Monarch butterflies have had a rough go of things in recent years, as their numbers have been wiped out in some of the main parts of California where they were once found in large amounts.
These friendly and beautiful pollinating insects have been bombarded by toxic chemicals like glyphosate and others since Monsanto and Bayer took over the farming industry.
Monarch butterflies are worth saving, however.
Not only are they beautiful to look at, they are also one of nature’s foremost and most important pollinator species.
When it comes to saving the monarchs, every garden planted with milkweed helps, every decision to buy organic helps, and, in the case of one particular butterfly, every act of kindness may help as well.
Recently, one woman found a butterfly with a broken wing, and decided to take matters into her own hands.
Her story was profiled by The Dodo, and has been viewed millions of times since its release this past week.
“I found this butterfly struggling,” the woman says in the video.
“One of his wings didn’t develop properly, and I knew I was going to need to do something.”
She decided to make some nectar for the tender little butterfly by watering down some honey.
“Day-by-day, more and more of his wing was breaking off, so I knew I had to improvise fast,” she said.
The woman went to a local thrift store and found a pack of feathers that was about the right size. It was the last one left in the store that could do the job, she hinted.
“I got the feather to match as closely to his good wing as I could,” she said.
“It was perfect…Maybe he would have some mobility enough to fly,” she added. “But he would still have to remain in captivity.”
The woman was able to take the sweet and tender little butterfly to her office during the recovery process, where he was able to practice his flying skills.
It was a long process that required a lot of patience, but eventually the sweet little guy, nicknamed “Nemo-Bucky the Bionic Butterfly,” began to figure it out.
“I saw him get further and further each time; he made some progress! Day-by-day, improving more and more,” his new adopted mother stated.
He wasn’t able to gain much if any altitude, but he was flying, and that was half of the battle.
Eventually, she took him to the garden for some alone time and the unthinkable happened.
“He sat there for a few minutes. I’d like to think it was like he was saying thank you.
“But then, he flew up, and he was gone. He was ready to go. I wasn’t ready to see him leave.
“I started worrying about him, maybe he didn’t make it.”
Eventually, something remarkable happened that she never expected.
She saw a “flash of the grey feather,” and her butterfly spirit companion had returned.
He was not only safe, but he was in fact thriving.
“And living his best butterfly life,” she said.
“It might be short and fleeting, but in the grand scheme of things, all of our lives are just a short blip here on Earth. What matters are the connections we make, and who we help along the way.
“He never gave up.”
Check out the full video of the story from The Dodo here, and thanks so much for reading.
Keep this beautiful story in mind the next time you see someone struggling, whether they be man, woman, animal, insect or child.
P.S. The woman also got a tattoo of her butterfly friend to commemorate the incredible story that changed her life, and her heart, in so many ways.
We’re all in this together, and we our lives, talents, skills and passions all fit together like pieces of a puzzle.
Don’t be afraid to help others, and to let your light shine in ways that are unique to you and you alone.
All of creation depends on it, that much is for certain!
‘Til next time, thank you for reading, Green Living Tribe and have an amazing day now!