The Power of Having Four Wings
The dragonfly is an amazing creature. With four wings, dragonflies have 20x more power than any other insect. They can move in all 6 directions. Flying forward, they can go up to 45 miles an hour. They can hover like a helicopter, fly backward, move straight up and down, and even fly from side-to-side. There are more than 3,000 species of dragonflies still in existence, and they’ve been around since prehistoric times. Dragonflies spend the first part of their life in a cocoon-like state as they grow and develop, then they eventually emerge colorful and agile.
In terms of their symbolism, dragonflies are said to represent change, transformation and new beginnings. For those who believe in “spirit animals,” the appearance of a dragonfly in your life indicates that you are on the right track and that positive transformation is on the horizon.
The day my father passed away— now 23 years ago— a dragonfly landed on my shoulder at the cemetery during his funeral. They’ve reappeared dozens and dozens of other times and in the most unexpected places (on my windshield in the middle of winter; on an airplane window when the pilot announced we were experiencing some technical difficulties and not to worry). Each time, I take comfort in the idea that maybe it’s Dad coming for a visit.
I have been thinking about dragonflies a lot recently. Our country is rapidly reopening. Masks mandates have mostly been lifted and life is starting to return to some new version of normal. I cannot help but compare our pre- and post-pandemic experience to that of the lifecycle of a dragonfly.
Most of us lived in a “cocoon-like state” from March 2020 until recently. It was quite a long and drawn-out 15 months of slow growth. Now we are all beginning to re-emerge— many of us more nimble and resilient than before.
What a feeling of freedom it is to be able to move in so many directions! We have shifted from doing nothing to now being able to do just about anything. We can hop on a plane and fly in almost any direction. We can go to a baseball game at full capacity, hug our families, and not live with the fears and insecurities of 2020.
The next time you see a dragonfly, take a closer look. Notice the way it flies, its ability to move in all six directions. Maybe you’re someone who’s hovering in place right now, trying to decide in which direction to move. Maybe you’ve been flying in the wrong direction— backwards— and now find yourself needing to figure out how to gain forward momentum again. And some of you have had the fortune of flying straight up, experiencing unprecedented growth and success within your companies: where do you go from here?
I like the idea that the dragonfly is my spirit animal… What if this is true for you too? If so, maybe you can move forward trusting that you are on the right track, and that positive transformation is on the horizon.
This Week’s Resources
Home Town Takeover
If you’re a fan of home renovation shows and all things HGTV, you’ll want to tune into this new series. Home Town Takeover is a spin-off of Ben and Erin Napier’s Hometown Makeover where they’ve renovated dozens of homes in Laurel, Mississippi. This time, they are taking over the entire town of Wetumpka, Alabama. Wetumpka was chosen as the winner from over 5,000 other small town applicants. It’s a special place where the mayor is also the local barber. This is a heart-warming, inspirational series about what can happen when local people make real transformation happen. https://www.hgtv.com/shows/home-town-takeover
How to Reduce Robocalls
As my 50th birthday is approaching, I’m now apparently on AARP’s radar. I must say that their magazine offers some excellent and relevant resources. This article is about how to reduce robocalls—which have been significantly on the rise since the pandemic. If you’d like to hear some tips from their “Definitive Guide to Reducing Robocalls” click here: https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2021/robocalls-rise.html
A Full Cup of Adventure
Are you going to be spending the summer at your campground with your RV relaxing by the lake? Wherever your outdoor adventures bring you, Pipamoka will make your hot cup of coffee on the go! The device is designed by fellow travelers and it’s “the easiest way to enjoy a full cup of coffee wherever the journey takes you.” With its vacuum pressure brewing system, you’ll have a hot cup of joe in 2 minutes. https://www.wacaco.com/pages/pipamoka
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