A department store had a display in their escalator area of thousands and thousands of butterflies. They were shades of white and silver, and dangled from the ceiling. It was really amazing and someone spent a great deal of time making that display. It was magical, whimsical and everyone who passed by gazed at all the butterflies with awe.
All the butterflies made me think about the new year and second chances. In only a couple days we start a new month and a new year. It is just another morning passing along on our calendars, and yet it signals new beginnings. A chance to start again, start fresh, start doing something different. Many people make new year’s resolutions, others never change anything. Some people celebrate with champagne and parties, while others sleep in the new year. Some of us look forward to a new year, others simply see it as another day on the calendar. Some years lend themselves to making a change, and some years we want to say good riddance and KNOW that the coming year will be better.
However it is for you, I encourage you to take into account the life of a butterfly. They start as a caterpillar and when the time has come for their current life to end, they spin a cocoon. That cocoon envelopes them in darkness and transforms them into a new being. It’s can’t be easy going in that pod as everything about them is being reinvented. It takes time and from the outside it can appear like nothing is happening. Then after the right amount of time, change, and solitude the butterfly begins to emerge. It works very hard and the process of leaving the cocoon is extremely difficult, yet it is that process that strengthens the butterfly into a being that can flap it’s new wings and fly. If it didn’t go through the struggle it would be be strong enough to fly. If it didn’t go through the days of solitude and darkness it would not have been transformed. If it did not struggle to emerge it would not be able to fly.
Is it time for you to spin a cocoon and transform yourself? Are you ready to leave the old you behind and make a fresh start? Do you have the courage to become something new and endure the trials and challenges of being a new you? Or maybe you already are the butterfly you always wanted to be and the new year provides a second chance to exhibit your butterfly skills. Maybe you are content in being a caterpillar and have not reached the point of change yet. No matter where you find yourself as this year ends, in a couple days a new year begins and it holds within it amazing adventures and possible transformations. You get to choose how you want to proceed, so choose wisely.
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