Lessons & Reflections from the National Butterfly Center

All this talk about Monarchs and migration has me wondering what makes a butterfly fly? Not why do they fly? But what makes this creature get up and go? South in the winter. North in the spring. Seeking milkweed.

Instinct. Imprinting. Impulse. In many ways, the same things that drive behaviors in people.

Of course, Homo sapiens have the capacity for critical thought, self-control and compassion, because we have big brains! Big brains that require years and years of postnatal development, including “extended periods of social learning and language acquisition.”* The lessons are the tricky part. We don't learn the same ones, or gain the same skills. We achieve impulse control, compassion and consciousness in degrees that may vary grossly, from one person to another, according to our capacity, I suppose. Then there are the wildcards: genetics, environment and trauma, that lead to mental, physical and psychological defects, in both people and animals.

John Steinbeck wrote: "In every bit of honest writing in the world there is a base theme. Try to understand men, if you understand each other you will be kind to each other." Lack of understanding, whether caused by stunted development, disinterest, or character flaws, like self-centeredness, leads to unkindness. It is an unnecessary plague in this world, and something I am tired of suffering.

How much better to be a butterfly? Motivations are simple. Movements are expected. Malice is entirely missing.

No wonder these beautiful creatures capture our imaginations and our hearts! Not only are they magical in their metamorphosis, their lives are a testament to transformation. As long as we're living, we are changing. The question is: Are we learning, developing, growing?

*Homo sapiens, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopidea