I heard
There is an ecological phenomenon in the Amazon
where the butterfly flock to the faces of turtles to drink their tears

It’s said the butterfly’s diet
Is deficient in sodium
So they find it
In the tear ducts of gentle giants

Such an unlikely solution
Two unrelated organisms interlinked

And I can’t help but think
Of the power we each possess inside us

How we might be the
Creatively curated remedy
For a particularly peculiar problem

Like what if your smile
Could be the exact dose of dopamine to cure a bout of depression

A simple hello could be entry point to a life changing conversation
Your hug could be the bond that breaks a cycle of trauma

A helping hand, a genuine gesture,
Could be the first step that ripple effects
Into our collective progress

What if just your existence was the key to unlocking the shackles that would set another free
What if you are the last component to make the moment we have all been waiting for and you don’t even know it

It is understood that sodium is one of the minerals that helps butterflies actually fly
And I have seen the sobbing that’s shifted policies and lifted lady liberty to new heights

And perhaps you possess a story salient enough to help someone else soar just like the turtle’s tears
And I know how uncomfortable it is to face your fears
To Pour your vulnerability out into the public sphere
To crack your chest
And expose your beating heart
To Fold the parts of yourself you’ve tucked away
Into words as beautiful as origami art and gift it to the masses
But what if…
What if it could be the start of something so special
So transformational

So never forget the value of just showing up
Of telling your truth even when it become disruption
Resolute enough to stand on business
Even when there’s no profit in it
Remember every powder keg needs a spark
And the fire blazing in your belly could be just the right ignition

And maybe the very thing you’re missing is hiding in a place you’ve never considered looking
Which is to say we gotta protect even the most lowly
And respect the uniqueness of our humanity
Cuz those differences combined become the very thing that makes us whole.