If you have watched the famous animated movies “Happy Feet” or “Penguins of Madagascar”, you are probably familiar with characters such as Sven the Puffin that remind us of the fact that penguins cannot really fly; at least not in the traditional sense. Despite having wings of their own, and being classified as birds, you will never see a penguin soaring in the sky like an eagle or a crow. This is because their wings are much too small to support the weight of their bodies, which are packed with fat and feathers to help them survive the cold environment that they usually inhabit.
Yet, penguins do in fact fly! They do not fly in the air like other birds, but they soar underwater. The shape and qualities of their bodies and wings make them extremely great swimmers. The average penguin can reach speeds from between 4 to 7 miles per hour. However, the fastest species of penguins, called the Gentoo, can swim at 22 miles per hour. The awkward waddle that they display when walking on land serves to be in complete contrast to the smooth, quick motion that the penguins adopt when underwater in the process of hunting fish.
Much like the penguins that spend their energy hunting, we as human beings spend a very large part of our lives working towards the achievement of a goal or the development of a skill. We try to fly.
While some people do achieve their seemingly impossible goal by sheer force of will or by pure luck, others are left wondering why they have not yet gotten their chance to fly despite having wings of their own and the same skills or experiences that others do. Perhaps, we must consider whether the ‘penguin’ that we see flying is not in fact a puffin that has been disguised as a penguin, like Sven from the “Happy Feet” movie.
We are always taught the importance of hard work and perseverance as young people. It is important, however, to have an understanding of where and when we must use these values. If you find yourself faced by an obstacle that you cannot move or a skill that you cannot master, use hard work and perseverance. Use them in such a way where you are not repeating the same efforts over and over again, but you are giving yourself the courage to try new methods and take new paths to accomplish your goals. A journey that has proven to be successful when taken by your peers or coworkers may not be the same for you. This may sometimes be because they enjoy advantages or strengths that are not accessible to us. So instead, create your own journey and tailor each moment to support your needs and abilities.
To put it simply, if your wings do not allow you to take flight in the air, try jumping into the water. You may find yourself soaring in ways that you have never expected.
