What’s with the Name!?

You might be thinking, “Noell…what’s with the name of your practice?” And to you I say, “Yep, it’s a weird one.” However, it’s chosen with intention and meaning. Before I dive into the significance I find in my name, I’d like to challenge you to take a moment and see if you have your own interpretation. Write it down and compare it to mine!

Here we go!

Let’s talk about the bird. Yes, singular. It’s not often that you see a bird going rogue; generally, it’s with its flock. Or, at least a few of it’s other bird buddies. Every now and then, when you look up, you may just see one chilling on a telephone wire by itself. It looks serene. It looks sure of itself. It looks like it’s just taking it all in. Then, when it’s ready, it flutters over to it’s group and becomes one of many again. To me, this speaks to our journey as humans. We are creatures of community and connection. Simultaneously, we are seekers of our own identity and independence. It’s a finely tuned dance of blending in and individuation. We thrive when we can leave the flock and do our own thing for a bit, knowing that we can return to our group at anytime and seamlessly pick back up where we left off.

Now, the wire and why the heck the bird is on it. In nature, birds sit on branches. (Duh, Noell!)  A wire is unnatural. It’s intrusive. Maybe it’s even an obstacle. Yet, we almost always see birds perched on a powerline. It signifies the things and events in our life that we must adapt to. A lot of what we come across, we didn’t ask for or seek out. Initially, it brings us distress, concern, and confusion. Yet, it’s there and not going anywhere. So, we have to learn to live with it…possibly even make use of it. Adversity spares no one. But much like the bird that can sit on the line without getting electrocuted, we too overcome our circumstances and are resilient.

All of this to say, “Bird on a Wire” encapsulates what I believe to be the core elements of our transformation and growth journey: Adaptability, Individuation, and Resilience.

Now, let’s compare notes!