My word for 2021 is shift. Like everyone I know, I’ve learned a lot, since this time last year. One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that change and uncertainty just are. Since I’m not in control of much more than which yoga pants, Zoom-appropriate top, and slippers I’ll wear each day, I needed to figure out how I could deal with all the change and uncertainty. That’s where shifting comes in.

For me, shifts involve acceptance and adjustment. I know I don’t have much control, but I have unlimited choices. I can shift. 

Some of my recent shifts have been pretty significant. Some have been tiny. Some haven’t happened, yet. And I’m sure I’ll make a lot of shifts I can’t even imagine

The shift I’m writing about this week is one someone else made that’s helping many others, including me, make shifts of our own. This image is of Chadbourn, NC, artist Bess Hinson Taylor. She’s standing in front of one of the butterfly murals she’s painting around our county seat, Whiteville, NC.

You know that story about the challenging journey a butterfly makes from its chrysalis? Now that’s a shift! Well, Bess is one of those humans who’s a living example of a butterfly taking flight and in a powerful way. Last year, she created glorious external artwork for the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Whiteville .

I don’t know the rest of the background story, but with the help of the Whiteville Rotary Club and several local garden clubs, Bess is painting butterfly murals throughout downtown Whiteville! Here’s a great story, one our regional TV stories recently produced about Bess’ butterfly trail.

And here are some more images!

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Bess’ butterflies are helping my hope take flight. Enhancing hope is always a great shift. Deep and humble THANKS to Bess and the organizations supporting her, as she helps us shift from our own pandemic chrysalises.

What kind of shifts have you experienced lately?

I captured none of these images. I THINK credit for them goes to Justin Smith and Shelby Gull Laird. If I have inadvertently omitted a photographer credit, please, let me know and accept my sincere apologies.