Jonathan Living Seagull was a 1970 book with a theme centered around a spirit of self-determination through transcendence of the body and discovery of the limitless nature of mind and spirit.
Jonathan, a seagull who was bored with daily life and squabbles for food, became passionate for flight, and pushed himself to learn everything he could about flying. As he was determined to chart his own path, his increasing unwillingness resulted in his expulsion from the flock.
In this episode of the Nobody Knows Your Story podcast, Melissa Hamlet tells her story and it’s a story of an unwillingness to conform. “At the time I read Jonathan Living Seagull had an impact on me, but I didn’t realize its full impact until much later in my professional life.”
Melissa’s work ethic was formed by working in her parent’s country store. She stocked shelves, waited on customers, and learned a lot about people. The experience taught her a lot about marketing, sales, and responsibility and most importantly, how to work with others.
These became valuable tools in Melissa’s work career, a career that’s allowed her, like Jonathan; to chart her own path.