I found this wonderful piece by Milton Olson while searching for some important documents today and I couldn’t help but relate it directly to the DJAA and our growing group of members.
It was on an old piece of faded yellow paper which I’ve been hoarding since the pre-email days. Every now and again I read over it and the message is as strong today as it has ever been.
I hope it resonates with you as it did with me.
Honour Others As Geese Do.
The next time you see a flock of geese heading south for the winter flying along in a ‘V’ formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a ‘V’ formation, the whole flock adds 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on it’s own.
People who share a common direction and sense of community can better get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the trust of one another.
When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone…and quickly gets back into the formation to take advantage of the ‘lifting power’. If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those that are heading in the same direction as we are (and willing to accept their help as well as give ours to others.)
When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies point. It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs. With people, as with geese, we are interdependent on each other.
Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraged and not something else.
Finally, and this is important, when a goose gets sick, or is wounded by gunshots and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with that fallen goose until it is able to fly again or dies.
Only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation, to catch up with their group. If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other in difficult times as when we are strong.
Milton Olson.
IT STARTS WITH US.
This post was contributed by Brent Officen. Brent is an Accredited Member of the Alliance based in Brisbane, Queensland and runs Decibels Entertainment servicing Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and beyond. Brent also offers Live Music, Photo Booth and complementary services.