Against the Wind

Against the wind,
still running against the wind.
I am older now but still running
against the wind.
(Bob Seger)

I have always loved the tune of this song but never cared that much for its meaning. The wind is the ego, so if you run all your life against the wind you must be doing something wrong, so I thought. But today I am taking one of these trips that my work require around the world. I travel with the light, from Boston to Asia via Europe back to the US. No matter how much you fly, the sun always shines on you. But then, one of my colleagues reminded me that this way I am actually going against the wind. So if you you left Boston via Europe towards Asia and back, you would fly much faster. However, you would travel large stretches in the dark.

I think there is profound symbolism in this choice. Don't mind running against the wind. The wind is the ego, the resistance of the self against the Self. If you confront your ego you will face resistance. Just as the snake that shakes off its old skin has to wiggle a little. By standing up to your ego you in fact wear it off. Running with the ego instead will always feel good, but you travel in the dark most of the times. So I am happy to lose a few hours compared to my colleagues who travel in the opposite direction. The light is ample compensation!