Dragonfly-Goddess-With-Fetch

Isn’t it interesting that when something goes wrong, we shrug and say “Shit happens.”

Yet, when something magical happens, we respond with “that’s too good to be true.”

Well, see what you think about this:

It all started a few mornings ago.

I found myself sobbing in my backyard, wondering what I was going to do with the rest of my life.

Having lost my big fat job as the only female Creative Director at one of the largest advertising agencies in Los Angeles, I was overwhelmed with worry, fear and “Now What?”

Advertising is a young business. There are not that many jobs at my level to begin with. Especially not for women over 50. (The sexism you saw in Mad Men still exists, trust me.)

So, I did what I always do when I am lost. I pray and ask the Universe for help:

“Am I too old to reinvent myself? Please give me a sign.”

Then, I went for a walk with my dog Lucky. And when I came home, I got a sign, all right. I just had no idea what it meant.

Right there, in my own backyard was not one, not two, but hundreds of the most gorgeous red dragonflies you can imagine.

They were absolute magic.

Chinese red bodies. Rainbow prism wings. Whirling, twirling. Forwards, backwards. Leaping, spiraling. It was a dragonfly ballet.

I’ve never seen anything like it. And didn’t even know that dragonflies come in red.

Until now, I’ve never been a real dragonfly person. (I go gaga over ladybugs, hummingbirds and butterflies, however.)

But I just haven’t had much exposure to dragonflies. And the ones that I have seen are usually blue, zipping over some pond or creek. (Of course, Lucky’s water bowl is the only body of water in our backyard.)

Do you even know what to call a group of dragonflies? A flock? A herd? A gaggle?

Actually, I just looked it up. it’s a fetch. (Who knew?)

The longer I was out there, the bigger the fetch got. And those dragonflies had the most uplifting, beautiful energy.

Soon, I found myself twirling and swirling with glee. It was like having a fetch of faeries in my backyard. (And quite a fetching fetch, I might add.)

I called my neighbor to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating.

Julie couldn’t believe it either. She wondered if there was a nest or something in the neighborhood. But upon further exploration, it was clear that the dragonflies were only at my house. And they stayed for hours.

So, I did what any sane person would do, I Googled “dragonflies.”

I learned that they represent “change” in almost every culture. That they can fly up to 40 miles per hour and see from 360 degrees. What little miracles they are.

I also read that  “Dragonfly causes us to question our self-imposed limitations and helps us remember that ‘ordinary, everyday’ physical reality isn’t all that is available to us. Its rainbow wings remind us we live in a world of magic….”

I was blown away. to learn that dragonflies don’t fly until later in life and that their luminous colors only develop with maturity.

That was more than an ah-hah moment. That was a Holy Shit Moment.

Were these iridescent messengers here to show me that everything was happening in its perfect time?

And that like the dragonflies who grow their wings in the muck at the bottom of the pond, I was growing my magic, too.

My fetching fetch came back 4 days in a row.

By the fourth day, I finally got their message. Instead of writing the post I had planned to write, I decided to stop being so “rigid” and to share this dragonfly magic with you.

Once I finally wrote this, they were off.

Pffft just like that. On their next mission, spreading light and love somewhere else.

Now, I’m sure there are those who will come up with a logical explanation for all this. (My gardener tried, but couldn’t.)

I’d be interested in hearing what you think.

As for me, I’ve decided to let my heart leap with joy and celebrate the miracle of my dragonflies.

And to see the beauty in showing my  true colors later in life

This is my movie. And I want there to be lots of magic in it.

What about you?