Flying south

The other day I finally heard geese fly south. I couldn’t see them as they were well above the clouds, but even from the sound of them I could make out that they had decided to move, rather than just flying from one place to the next to find food. I could just imagine how they had set their sights on warmer pastures with a more bountiful supply of food, warmer waters, and perhaps above all a stronger sun and longer days.

It really does sound like a very good alternative to the solution bears have for dealing with the short, cold days of Winter: hibernation. Although, as a child the perspective of hibernation would appeal to me more than going through the hard work of flying south, often for thousands of miles.
But now, every year Fall comes around, I start listening for the sounds of the high flying geese moving south. It will tell when Winter will set in; it may even give an indication whether the upcoming Winter will be a cold one, or if the mild weather will continue almost until Spring comes around.

For most people obligations like jobs and family not only will keep us in one place, but also will keep us in our regular day-and-night rhythm. Until we retire there is a slim chance we can ‘fly south’, or go for (a mild form of) hibernation.

But even when we would have that chance, would we take it?
Or are we, deep down inside ourselves, fond of the change of seasons? The cold Winter with its short days and long, dark nights. Followed by Spring with its bursting of new green, new life, and new opportunities. The come the seemingly endless warm Summer days, and the fiery display of colors as the leaves are turning. That time when we may hear the sounds of geese flying south…

Or is our urge to escape the dark, cold Winter more related to a need to slow down. To find a couple of months during which we can sit back, take time to relax. Finding time to reflect on the year gone by, and making plans for the future. Like a desire to step back from the busy schedules we keep all year around, so we can catch up on our rest. Slow down enough to enjoy some ‘alone time’…

In most cases it is most likely a little bit of both. On one hand the chance to escape the kind of weather we may not appreciate all that much, while on the other hand finding that time and space to reflect, relax, and ponder what has been and what has yet to come…

And sometimes we allow ourselves to fly south with those geese, while other times we just curl up on the couch with a book, sipping hot chocolate…
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