Why do middle-aged men love fishing so much?

From being able to dig holes anywhere as boys, to being able to jump and shoot basketballs at any time as boys, to being able to cast rods and fish whenever they see water as men, the essential nature of their pursuit of happiness has never changed: whether it is a simple wooden stick, an invisible basketball, or a long pole with a hook, as long as they have such a "tool" in their hands, no matter where they are, they can carve out a world of their own and find that pure happiness and satisfaction.

However, fishing for middle-aged men is different from a stick for a boy or a basketball for a boy. What’s more, fishing for middle-aged men is a special existence of “meeting the right person at the right time”. An umbrella, a stool, and a pole are enough to build a small safe haven in the hearts of middle-aged men.

"Fishing" is a middle-aged man

Unique life ritual

While young people are still sitting in cramped cubicles, trying to catch fish wherever they can, middle-aged men are already sitting leisurely by a mountain stream surrounded by green mountains and clear waters, fishing openly; while young people are still swiping their mobile phones in a crowded subway, middle-aged men have already stepped into the first rays of morning sunshine, waving their fishing rods, casting ripples on the quiet riverside water.

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Fishing, a seemingly simple activity, is actually a leisure activity suitable for everyone. It can easily bring people happiness and make people indulge in the experience of close contact with nature.

However, fishing means different things to different people:

For women, it may be a spice of life;

For young people, it may just be a hobby;

But for middle-aged men, fishing is a life ritual that is unique to them and meets their spiritual needs at the important turning point of "middle age".

The so-called "middle age" does not refer to a specific age group. Even in the academic community, there is no consensus on the start and end time of "middle age". The term "middle age" is increasingly becoming a psychological state, a special period that is both relatively stable and looking for breakthroughs.

During this period, middle-aged men found a way to live in harmony with nature through fishing, and also found a way to communicate with their inner selves, thus achieving a new understanding of life and a new positioning of self-worth.

It’s to “let go”

Also for "picking up"

For many men, "middle age" is always filled with heavy responsibilities, and they have to play various difficult roles: family pillar, department leader, filial sons and daughters, and role model for children.

Therefore, they dare not act as recklessly as they did when they were young, nor can they be as free and unrestrained as young people. Most middle-aged men can cope with these responsibilities and roles well, but in the process, their deep desire for adventure and excitement is often suppressed and never fully released.

Jay Fran, a biologist at the University of California, USA, proposed that the pursuit of excitement and enthusiasm for adventure are actually biological heritage deeply rooted in human nature, and the brain regards it as a powerful sign of life. However, it is undeniable that adventure and excitement are often accompanied by the unknown and danger.
Faced with this reality, middle-aged men, out of a strong sense of responsibility, willingly give up the freedom to pursue excitement; at the same time, for the sake of their beloved families, they also resolutely restrain the urge to take risks in their hearts.

The stability of middle-aged life brings peace of mind, but also a hint of unwillingness. At this time, fishing seems to be the perfect outlet to release the inner surge and seek new experiences. It is safe enough and not really an adventure. You only need one person, one fishing rod, and a pack of cigarettes to sit on the shore for a whole day. However, it also carries with it the unknown and variables. Every pull of the fishing line is full of excitement and expectation, and every battle of wits and courage with the fish is full of the pleasure of fighting and conquering, allowing middle-aged men to find a hint of extraordinary fun and challenge in ordinary life.

Therefore, for middle-aged men, fishing is not an escape from life, but a way to temporarily put aside the trivialities of life and find the pure happiness that satisfies their instincts.

It is for "precipitation"

It is also for the sake of "striving forward"

Middle age is a stage in which strength, reaction and coordination gradually decline. Scientific research shows that the strength, coordination and perceptual reaction of an individual reach their peak in their twenties and then begin to decline gradually. In particular, the loss of muscle strength becomes particularly significant at the age of 40. Before the age of 60, people may lose 10% to 15% of their total strength.

It has to be said that people are bound to be frustrated when they reach middle age. Although they are not yet as exhausted as they were in old age, they no longer have the vigor and vitality of their youth. Middle age is a special stage between youth and old age. They cannot return to the carefree and passionate past, but they have not yet reached the calmness and indifference to fame and fortune of the elderly.

Faced with the inevitable fate of aging, middle-aged men have found a stage to display their "unyielding" spirit in the activity of "fishing". They may not be as strong as young people, but they are more patient than young people; they may not be as responsive as young people, but they understand the importance of strategy and patience better than young people.

Although the peak of perceptual speed occurs in the twenties, the abilities of inductive reasoning and spatial orientation only reach their peak in middle age, which enables them to show unique advantages in the activity of "fishing", which requires wisdom and experience.

Fishing is such an activity that does not require excessive physical strength or quick reactions. In the modern society that pursues speed and efficiency, fishing is something that can never be accelerated.

Whether you catch fish well or not depends on whether you catch a lot or a little, and also on whether you can observe the sky at night, the water flow during the day, the terrain, the water depth, the fish situation, and the fishing gear. Fishing is a test of patience and endurance, and even more a test of experience and wisdom.

Middle-aged men are such a group of warriors. They have experienced enough hardships in life and faced countless difficult challenges. They have accumulated rich experience and forged their tenacious character.

Therefore, in order to satisfy their desire for excitement and adventure, they picked up their fishing rods and moved forward in the small lake. They were willing to go through mountains and rivers and endure loneliness regardless of the weather. They were not afraid of being bitten by mosquitoes, exposed to the scorching sun, or ravaged by wind and snow. This was not just for fishing itself, but also for finding the long-lost passion and the courage to challenge themselves.

It is for "quiet contemplation".

It is also for "comfort"

As we grow older, the word "friendship" becomes more mellow and profound, just like aged wine. In the life of a middle-aged man, there are too many things that cannot be said, and too many things that want to be said.

Through their common hobby of "fishing", middle-aged men have built a unique social world and formed a tacit understanding with each other without much words, seeking only spiritual mutual understanding.

Psychologist Laura Carstensen's socioemotional selectivity theory offers a view of how people choose to spend time with social partners based on their life stage.

According to Carstensen's theory, social interaction carries three core purposes:

First, it is an important way to obtain information;

The second is to help people develop and maintain their self-concept;

Third, as a key source of pleasure, comfort, and emotional well-being.

Compared to childhood and adolescence, whose social interactions mainly focused on information gathering, middle-aged people have returned to a state similar to infancy, where the need for emotional support has become the primary consideration in their social interactions.

Who can understand and comfort each other better than fishing friends with similar interests? In terms of technology, they exchange experiences with each other; in terms of emotions, they give timely support; in the face of difficulties, they fight side by side, such as when the fish caught is too big and needs to be pulled together. Even if they have their own difficulties in life, they can achieve emotional resonance just by looking at each other and smiling.

Since all activities revolve around "fishing", the friendship between fishing friends is particularly pure; at the same time, since many topics focus on this common interest, emotional exchanges become very positive. The needs of middle-aged men for "friendship" are so simple, just be happy.

At the same time, fishing provides a particularly important feature for middle-aged men, which is difficult to provide in other sports - a quiet space for thinking. "Middle age" is an important turning point in the psychological development of an individual throughout his life. The emotional impact and role change faced by middle age are as intense as "adolescence".

In fact, adolescence and middle age are the two periods of life when emotional crises are most likely to occur. Therefore, the turning point of "midlife" is often accompanied by a process of deep introspection and re-evaluation of self-worth. During this period, an individual's life direction, development goals, and the meaning of life may undergo major changes, generate new understandings, and be redefined.

Fishing provides an ideal platform for middle-aged men to find a balance and new direction in life through tranquility and reflection: no need to talk, just sit quietly, pull if there is fish, and wait if there is no fish. At the same time, the nature of fishing requires a person to be present, focused, engaged, aware, and live in the present, providing an excellent opportunity for self-reflection and introspection. Therefore, the tranquility brought by fishing is therapeutic. It is not just a hobby, but also a good recipe for mental health.

Fishing is often accompanied by long periods of solitude and silence; fishing together can provide silent but deep companionship and support. It is lonely, yet not lacking in belonging; it is social, yet able to maintain a certain distance; it is communicative, yet does not require constant attention and response. With fishing friends by your side, even if you catch nothing, you will not have regrets. The friendship between fishing friends is to pick up the fishing rod, sit side by side, and wait for the fish to bite without saying much. Fishing is a contest between middle-aged men, and it is also a romance given to each other silently.

Conclusion: People who fish in the morning are fishing for the morning dew; people who fish at night are fishing for the beauty of the river; people who fish in the wild are fishing for passion. "Not striving for progress" is the biggest misunderstanding of fishermen. Sometimes, fishermen's ambition is so strong that they are not only satisfied with the moment when the fish is hooked, but also constantly explore unknown fishing spots and challenge their own limits.

The pleasure that middle-aged men gain from "fishing" is a combination of the right time, the right place, and the right people, truly achieving the unity of man and nature. What is cast out is not only the fishhook, but also the fatigue of work, the troubles of life, the pressure on shoulders, and the infinite expectations for a better life; what is retrieved is not only the fish, but also the inner peace, the understanding of life, the release of self, and the attitude of confidence in the future.

References

[1] Papala, Olds, and Feldman. Developmental Psychology: From Early Adulthood to Old Age (10th Edition, Volume 2). Beijing: Posts and Telecommunications Press Co., Ltd., 2013.

[2]Güçlü Özen. “THE EFFECT OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ON TRAIT AND STATE ANXIETY LEVELS.” (2020). 45-52.. Güçlü Özen. The Mental Health Benefits of Fishing: More Than Just a Catch | Psychreg

[3] Why do humans always seek excitement? - Psychology Space www.psychspace.com

Planning and production

Author: Su Jing, National Level 2 Psychological Counselor

Reviewer: Fan Chunlei, Associate Researcher, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Planning丨Fu Sijia

Editor: Fu Sijia

Proofread by Xu Lailinlin