Bird by Bird: From a throwaway line to life philosophy.

Coach Beard: I hate losing.

Coach Lasso: “Bird by Bird, Coach.”

This almost throwaway line from the beloved show “Ted Lasso” has become a guiding principle for me over the last year.

After a quick google search of the reference I didn’t recognize, I learned that the phrase “Bird by bird” comes from Anne Lamott’s book called “Bird by Bird.” She talks about how to handle big tasks by doing them one small part at a time. This idea comes from a story about her brother who was stressed about a big school project on birds.

Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he’d had three months to write, which was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother’s shoulder, and said, “Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.”

Lamott, Anne. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life (pp. 17-18).

My wife Megan and I could relate to Lamott’s brother more often than we’d care to admit over the last year. We’ve had family issues, work struggles, to do lists, personal relationships, and, frankly, never-ending piles of laundry that have left us “immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead.” I can’t tell you how many times Megan has chuckled sarcastically, looked over to me and asked “What are we going to do?”

Over and over again my answer has been “take it bird by bird.” She is pretty tired of it by now, but it’s still my go to answer.

This mindset, focusing on breaking down complex challenges into actionable steps, has sharpened my ability to remain poised under pressure. It’s a practice in mindfulness, teaching me to concentrate on the present and tackle each task as it comes, without being overwhelmed by the cumulative weight of responsibilities.

This approach has not only helped in managing day-to-day tasks but has also fostered a sense of progress and achievement, even in the face of daunting projects or personal goals.

So, to anyone navigating through their own dense forest of challenges, in the spirit of Anne Lamotte and Ted Lasso, “Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.”