OK, guys: discussion is opened... How can this book be compare or help you throu your BUD/S journey?

Lucie

Any comments, guys?

quote:

Originally posted by Lucie Piché-Cantin:
Any comments, guys?

Sorry guys... the discussion should have started earlier, but I was reading (and still are) about running.

Let's go back to the book... Page numbers refer to the 1973 paperback edition.

Part 1:
Bach sets the tone by dedicating the book to the real Jonathan Livingston Seagull (JLS) who lives within us all.

JLS was very different right from the beginning from the other seagulls. He had a goal: to fly faster and higher, to soar in the sky, to be free...

He experimented, he stalled, he crashed. His parents would have prefer him to be like all the other seagulls. He tried really hard to conform, but wasn't happy.

First, he learned about speed. He tried different ways to become better. But again, he crashed, felt sorry for himself and almost gave up:

"He wished, feebly, that the weight could be just enough to drag him gently down to the bottom, and end it all." (p. 21)

He decided to become a real seagull, but he just couldn't.

"His vows of a moment before were forgotten, swept away in that great swift winds. Yet he felt guiltless, breaking the promises he had made himself (Edit: to become an ordinary seagull). Such promises are only for the gulls that accept the ordinary. One who has touched excellence in his learning has no need of that kind of promise." (p. 27)

He went on with his experiments, climbing higher and higher, flying faster and faster. He became the first seagull to discover aerobatics.

He was so happy that he wanted to share his news with the flock. He thought they would be wild, have a new reason to live:

"We can lift ourselves out of ignorance, we can find ourselves as creatures of excellence and intelligence and skill. We can be free! We can learn to fly!" (p. 30-31)

Instead of receiving accolades, he was chastized and shunned for his reckless irresponsibility, violating the dignity and tradition of the Gull Family!

"Life is the unknown and the unknowable."
(p. 39)

His banishment made him a survivor.

"Jonathan Seagull discovered that boredom and fear and anger are the reasons that a gull's life is so short, and with these gone from his thought, he lived a long life indeed." (p.41)

Then two seagulls came, and took him to Heaven. It was time to go home.

Now how do this relate to your life and journey?

This is my own personal take on it. While you're on Earth, life is an adventure. You are all trying to be the best at what you do. You go thru life, thru the pain of training, to BUD/S, sometimes without the support of your family, then you crash. In a moment of weakness, you're out of BUD/S, instead of fighting like JLS did. Then, you vow to come back better and stronger because you're a survivor.

Part 2: to come soon, unless someone else wants to go ahead and do it!

I read the book last week. I can see why it's recommended; there are lots of motivational quotes and empowering ideas in there.

The best part is, it's easy to read and get straight to the point.

I like it.

quote:

Originally posted by Ying-Ru C.:
There are lots of motivational quotes and empowering ideas in there.

Please post some of them, Ying-Ru.

Regards, Lucie