Change
One evening Ted and I were kicking a ball around with Oliver when he suddenly stopped and listened. "Do you hear that?" he asked. "That's a... quesadilla!"
He meant cicada, of course. His mix-up was so endearing I almost didn't want to correct him. A few days later we spotted a freshly molted "quesadilla" near his mud kitchen. He admired how large it was while I snapped a few photos, thinking I might find inspiration in it later.
Growing up, the sound of cicadas always signaled to me that summer break was nearing its end. Now, instead of dreading the close of a season, I look forward to noticing the subtle changes in the landscape and soundscape as the year unfolds. I find comfort in that rhythm.
The life cycle of a cicada is also one of remarkable change, and watching this vibrant winged insect emerge after shedding its dull shell is incredible. That transformation led me to think about the ways I have changed throughout my own life. Some people argue that we never truly change (aside from physically), but my experience has shown me otherwise. Sure, some habits die hard, but we certainly do, and I believe we should, change through the years. No experience has changed me more than motherhood. It has been a true metamorphosis: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
I am reminded daily that this metamorphosis is ongoing in me, in my children, and in the world around us. As soon as I adapt to one change, another follows. These constant changes, though often frustrating, can also enrich our lives. One of my favorite G.K. Chesterton quotes is, "An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered." To the best of our ability, I think we should meet change, particularly the parts outside our control, with strength and a sense of curiosity.
One day you will look back on your life and see many versions- many shells- of yourself that have been shed over the decades. Each one led to the version of yourself you see in the mirror. Never perfect, but ideally wiser than the version before. Perhaps the final version will even have wings.
Until then, I'll try to enjoy the variety life presents me with, especially in my growing children, because I know the day will come when Oliver refers to those loud buzzing insects by their true name instead of "quesadillas."
