Dear Pogue,

That darned seagull will not leave my mind! Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Richard Bach’s masterful creation has come home to roost. And after several letters concerning Bach’s book, I told you I had finished, my examination of his life and the things I had learnt whilst reading. Now he keeps popping into my imagination to provide another life lesson.

“What has he taught me this week?” I hear you ask?.

Well he has lent from his own life experience to show me the value of persistence, of determination, of focus on the goal. Let me explain. There comes a time in his journey when he has passed from this world to another where, much to his disappointment he discovers that he has not arrived in a place he called heaven. In fact there are limitations but there are also new lessons to learn and the opportunity to extend his abilities even further than he had done previously. One of those lessons is the ability to use the power of thought to move himself from one place to another rather than rely on his ability to fly. Day after day he stands alone on the beach concentrating, willing himself to be transported.

Jonathan kept at it, fiercely, day after day, from before sunrise till past midnight. And after all his effort he moved not a feather-width from the spot…Then one day Jonathan, standing on the shore, closing his eyes, concentrating, all in a flash he knew…

Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Richard Bach.

Ok, hold that thought.

I told you last week how I have discovered Sam Harris’ Waking Up app which explores and teaches mindfulness 🧘‍♀️. How, because of my like of Sam Harris and his writings, I’ve decided to give this a try despite a long history of previously starting similar journeys, normally entitled something like Meditation 101 or Discover Your Inner Yogi, and after a short while faltered because, well, it just didn’t work (and yes, I know the workman blames his tools). But I’ve never lost the desire to experience consciousness in a different way so my journey has been ongoing.

Despite the seeming failures there have been many wins. I’ve read a wide spectrum of literature. Authors from varying and differing backgrounds and disciplines. I’ve looked at many religions, thankfully breaking free of the shackles that my Judaea Christian upbringing had placed on me. The “this is the way and anything outside this is evil and of the Devil”. Every good story needs a bogeyman after all.

In doing so I’ve found that Buddhism is a good lens through which to see Christian teaching, indeed as someone said, “my Buddhism makes me a better Christian”. Then I found science often reinforces spiritual teaching but in doing so use different language. There have been other things as well but that’s not what I wanted to say this Monday morning.

What I want to say, what that seagull taught me without me knowing, is that things worth having do not come easy. I wanted to say “nothing worth having comes easily” but sometime for some people something does in fact fall into their lap. Not often but it does happen. Additionally, in these days, I see many who are convinced of their own sense of entitlement. The right to possess what ever they want. That if someone else has it then I should have it as well, with none of the effort and sacrifice the other made to have or be that thing.

So, Jonathan stands alone on the beach, day after day, focused and determined and then one day, boom, it happens. He is transported. No magic because he has only succeeded in mastering a skill that has always existed. He has learnt how to flow with the Universe through his focus and effort. And here I am, a week into the Mindfulness lessons and, yes, I am finding a level of success I haven’t previously experienced. No magic, just application and discipline, and a persistent desire to make this journey. You can gather from this letter that it hasn’t always been easy but, even after some years, I haven’t given up. Persistence.

Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

Earl Nightingale

I am a “starter-finisher” by nature. I’ve done the personality tests and they confirm this. It’s a blessing. It’s a curse. It troubles me if a task is left undone. I guess I can be a little compulsive about it. But I am thankful this character trait has brought me again and again to the journey that is meditation or mindfulness. I’m convinced that one day, much like Jonathan, I will be standing here and then I just won’t. I will have realised a deeper consciousness or found a new level of freedom for my being. But I will have paid the price in effort and focus. I will have spent the coin of time to achieve this. And having spent my coins I will appreciate the value. Having strived to achieve and waited I will appreciate the value.

So, this week, please do not be deterred by failure, or a seemingly long journey ahead. Yes, check you are willing to spend what ever is necessary to achieve that thing. That it is worth it to you. Then know that anything that really is worth having will come at a price usually measured in time and effort.

Yours, going to stand on the beach,

Wic