The fish tasted a bit different somehow...
Column by Stefan Häseli
03 August 2026 · Stefan Häseli
Why does fried fish by the sea almost always taste better than the same salmon at home? It’s rarely down to the seasoning. Nor is it necessarily down to the recipe.
Or perhaps you don’t get so worked up about holiday traffic jams, whereas at home you tend to get impatient quite quickly and feel as though ‘everyone else’ has to head into town at the same time again. That, too, isn’t necessarily down to the actual length of the delay.
But perhaps it’s simply down to us.
During the holidays, we sit at the table differently. We spend more time looking at the water than at our mobile phones. We have no deadlines looming, no to-do list in our heads and no emails that need a quick reply. We are not just in a different place; above all, we are in a different state of mind. The context is different, but so too – and above all – is our inner, emotional state.
And that applies just as much to our communication.
Has it ever crossed your mind that it might be the others who are difficult? Yet perhaps we ourselves are stressed, tired or already mentally on to our next appointment. The same word can sound like an invitation or like an attack, depending on the mood we’re in when we hear it. It’s not just the sender who determines the message, but also the inner recipient.
During the holidays, people often react more calmly. They listen for longer. A misunderstanding is met with a smile rather than a roll of the eyes. Suddenly, there’s room for kindness and humour again.
Perhaps that’s the most important holiday memory we could take home with us and bring back to the office on the first Monday. Not the sand in our shoes, the tacky souvenir from the kiosk, nor even the mobile photo of the fish at the harbour restaurant. But rather the state of mind we were in whilst we were there. Let’s make a mental note of that.
If we carry over some of the peace, curiosity and serenity of the holidays into our everyday lives, then perhaps not all conversations will become easier. But many will become warmer. And sometimes, even the fish at home will taste almost a little bit like the sea.
Enjoy your meal!
