"Just when the caterpillar thought her world had ended she turned into a butterfly."
Are you branded?
Twelve years ago, without words to express why I was drawn to them, I had a butterfly tattooed on my right ankle.
Blue, vigorous and enduring.
The foreverness of tattoos coupled with the image of fragile wings whispered everything my heart couldn't speak about my life.
I was broken and I was strong. And I was about to be married.
Two years ago, with a vague understanding of the landscape inside me, I drew the designs for two more butterflies. The entwining creatures were tattooed on my left shoulder blade. The names of my sons sit underneath their wings. The foreverness of tattoos coupled with the fleeting nature of boyhood. Flight and children. A perfect partnership?
I was broken and I was strong. And I was searching for a way to hold them eternally.
Almost a year ago I started sharing my writing here. Blogger demanded an image. A tag. A brand.
This time I was halfway to a memoir and halfway to healing. I came across this proverb.
"Just when the caterpillar thought her world had ended she turned into a butterfly."
And I knew.
I was already branded.
Around the blogosphere you'll see my wings. The blue butterfly that tags my comments.
I am broken and I am strong. And daily I birth the woman inside me.
What about you? Are you branded?
Wow; this is beautiful. I had always wondered about that butterfly and now I know why.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, thank you so much for your lovely e-mails. I will treasure them always, thank you. xxx
This is such a beautiful post, Tabitha. The fragile butterfly is such a beautiful symbol to be branded with.
ReplyDeleteNo, I am not branded. Nor think I will ever commit to one. The very permanence of a tattoo makes me shy away from getting one, because who knows what I will become in five years.
Sarah- yep, now you know :) The emails are my pleasure.
ReplyDeleteRayna- thank you. I guess I was thinking about branding as more than tattooing. A writer is branded by many things. The butterfly just happens to be one of mine. What about you? :)
This probably won't surprise you, Tab, but I have a butterfly tattoo, too. Mines on my chest to symbolize my heart being the difficult piece of equipment it's always been. I also have a little blue gecko on my ankle, because I've always had a long way to climb :)
ReplyDeleteIt shouldn't surprise me that you'd have a butterfly too. How exactly have we talked this long and not known that? LOL :D
Oh, and my butterfly is red, because that is my favorite color -- it's passionate and foolhardy, a fair bit like me :)
ReplyDeleteThat was a really beautiful description of your 'branding', and no - I am not branded in the same way.
ReplyDeleteIt is a great quote, and I love it when something happens in life that makes decisions feel so right. The tattoos were obviously meant to be a part of you.
I was read that butterflies haven't got a very log life span and if you see a butterfly hovering around you it is a deaar departed oned telling you everything will be fine,
ReplyDeleteI loved your story about the butterfly.
Haave a lovely week-end.
Yvonne,
Wow, Wen. Imagine that! Both of us hey. You sure we weren't twins in another life? :)
ReplyDeleteMW- I agree. They were meant to be apart of me. And they are.
WTMWOP- Thank you. You too :) Butterflies are fragile things. Maybe that is why I wanted mine painted on permanently.
I was wondering about that. Sounds beautiful.
ReplyDelete:-) I don't have a tattoo and I'm not sure I'm branded, but in a way I think stories have branded me but they're kind of all mixed up inside and the way I think about things can often be traced to something I read and how it changed me. I think. LOL
I got goosebumps. Your "picture" has SO much meaning now. And here I just thought you liked butterflies. I should have known there was something much deeper to your choice. Wow. So cool Tabitha. So very very cool.
ReplyDeleteLovely Tab. A perfect brand for you.
ReplyDeleteNo. I need a brand or niche. I'm still trying to figure it all out. :O)
ReplyDeleteYour butterfly is my tree. It's not on me anywhere, but within.
ReplyDeleteTake flight, woman. Fly.
~ Wendy
You write beautifully Tabitha.
ReplyDelete"I am broken and I am strong. And daily I birth the woman inside me."
ReplyDeleteYes, absolutely. So often I find just what I need to hear in your posts. Thank you for that, for your courage, for your beautiful writing.
(And can you believe that after all this time I can finally post comments?! Hooray!)
all my brands are internal...none of them sweet like yours, but I love this notion of being strong and broken at the same time...like a broken bone that heals stronger than the original. Give hope and feels right. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteTab, it was your blue butterfly that made me notice you, way back when, in the unimaginable prehistoric world before i knew about Tabitha Bird. *wink*
ReplyDeleteMyself, I am not branded. I think that, being older, part of me still equates "tattoo" with hairy arms and anchors, even though I know that times have changed and I genuinely like much of the ink I see. Your butterflies sound lovely!
W. O. W.
ReplyDeleteAs I read these words, got lost in the image, I thought of the Monarch butterflies, often torn and tattered in their genetically-stamped journey from the North to a little place in Mexico.
May I be tatooed with the secret code of My Father's Home, my real and only true home.
Blessings, dear girl!!!!!!!
You must read Hope Edelman's book, THE POSSIBILITY OF EVERYTHING. She has a blue butterfly on the cover and the whole book is stunning.
ReplyDeleteI love the way you express yourself Tabitha:) That's how I know your memoir will touch the hearts of so many. Keep writing dear friend and searching to find out more about the woman God is calling you to be!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was 17-ish, I bought a roll of infrared black & film to mess with in my photography hobby. It had to be kept refrigerated and never exposed to light (even in the canister). My brand came from that roll.
ReplyDeleteYou express yourself wonderfully and in such a heartfelt loving way! I am so glad I found your blog! I am a continual journey of healing myself. Following because you are so inspiring and Real! Thank you for sharing with all of us!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Coreen
PS. I will smile whenever I see your 'butterfly' and remember this sotry! :-)
I never thought about it but the obvious choice for me is ... wait for it ... Footprints!!! LOL
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tabs. I loved it.
ReplyDelete:D
Reminds me of why I love "flutter bys"
HAve a good one, honey.
Wow ... that's deep and meaningful. I'm branded by Jesus but that's about it. No tats for me. Not that there's anything wrong with that (Seinfeld).
ReplyDeleteStephen Tremp
I love that mantra: I am broken and I am strong. I'm going to use that in my own life. I don't have a tatoo brand, but I do have a format for my blog that I've been doing for 8 months now. More branding to come.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Tab! I don't have any symbol that defines me, but if I did, it certainly would be an animal too. :o)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this--it resonates with all of us.
I will forever know you by blue butterflies and all they mean. Another piece of brilliant writing, full of truth and vulnerability and all that's great about you. Love.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful and inspiring piece, Tabitha. I don't know my brand yet.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it is my personality or my use of words? I'm still looking, though.
I think you're brand is awesome and very eye-catching on Blogger. I always look forward to your comments and your insights.
So, write on!
I always wondered the history behind your butterfly avatar. Love it!
ReplyDeletePS: Tattoos are addicting. I'd love to get another one.
So beautiful! BTW, I LOVE the blue butterfly! Whenever I see your avatar I think of you and your beautiful words. =)
ReplyDeleteThank you for all the beautiful comments. You guys! Shucks :)
ReplyDeleteTabitha--BEAUTIFUL POST (one worthy of all caps)!!!
ReplyDeleteAs always, beautiful post! So poetic.
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a wonderful weekend. :)
I love the story behind your butterfly. My flower doesn't have the same emphasis. I really need to just get a recent pic and put it up.
ReplyDeleteThat's my favourite post you've written yet Tab. Strong and beautiful. Like you.
ReplyDelete