Reflecting on what’s important

Although all of the Elite pros are fierce competitors on the water, the anglers are a tight-knit group off the water.

If you follow this blog regularly, you know how important holidays are to me. It’s one time when I can step away from fishing and have some quality downtime.

And although there are no tournaments going on this time of year, Sherry and I have been very busy trying to finalize my annual schedule, get jerseys done, my boat wrapped, book lodging along the tournament trail and fulfill sponsor obligations.

I’m home for about two weeks straight, from pre-Christmas until after the first of year, so I get to spend quality time with the family, many of whom I don’t get to see much throughout the year.

After New Year’s it’s back to work doing boat shows and other promotions as well as last minute preparations for the upcoming season.

I grew up in a large family with four brothers and sisters. Their kids grow up and get boyfriends and girlfriends, or get married and have children, so the family continues to grow and many of them spread across the country. This is when we all try to get together and enjoy every moment of it.

But one of the quality aspects about this great job I have is we have an “extended family” that becomes equally important. Although all of the Elite pros are fierce competitors on the water, we are a tight-knit group off the water. Many of us spend countless hours together on the road at tournaments and other events.

That extended family includes the B.A.S.S. staffers, media members, TV crews and sponsor representatives. The time we spend together away from our families and the kind of relationships we’ve developed over the years is something that I’ve grown to cherish.

Even though we’re in the down season, social media allows us to keep track of everyone. We follow each other’s graduations, births, children pictures and even times of sorrow.

I can assure you that this bond we have is unlike what you would find in any other sport.

My advice to the new guys coming into the Elite Series this year is learn to appreciate this as well. My nephew Jonathon joined us a few years ago and already is seeing how important this extended family becomes.

It may take time for new Elite pros to build relationships and make new friendships, but I can guarantee them that those ties will strengthen in due time and those bonds will last a lifetime.

So, savor these holidays with family and friends and reflect on how much they mean to you. As important as fishing is to all of us, the unconditional friendships we cultivate through our fabulous sport and other aspects of our lives are far more precious.

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas, that 2015 brings you a great new year, and that you remember: It’s all about the attitude!

Kevin VanDam’s column appears weekly on Bassmaster.com. You can also find him on Facebook and Twitter.