Beyond the Cocoon, A Reflection on Childhood, Community, and the Flight of the Butterfly
"나비가 밖으로 나갔습니다. " - A Butterfly flew outside
This sentence holds a special place in my heart because it was the first script I ever spoke on stage at 7 during an annual kindergarten group storytelling performance. The memory of being on stage with my mates and many families in front is engraved in my mind with indelible ink of excitement, pride, and happiness. I felt like a butterfly taking flight into an unknown world.
As I reminisce about my childhood in an apartment, I am struck by a harsh reality. It is a revelation about the growing indifference among neighbours. The simple act of exchanging greetings fades away, replaced by the routine entrance into one's shelter without giving a single glimpse to each other. What was once a shared space, a community, gradually succumbs to metaphorical walls.
Indifference has become a virtue in today's landscape dominated by individualistic living and personal studio apartments, commonly known as "Officetel" (office + hotel). People tend to confine themselves within their apartments, like in prison, and the passing of months can occur without any knowledge of a neighbour's lonely death.
Living in a world that often encourages us to stick to what we know, we might forget how important it is to connect with nature. Picture a butterfly leaving its cocoon - it shows our natural curiosity to explore. Life's real lessons come from being outside, soaking in the world, and finding inspiration in nature.
I don't want to say being indifferent is always bad, especially in an unfair society, it can help protect our minds. But we should still have sight of what's right and wrong in life. It's like finding a balance between protecting ourselves and staying true to the good things nature teaches us.
Let us remember the profound lessons hidden in the flutter of a butterfly's wings. It beckons us to embrace the unknown, to seek connection beyond the walls we build around ourselves. The script from my childhood reminds us that, like a butterfly, we, too, can take flight into the rich tapestry of life, finding joy in exploration and inspiration in the world that lies beyond our immediate perception.
So, how can we break free from this cycle of indifference and rediscover the beauty of connection? Will being closer to nature improve this phenomenon and contribute to a better way of being? To inspire you to break free from mundane routines and explore nature, finding a deeper connection with it, I would like to recommend three books:
Walden - Henry David Thoreau
Beautiful ending - Boep Joeng 아름다운 마무리 법정스님
Comments
Post a Comment