She remembers a time that seems so long ago. A time of freedom, roaming in the world of endless possibilities. That would change with the promise of a new life, dreams coming true and happily ever after. It seemed so simple then. Life’s new chapter that seemed so secure and comfortable, brought about unexpected changes….
When settling into the natural progression of life, she builds her cocoon. This is her safe place. It allows her to grow into who she is meant to be. This is a critical stage of growth and change. She feels everything begin to shift and she feels different. But it’s hard for her to describe in mere words. Soon she feels content and comfortable in this dark, warm, safe space. She hears the distant chatter of the outside world blending together into a lullaby.
Slowly, day by day, she starts noticing that she is a bit restricted. It’s getting harder to move. It’s harder to breathe. Whereas she once felt safe and secure, she is now feeling a bit stuck and it’s making her nervous. Anxiety sets in because it’s getting a little too hot, a little too tight. It’s hard to articulate when this all shifted for her. She has grown into this cocoon and it’s made specifically to keep her inside. How can it be comfortably uncomfortable? She isn’t sure, but somehow it is.
She notices the chatter outside is getting louder. It overwhelmingly surrounds her and she is thankful to be inside the cocoon. The wind starts shaking her foundation. There is not much warning for the next blustering wave that violently moves her world. The rain also comes at her in torrential downpours. She hunkers down in the safety of her cocoon, waiting out the storm, unsure of how long it will last or when the next one will come. She is starting to learn that it’s only a matter of time… it will always come back. She can hear the predator that lurks outside, circling the cocoon. It mockingly calls to her. She knows that if she leaves the cocoon, he will be right outside waiting to devour her. She knows he is watching for her, just in case she breaks free. So she stays. She stays inside of this too small cocoon, feeling stifled and afraid.
She longs to spread her wings and fly. But she’s never done that before… so how does she know she can? Maybe she can’t. Maybe the wind is too strong and will blow her off course. Maybe the rain will soak her wings and she will fall to the ground. Maybe the one who is ever lurking outside will finally follow through on his promises of devouring her. It seems that no matter what she chooses, there is no winning. Freedom is just outside her grasp of reality. So she waits. She stays in the cage of her cocoon.
It’s been so long, she can’t imagine a life other than this one. She has learned to be uncomfortably comfortable with her beautiful wings of possibility tucked away, never to be seen or outstretched in the life giving sun. She tells herself that it’s too late for her. She stopped dreaming. By giving up, she ensures that she will never feel the gentle breeze caressing her body, teasing her wings into flight. She won’t experience the cleansing power that rain has on the world.
She stays, unaware of the complex beauty of life in the world outside. Unaware that the endless possibilities that she dreamed of so long ago, are actually waiting for her. The chattering outside that blends together and has been so hard to understand, is actually the world encouraging her to come out to play. It’s the supportive voices of other butterflies who were brave enough to spread their wings and are waiting for her to emerge.
They aren’t giving up. All the beautiful colors of the rainbow are just outside of her cocoon, in the wings of those who came before her. However long it takes, they will be there. Loving, understanding, encouraging and supporting her. She isn’t alone. She never has been. She just needs to step outside of her cocoon to see it.
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