I may go again at another time when it is not so crowded. The day we went was on a Sunday, the second day after the exhibit opened. So of course there were tons of families and kids there. Not that there is anything wrong with that, it is a fun event for kids, I just like to not feel so rushed into taking photos and such.
Anyway, I've always found butterflies such a nice metaphor for recovery and am always reminded of their beginnings as caterpillars. In a post last year, I mentioned my sighting of some Black Swallowtail caterpillars around my curly parsley plants. They were literally only there for an evening/night, and then like a flash, they were gone, only leaving the stalk remnants of the parsley. Unfortunately, recovery is not an overnight process and takes a lot of time. Don't we all wish it could like a flash though? You eat, your body is restored, your mind changes about food, and boom we're all better, normal, happy. Then, we could just have a party.
All I can say is to try to stick with it, as hard as it is at times. Familiarity is always easier, so it's learning to take chances, to face your fears, to trust your body, to realize that there is a much better life outside of an ED, to discover/rediscover who you are.
And lastly, I just want to give a shout out to all those wonderful ED recovery/body image bloggers and advocates out there. It's been a pleasure to watch some of you blossom and gain your wings in recovery. It's a scary thing to gain those wings--you can easily fly as you can fall. But, by taking flight, you are seeing what is out there for you, what is within your grasp.More Butterfly photos
5 comments:
in my recovery process, more particularly with alcohol, there have been times when i've felt like a butterfly, bursting out of my cocoon. it wonderful, although fleeting.
lovely post.
I am struck by the phrase that familiarity is always easier. It's so true. When I left treatment and went back to work, it was so hard to move back to the "real world" and interact with people, without an eating disorder. But so good in the end... down the long, long, road, once the wings are gained.
Great post!
Melissa, yes, at times, it can be fleeting. It's learning the permanence though.
Hatinged, breaking familiarity is hard. It takes so much time and effort to learn to try something new and different, a different way. I'm glad that you have been able to do this. Much luck for the future.
You know I love this...butterflies were put here on earth as lessons for us, I believe.
Great post, you described the analogy really well. The process of recovery or transformation from a caterpillar into a butterfly isn't always glamorous, but the result will be worth every minute! Love your pictures too, so glad you shared this.
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