Swimming Upstream

Swimming Upstream

Many of us have heard about the salmon and its swimming upstream. Curiously, it is not just salmon, but also coho, rainbow trout and other fish, as well. They undertake this arduous journey to reproduce, by following a familiar scent that leads them back to the location of their birth. This is where the circle of life begins and ends for them. Rather beautiful when you think about it.

For humans, swimming upstream means to go against or fight the popular thought of the day. Meaning, you are opposing the majority opinion. Sometimes we do it out of orneriness. Other times, in an attempt to simply be seen as unique. But there are also times we do it because we feel in our bones that we need to stand up against an injustice, misperception, or bias.

And because it is not a biological imperative to swim upstream, we have the gift of choice. We get to choose whether to do it or not. So next time you feel yourself being pushed aside by the current tide of thought, remember, you get to choose. And as you are making your decision, consider the possibility that a swim upstream could truly serve you well in the long run.

Fish remember where they came to ‘be’ in order to end up there after a life well-lived. Makes you wonder what that could look like for humans.