(last edited on April 29, 2014 at 1:26 am)
Every once in a while I like to check out a store online called See Jane Work. I have an irrational love of paper and office supplies, and I enjoy the cheerful upbeat nature of the site. Everything is so cute! If this website were a gal, I’d marry her :-)
Today I ordered my first product, a magnetic chirping bird for holding paper clips. This is probably the least necessary thing I need in my office, but its role is more symbolic than functional. There are these little birds that I see every day at Starbucks in the morning; I believe they are some kind of common swallow. I usually sit outside if it’s not raining, taking in the morning air, and observe these birds almost every day. There’s something about the way these birds approach us that I find fascinating. They’re tiny, fluffy, and pretty cute. They’re also diligent, bold, and industrious. I realized a couple weeks ago that they do a very good job of “just being themselves”, and that I could learn a thing or two from them. I sometimes get wrapped up in thinking I should be “more professional” or “building my career”, and though I’ve definitely chosen a more non-traditional path to life-work I still get caught up in thinking about “success” and how people perceive me. Those little birds have no such pretensions, and every day they remind me that my OWN little bird inside of me needs to come out and “just be”. That realization has become one of my moral compass points.
That my moral compass point is now available in shiny magnetic bird form is just a bonus. Woot!
5 Comments
And here I was thinking those bottles in your blog header pic could serve anyone as a moral compass.
But, seriously, love that site. Thanks for that. Enjoy your purchase and the warm tingly feeling it brings. Cheers.
David,
Allow me to suggest that the little birds are teaching a powerful lesson. Mindfulness is being totally absorbed in the present moment. Birds, in fact all animals, are wonderful teachers in this area.
They don’t worry about their bird-career; they don’t wonder where their next meal is coming from. Dogs don’t wonder and worry about what they should be doing, they simply continue being in the present moment and are very content creatures.
Two books I’ve read this summer deal with this profound concept of mindfulness: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle and The Art of Power by Thich Nhat Hahn. I recommend them both.
I would suggest that enjoying the little birds while sipping your Starbucks drink each morning IS taking care of your career and IS professional.
Allowing ourselves to be fully present is one of the best (and most difficult) things we can do for ourselves and, by extension, our career.
So keep watching those little birds, bro. :)
“That realization has become one of my moral compass points.”
Your insights are always such a rewarding pleasure to read and digest…
I LOVE See Jane Work (looks like guys wanna be with her, and girls wanna BE her) – and I know just the little bird you are talking about too!! Most of all, I completely identify with the warm fuzzy feeling an office supply item can bring… Enjoy :)
So glad to know that I’m not the only one who adores See Jane Work! I wish they hadn’t removed the Desk of the Month feature, as it was always so charming and good for stimulating one’s imagination for different work environments. I buy a lot of things there for travel (the Barcelona bags are great) and work organization (“To File” and “To Read” clips are so useful!)