Somewhere a long time ago I,
surrounded myself from the hurt
and the pain of life.Protecting myself, becoming
immune to much of the sorrow that
I had felt.Locking out feelings, emotions and
trying to make them a faint memory.Taking my life into a cocoon and
weaving my work and family around
me.Existing in my protected area,
focusing on others and their needs
with little thought of my own.This sufficed as my world, my
meaning for facing each new day
and the challenges it brought.My world has changed and I find
myself outside of my cocoon free to fly as a butterfly.Enjoying the new freedoms of my life but not sure of where I should
fly to next.Knowing only that to survive I must spread my wings, and take on
new challenges.Learning to be for me, do that which I enjoy and facing the world on
my own and alone.It is a time I looked forward to, and yet now that it is here I am once
again at the crossroads.Unknown territory, strange emotions, a rediscovery of myself as
I unfold my wings.What exactly is a butterfly suppose to do, its' purpose in life so
it is fulfilled?This flitting from rose to thorn when do I find my place again in
the world?
Sometimes wanting to try to reenter
my cocoon but finding it no longer
fits my needs.Missing the shelter it provided and
the purpose it gave my life ...
but now all that is changed.Hoping to spread my wings with a
renewed confidence not yet found
in myself.Wanting to find new meaning to my
life and bring experiences into it
never felt before.Knowing I have so much to offer
and just trying to find a way to
apply myself.A new existence, a new life, another
bend in the road and I can not see
the other side.Trying to understand my new role
and how to be the best butterfly I can be.
"Solitude" illustrations from Ruth Thompson' s Tarnished Images - 1998
Ancient Native American lore tells us i anyone desires a wish to come true they must capture a butterly and whisper that wish to it. Since butterlies make no sound, they can't tell the wish to anyone, but the Great Spirit. So by making the wish and releasing the butterly, the wish will be taken to the heavens and granted.
