The little patch of mangroves that I love is about 25 degrees from the equator along the Key West shoreline. This in-between space of land and sea is a fascinating ecosystem. In this subtropical space, you can see fish schooling, swimming together with their own species for safety and comfort. At times they create shoals, groups of compatible fish species swimming together. Humans school, too, because it brings us benefits. Because you are not as instinct driven as a fish, you have more choice about how you gather with others.  The schools you swim with, leave, or co-create impact your personal ecosystem. 

Schooling, swimming together for comfort and safety is a common behavior in the mangrove forest. Small fish swim together in the tangled roots of the trees for protection from larger predators. Once they are big enough to leave the shelter of the roots, many fish live in schools. Mangrove snapper swim all day in the sea grass in large schools which look like one larger sea creature. Their synchronized movements are managed through eyesight and a sensory organ called the lateral line, which allows them to detect subtle pressure changes in surrounding water.  The school flows and curves along the ocean floor as one united group. 

Humans school too. We form groups of all kinds that come together to share strength and comfort in numbers. A small school of friends play board games for fun and group support. They stay coordinated through humor and shared experiences. Religious communities and sports fans flow in and out of their place of gathering following ritual, music, and routine. Repeated gatherings provide a sense of identity and meaning in the larger world.  Protesters with common values signal to one another, with signs and songs united to create change. Because you are not a mangrove snapper, you have say over who you school with and how you coordinate your participation.

There is value in schooling. It allows you to feel safe, share joy, or build strength with others. During a personal crisis you can retreat to a small school hidden out of the public eye. When you are stronger, you can swim out to find a school that matches your values and energy. As a human you have the choice to swim with a variety of schools to test out new ideas or ways of experiencing the world. How often you school, and who you school with, influences your identity and your impact on the world. 

Joining, co-creating, or leaving schools is one way you build your personal ecosystem. Mangrove snapper school with their own species and participate in shoaling with compatible species. You may have been brought up to believe that you may only swim with certain fish. As an adult you have a lot more choice. You can swim in and out of different schools, stay for a visit, or swim away. You can co-create a school for any purpose that makes sense to you. These groups then become part of your ongoing life.

Just as the mangrove snapper live in small and large schools based on their phase in life, you can make decisions about who you swim with at this stage of your journey. Humans school together in many different ways. There are benefits to being in a school, or a shoal, that works for you. Consider who you are swimming with and know that you can join, leave, or co-create schools impacting your own personal ecosystem.

Peace,

Laura