For me the Butterfly represents many things:
- A rebirth
- A reminder of small actions creating large consequences
- A valued aid to sailing safely in Algoa Bay
Why did I finally get a tattoo?
- My birthday present to myself
- My divorce present to myself
- A tangible reminder to constantly engage in small good actions
- A visual reminder of all that being kind and good represents personally and to humankind.
I am sure that you have heard that the flapping of a butterfly’s wings can cause a hurricane on the other side of the world. While this may not generally be the case, it’s a good example of the butterfly effect, or the idea that tiny changes in complex systems can cause huge effects.
On the other side of the coin, local sailors use butterflies as an indicator of a sudden sharp rise in the wind in Algoa Bay. Under certain conditions butterflies will be seen at sea which invariably is an indicator of a sharp rise in wind and sea state. Many a sailor will remark that once the first butterfly is seen at sea the yacht needs to turn immediately for home.
Small actions that we can take are myriad:
- Pick up one piece of plastic daily
- Think before you say something
- Smile before you frown
- Cut just one animal product from your diet
- Start with one minute of exercise daily
- Save R1.00 a day
- Forgive someone completely
- Save 1 litre of water daily
- Walk/cycle to the shop, don’t drive
- Have one less beer a day
- Cut back on one spoon of sugar a day
- Start a waste plastic eco brick at home
- Turn your geyser temperature down by 5 degrees
- Install one energy saving light bulb
- Start a vegetable garden instead of a flower garden
- Wash dishes in a basin and use that water for lawns
- Make sure that your dishwasher is full before using
- Wear those jeans one more time
- Recycle
- Drive 5 km/h slower
- Let someone in in front of you
- Let an older person through the door first
- Give your seat up for pregnant and older persons
- Walk on the danger side
- Only post, like or share good stuff
- Start a compost heap…
Alan Straton
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