One of my favorite units in grade school was the Monarch Butterfly unit. My classmates and I learned about metamorphosis and the life cycles of insects. We watched our temporary class caterpillar pets chomp on milkweed and climb up the side of their butterfly habitat to form their chrysalis. Days later, we would watch in awe as each emerged as a beautiful, delicate butterfly, and we’d released them in the school flower garden when they were strong enough to fly.
A couple years ago, I recreated this project after I found a caterpillar near my apartment. Looking back on it now though, I was so excited to see a brand new butterfly that I completely ignored the profound changes it was going through; they make it all look so easy. It reminded me of a quote by Maya Angelou,
“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.“
So often we get caught up in the glamor and glory of the “endgame,” and we forget the importance of the process. Why don’t we naturally love it just as much as the outcome? Change takes time; it doesn’t happen overnight. It takes work, determination, and the right mindset. It takes patience, acceptance, and the ultimate understanding that the process is often times more astounding than the beauty of the outcome. Change is inevitable, but it’s not as easy as the caterpillar makes it seem. Enjoy the ride; look forward to the beauty of the endgame, but don’t forget to acknowledge and appreciate the challenges of the transformation.
This week’s practice
This week, I hope you take some time to acknowledge the importance of whatever changes you are working through. Not only that, but appreciate the importance and beauty of the process of making those changes. With every change comes growth and opportunity. Don’t waste it!
personal breathing space 
You are so right? Thank you for the reminder to stop and smell the roses
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