Flip'n the Bird!

I don’t flip my middle finger at people—even the ones who cut me off on the highway. I’m not an angry, road-rage kinda guy. However, after recent shoulder surgery (rotator cuff), I caught myself spontaneously flipping the bird at my sling. That awkward, agonizing, miserable sling! Clearly not designed by a creative genius. And while the gesture didn’t make the sling any more comfortable, it sure made me feel great!

Doctors call it digitus medius. I call it my built-in protest sign. And I figure there are smarter ways to put our middle finger to use—not to solve our problems, but to give us a little relief (and maybe even a laugh) in the moment:

Flip it to your computer the next time it freezes.

Flip it to procrastination the second it whispers “tomorrow.”

Flip it to self-doubt when you feel a flinch coming on.

Flip it to perfectionism when you just can’t stop.

Flip it to writer’s block, brain fog, and creative drought.

Flip it to the monkeys between your ears. Wait! that could add up to a lot of flipping!

Flip it to time when it says you’re too old, too late, too busy, too inexperienced.

Flip it to fear itself—with a sly, Joker grin.

Important because your middle finger doesn’t have to mean anger:

It’s a stand against surrender.

It’s proof you won’t shrink to fit someone else’s box.

It’s a reminder that your work answers to vision, not permission.

It’s rebellion against mediocrity.

It’s a salute to persistence when others say it’s time to quit.

And finally, it’s a handshake with your bigger Self.

(And you thought your middle finger was only good for snapping!)