Jonathan Livingston Seagull, penned by

author and pilot Richard Bach, is a fable

and novella originally presented in
serialized form in Flying magazine. When
the book was finally released in 1970, after
much difficulty on Bach’s part to find a
publisher for the entire work, it was a huge
commercial success and, according to
Publisher’s Weekly, the best-selling book
in 1972 and 1973.

*ROLL AV

This tale of unmatched ambition and intense

curiosity revolves around looking inside
yourself to grow into who you are. Rather than
searching for the scraps of leftover food like
his fellows, Jonathan, a distinct seagull, wants
to conquer the world by flying off to distant
lands while trying to perfect the art of flying.
Bach informs the audience, through his animal
protagonist, that nothing remains impossible in
this world if one trusts one’s abilities and
potential and works tirelessly to achieve one’s
goals.
The book is divided into three sections: Part
One covers Jonathan’s time with the flock, his
expulsion to live by himself among the far
cliffs, and how he teaches himself to fly. In
Part Two, Jonathan goes on to another life
where, like him, he finds birds eager to learn.
In the third part, Jonathan returns to earth after
feeling empty, even while acquiring what he
seeks, to instruct his former flock of birds on
how to defy convention and master flight.
Bach disagreed with the notion that animals
are unwise creatures who devote age-old
traditions and customs throughout their lives.
Thus, he portrays the story of an extraordinary
seagull in front of his readers to remind them
that any creature filled with the unique drive to
attain his ambitions at any cost can
successfully achieve them. In addition,
Jonathan is a model of one who fulfilled his life
goals despite difficulties and constraints. He
was able to do it because of a mix of several
factors: clear-cut life goals, persistence and
perseverance in pursuing his dreams,
adherence to a philosophy of loving and
helping others, the practice of skills to
perfection, a positive attitude, and recognition
of limitless possibilities.

As many noted Jonathan’s experiences as an

allegory for the life of Jesus Christ, in all that
it is, the following are some points to ponder:

Eliminate fear, boredom, and anger

The story of Jonathan serves as a reminder of

the millions of people who struggle to
appreciate life and live it to the fullest. In a
country of luxury and abundance, it is easy to
find yourself in a rut of day-to-day activities
and more challenging to appreciate what you
have. It is common for people to be angry
about their circumstances or accept their
station in life. And it is no surprise that many
people desire to change but fear making a
move for something better or different.

Jonathan was no longer at risk of falling into

the mundane existence he saw the other birds
leading after being expelled from his flock.
Although he was a lone bird, he had no
anxieties and decided to live a life in which he
challenged himself and thus was never bored.

The best lesson that we can learn, and possibly,

the hardest one to put into practice, will be to
eliminate fear, boredom, and anger from our
lives as much as possible. Jonathan found the
freedom to let go.
You are your teacher
When Jonathan returned to earth, he helped
many gulls who had been like him departing
from the conformity of the flock. They
eventually learned to rely on him to lead them,
but Jonathan has two leadership lessons for us.
Many people require a leader's encouragement
and nudge to get moving and take the first
steps. The first lesson is to set an example and
inspire people to act differently. The second
lesson is to give them ownership of where they
are going. As Jonathan does with Fletcher
Seagull, once they get going, they may be their
teachers and leaders, helping to develop
themselves and others. It is important to give
them those nudges.
Finding your tribe

During Jonathan’s time as an outcast, he is

totally alone. Through trial and error, he
develops his flying skills to become faster and
better. Once he has learned all he can teach
himself, two birds come to take him higher and
moves on to his next life, where he finds birds
like him and discovers that there is even more
to learn about flying.

We all yearn to be understood by others. Some

individuals struggle to find a tribe they can
truly feel at home with, while others seem to
fit in wherever they go. Indeed, there is a
comfort in being confident in who you are and
finding others that can identify with you,
accept you, and challenge you in the ways you
need to be challenged to grow.
Our potential is limited only to the extent we
let it be.

Find your passion and be relentless in your

pursuit of it. In the process, do not allow
failure or errors to discourage you from
seeing your goals to the finish.

Pay it forward.

Always have a humble heart when dealing

with people.
Be a model so as to influence other people.

Be creative in the ways of pursuing your

goals.

Be the best of what you can be and influence

other people to do the same.

Patience is a virtue in pursuing your goals.

Bach’s Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a tale of
ambition, desire, and struggle. Depicting the
life of a unique seagull possessing the traits of
insurmountable ambition and ultimate
struggle, the author inculcates the importance
of trusting in oneself and leaving no stone
unturned to obtain one’s desires. Jonathan’s
desire to be different from other seagulls not
only benefits him but provides opportunities
for other gulls to aim for soaring high in the
sky, conquering the world instead of remaining
ordinary animals collecting leftover food from
the other animals.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a story about

breaking out of conformity for the sake of
conforming. It is about finding freedom from
routine and finding the teacher within you.
Ultimately, you have the power to live the life
you want to live. So, fly higher, fly faster, and
live longer.