Embracing the Mess
A Lesson from the Robins
Hello, dear readers!
Today, I want to share a story that unfolded right on my front porch—a story that, in many ways, parallels the tumultuous yet transformative journey I’ve embarked on these past few years.
Recently, a determined robin decided to make her nest on one of the pillars by my front door. Despite my efforts to dissuade her—thinking of the mess, the inconvenience for our bustling household with two dogs, a 10-year-old, and the usual traffic—I found myself repeatedly thwarting her nesting attempts. I knocked down her initial efforts and even hung tin foil to deter her. But nature, as always, had other plans. Returning from a week-long vacation, I was greeted by a fully constructed nest, front and center, complete with four eggs.
Reluctantly, I embraced the inevitable mess. There was mud, grass, and yes, a lot of bird poop. But as I watched this robin mother tirelessly warm her eggs, visible from my couch, something shifted within me. The process of watching those eggs hatch into mesmerizing little fuzzballs, then sprout feathers and eventually take flight, became the center of our household’s attention.
It was magical. The daily updates on the baby birds were eagerly discussed, and their eventual departure left us surprisingly heartbroken. We had become, quite unexpectedly, empty nesters.
This experience with the robins mirrored the broader theme of my life in recent years: embracing the mess. From navigating a second divorce and being ostracized from my church to falling in love and relocating to Nashville, I’ve lived through what one might call a spectacular mess. And yet, just like with the robins, it was in embracing this chaos that I discovered the magic hidden within the mess.
This journey has been filled with tears, therapy, legal battles, and multiple moves, but also immense joy, laughter, legos, and love. I’ve documented this rollercoaster in my upcoming memoir, Magic in the Mess, which I am thrilled to share with you this fall.
As we approach the release date, I’ll be sharing more snippets and behind-the-scenes moments that illustrate how embracing the mess can indeed be magical. Stay tuned, and thank you for your continued support and love.
With all my heart, Molly ????
