Staring at the Old

I discovered this cicada, newly emerged/shed from its shell. I was amazed at the beauty of its #wings. It sat there for some time and I couldn't help but think about the lesson here. I wondered at how difficult it might have been to get away from that old shell. I wondered how long it took for it to do that. And then I wondered at why it faced the old shell? It seemed to make more sense that it would be facing the other way if it emerged the way I think it did, turning its back on its old self. But there it sat, staring at its old self, face to face as it were, and I couldn't help but be human and think of myself. How often have I stared at my old self and wonder at my old ways? How much time have a spent contemplating the past? I watched that cicada for a long time and then finally, when it was ready, it was gone. It didn't stay staring at its old self for very long, just long enough I guess to dry off and prepare for its flight to its next adventure. In fact, I am pretty sure that cicada will never return and look at its old self again.

​I wonder if that too is not the lesson for us.

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