Tadpoles are amphibians. Amphibian- from the Greek "amphi" meaning "both" and "bios" meaning life. I like tadpoles because they are the aquatic form of a creature that is nothing if not adaptable. As a matter of fact, pollywogs themselves embody the very essence of change and transformation. They swim, they sprout legs, they shed their tails, they're kind of amazing and they're totally cool.
One of my other favorite creatures that has come to symbolize transformation is the butterfly. The egg becomes a caterpillar which eats itself silly and then spins its own sleeping bag. After taking quite the nap, it works its way out of its chamber and emerges as a beautiful winged creature, ready to take flight and embark on a new journey. (Hopefully not a short trip to a bird's belly, but that's part of the cycle too.)
Sometimes I have tadpole days. Days where I'm just trying to keep swimming, wondering if I'll get my legs under me so I can move on to the next stage. Some days are butterfly days where I discover a new strength and stretch my wings in the sun. Every day is the chance for a new transformation. A chance to take my experiences and turn them into something better, something I can use to grow.
Life is a little crazy right now. In the theme park of life, I'm strapped in to the giant roller coaster that scares you before you even get on it. The one that you can see perfectly well from the ground is going to flip you upside-down and over, twist you into knots and have you screaming and ready to get off as the bar comes down to start the ride. It's not an easy ride, but it's the one I have to finish before I can move on to the fun house, the carousel, and the cotton candy. It's the ride that scares the snot out of me, but I know I'll be much better off on the other end. And so I stand in line, waiting for them to punch my ticket, usher me to my seat and buckle me in. Hang on boys, it's going to be a bumpy ride.
When life dumps on you, throw it in the compost heap and grow from it.
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