Silkworm

I’ve lived in the comfort zone for a long time. Actually, I don’t think I realized that. I mean, each day was planned, predictable, just a few unpleasant surprises. The pleasant ones happened, too, and they were quite frequent, I must admit.

My comfort zone has been like a cocoon. Once you build it and look after it well enough, it can serve you for many years. You feel safe, secure, you may even feel happy. Only sometimes, some inner voice is heard in your head saying: ‘What if…?’ or ‘I wonder if I could…’ And then you indulge yourself in dreaming only to laugh at yourself later and give up…

You can take care of your cocoon very well, seal up the leaks or let more light come in through certain holes. You can mess it up and clean it afterwards. You can spin a silk thread and look at it against the sun to see a rainbow. Or even spin a few more, weave them into fabric and make a cloak which protects you even better. From your inner voice, too…

And then something happens. Suddenly. Unexpectedly. It might be a million little things, but happening just at this time and in this place. A journey. A trip. A smile. A cigarette. A glance. A conversation. A blush. Anything… Anything you can’t predict…

And then you can’t help it. Your cocoon is shattered and you don’t know if you should mend it, collect the patches to sew them together again or just stand up, take a deep breath, spread your arms and let your wings grow. And fly away…

Out of the comfort zone. Away from your cocoon. Just away…