Next time you feel like you are "going it alone" remember the following Goose Story and then get to a meeting, ask a friend for help and get the encouragement and support you need.

Next
fall, when
you see Geese
heading South for
the Winter, flying along
in V formation, you might
consider what science has dis-
covered as to why they fly that way:
as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an
uplift for the bird immediately following. By
flying in V formation the whole flock adds at least
71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.
When
a goose falls
out of formation,
it suddenly feels the drag
and resistance of trying to go it alone
and quickly gets back into formation to take
advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.
When
the Head Goose
gets tired, it rotates back
in the wing and another goose flies point.

Geese
honk from behind to
encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

Finally,
and this is important,
when a goose gets sick, or is
wounded by gunshots and falls out
of formation, two other geese fall out with that
goose and follow it down to lend help and protection.
They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly, or until
it dies. Only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their group.

by Dr. Harry Clarke Noyes
ARCS NEWS, Vol. 7, No. 1, January 1992