The Butterfly Doesn’t Know

 —A short reflection on self-worth and the beauty we forget we carry

This morning, I was staring out the window when a few butterflies fluttered by. Bright, vibrant, full of life—each one looked like a moving painting. I watched them with childlike awe, momentarily tempted to reach out and catch one, just to admire it up close.

And then a strange thought struck me.

These butterflies have no idea how beautiful they are.
They don't see themselves the way we do.
They don’t pause mid-flight to admire their reflection.
They don't know that their colors brighten someone’s dull morning or that their wings can stop a person mid-scroll on a walk.

They just are—colorful, graceful, stunning. And unaware.

Isn’t that so much like us?

We carry colors too. Not on our wings, but in our souls. The kindness we extend, the passion we pour into our work, the quiet strength we show in tough times—these are all colors we often forget we have.

Sometimes, we need someone else to point them out.
A friend who says, “You’re so thoughtful,”
A parent who reminds us, “You’ve come so far,”
A sibling who grins and says, “You’ve always had this spark in you.”

Because in the moments when we struggle to see our own worth, a reminder from someone who truly sees us can be enough to bring our colors back to life.

So if you’re reading this today and feeling dull, let me be the one to say:

You’re a butterfly too. And you’re beautiful—even if you don’t always see it.