to the shore, tied it off, and I went swimming to try and find the pole. After 45 minutes of unsuccessfully diving, I gave up and ended up fishing with a kid’s pole my friend had brought along as a joke.

Later that day, we were returning across the lake. I was sitting in the front of the boat, and my friend was driving. We hit a wake, and the boat suddenly pitched hard to the right and then back to the left. I looked down, and the gunwale on the boat was underwater! Before I knew it, I was flying into the lake.

When I came up, I could tell something wasn’t right with my right arm, but I was more worried about getting back in the boat!

Turns out, I dislocated my right shoulder in the fall. This injury meant my summer fishing was over. I ended up returning a day early, having caught just a few fish and losing my fishing pole. I drove almost 27 hours for two days of fishing and came home with a shoulder that will be immobilized until September! What a disappointing trip.

Story 2: The trip as an adventure in connection and gratitude

Now, let me tell you a different story about that trip. This one focuses on what I gained.

I traveled up to Canada with a group of guys. Some I knew, some I didn’t, and it was a great chance to connect with new people.

The location itself was absolutely beautiful: bright blue skies, a clear lake, and plenty of fish.

I hadn’t been fishing in many years, and when I had that first fish on the line, I instantly remembered why I enjoyed it so much. On Monday, I caught three fish, and on Tuesday, I caught five. It was a true delight to be back out there!

When I clumsily lost my pole in the lake, a friend immediately lent me his, so I could keep fishing without missing a beat. That’s true friendship right there.

Yes, unfortunately, on the way back across the lake on Tuesday, we had a boating accident, and I dislocated my shoulder. It was a jarring experience, but here’s where things got interesting.

The next morning, as we headed out to the hospital to get my shoulder checked, we encountered a moose on the road! For years, I’ve been trying to find a moose in the wild, and there it was, right in the middle of the road. It was an incredible sight.

At the hospital, the nurses and doctors were incredibly kind and took great care of my shoulder. Their empathy made a tough situation much easier.

The following day, one of our group was leaving early, and I was able to ride home with him. And what do you know? We encountered another moose on the road who hung out with us long enough for me to get a picture! Two moose sightings in two days!

I returned home having gotten to know some great guys much better. I was genuinely grateful for the time I spent with them, for the breathtaking beauty of the lake, for those unexpected encounters with the moose, and for the simple joy of reconnecting with fishing.

Two truths, one choice

So, which story is “true?” The answer is both. The first story centers on the negative experiences, the costs, and the frustrations. The second focuses on the positive experiences, the connections, and the unexpected gifts.

While I was going through it, I was certainly aware that the broken propeller was an extra cost, that losing my pole felt like a loss, and that the vacation wasn’t going as I’d “planned.” It would have been great to get those extra two days of fishing in.

But here’s the thing: instead of fixating on those challenges and letting them define my experience, I made a conscious choice to stay present, to experience the joy in the moment, and to connect with the people I was with.

It wasn’t the vacation I had planned, that’s for sure. But I returned rested, connected, and recharged. I’m grateful that I went on the trip and value the new relationships I formed. I experienced the pure joy of fishing and fostered a deeper connection with nature. Yes, recovery from the shoulder injury will put a crimp in my summer plans. But who knows what new possibilities can be created from that unexpected detour?

We all encounter challenges and setbacks. The “facts” of what happened are often undeniable. But the story we choose to tell ourselves, the lens through which we view those events, makes all the difference.

Which story are you living in?