Gold Days from the BirdFair
Wake up. Get ready. Go birdwatching.
The Partnership for International Birding was on the ground in England, and no matter the rest of the day’s agenda, whether a drive or a flight or a trade show or just birdwatching, its start for us was predictable.
This clarity and repetition was freeing, and I would challenge you to get out in nature for an hour every morning and see if it doesn’t make you feel somehow changed.
We were outside London-town for Global BirdFair, the massive gathering of thousands of birdwatchers in support of sharing experiences, supporting conservation, and coming together to celebrate the joy of seeing birds in nature. To prepare for the event, we went to as many reserves, forests, and fens as we could to see spoonbills, cranes, shorebirds, beautiful Whooper swans, and more. (We saw 98 different types of birds, and 77 of them were new to me).
As for the fair itself, I don’t know how to describe 20,000 people from across the globe coming together in a huge field of tents, so take a quick look and also check out the Kind & Funny-designed beer mats that were a hit of the festival:
Alongside nature lovers from across the world I felt at home and inspired (even as we collectively lamented the United States’ ridiculous and regressive steps towards shrinking national parks, in addition to lamenting our other ridiculous and regressive policies, wars, and activities). Conversation flowed freely, and I felt my mind expand and my world get a little bigger as I learned about Wild Poland, birdwatching in The Gambia, seeing snow leopards and shamans in Mongolia, and more.
It was also very cool to be part of a team that is based all across the world. The people I met were so generous and welcoming, making me feel quickly safe and valued, especially as I tried not to pass out from heat and dehydration.
I’ve learned hard lessons over the past many years about how the words of others can decimate my personal self-esteem, and while cultivating personal confidence and resilience that can’t be shaken has been vitally important, it’s also very nice when the people around you say actually nice things about you that help build you up.
I come back from BirdFair feeling like the wind is in my sails. Speaking of …
At the Movies
The movie theater is a happy place where we refill our creativity (and do a lot of our creative work). Here are this week’s highlights:
Kel & I saw the live-action Moana, and we loved it. Catherine Laga’aia and Rena Owen were particularly compelling as Moana and Gramma Tala, and the songs, especially the rhythms, connected with my soul. 100% recommend, especially if you need some wind in your sails too.
The Invite is a top-notch film, expertly directed by Olivia Wilde, with a completely compelling script from Rashida Jones & Will McCormack, and containing four exceptional acting performances from Olivia, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton. We give it four thumbs up (or eight, or twelve, or even 20).
Book Talk
Reading is one of the best things we can do for our human brains. Don’t let those evil robots win!
Bad, Bad Girl by Gish Jen
An epic of grand personal and familial scale, Gish imagines a conversation with her mother about the past that feels immediately vital in the present.
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
I bought this for a morning flight and finished it that night (BRAGGING!) because it was so excellently written, and it also pairs quite nicely with my previous recommendation if you want to do some comparative literature this summer.
The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida
A wonderful book that performs the magic trick of helping you understand yourself better through another person’s very unique perspective.
Client Highlights
Kind & Funny clients are the coolest people around. Here are some of the great things they’re up to:
The Denver Nook’s new listing for sale is going viral: https://www.instagram.com/p/DayOpyxk7sK/
Little Machine Brewery introduced The Sizzle Machine, their new food truck, and we can report that the burgers are legit: https://www.instagram.com/p/DalzgAfpvn8/?hl=en
Uncommon Practice Pilates has launched a merch shop designed in partnership with Kind & Funny, if you’re in Denver then drop in for a class to move, feel good, and get some swag: https://www.uncommonpracticepilates.com/
Emily & Justin are completing their kitchen renovation with support from a Kind & Funny Style Soul Search:
“Kelly and Jed's Style Soul Search was exactly what I needed. When I first reached out to book it, I was feeling so overwhelmed and unclear about the final stages of our massive kitchen/dining/family/mudroom remodel project.
The vision I had for it wasn't coming together. I couldn't find the specific pieces of furniture I had in mind. I was wavering on the paint and backsplash I had originally imagined. My husband and I weren't seeing eye to eye. And, to make things harder, we're on a time crunch to get it all done before we host a group of my clients in a few weeks.
The Game Plan that these Kind and Funny souls put together for us gave us new perspectives, helped us see what was important (and not), and offered up some wild new ideas that took us out of the pigeonhole we were stuck in. Ultimately, it allowed us to make decisions so we could keep the project moving forward with confidence, and we're so excited for this final push!
Thank you, Jed and Kelly, for diving into our chaos with such compassion and sharing your brilliant insights and creativity with us. You guys are the best!
– Emily (& Justin)”
Want to talk about something cool? jed@kindandfunny.com.