What if you had only one week to live?  How much have you left unfinished?  Would you think about all the things that you should have or would have done, or just live out the remainder of your life to the fullest?

I was in a meeting today when the conversation took a different turn.  Janet was telling us about her new cabin in the woods and all of the great experiences in the outdoors.  But it was something very special that she wanted us to experience that caused me to reflect on only having one week to live.  She had a rare encounter with the Luna Moth, one of perhaps the most spiritual and mystical of animal totems.  Janet was able to capture a picture and shared with us this pink and green glowing creature.  We were all mesmerized by its beauty and its story.  Seeing one is a special gift.

The Luna Moth is one of the most beautiful moths. This magnificent insect, with its feathery antennae, is characterized by its emerald green color and the extension of its back wings. The symbolic meaning of the green butterfly is directly associated with nature, Mother Earth and all four elements: fire, water, air and earth

While living through its adult moth life of just one week, it does not have a mouth or a digestive system, so it cannot eat. One might think that its only purpose is to reproduce, but that seems a little shallow for such a beautiful creature. I think the transformation of the moth gives a lot to contemplate. The entire cycle – birth, transformation, love, death and rebirth – is something that we can all learn from. Even though we have a longer time here on earth, the process is the same.  It is important that we utilize our time and gifts wisely for however long we have.  We must seek balance and real purpose to accomplish even the smallest things in life.  The ultimate journey is to become like the Luna moth, always transforming into your beautiful self. Luna moths further represent rebirth, renewal of body and spirit, regeneration and may even symbolize the soul itself. Luna moths are quite beautiful in appearance and yet have docile personalities. Their physical beauty and charm make these large moths symbols of reflection, nourishment and life.

We can learn so much by looking at the wonders of nature and transferring these lessons to our everyday experiences. I have gained another level of appreciation for how fast life can pass us by and how we must remain open to change. The stages of life can work for us in so many ways as we take the knowledge and information and use if for the betterment of the world around us.

Treat every day like it is your last so you have no regrets on how you lived and the people whose paths you crossed.  I am now more mindful of the fullness of life and attempt to experience every moment. Take a deep breath like it is your very last one.

A Dose of Truth:  The reality is that we only have the next breath to live, so fly towards the beauty of life that surrounds you.  Thanks, Janet McCain, for sharing your dose of truth.