Butterfly Kisses

 I advised a friend recently to give herself the gift of butterfly kisses to calm her anxiety. I learned this technique from watching another friend perform this simple act when she felt a moment of disquiet. It’s very simple: you cross your hands, palms facing you, then press thumbs together, pad to pad.  Place your joined thumbs against your sternum, then lightly flap the wings made by your hands, with each inward flap touching your chest just below your clavicles. Light, gentle, sweet little butterfly kisses!

We all experience the wide arc of emotions. The trick seems to be to fully feel them, knowing that each moment is temporary. I want those moments of bliss to last, and I wish the unpleasant ones to quickly pass, but I am present for all of them. When those icky or painful ones visit, I find it important to be especially kind to myself. That’s when simple techniques like giving myself butterfly kisses helps me settle down and assure myself that all is well.

All IS well. Some lessons are harder than others, and some rewards are simple moments of Grace. It’s very easy to be grateful for those times of wonder and joy, harder to find the gratitude for the lessons while I’m in the middle of finding out what I’m supposed to be learning. A quick butterfly kiss reminds me that I’m alright. I am loved and cherished, lovable and capable. As the mother of several children told me about all those bouts of painful labor, I can handle anything for 30 seconds. And another, and another. 

I am grateful for all the ways of dealing with life on life’s terms. If I can’t bring about change, may I find the serenity necessary to accept each challenge, greeting every one with the soft kiss of a butterfly.