Book Excerpt From A Little Birdie Told Me: Possibilities

Here is an excerpt from my book, one of my favorite passages actually and it was inspired an article from just today about a rare orange-eyed owl spotted for the first time in 125 years, though my new friend Peter G. Kaestner saw one 30 years ago but lacks the photographic evidence. Trust me though, I believe him. Here is the excerpt from my chapter on possibilities from A Little Birdie Told Me...

Possibilities: it is the single best word to use to answer the question that I’ve received the most since I snapped my first picture of a Limpkin during my first visit to the Plantation Preserve Linear Trail — why birding? It’s a lesson I learned that day, again without knowing it, it’s one I’ve learned every day since, and it’s one I’ll learn every day for the rest of my life.

The second you get out of your car, you never know what you’re going to see but once you step one foot on a trail, from that moment forward, the possibility always exists that you will find something special. Something rare. Something new. Something you never expected. Something you’ve never even heard of. Something that gives you reason to think anything’s possible.

You may not always. It’s happened to me plenty of times, especially in those 10-minute visits I referenced earlier in this chapter but plenty of times, it did. The fact of the matter is those visits are irrelevant. Regardless of how many times I did or didn’t see something new or special, with every new adventure, every new park I checked off the list, every detour off I-95 during a two-week road trip, every 90-minute drive to Martin County, every time I drove past a tree in Immokalee and looked up, the possibility was there. It always was. It will always be.

When you find yourself, at times, looking for signs that there is a reason to remain optimistic, if you’re not looking in the right places, you likely won’t find many, if any, signs at all. In the chapter on perspective, I shared that, for a variety of reasons, I felt the country had reached a state of polarization the likes of which I’d never seen before in my lifetime. It is enough to make you bow your head and pray to whomever and whatever you need to, but this cannot be the way we want to be living as a society.

On top of that, I was in the midst of grappling with a lot of personal demons in a sense—the self-doubt, the self-defeat, the guilt for feeling those things when I knew I had so much for which to be grateful, even still. The guilt for squandering some of those quiet moments at home with the kids, where my mind would drift to some of these darker places.

But it was also during some of the most challenging days of my unemployment, the days where I couldn’t get out of my own head, the days where I beat myself up a little as I watched Kristie working hard in our home office as I scoured job boards trying not to feel dejected or deflated, the days where I felt like I needed something more to cling to. On those days I realized that not only was the possibility to experience something special and different the single most alluring aspect of this newly discovered passion and the answer to the “why,” I also soon discovered that the lesson on possibilities was one that I probably needed most during those most trying days, too.

Because if I could be walking out of Plantation Preserve, headed to my car, and have a Cooper’s Hawk, a bird I’d never seen before, swoosh by me in a flash, but then land five feet away and allow me to take as many photos as I wanted, well, what other possibilities are out here? Out there? For me, for my kids, for my family? We never know. That’s what makes it great. That’s what gives us hope. That’s what gives us reason to think “why not?”

If I could be sitting at the resort pool, while on vacation with my family in Hilton Head, South Carolina, hear a strange call that compelled me to get up from my lounge chair and walk around the corner—with camera in hand, because I always had it at that point—and see a Bald Eagle 15 feet away in a random pine tree, then what else might be right around the corner? What possibilities exist even if I don’t see them from my current viewpoint? What is out there for me that I don’t know about but could find out simply by getting up and away from my comfort zone? Literally, because in this case, that lounge chair was amazing.

For anyone reading this who, like I was not so long ago, is looking for answers, looking for something, looking for possibilities no matter the situation, 10 years from now when COVID-19 is hopefully a far distant memory—but anytime you find yourself clinging to hope, wondering when your next chapter will start or when that next door will open, just remember, a Bald Eagle may be sitting right around the corner.

----------------

Advanced Praise for A Little Birdie Told Me...Now available on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and other retailers.

“This inspiring book has something for everyone. Matt has masterfully and seamlessly weaved his story into life lessons, some provided from the difficult part of his journey. A Little Birdie Told Me… will resonate with bird lovers, baseball fans, and all those in between.” – Tim Kurkjian, New York Times Best-Selling Author and Major League Baseball Analyst for ESPN

“A Little Birdie Told Me…is a book that offers inspiration and valuable learnings for all readers, including business leaders and those who want to become a more empathetic and understanding executive. The lessons Matthew shares during his journey of self-reflection are relatable and applicable to all of us and I recommend this book to fellow hoteliers, parents, and citizens of the world.” –Hervé J.L. Humler, Chairman Emeritus, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company

“A delightful read — Matt has such an easy way with words. He skillfully weaves important life lessons around his newfound passion for birds, discovered during the pandemic lockdown. We can all relate to the wise lessons in this book and laugh at some of the amusing experiences Matt shared. By the end of this book, you will feel like you and Matt are old friends.” – Peter G. Kaestner, World's No. 1 eBirder with 9,294 Species Observed

“A Little Birdie Told Me… is an absorbing set of life lessons forged from a journey through nature and self-reflection. Whether in crisis or calm, this book demonstrates the power of being more fully attendant to naturally occurring beauty, tranquility, and majesty. If you’re ready to venture down an insightful path to peace, purposefulness, and success, it’s time to step into this book.” –Joseph Michelli, PhD, New York Times No. 1 Best-Selling author of books like Stronger Through Adversity, The Airbnb Way, and Leading the Starbucks Way

“A Little Birdie Told Me...is not about COVID, losing your job, or birding. COVID offers context, job loss represents the unexpected challenges life can throw at any of us, and birding illustrates how being receptive to the wonders of the world can enrich our lives and feed our souls. The narrative is honest, vulnerable, and inspiring. Papuchis is masterful at inviting readers to embrace the work on their terms. His approach is consistent with the sentiment expressed by Kahlil Gibran's famous quote: "If he is indeed wise, he does not bid you enter the house of his wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind." Enjoy this wonderful read and buy a copy for someone you love.” –Leo Bottary, author of three books, including Peennovation: What Peer Advisory Groups Can Teach Us About Building High-Performing Teams