December: Bird by Bird
There is a story of a school-aged boy who receives a large project to write a report on birds in the world. The boy is completely overwhelmed, in tears over the sheer magnitude of the project. Eventually, his father sits down with him, providing advice on how to approach the report: “take it bird by bird, buddy. Bird by bird”.
This concept of “bird by bird” has echoed through December.
A bit of background: there have been countless times in my life where I’ve not pursued a hobby, project, or something I’m interested in for being too overwhelmed. I instantly mentally spiral into all the logistics (what gear do I need, what do I need to learn quickly, should I go back to school for it, should I find myself a mentor, is this a future job) and the what-ifs (what if I put in time and effort and hate it, what if I’m not good at it out of the gate, what if I actually am good at it and have to reevaluate all other things?).
This 40-for-40 project has given me the space to throw all that out the window. Instead of feeling isolated in setting my own goals, I’m accountable to you all for sampling the things you’ve assigned and channel you all while doing them (my favorite part of every task!). I’ve been able to approach each item from a place of freedom and joy instead of anxiety. Man oh man is it refreshing! (Even the animal spirit card I pulled at a somatic breath work class got the memo.)
I checked off “play a song on the piano” this month. I have wanted to learn how to play the piano for close to 20 years, but never made the time because it felt so big. Looking back to August when this task truly kicked off, I really only knew the note middle C. Since then, I’ve downloaded a piano instruction app on my phone and practiced 15 to 30 minutes a day for the better part of 16 weeks. I’ve come out with a number of (easy) songs, including my all-time favorite Christmas song, and genuinely look forward to sitting down to play. 15 minutes a day. Bird by bird.
This month I also went back to dance class at a local studio to learn a hip hop sequence. While I’ve danced off and on most of my life, I’ve not been to class since before the pandemic so my skills were rusty. It took nearly the entire class to get out of my head about how I “should” be dancing and instead remind myself to break it into bite-sized bits, don’t be afraid to ask questions to understand more, and enjoy the flow. Eight counts at a time. Bird by bird.
Looking ahead to this spring and summer, there are extremely physical tasks: rock climbing a Flatiron, hiking the skyline traverse, bike touring. Things I simply cannot do off the couch, December kicked off chipping away at the fitness of it all this month. Easily digestible sessions at the rock climbing gym, 30 minute runs, 20 minute lifting workouts. Bird by bird.
I’ve also been working on my children’s book since August, a monumental effort. December marked working through feedback from an editor, choosing how I’d like to publish it, and determining physical details of the book - from page weight to size to cover type. I also received some amazing image drafts of my main character from the insanely talented illustrator I’m working with. One word at a time, one page at a time. Bird by bird.
I can’t quite put into words the immense impact this outlook has had on me - it’s something I’ve not been able to unlock on my own for nearly 40 years. Turns out, I needed your help to flip on the light switch in my brain and heart and push me to let go of the anxiety I was holding onto in order to take the first step in things I never ever would have tried before. I am forever grateful, in the deepest parts of my being, to all of you for giving me this gift.
Onward to January!
Tasks finished this month (for those of you following along on the list):
Hip hop dance class - learn a full sequence
Learn to line dance/two step
Take a somatic breath work class
Learn a song on the piano
4 out of 12 monthly date nights
13 out of 50 weekly impact calls
7 of 40 “purple couch” conversations
3 of 40 written memories