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What I Learned From My Bird Feeder
Also, don't miss my next quarterly AMA
Marina Wyss
May 15, 2025
Welcome to Gratitude Driven, a weekly newsletter where I share practical ideas and insights across personal growth, professional development, and the world of AI and data science.
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What I Learned From My Bird Feeder
About a year and a half ago, I got a window bird feeder with the hopes of entertaining my indoor cat, Arnold.
I had heard that it sometimes takes a couple of months for the birds to learn about your bird feeder and start showing up regularly, so when none showed up that winter I wasn’t surprised. A few more months later, and the first bird showed up — but just one.
I saw maybe one bird every couple of months for the first year or so. I considered just taking it down, since it clearly wasn’t working.
Then, a few months ago, the birds finally started showing up. At first it was just one or two a week, and it’s gradually grown to the point where now I see three to five different birds in a given day.
I wouldn’t consider myself a “bird person,” but I’ve had such a good time watching them come and go. It makes me pause during my work day for just long enough to remember how beautiful the world can be (sappy, I know).
The takeaway here isn’t anything groundbreaking, but it bears repeating: Sometimes things take longer than you think they will — and longer than you think they should. Sometimes things will take you much longer than others, to the point where you think whatever you’re waiting for or working towards won’t ever happen.
For example, J.K. Rowling spent several years writing the first Harry Potter book and was rejected by twelve publishers before one finally accepted it. Thomas Edison conducted thousands of experiments before successfully inventing a practical and long-lasting incandescent lightbulb. Chris Williamson spent years with almost no audience for Modern Wisdom, and now his podcast reaches millions each month, featuring conversations with world-renowned experts and thought leaders.
The thing about patience is that it often feels like nothing is happening when, in reality, important groundwork is being laid beneath the surface. I imagine those birds didn't suddenly discover my feeder overnight—they were gradually spreading the word in their little bird community (at least I like to think so).
This principle applies to nearly everything worthwhile: businesses, relationships, skills, creative projects. The "overnight success" is almost always years in the making.
Had I given up on the bird feeder after a year, I would have missed out on this simple daily joy. I would have been just barely shy of the tipping point that made the difference.
So next time you're tempted to abandon something because it's taking too long, remember my bird feeder (or any number of more compelling historical examples). Sometimes persistence isn't dramatic or heroic—it's simply the quiet decision to keep at it, day after day, until the birds finally come.
My Recent Content
What I Actually Do As An Applied Scientist at Twitch/Amazon (Salary, Skills, Day in the Life)
The blog version will be up soon — make sure to follow me on Medium so you don’t miss it!
One thing they don’t mention in most ML courses is how much you’ll use SQL. I use SQL literally every day.
So, I’m stoked that this week’s video was sponsored by LearnSQL.com!
LearnSQL.com offers 70+ interactive courses across various SQL dialects with a learning-by-doing approach. You can start with their assessment test for personalized recommendations based on your current level.
What makes it ideal for aspiring Data Scientists and ML Engineers is their SQL for Data Analysis track, teaching everything from basic queries to complex techniques for handling datasets.
Definitely check them out if you're preparing for a career in data science, ML, or even applied science!
Things I’ve Been Enjoying
Music: Sleep Token. I did not understand the hype until this week, and now I’m *obsessed*. The secret is to listen with headphones. Enjoy!
Reading: When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. This is a beautiful memoire from a young neurosurgeon faced with a terminal cancer diagnosis who attempts to answer the question 'What makes a life worth living?' You will probably cry a little bit, but it will be worth it.
To Watch: Mark Manson’s new podcast is LONG, but good. It’s about finding and living by your values — I’m still working through it, but so far so good.
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