For my birthday, I received a surprise gift from my husband that is so treasured. Not only did he orchestrate getting us into the gallery, it was already set up with a sold sign. What I didn’t know at first, is that it was mine!It was a painting — vibrant, surreal, and powerful.
At first glance, you see butterflies. But look a little closer and you’ll notice a story unfolding:
A caterpillar crawling toward a row of hanging chrysalises — each one shaped like a golden mask.
In the center, a mirror… reflecting a woman inside.
And beyond that?
Wings. So many wings. Each bold, beautiful, and entirely unique.
And suddenly, it hit me…
This is the season I’m in.
And maybe you are too.
The chrysalis phase isn’t glamorous.
It’s the part where everything feels like it’s unraveling.
Where you’re not quite who you were, but not yet who you’re becoming.
It’s tight. Lonely. Uncertain.
But it’s also holy.
Because it’s here, in this in-between, that we begin to shed the masks we’ve worn for survival:
- The mask of perfection
- The mask of people-pleasing
- The mask that says “I’m fine” when you’re anything but
We hang them up one by one.
And then, in the quiet, we start tochoose.
✨ What kind of wings do I want to wear?
✨ What parts of me have I outgrown?
✨ What truth feels most aligned with who I am now?
🦋 Transformation Is a Conscious Choice
We often think of transformation as something that happens to us — a burnout, a breakup, a breakdown.
But what if it’s also a series of conscious choices?
Not all growth has to come from pain.
Sometimes, it begins with a whisper from your soul that says:
“I’m ready to stop surviving and start living.”
That whisper becomes a shift.
A decision to listen inward instead of outward.
To stop dressing in the expectations of others,
and start adorning yourself in truth, freedom, and self-love.
This isn’t about fixing yourself — you were never broken.
It’s about trying on new wings and deciding which ones feel like home.
Because the real power?
Is knowing you get to choose the life you want to soar into.
Why This Matters
So many of us are walking around in disguise, not out of deceit, but out of protection.
We’ve worn masks because we had to.
To feel safe. To be accepted. To survive.
But survival isn’t the destination.
You deserve to live. To breathe. To fly.
And when you start choosing your wings — the ones that reflect who you truly are — you no longer live a life that was built for someone else.
You step into the one your soul was always meant to live.
A Love Note from Me to You
I don’t know what season you’re in right now.
Maybe you’re still crawling.
Maybe you’re mid-chrysalis, unsure if you’re breaking down or breaking through.
Or maybe you’re in your own boudoir of becoming, holding your breath, wondering if it’s safe to fly.
Wherever you are, I want you to know this:
You are not behind. You are right on time.
And your wings?
They don’t have to look like anyone else’s.
They only have to feel like you.
You’re allowed to grow slow.
You’re allowed to take up space.
And you’re allowed to choose a life that honors your healing, your voice, your joy.
I’m rooting for you always. 🦋
With love and wings,
Amie