K is for Knowledge. A-Z word Challenge. Healing with words. Day 11

knowledge |ˈnälij|

noun1 facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education; ... true, justified belief; certain understanding, as opposed to opinion.2 awareness or familiarity gained by experience of a fact or situation

A butterfly breeder once told a story about watching his very first butterfly emerge. It took so long he thought it was stuck. He snipped both sides of the chrysalis to help free it and when the butterfly hatched but it was unable to fly, and died on landing.

In his pursuit to understand what had happened, he learnt that the struggle to get out of the cocoon is necessary to build strength in a butterflies wings. He also learned a valuable lesson and went on to write highly acclaimed self help books that changed a lot of people and he successfully bred many more beautiful butterflies.  (If you know the author or the book let me know, I can only remember the story)

With experience and knowledge we begin to understand why we do the things we do and we stop repeating the same mistakes. Knowledge makes it easier to change and grow from what we have learned.  It takes time to acquire vast knowledge and their are constant cycles. Learn from butterfly, which stage of a learning cycle are you in. Is it the larvae (birth of an idea), caterpillar (acquiring knowledge), cocoon (absorbing knowledge), or butterfly (metamorphosis) stage in your quest for knowledge?   - 

Educate yourself.  Research anything that attracts your attention, even if you don't think it will lead anywhere, it will always lead somewhere. No-one can take away what you know. The more you know the more you realise there is to learn, with learning comes growing and with growing comes... whatever it is YOU hope to achieve.

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My thirst for knowledge led me to a woman named Ruth Howard, she wrote a magnificent poem called  GROWING by Ruth Howard in my humble opinion it is a masterpiece. She wished for it to be shared, particularly with young people. Which is why she gave me permission to share it, many years ago.  I encourage you to learn from it, use the link and share it too.

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Find out how I chose my theme by reading my intro blog A-Z challenge list. Words of change.  You are welcome to add more words to the list in the comments - and then I'll link back to you.