This coming week will be jam-packed with potential blessings and opportunities for me. When they all pile up like that, I tend to dread the mass of experience instead of savoring each individual accomplishment as it comes. In the meantime, my body’s fighting off a cold.
Enter Anne Lamott.
Not only is she a tremendous writer, but she’s a tremendous influence on countless writers, myself included. Nearly every time I’m feeling overwhelmed, I’m reminded of the story from Lamott’s inspiring classic, Bird by Bird.
In it, she tells of her brother being completely overwhelmed by a bird classification science project the night before it’s due. I forget which wise parent told him, but one of them sat beside him, took a long breath and said, “Just take it bird by bird.”
That advice has stuck with me for decades. While I may feel overwhelmed by all the plates I’m required to spin this week, if I take it bird-by-bird, I can meditatively complete each vital task. Before long, I’ll find myself at the end of the week and on the other side of a gauntlet of achievement.
Despite the inner dread, I WILL complete the week’s most pressing tasks. You will, too.
See you on the other side!
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Comments
2 responses to “It’s a bird-by-bird kinda week”
Loved that book!
It seems like it’s always that kind of week here at the paper… you probably remember that!
I’m here waiting on a Jesup city meeting. Trying to find productive things to do and feeling a little dread about the long night ahead.
But I guess I’ll just take it bire-by bird1
Thanks Mark!
I certainly DO remember that! Some of my best formative experiences, in retrospect. Hope your meeting went well!