It's that time of year...

Every year something magical happens. Lives change, people move, and geese fly south.

Walking back from class on Thursday I heard quite the commontion from above: The Canadian Geese were making their way to a place that's warm. This idea of heading south in the winter is very wise, heat is nice. Geese also have something else going for them that we often forget: They work together.

When the end of the semester comes near (or the end of any milestone in one's life) people tend to get stressed. All to often when we stress out over our own lives, we shut out those around us who could be of support and aid. (Don't you think flying from Canada to Florida is pretty damn stressfull!?) With this is mind I present for your reading pleasure Lessons We Learn from Geese, Author Unknown.


Enjoy!!

Fact 1:
As each goose flaps its wings it creates an "uplift" for the birds that follow. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.
Lesson:
People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

Fact 2:
When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.
Lesson:
If we have as much sense as a goose we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.

Fact 3:
When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.
Lesson:
It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other's skills, capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents or resources.

Fact 4:
The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Lesson:
We need to make sure honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement the production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one's heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of others) is the quality of honking we seek.

Fact 5:
When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.
Lesson:
If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.

I hope everyone has a stressfree end to their semester!