Endangered Species

I was at a crowded, required function at school this week. I went in determined to learn something, and I did. I wasn't bothering anyone when I overheard girl talking in her cell phone:

"Where are you?" she demanded. "I'm over here by the door trying to find you!"

I watched this girl as she waited for her friend to find her before she would sit down. I wanted to tell her, "Sit down next to someone and introduce yourself. It's not that hard."

It was hard to watch her look so lost and nervous among strangers. She reminded me of a butterfly. If a butterfly doesn't get out of its cocoon, it will die. In order for it to live, it has to stretch its wings and push past the thing that has it confined. To put things in perspective, the butterfly is furiously working to reach what lies beyond that cocoon. All this time the butterfly has been nestled there, but there comes a time to shed that covering. If not, the butterfly will be suffocated and never fulfill its purpose.

Like butterflies, we need to get out of our comfort zones, or we will die, too. No, I'm not talking about a literal death. A piece of our hearts will die because someone was supposed to fill it...maybe someone we don’t even know yet. It isn’t always the easiest thing to let someone new into your life, but we shouldn’t avoid the opportunity. You never know who could change your life; you have to be willing to get out of your comfort zone.

Do you want to stay where it's comfortable only to be met with an imminent death, or do you want to risk pushing through some barriers in order to live a fulfilling life?

*I would have included an image of a cocoon, but the photographer never wrote me back to give me permission. Just use your imagination. :)