The Cocoon and the Butterfly

Most people don't realize the impact that society's idea of acceptance has affected our way of thinking, our way of life. Sadly, it isn't only strangers who have programmed negativity and acceptance into our lives. Much of it is done through family and friends who love us the most and truly believe that they have our best interest at heart.

From the time we are born we are conditioned by society how we should think, how we should act and how we should live. We are encased by those who love us most by the ideas of what it means to be responsible, the idea of how we should live our lives with acceptance. In a sense, we are trapped inside a coccoon of what society perceives to be responsible actions, mature decisions and an acceptable way of life that I refer to as no more than simple survival acceptance.

Each and every time we are taught that we should think or act in a certain way as we grow, another layer is added to the thickness of that cocoon. We are taught we should go out and look for gainful employment and become a faithful employee. This adds a layer to the cocoon. We are taught that we shouldn't persue our dreams if it means stepping outside the boundaries of what is considered acceptable behavior. Another layer is added. We are taught that we should be content that we have a steady paycheck and not worry about what we are missing in our lives. Thus, another layer is added. This cycle continues so drastically that by the time we are mature adults, we have become totally entombed by the cocoon of acceptance that has been programmed in our minds. We are in total oblivian to the world on the outside of our cocoon because we have been taught to accept what is immediately available to us in our enclosed world.

And then one day, we begin to dream about what may be on the outside of our cocoon and we wonder about the possibilities that may exist beyond. So, just as a butterfly begins to develope, we, too begin struggling to break free from this tomb of darkness. Day by day, we push, wiggle and gnaw at the layers around us, searching for a weak spot in the cocoon. We fight and gnaw and wiggle some more, refusing to ignore our dreams of escaping our imprisonment. We study, gnaw and wiggle and push until one morning we see a tiny hole begin to break in the cocoon.

The sheer joy of the tiny beam excites and motivates us and we begin feverishly pounding away at the tiny hole, little by little increasing the size of the opening until, finally, we are able to peek out of the cocoon to get a glimpse of the other side. Seeing the possibilities ahead, we are more inspired than ever and we strive harder and harder each day to break free. And then it happens.... we have created an opening large enough to step out of the darkness and into the world beyond. Once we are fully emerged we look around and marvel at our accomplishments and how much the world has to offer. At this point, we take a deep breath, raise our newly developed wings and we fly!

© 2007 Bonnie N. Ramsey