I admire people who design their spaces—home restorers, builders, gardeners, garage-organizers. Respect. Just curious—did they all go to Montessori school? I digress.
Related, my neighbor just spent three years designing a gigantic home with all the fixings. He built it wall by wall, window by window, contractor by contractor. It’s beautiful … BUT I’m more into the owl on his roof. #JustEmilyThings
Me as a designer? Give me floor-to-ceiling windows, a kitchen bigger than any other room, an espresso machine, a bathtub, a gym … and we’re fine. Nothing fancy, really.
I just want spaces to feel lived in. Pristinely white rooms that look ready for tea-and-crumpet guests? Pass! Even looking at them makes me feel like I’ll stain something.
I loved this house in Illinois, though I nearly guarantee it had one of those rooms.
Lately, while I’m kind of meh about designing my physical space, I’ve become increasingly intense about curating my spiritual space. Because…
Mental real estate matters.
So, let’s talk about designing spiritual space—stick by stick. Raptor style.
For context, The Cornell Lab of Ornithology streams live bird cams from across the U.S. and beyond. I love them all—but especially the Hellgate Osprey.
Why? Glad you asked. Ospreys, like me, cannot stop editing their creations.
The X account that follows Montana’s Hellgate Osprey, specifically Iris,** uses the term ~nestoration~ for when birds prep their nests for nestlings.
**Fun fact: Iris is casually the World’s Oldest Known Osprey. Read about her!
There’s probably a human version of this (nesting?), but ~nestoration~ is its own special art. It’s both neurotic and nonchalant. « Hehe, me too :)
So, here’s our ~food forethought~ today: ~nestoration~ … Iris style.
If you were an Osprey and could bring ANY sticks you wanted to your nest…
What would you bring?
Who would you invite?
Would you show off your sticks?
Would you enjoy the process of building—or just wait for the payoff?
Would you share—with integrity—how you built it?
Would your design withstand windstorms?
Would you start over if it collapsed? #JustEmilyThings
Would you learn from your past builds?
Would you let NG** help?
**NG = “New Guy” = an as-yet-unnamed male Osprey … same, @ Iris, same :)
If it’s me answering (spoiler: it is), I’d say this all feels like a lot about a little—until you realize nests matter.
And yes, I wrote those Q’s through my Onion Layers (thanks for asking). Conclusion:
~Nestoration~ isn’t just necessary—it’s noble. Nuanced. Noticeable. And other nice ‘N’ words.
Back to where we started: I deeply respect the never-ending amending (Expansion and Contraction) that comes with creating anything—especially a future.
Ospreys, like me, want to build a strong foundation for what matters. For them, it’s fish and family. For me, it’s stability and satisfaction. Regardless, same instinct.
I want us to care about ~nestoration~ the way Osprey do—to feel confident in our zig-zag patterns and criss-cross-apple-sauce basket weaving. To feel safe. To feel capable of building something strong and sturdy. To edit our sticks (+ leaves + grass) as needed.
And while we’re at it, let’s make our nests elastic—so they don’t collapse under pressure. Yes, I know that’s more hummingbird than Osprey. Let’s be hybrid.
However you weave it, ~nestoration~ is an essential part of building and rebuilding.
Not that I’m qualified to say this—but I am—you can’t avoid falls (nest collapses). Or storms. Or the heartbreak of egg loss/robbery that goes on in this wild world. Ugh:
But!! We have creative control over what comes next. That’s where I find myself lately—staring at a messy pile of sticks, wondering what I should build.
~~~Whoops, I just should all over myself there! Don’t should all over yourself!!!~~~
I’m staring at my sticks, looking for the needle in the haystack: The career. The purpose. The partner. The answer that satisfies both the question-asker and me?
Maybe I can skip all the social anxieties, perfectionism, expectations, and communication gymnastics (though I do love a cartwheel), and start saying:
“I’m performing ~nestoration!~”
There. Solved it. Feel free to do the same. It’s the never-ending-amending we ARE allowed to do. It’s the eternal lists of edits that ARE invited.
We have all the time in the world. No tangible nest required. Unless you’re in the business of building homes or babies … then yes, you do need a tangible nest.
So, are you ready to trim some edges? Prune a few plants? Recycle some sticks? Maybe channel owl energy and raise your family in an abandoned nest?
I’ll leave you here. Now get out there and continue (or begin) your ~nestoration.~
And if you need design inspiration (I certainly do), consider this Mourning Dove’s cholla-cactus approach. Crisp edges. Extra security. Seasonal design.
XOXO,
-me + Iris
Also!! It feels important to tell you that sticks from Iris’s nest are turned into souvenirs to raise money for her, the internet sensation. God bless her. May we all be so iconic. That is all.