The Flight of the Hummingbird

Theme song: Hand in my Pocket

I just had the greatest set of experiences and I want to share them with you today.

As some of you know, I am privileged to live in a home surrounded by hummingbirds. Often, while I am writing, playing, talking, loving, or doing yoga, they are zipping around outside my window. It's so fun.

Recently, there was a hummingbird nest outside my back door and another one in view of my kitchen window.

The first nest came and went before I ever saw a baby hummingbird.

The second nest was occupied for a month or less. I cannot tell you how cute it was to see the mama bird sitting in her nest (as well as zipping around) for a few weeks and then seeing very tiny heads crop up around her, all nodding and talking.

In less than a week, everyone was gone and the nest has started to disintegrate. Looks like hummingbirds are very quick parents!

It reminded me, though, that I love life. I love seeing the cycle unfold before my eyes. It reminded me of what I'm here for, which is, as hummingbirds do, to get the nectar out of life.

Despite all the odds and every obstacle, I believe in life. And I love it.

Here's my story. This telling of it I lifted it from my new website, but it sums up who I am, where I've been and where I want to go. My life is my business and my business is, if not my whole life, something of which I am very proud and spend the bulk, yes, the bulk, of my time doing.

The Bird Behind the Brand

The forest was shining and green, dense with trees, flowers and food. The animals played and worked together by the river, tending their homes and sharing their lives. Out of nowhere, a storm erupted and bolts of lightening shattered the peace. One bolt of lightening struck an old tree and suddenly, fire was everywhere. The animals did not know what to do. They were filled with fear and ran this way and that, trying to save themselves, their possessions and their families. While the forest burned, Monkey saw Hummingbird doing something different from the rest. He was going back and forth from river to fire, carrying droplets of water in his tiny beak and tossing them on the flames. Monkey screamed and pointed at him, stopping the animals around them in their tracks. He said to Hummingbird, “What are you doing there, Hummingbird? Everyone knows you can’t save this forest with your tiny drops of water!” Hummingbird kept working, but he replied to Monkey, “I am doing my part.”

Anna Colibri's Brand Story

Once upon a time in a Paris bookstore, I found a French version of the above story, written by Pierre Rabbhi, a farmer, politician and spiritual practitioner. I love the socially conscious spirit of this story and it reminds me that the Anna Colibri brand represents doing my best and nothing less for people, planet and profit.

My attraction to hummingbirds started when I didn’t even know what a brand is. I was a small child living in Pacific Grove, California. In that little town by the sea, there is a natural history museum and in the museum, in one dusty case near the stairs going to the second floor, I found Anna’s Hummingbird. As a little girl, I was pleased that such a pretty little bird was named after me!

Anna Colibri Brand and Bird Qualities

The colibri, especially Anna’s hummingbird, is a truly amazing creature. Here are some reasons why:

• Multiculturalism. Colibri means hummingbird in many modern languages, including French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Finnish and Swedish. Because the word colibri is recognized in so many languages it expresses an appreciation for the value of multiculturalism.
• Good taste and savoir faire. Anna’s hummingbird was named after Anna Masséna, the French Duchess of Rivoli. This shows good taste and savoir faire.
• Grace under pressure. Anna’s hummingbird is the fastest animal on earth, able to flourish and fly under forces 10 times the pull of gravity. This shows grace under pressure.
• Courage. Hummingbirds, living only in the Americas, have the strongest heart of any animal. This is the embodiment of courage.
• Creativity, flexibility, and zest. Hummingbirds can fly in all directions, including backwards. This shows creativity, flexibility and zest for life.
• Ecology. Hummingbirds are pollinators, meaning they contribute directly to the web of life.
• Consistency and perseverance. Despite their tiny size, hummingbirds are fierce fighters and constant hard workers. This shows strength, determination, perseverance and consistency.
• Sense of fun. Colibris suck nectar from flowers as their primary means of survival. Nectar is naturally sweet and juicy. This shows the hummingbird’s appreciation of pleasure (and how to mix it with business).
• Form and function. Hummingbirds, with their jewel-toned feathers, are bright and beautiful. Their natural beauty sets a standard for combining form and function.
• Adaptability. Anna’s hummingbird is not on the endangered species list, showing an ability to thrive during both the good times and the challenging.

I love colibris and everything they stand for. My company, Anna Colibri, strives to embody the spirit and qualities of Anna’s Hummingbird at work, play and life.

And Then There's That Cleanse

I think it's possible that this "high on life" feeling is coming, in part, from the cleanse I am on. Normally I might not buy into a packaged, "commercial" solution such as my nutrition coach, Kendra Cannoy's 28 Days to Health plan.

What I've already learned is that the nutritional philosophy squares quite well with my own -- except I'm so flippin' busy I don't have time to hand-prepare three perfect meals each day.

What I'm seeing is that getting help, working in community with others, accepting solutions that may not be what I thought they would be, staying open to new possibilities and ways of doing things, is extremely valuable.

A big thank you to everyone who has reached out and been supportive of this effort. It's Day 2, 26 days to go!

Please consider following Kendra's Facebook page, linked to above, to give me encouragement as I go along because, don't get me wrong, I'm hungry!