Free Fly

The butterfly Place in Westford Mass is a paradise crawling with creatures. There are baby ducklings, Koi fish and of course, an entire community of butterflies that are all free to roam about their man-made habitat. To be frank, I am not the biggest "nature person". So its not surprising that when I stepped into the green house and saw hundreds of butterflies flying at my face a sudden squeamish feeling came over me. Butterflies may have a good reputation but as far as I am concerned they are still bugs with big eyes and long legs! I found it difficult as I walked through the swarms of flapping wings to obey the 'No Swatting' rule; but I kept my hands to myself. The threatening glare I kept getting from the earthy crunchy type in the corner made it clear that the rule was pretty serious business.

Anyway, as I walked along the winding brick path, trying to overcome my new found phobia of harmless butterflies and make my hour long drive worth it, I started thinking about how strange it is to be a 22 year old "adult" freshly out of college and living in my parents attic.

I have no strings attached. I am free to fly anywhere I want and I have almost nothing to my name, which can be viewed as great and terrible at the same time. I have no one to answer to, no spouse, no kids, no mortgage and to many I am enjoying an unparalleled sense of freedom yet lately I find myself not feeling free at all; I feel trapped like the butterflies in the greenhouse. They seem so free but are really just flying around under a glass ceiling.

As college graduates we are kind of like recently hatched butterflies, given all the know how and tools necessary for survival and success but it is what we do with those tools that counts. And making something of what we have been given is the toughest part. Busting through that glass ceiling and leaving our safe little habitats can be a difficult and scary task.

But for now, despite a few overwhelming moments I am happy about where I am at. I am free to flutter off into any direction and to stop along the way as I please. And I am lucky to be able to stay in my safe little habitat for a little longer (2 months to be exact, according to my mother!). I will remain positive and passionate and appreciate what I have because, though its hard to believe at times, I know that with time, hard work and confidence I will break through that glass ceiling and I will be just fine.