Buon Compleanno, Fibonacci!

Fibonacci, renown mathematician, would have turned 834 years old this Saturday, November 28. Highlowaha will be involved in our Yellow Envelope Project this Saturday and, since postage for yellow envelopes delivered to heaven are pricier than most of us can afford during the holiday season, we will celebrate Fibonacci today.

Those who know me well are surprised I am making time to celebrate the birth of a mathematician. After all, the more prolific and successful a mathematician is, the more there is for me to learn. Numbers aren't my strong suit and I don't generally look for more reasons than necessary to broadcast my ignor... void.

But.

If listening intently enough, messages - even answers to questions - might be surrounding you.

I could go into great detail about the who, what, where, when, why, and how of my connection to Fibonacci, but I've learned brevity scores more points. Suffice it to say, one month ago you could have told me we were having Fibonacci for dinner and I would have been licking my chops ready for a great Italian meal.

Earlier this month I was reading a book titled, The Think Big Manifesto, by Michael Port. I have big dreams for Shine, Ray Wattson, Yellow Envelope Project, and our Highlowaha community and, The Think Big Manifesto served as a healthy dose of inspiration at the right time. In his book, Port explains,

"To think big is a thing of beauty in keeping with the mathematical code of Fibonacci numbers. I have used its sequence to describe the principles of thinking big. I have another purpose in using this seemingly random numbering. That is, to demonstrate that no one of these principles has a higher priority than another. Rather, each builds on every other one, creating and interdependent web."

That same week I was plotting out upcoming blog topics for Highlowaha and, as usual, consulted the web for a calendar of fun dates. Fibonacci's birthday was listed. One week earlier and that date would have meant nothing to me and, instead, today we would be talking about dressing your turkey.

Click here if you want a credible explanation of Fibonacci's code. Otherwise settle for the remedial and perfectly parochial point I hope to make.

Fibonacci's code is like nature's numbering system. His numbers, in sequence, appear everywhere in nature, from the leaf arrangement in plants, to the pattern of the florets of a flower, the bracts of a pine cone, or the scales of a pineapple, and on and on and on. WOW! Method to the madness? Really, who knew?

How many times have you looked at a pine cone, a sea shell, a pineapple, a strawberry, or a daisy and taken their beauty or symmetry for granted? For me, far too many!

But.

The realization there is a code helping explain what I suddenly realize are perfect patterns to simple things, such as pine cones and daisies, is not only inspiring, but also comforting.

Inspiring because, it seems, there is no way such a thing good be accidental or coincidental. Comforting because, I think it means there is a natural order to things and that that order is far stronger than any of our human attempts to control the world around us.

Fibonacci's Code is my reminder that, if I simply plow forward, living each day with purpose and offering up what I have to give the world, eventually a sequence of contributions will emerge, every bit as beautiful as the seashell, the flower, or the pine cone.

How about you?

Consider leaving your home today in search of a pine cone. Bring it home and spend some time studying the wonder that is Fibonacci's Code. Then imagine - maybe even journal - what that very same code might mean for you.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Signing off until tomorrow...