As a kid, my mom called me her "Lil Chickadee."

Fast forward more than thirty years, and after viewing dozens of options, I bought a house on Chickadee Lane.

Out on the beautiful wraparound deck, mounted just under the overhanging roof, sits a tiny birdhouse. Every spring, a pair of Chickadees makes it their home.

After all these recurring appearances in my life, I decided to pull the thread and learn about Chickadees. I quickly discovered that the chickadee is a more fitting symbol than I realized.

Every autumn, rather than following the lead of countless other species, the chickadee does its own thing. It doesn't flee in search of easier living. Instead, it gets to work and intentionally explores its environment.

The chickadee systematically seeks out food sources. Then, physically growing its hippocampus by as much as 30%, the tiny bird memorizes the exact locations and environmental cues needed to find each food cache months in the future.

And when the world becomes too much, the chickadee enters a state of energy conservation called torpor. By shutting down unnecessary systems and retaining only what is absolutely essential, one of the forest's smallest creatures outlasts animals hundreds of times its size.

Resilient and endlessly curious, I created my own version of the Chickadee as a personal logo. The helmet represents the importance of protecting my unique mind, of seeking my own philosophy, and of facing the world with both courage and consideration.

Enjoy the day!

- Corey McCool