Marlow's Musings 7/2/23
Insights, adventures and fun stuff from this week.
Someday A Bird Will Poop on You
One of my greatest joys is reading to my grandchildren.
Always on the lookout for books to share with them, this one seemed like a fun read.
“Someday a bird will poop on all of us. But that's okay…What matters is not how big the mess is, but how well you react to it.”1
As expected the kids laughed at the ‘poop’ parts. To their credit, they also took in a more profound message.
Little did I know I would get an opportunity to model the proper behavior.
We’ve had smoke from the Canadian wildfires in Wisconsin for several weeks. One reason we spent the morning inside reading was because the air was thick with haze.
By afternoon it cleared and we spent time outside in the sunshine.
That’s when it happened.
Right there in my front yard under our red sunset maple tree…
A bird pooped on my head.
The kids didn’t even laugh.
“Are you serious? We just read about that,” they both exclaimed. Then they asked if I was okay and of course I was.
I quickly washed my hair and was back out, appreciating the irony and opportunity.
Word of the Week
default (n.)
To deceive, to cheat; to put wrong, to lead astray, cause to be mistaken; be concealed from. A state of privation or deprivation in which things that are essential for human well-being are scarce or lacking.
There is a default language in life. The language of default is filled with should’s and have to’s and ought to’s and musts.
We are as the definition of default clearly shows, deceived, cheated, and led astray by the default.
The language of purpose breathes life back into us. It helps us uncover those hidden parts of ourselves long ago forgotten.
Words of Purpose
This week we learned...
These explorations in the language of purpose this week took us from the ‘thief of joy’ which is comparison to the myriad of default messages and words that keep us from living our best life.
Ikiquest+
This week in Ikiquest+…
I go deeper on ‘Default’ by sharing my Ikigai Journey backstory or at least the origin of it.
I also shared how unique expressions of Ikigai in our careers make life better for everyone.
Fun Things I Came Across This Week
Analog Photobooths
Did you know there are less than fifty working analog photo booths remaining in the world now?
Since 2007, the people at FotoAutomat have been working to preserve this photographic heritage by restoring and maintaining the last original analog photobooths in Paris, Nantes, and Prague, mainly in spaces dedicated to art and culture.
If you are near Paris you can rent one for a party and have your photograph taken in it.
The 42 Best Pens for 2023
Saying I’m obsessive about pens might be an understatement for me.
When you are left-handed, you drag your hand over what you just wrote.
So the kind of pen I use makes a difference to me. The ink has to dry quickly.
JetPens has compiled an impressively comprehensive list for almost any writing purpose.
Best pens for writing, journaling, school, art, and more.
When I came across this list and noticed they had a category of pens for lefthanders I knew I needed to check it out.
Final Thought: Comment of the Week
Part of the joy that comes from writing and sharing ideas here is the conversations it sparks.
I’m going to start highlighting comments I receive here or in emails from time to time.
This first one is from Matt and it came at a particularly rough part of my week just when I needed encouragement.
It began with…”Hi David, your mission matters to me so I signed up for your paid ikiquest…”
He understands the mission and that tangibly supporting the newsletter also helps those who can’t afford a subscription continue to receive the message of Ikigai.
Needless to say, that made my day.
Quest well!
...there’s always something to be thankful for.
A childhood poem comes to mind:
“Birdie, birdie in the sky,
Why did you poop in my eye?
I don’t care,
I don’t cry;
I’m just glad elephants can’t fly.”