The Sense of the GoosešŖæ
The Sense of a Goose
Twenty-three years ago, while attending a training course, someone shared a short piece called The Sense of a Goose. Iāve never forgotten it.
Every autumn we see geese flying south in their familiar V formation.
What I didnāt realise at the time was that there is science behind that shape. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird behind. By flying together, the flock can travel much further than any single goose could manage alone.
There is an obvious lesson there. Life is often easier when we travel alongside others who share our direction and purpose.
When a goose slips out of formation, it quickly feels the extra effort of flying alone and returns to the flock. When the lead bird becomes tired, another takes its place. The geese behind honk encouragement to those at the front.
Again, the parallels are hard to miss.
We all need support from time to time. We all benefit from encouragement. And none of us can lead forever.
The part of the story that has always stayed with me, however, is what happens when a goose becomes sick or injured. Rather than leaving it behind, two others leave the formation and stay with it until it recovers or dies. Only then do they continue their journey.
For me, that is the most important lesson of all.
The true measure of any family, friendship, club or community is not how it behaves when life is easy. It is how it responds when someone is struggling.
As cyclists, we understand this instinctively. We take turns at the front, shelter one another from the wind and make sure nobody is left behind.
Perhaps that is why this simple story has stayed with me for more than twenty years.
Travel together. Share the load. Encourage generously. Look after one another.
If we can do that, perhaps we will have learned something from the geese.
