God changes a caterpillar into a butterfly
                                               sand into pearls
                                              and coal into diamonds
                                               using time and pressure.
                                               He’s working on you, too!
              

Human beings are ever-changing. Our future will not see even a shadow of our former selves. We change, transform, evolve into a different version of ourselves. We get better or bitter, fearful or stronger, all because of the battles we fight all along this journey called life.  So, can we take it as “we are creating ourselves?” Or, is it our life which is bringing about that change, that transformation?

I like to believe it’s life, the people we meet in  our life and the various circumstances we go through that are responsible for the changes we undergo. Life teaches us lessons when we are  busy grumbling about our circumstances. But, the most observant among us catch the subtle signals life gives us from time to time, and bring about the necessary changes in themselves. In that, they create  themselves. The transformation may be conscious, or even unconscious, but a transformation does take place.

Until the recent past, I was a very different person. The ups and downs that I had been through, had changed me from a carefree, cheerful person to an edgy and a timid person I so disliked! But, unbeknownst to myself, I had also changed into a much more understanding, empathetic person – something I so admired!  It felt good that I could feel the pain of others, gauge their situations and assist them accordingly.

Did I create myself thus? Or, did life do it for me? Did I evolve through my circumstances, through the stress and the pressure, and come out of it shining brighter than I ever did? It was not consciously undertaken – this transformation. It just happened. And, I feel good  that it did! I really can’t take credit for this change in me, for,  I can see Life smiling at me with a twinkle in her eyes, as if teasing me for being, err, arrogant!

We pass through tough situations, deal with adversities, stumble and fall a hundred times, hurting ourselves in the process. Yet, we also get back up on our feet, dust ourselves and keep moving ahead, a lot wiser than we were, about life and people. We learn our lessons, keep ourselves from making the same mistakes and learn to make better decisions and judgements. We also become a lot more calmer and mellow as well as considerate about our fellow beings. We do transform into the most beautiful version of ourselves – the ones we were supposed to be!

How did we do it?  Did we create ourselves? we wonder. Or, did we just come to be this magnificent version of ourselves?  Whatever it may be, the fact remains that we change, we evolve, we metamorphose, we transform, call it what you like. But,  we – the  caterpillars – do turn into the most vibrant, most beautiful of butterflies we were meant to be!

*Today’s post has been written for  Friday Reflections at  Write Tribe. 
Today’s  prompt: “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” by George Bernard Shaw.