What I got out this book the most was a bird that didn't want to except the norm and pushed the boundaries. This is necessary in realizing that you can be and do whatever you want in life. You will really need this if you want to be a SEAL. It is not an normal life but a rewarding one.

quote:

Originally posted by Kory Knowles:
What I got out this book the most was a bird that didn't want to except the norm and pushed the boundaries.

Literally, yes. Figuratively, no. JLS means much more. That bird represents each one of us on our quest to learn. to mentor, to aim for perfection, and to love. Fletcher (one of the seagull) gave the best description of what the seagull represents when he said: "To begin with you've got to understand that a seagull is an unlimited idea of freedom, an image of the Great Gull, and your whole body, from wingtip to wingtip, is nothing more than your thought itself."

Other great quotes
"Never stop your learning and your practicing and your striving to understand more of the perfect invisible principle of all life."

"Your whole body, from wingtip to wingtip is nothing more thant your thought itself, in a form you can see. Break the chains of your thought, and you break the chains of your body, too.

(Try to extrapolate this quote to the current events)
JLS: "Keep working on love."
Fletcher: "I dont understand how you manage to love a mob of birds that has just tried to kill you."
JLS: "Oh, Fletch, you don't love that! You don't love hatred and evil of course.You have to practice and see the real gull, the good in every one of them, and to help them see it in themselves. That's what I mean by love.

"Don't believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding, find out what you already know, and you'll see the way to fly."

Finally
JLS is about life and death, peace and war, love and hate, freedom and restraint, determination and action, etc. It is about reaching your potential -- if not in this life in the next one. It is about giving back by mentoring the young ones. It is about aiming for perfection by repeating the same actions (gestures) day after day until you master them. It is about surpassing yourself, while becoming a better human being at the same time.

It doesn't matter what stage you've reached in your life, JLS is always current.

Upon learning of my daughter's death on Christmas Day, I needed to be strong for my family. My two oldest kids were in Canada, my youngest was with his grandparents in Tampa. My husband (who was in shock) and I were vacationing on the Gulf.

I went to Barnes and Nobles and bought a copy. I also bought the CD. I found solace in that book again. At night, I would go into the truck, blast the soundtrack and have my thought moments.

Regards, Lucie

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Lucie Piché-Cantin,

quote:

Originally posted by Lucie Piché-Cantin:
I went to Barnes and Nobles and bought a copy. I also bought the CD. I found solace in that book again. At night, I would go into the truck, blast the soundtrack and have my thought moments.

Regards, Lucie

On the CD, it is mostly music, very powerful music. You really feel like flying. But some of the song lyrics are beautiful. Here are some excerpts:

JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL (Neil Diamond)

Be

(...)
While the Sun God will make for your day
Sing
A song in search of a voice that is silent
And the one God will make for your way

LONELY LOOKING SKY

(...)
Sleep we sleep
For we may dream
While we may dream
We dream for we may wake
One more day... One more day

(The following lyrics reminded me of the nights spent at the 36 hr Challenges)

Glory looking day
Glory day, glory looking day
And all it's glory
Told a simple way
Behold it if you may
Glory looking day
Glory looking day
Lonely looking night

SKYBIRD

Skybird
Make your sail
And every heart will know
Of the tale
(...)

DEAR FATHER

Dear Father
We dream
We dream
We dream
While we may
(...)

Other comments from JLS

Originally posted by Thomas Alberti:

quote:

just got finished reading j.l.s its is a very inspiring book suggest everyone read it

Originally posted by Nick N:

quote:

It's a good read.

Originally posted by Lucie Piché-Cantin:

quote:

That's why I put it for the month of August BOM. Put the stickies where you read your most inspirational messages, and we will discuss them in August.

I am also moving these posts to the appropriate forums

Originally posted by Brendan B:

quote:

I thought it was good but I'm not sure that I fully understood everthing. How have you guys been applying this to you're training? What symbols have you found in the book?

Lucie, I think this a terrific book for BOM - it's great for discussing.

Originally posted by Lucie Piché-Cantin:

quote:

We will discuss it next month. Write your questions on a sticky in your book as you read it, and we will talk about them as of August 1st.

It is OK if you don't understand everything and all the symbolism. Even 30 yrs after, when I need a good read, I reread it and I discover something new. When you start reading JLS, be Jonathan. Analyse his feelings, his reactions, his motivation as if you were Jonathan, then apply to your present life.

You have to go beyond the words, and apply it to your life. Sometimes, you're lacking on the plan of the experiences, so it is why it doesn't make sense at that moment in your life or you may miss the meaning.

I read that book over 30 years ago, and I read it again, and again, and again. I am at a point where I could probably recite it without missing a word.

But what's funny, everybody who had an impact in my life is/was a Jonathan Livingston Seagull fan.

Originally posted by Mike Meyer:

quote:

I think what I really liked about this book is that it took somthing that I had always sort of vaguely felt and presented it clearly. The idea that there is more to life than the basics of living.

Joining the military is counterintuitive to a lot of people in the same way that mastering flight is not understood by the pack.

Originally posted by Shuni (John) Plaskett:

quote:

Agreed. Most people think that it is all about their immediate comforts and convieniences. Not all fail to see the bigger picture and try to contribute some way or some how.

Originally posted by Thomas Alberti:

quote:

Well said