Straighten Up and Fly Right
Yesterday morning I woke up to the sound of a consistent banging noise. At first, I thought some industrious notion had possessed our sons and they were out splitting wood at 6 a.m. That being highly unlikely, I stumbled downstairs to find caffeine and to look for the source of the noise. At first, everything was silent but for the reassuring sound of coffee brewing and a robin chirping on the deck. Then, without any provocation, the robin lifted from its perch and flew full force into my window creating a very hearty thud for such a small creature. I watched, and moments later, the bird did the same thing. Upon closer inspection, there were downy bits of feathers stuck all over the windows around my dining room. Apparently, he'd moved from one window to the next all morning. I opened the door and said something in my pre-caffeinated state that probably was completely incoherent, but worked in dissuading the bird from further brain bashing.
Why would the bird continually fly into the same window? Einstein would say it fit his definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. But that little bird's actions had a rather profound result for me. I realized that I exercise that same fruitless flight pattern sometimes. I will stick with an issue, a cause or a project long after most reasonable people would give up. I like to think of it as tenacity, but sometimes it's an exhibition of the same birdbrained qualities as my robin friend. A co-worker once cautioned me, "Mimi, you must decide if this is the sword on which you choose to die." That test shouldn't just be applied to big things—such as championing a particular cause—but little things, like holding onto a perspective long after its merit has faded.
I realized, thanks to this bird's wake up call, that there is a particular issue in my life where I just need to stop banging my head against the wall...or window. Tenacity has its place...like when the answer to "what will come of your effort" is something that is of lasting benefit. But changing our course to avoid headaches and heartaches is sometimes called for in life.
I hope that bird felt better as the day went on. Thanks to his lesson, I know I did.
I'd never heard the concept worded quite like this ... "What Will Come of Your Effort." That really resonated with me. I think I will make several 11 x 17 posters of those works to place above all of our computers at the office. It is so focused and clear. Thanks, Mimi!
Vickie
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Thanks, Vickie! Maybe I should make a sign for myself, as in my more fractured and frenzied moments, I am more likely to continue banging my head against the wall expecting my determined, goal-centered, focused efforts to bring it tumbling down! But more on all that in today's blog...
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