DesertEyes

One of the lessons I have learned in recovery is that I am not very good at having balance in my life. I tend to invest much more effort in taking care of others and not enough on me. As part of correcting that shortcoming I take a little extra time for _me_ during the holidays.

I use the butterfly as my motivation during this season. Al-anon used the little bug as a symbol of re-birth. I have a small Xmas tree and all the ornaments are butterflies. This year I went to the local buttefly sanctuary with a very special friend in the program and got some nice pictures. Now I am printing them out in various sizes and giving them to my "Family of Choice" as holiday gifts. I am a professional photographer in real life, so this is a form of allowing my "inner child" to do something strictly fun.

Butterflies

Mike

amy55

Thanks Mike,

Beautiful pictures, and butterflies are free to fly.......

(((((((((hugs))))))))
amy

Katchie

Oh wow...they are beautiful! I know that must be fun. I enjoy identifying birds in my yard along with trees and wild flowers -- especially if they have medicinal value.

FireSprite

Stunning pictures!!!! Thank you for sharing this with us..... Now I know I'm not the only one with butterfly decorations on my tree!

walkinganewpath

Beautiful pictures Mike. And good analogy for the butterfly as rebirth. Also they are graceful enough to balance on most anything as well

happybeingme

Beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing and reminding me to remember myself this season

chicory

Mike,

Thank you for sharing those lovely photos, and your thoughts Butterflies make me feel serene, with their beautiful designs, and their gentle movements.

I hope your day brought you much pleasure. I agree, and I too could use some time to just stop and enjoy the beauty around me. It's incredible, really, how much beauty there is , for free, to soak up .

Photography is something I always wanted to be able to do. The sunrise and sunset would be my favorite subjects, I think. flowers, butterflies, babies toes....

hugs,
chic

LexieCat

Beautiful pics, Mike! I especially liked the "Kilroy was here" moth at the end.

Ann

I love your butterflies, Mike, and the butterfly represents recovery to me too.

It is good luck to have a butterfly land on you.

Hugs

Opivotal

Thank you for sharing Mike. I love butterflies!! Your pictures are beautiful.

Impurrfect

Awww, Mike, you know how much I love butterflies - absolutely beautiful pictures!!

Love, hugs, and prayers,

Amy

lillamy

Your post and those beautiful pictures reminded me of this blog post I read earlier this month -- butterflies. And special butterflies.

When the Holidays are Messy & Hard & Hope Feels Impossible | A Holy Experience

chicory

That was beautiful, lillamy. thank you.

DesertEyes

Thanks for all the compliments on my pics

In recovery it's been _you_ lovely peeps that have been my "butterflies", bringing hope and light to my darkest days.

Mike

DesertEyes

* lmao *

I had never thought of it that way !!

Mike