Managing Life's Changes With the cooler fall weather comes falling leaves, cold fronts, Friday night football, and….monarch butterflies. Lately, these delicate black and orange jewels can be seen migrating through central Texas quietly gliding on the breeze, slowly making their way south until they reach their final winter destination.
The changes these beautiful insects go through in a year are startling. In the spring, they leave their wintering grounds in Mexico and begin migrating north. During this time, they lay hundreds of eggs on milkweed plants, on which they are dependent for their survival. Once they begin laying eggs, monarchs only live another few weeks before dying. It is the new generation of butterflies which must continue the journey north. They, too, lay eggs over the span of a few weeks before dying. This rapid birth to death cycle continues over several generations before the summer is over and fall migration begins. The last generation of butterflies to develop at the end of the summer, however, is different. While they look identical to summer butterflies, they will not mate or lay eggs until the next spring, instead embarking on a very long journey south. Using only instinct to guide them along a path they have never before traveled, these young monarchs, only about 2 months old, must find their way south to a small region of central Mexico, thousands of miles away from their place of birth. Those that survive the strenuous journey will spend their first (and only) winter high in the mountains where it is foggy, cloudy, and very cold. They cluster together in pine and fir trees which protect them from wind and occasional rain, snow, and hail. Finally, when the spring days grow longer and warmer, the entire cycle begins once again.
The life cycle of the beautiful monarch butterfly is dominated by change. For many of us, changes can be hard to deal with. When our lives take a sudden (or expected) turn, it often causes stress and anxiety, and even fear, sadness, feelings of helplessness, or depression. We can lose our balance and feel lost, confused, and alone. Some ways to cope with change include: using stress management techniques, such as deep breathing; reaching out to friends and family for support; exercising and eating healthy, nourishing foods; doing restorative activities, such as yoga or reading; and getting plenty of good sleep. Like the life of the monarch butterfly, our lives are full of change. Unlike the butterfly, however, we can work to find the opportunities that often come with change, which can help make us stronger, wiser, and more compassionate people.
Note: Butterfly photograph © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
For more information about monarch butterflies: www.monarchwatch.org
For more information on managing life changes: www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/mental-health-month/managing-lifes-challenges
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