A security officer in the village shopping center startled me when I looked up from inspecting this fallen
butterfly. He was confused by my odd behavior, and my Whiteness in this region of
South Africa. I explained to him that butterflies are symbolic…for Change.
6. The Symphony
No, I have yet to enjoy a symphony or musical in South Africa, though it is a pressing to-do. For
my birthday, I’ve promised to take myself out for an evening of proper theatre. For now, a
symphony of insects sings me to sleep each night and fills me with love as I am stirred from my
sleep in the wee hours of the morning; voices whispering in my ear, “Wake up, Amanda. Write it
all down.”
My heart beats in tune as the roar of insects exhibit nature at its finest; intrinsic perfection by
simple being! It is a reminder that I am in the midst of being my own orchestra; honing in on
opportunities of the Now, connecting on a real level with people who coincidentally enter my life,
as Higher Purpose artfully weaves them into a grand composition for the betterment of South
Africa and beyond. Nature can be such a motivator!
This also reminds me of a message on a bottle cap of Magic Hat beer I drank just a few weeks
before moving to South Africa:
“Be your own orchestra”
Two beers I drank prior to that one had caps which read:
“The world needs your deeds”
“You need to write more”