Overcoming one’s limits

MANILA, Philippines - What makes Richard Bach’s Jonathan Livingston Seagull a very significant literary work of the 20th century is the inspiration that it gives to those who think they could only do so much. Through a seagull named Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Richard Bach shows readers that we could overcome our limitations if we really want to.

In the novel, as well as in the movie of the same title, Jonathan is able to fulfill his innermost desire, which is to master the technique of flying like an eagle and soaring gracefully through the skies. Unlike Jonathan, his fellow seagulls, which of course include his family, are merely contented with being able to fly through the flapping of their wings.

As one immerses himself deeply into the story of Jonathan, he comes to realize that most of us are just like the flock of seagulls to which Jonathan belongs. The elder seagull emphasizes again and again that animals like them should stick to the purpose for which they were created. That is, to fly, look for food, return to the seashore and sleep once they have had their fill.

Mulling over this, you come to understand that the reason why some people never get ahead in their lives is that they stick to the nature of their existence here on earth. For example, some remain as carpenters because they believe that their abilities are up to that point only. One time, while I was shopping at Robinsons Sogo in Mandaluyong, I overheard a saleslady say, “Wala. Talagang kapalaran ko ang maging saleslady habambuhay” (It is really my destiny to remain a saleslady forever.” )

This is why those who go beyond their abilities are frowned upon by members of their community as well as by their relatives. Most poor people believe that they are destined to be poor. It is for this same reason that Jonathan Livingston Seagull is looked down upon by members of his flock. They mock him for trying to fly like an eagle or a swallow. Jonathan’s flock believes that gracefulness in flight should be left to the eagles and hawks; he as a seagull should be concerned more with getting his daily fill of food and surviving each day.  But Jonathan believes otherwise and that is why he is banished from the flock. Even though he shows them it is possible to achieve mastery of flight, it appears that the idea of remaining a seagull was forever ingrained in the minds of the members of the flock. Once a seagull, always a seagull.

Through the character Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Richard Bach junks this common belief. He shows us through his novel that man has the power to overcome his limits if he or she really wants to. Anybody, regardless of his or her status in life, can become the person they wants to be —  doctor, engineer, actor. It is only our preconceived limits that prevent many of us from making our desires a reality. We refuse to take that first step that would set us on that journey toward our dreams in life.

I cannot blame many who refuse to dare to take that first step because the “road” that leads to the fulfillment of our dreams is dark and filled with unexpected surprises. It was not easy for Jonathan to master flying because, for one thing, he was not born with the kind of skill that eagles and hawks have when it comes to flying. Several times in his attempts, Jonathan hurt himself. He studies flying through trial and error. This is shown in one incident in the movie and novel wherein Jonathan is unable to recover from his dive toward the earth. As a result, he lands hard on the water and almost dies in the process. Through this incident, Richard Bach tells the readers that those who wish to overcome their limits might have to pay a high price for their effort to do so. Just like Jonathan, he or she will experience failure several times. But then, it is part of the learning process as Jonathan himself finds out.

But these failures might often push one to give up on his or her dream. Jonathan too almost gives up after the accident, tempted to accept the belief of the other gulls that they should remain as and live like gulls.

He tries to live the kind of life that the gulls around him do — flying out to sea to look for food and fighting with the other gulls to get his share of the food. That sometimes happens to most of us. We sometimes feel like fools after experiencing several moments of disappointment in our quest to become better than who we are. Oftentimes, one tells himself or herself, “Who am I kidding?”

Just when we are ready to give up on our quest, there comes this nagging feeling that we should try again. The beckoning of our dreams then becomes too strong to resist. This is why Jonathan went back to honing his flying skills. Like many of us, he could not resist that call to try again in spite of the setbacks he experienced. From Jonathan, we learn that we should not allow ourselves to be weighed down by the hurts we experience as we try to achieve our dreams in life.

When we do finally achieve our dreams, the feeling is truly ecstatic and priceless. Jonathan feels this when he is finally able to control the way he flies and soars in the skies. We too will experience this kind of heavenly feeling after we overcome our limits and finally become who we want to be. This is the most important and lasting impression that the novel leaves upon its readers.

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Ma. Jose Bayani, 50, is a textbook editor at Abiva Publishing House Inc. He edits textbooks in language and reading used by preschool and elementary students. He was the education coordinator at AMA Computer Learning Center in Mandaluyong, where he also taught English grammar, composition writing, and speech.