The Beauty of Breaking Perfection

I don't know you, but watching birds moving in surprising synchronicity and seemingly making unanimous decisions in perfectly shaped patterns is a phenomenon that I've always found fascinating. I always wondered what's the motivation behind these beautiful, perfectly symmetrical bird-flight patterns? They sometimes resemble a ‘V’ shape, other times a ‘W’, but definitely never seem just casual...

Photo by Maria Teresa Salvati                               

When I was in Costa Rica, I was looking at them more often than I was looking at the surfers in the ocean! Lucky me, I spent part of my journey with a lovely lady from Maryland - Kim - who teaches avian history and behaviour. She taught me what’s behind those perfect shapes: hierarchy. 
Yes, the eldest one flies in front and creates air paths that ease the followers’ flight... and so this helps the next one, and so on. I could immediately relate to that behaviour: every eldest child knows what that means. The behaviour is like brotherhood: that sense of responsibility (right or wrong) you feel towards your younger brothers, the "sacrifices" to set up rules with parents that inevitably makes your younger brothers’ lives easier, ‘till you leave and the next eldest takes the lead… 

I must admit, there is something beautiful in having this leading role, even with the attached responsibilities: you see the world with different eyes; you enjoy the pride and the adrenaline in trying something for the first time, sometimes you succeed and if not, you learn from failure… and potentially you are an example for the youngest. At the same time, being younger carries a bit of guilty pleasure in having less pressure, together with that sense of laziness you can let yourself into, till you lead the game and the rules change again. 

I couldn’t help but wonder, what if the oldest is not happy with his pre-assigned role of leading and flying regularly according the rules of nature? What if he has an inner need of flying higher towards new pastures and discovering something more idyllic? I wondered if amongst these leading birds there was someone like Jonathan Livingston. Remember the “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” novel by Richard Bach? He’s a seagull who is bored with the daily squabbles over food. So, seized by a passion for flight, he pushes himself, learning everything he can about flying, until his unwillingness to conform results in his expulsion from his flock. As an outcast, he continues to learn, becoming increasingly pleased with his abilities as he leads an idyllic life.

Photo by Maria Teresa Salvati                 

I like to believe that amongst these breaks, there are some Jonathan Livingston birds that have bravely decided to discover something new and to rebel. Bach’s story is a metaphor about the importance of seeking a higher purpose in life, even if your flock, tribe, neighbourhood or family finds your ambition threatening. By not compromising his higher vision, Jonathan gets the ultimate pay-off: transcendence and freedom. 

I think there is something beautiful in breaking these perfectly symmetric bird-flight patterns: either you’re helping your younger siblings to survive or you’re seeking something extra-ordinary.