The Story of Common Things


While listening to an interview with the author of Hidden City? I was inspired to look for the story behind common things. How often to we pass by something without giving it a second thought. What interesting stories might we be missing? I decided to use this inspiration as a tool to encourage my curiosity and to help me become more present in my daily life. I challenged myself to stop at least once during the week to wonder about something that I would normally pass by.

Occasionally I stop by Point Mugu State Beach in the morning before a day of meetings. I use this time to read, journal or just enjoy the ocean. I’m visited by various creatures. I’ve seen sea lions, dolphin, squirrels, and pelicans. One creature I see every time I’m there is “pigeon of the sea,” the seagull. They are intrusive and annoying. Since I was a child, visiting the beach, I’ve learned to loath these birds.


This particular morning I was thinking about my challenge to find the story behind something I would normally not notice. This beach is rich with opportunities to notice. I like to sit in a camp chair with my feed propped up on one of the large rocks that help separate the beach/slope from the parking area. Those rocks are set about 10’ apart all along the beach. They are the favorite hangout of the seagulls. This particular morning the seagulls were all on the beach or in the air so the rocks near me were unoccupied. With my mind on finding stories in common things I was primed to notice new aspects in this familiar scene. When I looked at the rock closest to me I noticed the seagull poop. Specifically that there was more poop on the side of the rock away from the ocean. This implied the seagull was, much like myself, looking out over the water. The story showed up.

I wondered why a seagull might be looking over the water. Maybe she needed to start her day with some perspective. Standing on the rock, beak to the water, she settles in to get ready for the day. Earlier, after she woke up, looking for a bit of edible trash (the seagull equivalent to coffee) just to get a jolt, she flew from her evening’s perch to the rock. Now it was time to settle her mind and set her intentions for being the best bird possible for this day. Maybe she used the seagull version of “Headspace” to help her center. She would use a journal to capture her thoughts but, lacking opposable thumbs made using a pen or pencil difficult. So quiet-time or meditation is probably her best option to get ready for the stressful day of foraging for carrion and avoiding predators. The squirrels distract her for a moment, but she recovers and continues her process. She is pulled out of her focus once again with the need to poop. Being a seagull, this has an easy fix. Facing the amazing view of the Pacific Ocean, she poops on the backside of the rock and continues her focused time of setting intentions for the day. After another 10 or 15 minutes she’s feeling relaxed, focused, and ready for the day. A deep breath, a ruffle of the feathers and she flies off leaving the rock for the next person, bird or squirrel needing to find focus and perspective. 

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