I Am Cocoon Goo!

I was watching the most hilarious and perky show “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” and Titus Andromedon (in my opinion, the real star of the show) often repeats a particular phrase when he’s not looking or feeling his best:

“I am cocoon goo!”

On my most recent bike ride, I noticed that the path was filled with the tiniest, furriest caterpillars making their way across the path. I imagine from the caterpillar’s perspective it feels like a long journey of strife, peril, and risk. But nonetheless they keep crossing. And it’s certainly not the end of their journey–we know they have so much more transforming to do. The caterpillar is a great reminder that each day we are moving forward even if it’s by a millimeter across a vast concrete plane.

Caterpillars “melt” nearly completely before growing into a butterfly. They transform into another species, another creature!  One of beauty, strength, and fragility that spends the remainder of its life cross-pollinating all that it encounters. Flitting, flying, and softly landing.

I have to admit, I’m actually terrified of butterflies. Their erratic flight pattern causes me anxiety because I can’t tell if it’s coming right at me or if it’s going to suddenly swerve and avoid colliding with my face. I usually end up looking like I’m being attacked by a horde of killer bees rather than being chased by a beautiful butterfly. Long story short, because I can’t predict what the butterfly is going to do, I don’t like it. But, life is like that. Life is nothing but an erratic flight pattern that can’t be controlled or predicted.

I would venture to say that we are in some form of metamorphosis throughout several stages of our lives. Through every experience and milestone, there is an element of retreating into our cocoon goo to change and morph again. The butterfly does not know what color its wings will be or whether or not it will make it past the “goo” phase, but it trusts in the process. 

So as a reminder to all of us out there so in a hurry to spread our wings, remember that we have to be goo before we can learn how to fly!

Slow down. Calm down. Don’t worry. Don’t hurry. Trust the process.