A lot of struggle has to be met for a butterfly to emerge. This beautiful insect that is a muse to several individuals goes through several stages before taking flight. The life cycle of a butterfly includes four stages: the egg, the larva (caterpillar), the pupa (chrysalis), and the adult butterfly.
One can learn valuable lessons by simply observing the life cycle of a butterfly. The first stage, which is the egg, lasts for three to seven weeks but can go longer in different species of butterflies. This is true for us as well; we are all different. Some are early birds, and some are night owls. We are all different, and it's important to know that it's normal to be different. Thus, the point of moving out of one's comfort zone differs from individual to individual. While some begin exploring things outside their shell, others may still find it difficult to make a move. The key here is to move out, and the pace at which each one does it doesn't matter.
The next stage in a butterfly's life cycle is the larva, where a tiny caterpillar hatches from the egg. For most caterpillars, the first meal is the eggshell itself. During this time, the caterpillar is focused on eating as much as it can in order to increase its size before it pupates. This stage is one of the most life-threatening, as the mortality rate in caterpillars is very high. In an individual's life, once they step out of their comfort zone, they must try to grab every opportunity that comes their way before they can fulfill their dream. Since they are just out of their haven, they are more vulnerable and tend to be used by others, which is a sad reality quite often these days. However, we should keep moving and never give up.
This caterpillar goes on to form the pupa, or chrysalis. This pupa is covered in a cocoon of silk. Most butterfly species will stay in the chrysalis stage for about one to two weeks before the butterfly emerges. When a butterfly emerges from a chrysalis, its wings are crumpled. The butterfly hangs with its wings down and begins pumping the wings full of fluid from its body to straighten them out. Then the butterfly must wait several hours for the wings to harden and dry before it can fly away.
Each one of us will find ourselves pulled down by others or by our own expectations throughout our journey through life. However, we need to learn to face them and not let them affect us. The greatest struggle is trying to come out of the cocoon while learning and being positive. But irrespective of these struggles, many people do it. Like the butterfly, we must fly. The name of this gorgeous insect itself implies its journey: BUT-I-FLY.
~ Alloysha Dias
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Picture credit: Rachel Annie Dias
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