I crossed paths with a butterfly this morning and noticed that she’d forgotten how to fly. Out of respect, I picked her up to join me for the final stretch of my walk and then bid her a proper farewell.

Butterflies are symbols of transformation and life’s infinite journey. I was not immediately thrilled to find one unconscious on the sidewalk, but after further evaluation, I realized our chance meeting delivered an important lesson:

Even the butterfly passes on to become something more although at first, it is not immediately seen or understood. Every moment encapsulates the evolution from the egg, to the caterpillar, to the chrysalis, to the freedom of a wingspan -- for all of us. Beyond that, evolution must continue in another dimension as nothing is created or destroyed. What we do now determines what we do beyond our expired flight.


This understanding led me to ponder these questions:

How often do we stop to consider the fact that this exact moment in our lives decides each moment hereafter?

[A sobering thought: what if, at this very moment, I am living up to my full potential? :: Jane Wagner ::]

How often do we observe what we are doing, who we surround ourselves with, and what we are planning as being the elements of a story that is not only in the making but transpiring right now before our eyes?

How often do we acknowledge when we are engaging in something counterproductive that contradicts are valued principles and beliefs?

How often do you evaluate your current circumstances and boldly confront the fears that hold you back from pursuing a life you’d rather live?



Where you are right now is by no means insignificant--it is the most important point of your life. It is pivotal. It is transformative. It is epic.

While I was processing all of this, the butterfly looked up at me and said,

“Don’t worry, we’re eternal. This is just a shell. This is its own kind of chrysalis. I’ve emerged into something new and I haven’t gone away. Dig it?”

And I nodded
yes.