Two Pigeons in a Parking Garage

What can two stubborn pigeons in a parking garage teach us about living fully and authentically? More than you'd expect.

Pigeons. Not a likely source of inspiration, but here we are nonetheless.

These are city pigeons, let me make that distinction clear. Completely unbothered too. Hands full with a laptop bag, a lunchbox, and a purse, I walked the short distance from the elevator to my car in a downtown parking garage.

Two pigeons, whether they were a mated pair or just BFFs—who am I to say—apparently really liked my car. I can say that for a fact because they were on top of it. And failed to move as I got closer. And as I opened my door.

Did I mention they were completely unbothered?

I put all my things inside and then walked to the opposite side of the car to shoo them off. In what can only be described as an aristocratic, pigeon-like way, they both gave me the side-eye and ever so slowly repositioned themselves to perch just behind my car. Reluctantly.

And since their social calendar had no other commitments, I had plenty of time to grab my phone and take multiple pictures as they surveyed the city streets below.

Pigeons—those specific pigeons—provided me with an opening to discuss something that I have been mulling over for a bit.

We should aim to live our life as we see fit (even if a woman in business casual apparel tries to shoo us away from a perfectly good location).

How often do we limit ourselves because of a tiny voice in our heads, or an insecurity, or a desire to fit within certain circles exists within our consciousness?

Stop limiting yourself.

Want to get a motorcycle license? Take the class.

Want to dye your hair blue? Try it.

Minimize the space for regret in your life.

Start living life on your terms. What you’ll find is that when you start living authentically, you open the door for others to do so as well. People will approach you with conversations you may find surprising, precisely because you are doing the very thing they have been thinking about but have yet to begin. You provide an opening for curiosity.

Encourage that. Welcome those conversations. Be candid.

You may love the new thing. You may not. You may be ambivalent. Regardless of the outcome, now you know.

In the process of exploration and freeing yourself from self-imposed limitations, the best piece of advice I can give is this.

Be as unbothered as two pigeons in a parking garage.