Welcome to season 4, the summer break was good, however it seems the summer went by way too fast, it was a good and engaging summer however. I hope the best has been with you all these summer months and your life has been filled with joy, engagement and meaningful  fulfillment.

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See the Butterfly – What makes a great book, article, blog, or conversation? It’s not the words, as words are a commodity that everyone has. Consider that there are zillions of words written and spoken. However, so often most of what is being said is not memorable—just words and conversation.

Conversation can allow us to engage with those we are with and makes our time together comfortable and fun. There are times when great communication is needed—great communication that allows people to look into each other’s soul, heart, and mind and say, “WOW” what an interesting person of substance, what an interesting perspective.

As an amateur writer who has written tens of thousands of words in my first three seasons of Ramblings, I can only hope that, on occasion, I get the order of my written words correct, an order that turns the “collection of words” into worthy communication. I pray that, on occasion, maybe something I’ve written moves your personal needle a little, you know, that I have made a small difference in your life.

Over the summer, I came across a quote in my reading and jotted it down as it struck a chord with my life and I believe it has the potential to impact the lives of others who take it seriously with intentional action. It impacted me and I thought it was worth a RAMBLE and worthy of personal thought and consideration.

“I hope you will go out, and let stories happen to you, that you will work them, water them with your blood and tears and your laughter until they bloom, till you yourself burst into bloom.”
–Clarissa Pinkola Estés, (renowned American poet, author

You see, I am of the belief that we all have in our DNA “good meaningfulness,” that we have what it takes to “be enough” in a way that enables us to place our fingerprint on those around us. This DNA may not be recognized, or perhaps it has been pushed deep inside due to a tragedy in our lives that it is screaming to re-emerge, much like the Monarch butterfly from its cocoon. However, it takes intentionality and effort. (Do you doubt the effort needed? Watch the “hatching” of a Monarch butterfly and then say, “Wow was that effort worth it! Welcome back DNA, good to have you with me (again).”

 The quote above also brought to mind a card I had given with the theme of a butterfly. As easy as it is to look at the beauty of the Monarch, what struck me was the journey this creature went through to end up with its beauty and magnificence. Far too often we look at a situation, task, or person and all we see is the “caterpillar”; lacking real beauty, no grace, nothing of significance, easily disregarded, discouraged and a bit lost. However, its greatest attribute is what it can become! When we see it emerge from its chrysalis, we marvel at the transformation of the caterpillar into something extraordinary. It takes patience, persistence, and understanding.

I challenge myself and those around me to look for the emerging Monarchs in our midst and what they can become through patience and nurturing. The result can be amazing.