Butterflies have a rather erratic manner of movement. They have the appearance of the lightest creatures in the world, but they fly as if they have been tethered to the heaviest burden in the world. They flit gently through the air like brightly coloured fairies. They occasionally plunge towards the earth then, suddenly rise up again. They weave through obstacles that are not visible to us, but seem oblivious to all of the leaves and trees in their path. It is nearly impossible to predict what a butterfly is going to do next.
Edward Norton Lorenz, a meteorologist and mathematician, once said, “When a butterfly flutters its wings in one part of the world, it can eventually cause a hurricane in another.”
Lorenz’s quite familiar quote is often used to help individuals conceptualise the “Butterfly Effect”, which is a theory that small and seemingly insignificant events can lead to great and unpredictable consequences.
However, this very quote can also lead us to understand that if all butterflies have concealed hurricanes in their wings, it is no wonder then, that they seem so disoriented all the time.
Our world has always been populated by great thinkers and artists. Regardless of how intelligent or skilled these individuals are, most ‘geniuses’ have a tendency of behaving in strange ways. For instance, Albert Einstein, a German physicist responsible for several discoveries and breakthroughs in his field, frequently missed his classes as a student simply because he believed that they stifled his creativity and ability to think. Similarly, Erik Satie, a well-known French composer had an odd habit of only eating foods that were white in colour, such as rice and coconuts.
To the observer, these activities might seem abnormal and meaningless. Perhaps, even the people who engaged in them might not have had any great reason for those behaviours. However, all of those qualities and mannerisms were part of who these people were. Allowing themselves to focus on expressing themselves in every form, regardless of how they might have appeared to others was a big part of why they were able to contribute all they had to the betterment of our world.
When we are young and discovering new parts of ourselves, we also discover different ways of expressing ourselves to the world. We may find that using an unconventional method helps us achieve a goal or complete a task more efficiently. We may also find that breaking a few expectations of society helps us feel freer and more comfortable. With enough thought given to how our eccentricities affect those around us, and our ability to learn and grow, we may find that there are very few limits to who we can be. The truth is, abnormality itself is an inconstant concept since the definition of normality is never the same for too long or too far.
Butterflies have an erratic way of moving. It is strange, and sometimes even amusing to observe. However, there are scientists who have looked beyond eccentricity to find a reason. Butterflies have such a strange flight pattern because the unpredictability helps them avoid predators. Furthermore, regardless of how they appear, butterflies are actually in complete control of themselves when they fly.
When a young person’s eccentricities are examined and discussed with them instead of eradicated, we may create an individual whose uniqueness empowers them. The world is populated with problems that have not already been solved by the ‘normal’ ways of thinking. With a generation that can spread its wings and embrace its odd ways, we may bring about the creation of a hurricane that can revolutionise this world.
