Are you a Goose?

Funny title, no? Well, let me explain how I came to ask myself that very question today.

I find it's easiest to clear my mind with a nice long (okay, maybe not so long! ;o) run and some fun, easy music on shuffle. Today was my first day in a very long time hitting the trail outside for a bit, and so I was able to run along a beautiful stream in my area. I didn't even worry about the speed of my run - as it wouldn't have been very impressive anyway - and lost myself in the beauty of nature along the stream. The trees are blossoming beautifully, and the sun finally decided to show its face today. Plus, one of the things that I love about this area is the Canadian geese, which I had never seen "up close and personal" until I moved here to the D.C. area, so I enjoyed watching them in the water.

Along my path, I could see several places in the stream where there were obstructions such as rock outcroppings or man-made dams. The first one I saw made me think of the geese in the water. They were swimming along placidly, seemingly enjoying the day as much as I was. I couldn't help but wonder how they would handle the obstactle just ahead of them in the stream. Not too much further along, I saw the second obstruction, and got the answer to my question. A goose gracefully stepped out of the water and merely walked across the dam, to plop himself back into the water on the other side.

With nothing to do but think and jam to "Kung-fu Fighting" (I have no shame!), as I had a quarter-mile until my turnaround marker, my mind somehow managed to wander all the way to the point where I was wondering about the fish in the water. What would they do when they reached that same obstacle that the the goose just blithely stepped over? Well, the logical mind must of course assume that that the fish would turn around at that point and go back.

Hmmm, makes me consider my place in life. Am I a fish or am I a goose? Well, I am a goose (you silly goose!) now, but there were times when I turned around at the obstacles. Now, when my stream is blocked, I walk over the obstacle, albeit without quite as much grace as the Canadian geese demonstrated today.

And you? What have you done with your obstacles? Are you a fish who turns around in search of another route or a goose who makes your own?