A traveler walked along a quiet river in Cambodia at sunset.
The sand looked golden beneath the fading light.
He noticed an old fisherman sitting alone.
The fisherman told him that when he was young, he believed happiness was somewhere far away.
He traveled to cities.
He worked abroad.
He collected money.
But eventually, he returned to the same river.
“Was it disappointing?” the traveler asked.
The fisherman smiled.
“No. I needed to travel far to understand what I already had.”
The sun disappeared.
The river became dark.
The fisherman lifted his basket.
“Tomorrow morning,” he said, “the river will look different.”
The traveler smiled.
Some places become beautiful when we finally learn how to see them.
