Disappointment is a fact of life- no matter how much we plan, prepare and pray, there will be times when things don’t go our way. So how do we find the positive in those negative moments?
At first glance, the story of increased butterfly populations is our standard Moment of Bliss fare. In fact, we wrote about the trend last year in Bringing Back the Monarch and we are stoked to see the increase continue! Through the collective efforts of many different groups, the recent Western Monarch Count’s tally of nearly a quarter of a million butterflies shows how much the species is bouncing back from an all-time low of around 2,000 in 2020.
So, then, where does the disappointment come in? Well, back in January 2022, we took a quick vacation up the coast that was wonderfully relaxing and rejuvenating. One of our stops was the Monarch Grove at Natural Bridges state park in Santa Cruz. We arrived as the park was opening that morning, excited to witness the moment when hundreds of butterflies would wake from the night’s slumber and flutter away from the hanging mass of butterflies.
We patiently waited amid the silent forest grove, smelling the salty air of the nearby ocean and reveling in the peace of the moment. The minutes slipped by, and though we could see the sleepy clumps and could even detect occasional movement, we had yet to see a single butterfly detach themselves from the group.
To pass the time, we checked out some of the informational signs posted around the grove, and it was then that we learned that the monarchs are unable to fly when the temperature is under 60 degrees F. Their wings just can’t flap the way they need to in order to remain airborne. Since it was a very chilly morning, those butterflies weren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
We had tickets to the Winchester Mystery House later that day, so we couldn’t hang around indefinitely. We left after about an hour, and though we were disappointed, we were also filled with quiet peace and wonder, and a desire to try again someday. In a way, it makes the idea of witnessing the moment even more desirable and special.
While it’s natural and ok to feel disappointed at times, we can choose to find the silver linings of our less-than-stellar experiences. That choice can make all the difference to our emotional well-being, so it’s worth a shot.
