What's In A Name?

Here we are starting our journey.  So, let's start at the beginning.  Some of you might be wondering, "where did the name of this blog come from?" Well, like many of you, I have always loved butterflies and dandelions, but poison ivy...not so much. Butterflies symbolize beauty, long life and transformation.  Likewise, anyone that has ever made a wish while blowing the "seeds" off a dandelion "flower" knows the magic of hope and wishes associated with the dandelion.  That's if you were able to blow all of the "seeds" away in one breath. I never had the lung power : ) ....  If it smells good, feels good, or tastes good, we're sold, but what about the things that may not seem that appealing.  We usually ignore or avoid them, often without truly investigating them to find their worth.  Example: poison ivy......  Did you just start itching?  I did : ) .... It is hard to have a positive reaction to something that has only been given a negative connotation. The name doesn't help either, but what about the good things that it has to offer.   Get past the name and think of the plant itself. The leaves are actually pretty and quite vibrant in color. Yes, touching the leaves can get you in trouble, but did you know that deer eat the leaves and that squirrels and songbirds eat poison ivy berries and seeds? or that it has medicinal purposes and treats a host of conditions including anxiety/depression, menstrual issues and of all things, itching skin diseases?  Think of how many great things we are missing out on, because we have judged the book by the cover or the by the first couple of chapters.  I wanted my blog to have a name that would encourage others and remind me to appreciate the beauty, hope and the not so nice things (or the things perceived as such) that life has to offer.  Thus the name, Butterflies, Dandelions and Poison Ivy.  Everything serves a purpose and we must find something positive in the things that seem completely or overwhelmingly negative.  You may have to look with a magnifying glass to find it, but it IS there.