In reference to the quote that is in my signature, I have recently been thinking about ways that I live like a caterpillar, and what living like a butterfly would look like.

Caterpillar: hit the couch upon arriving back at home in the evening, and not moving from there except to fetch food.
Butterfly: putter around the house doing bits of chores AFTER having hit the gym on the way home from work.

Caterpillar: let food just "happen", no planning ahead and no recording.
Butterfly: always has a plan A and plan B, and is fully conscious of their food/eating decisions.

Caterpillar: refuses to measure or count, just eats when and how much they want.
Butterfly: measures and counts, and is conscious of when they need fuel.

Caterpillar: lets life itself just "happen" to them.
Butterfly: accepts responsibility and takes an active role in their life.

Caterpillar: uses food for EVERYTHING--entertainment, relaxation, friendship, love, anger management, comfort, celebration...
Butterfly: uses food for fuel. Period.

Catterpillar: lets other people determine how they feel and how they cope with their lives.
Butterfly: manages their emotions and retains their autonomy over their lives.

What about you? What's your 'catterpillar' action, and what's the 'butterfly' alternative?

Caterpillar: Passes up opportunities out of fear and a lack of self-esteem.
Butterfly: Feels confident enough to seize any opportunities that come her way and take risks.

Caterpillar: Lets her mind talk her out of working out.
Butterfly: Overrides inner voice that tries to bring her down and just gets it done!

Caterpillar: but I want that food now, I'll do better tomorrow
Butterfly: every morsel counts ... yesterday, today and tomorrow

Caterpillar: I'm too tired to exercise
Butterfly: ten minutes on the elliptical doesn't hurt a thing!

I like the idea of this, but lol I'm totally afraid of butterflies! (like the actual insect! )

Awww, Lizzy, I love butterflies! My avatar is actually my own stylizing of Picasso's butterfly sketch, that I'm going to get as a tattoo at some point after I reach goal. I really think of myself metamorphosing into a butterfly. I love the idea that caterpillars go through **** to become something beautiful, and I have the proverb, "just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, she became a butterfly" on a mug, a magnet, a journal, AND a necklace!

Maybe you can just think of it as a PICTURE of a butterfly, right? One with fluffy wings and pretty colors?

When you think about it, Tinkerbell is kinda like... a butterfly!

Caterpillar: That yard work can wait--I deserve a rest.
Butterfly: I can just do a little bit for now, and get to the rest another time.

Caterpillar: What do you expect of me? I'm just a tube that eats.
Butterfly: All I do is fly around burning calories! And sipping a little nectar now and then.

Jay

Caterpillar: I am content with the world I see around me. Who I am, how I look, and how I live my life.
Butterfly: I want to be the best I can be, to explore the world, seize the day, and enjoy life to the fullest.

Caterpillar: Needs constant reassurance.
Butterfly: Is self assured.

I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that!

I hate to clean and do things around the house, so I'm going to try and use this to motivate me to be better around the house.

Caterpillar - cleaning up the bedroom floor so my husband can vacuum

Butterfly - cleaning up the bedroom floor and vacuuming it myself.

C - just cleaning the sink today in the bathroom

b - cleaning the whole bathroom so it looks nice

Way to rock the metaphor Jayell!

Have you ever read the children's book by Eric Carle by the name of , "The Very Hungary Caterpillar" ? Both of my sons adored it when they were young. I still remember this page:

LOL....how many of us will feel like the Very Hungary Caterpillar tonight? After many months of reading here, confession Monday will tell the tale.

Wow. What a memory you just brought up for me. My kids (And I) loved that book as they were growing up. And I do remember that page in particular. I remember trying to read it in one long breath to emphasize just how much food it was. Yet there was many a Saturday I ate a similar menu and even remember THINKING that as I was reading it. Oooooh, strange memory.