Inspiration

We all find inspiration from a variety of sources. A Caring Place Counselling was inspired by a unique act of kindness, where an elderly woman believed that the gift of butterflies could change someone’s world for them. The joy and tears she shared with many, some overwhelmed by this act of kindness. She was correct…

Butterflies Can Change the World.

In the beginning…

In 2004 an earth quake and resulting tsunami devastated Indonesia. So much loss. One person overwhelmed by this disaster, was my mum, Liz, she was totally consumed by sadness. Nothing could be done except maybe a donation, but not being a woman of great means, it felt like a pittance.

Watching many accounts of the disaster on the television, Liz happened to hear a monk being interviewed who said he would be sending out butterflies of love. This really struck a chord and over the coming days this little quote never left her. Butterflies of Love… a seed had been planted.

So it began…

From this seed Liz began her creations, the strings of butterflies, her own “Butterflies of Love”.

An absolute labour of love. Day and night. Cardboard, glitter, ribbon and glue spread from bedroom to living room. At first they were given to friends and family, many of us ending up with a variety of colours, hanging in rooms, in gardens, patios and verandahs. I’m not sure when the first butterfly was given to a stranger but over the next 20 years many a stranger from Wagga Wagga, to Goulburn, to Canberra, to the coast, were given these gifts of love and hope. Messages she felt these strings of butterflies gave.

You could count on one hand how many people actually said no, but there were hundreds of people, hundreds, who received them. She often went out with 10 in her bag and came home with none.

The grateful…

Once in Gerringong, a young boy saw the picture of the butterfly on Liz’s bag and came running over, crying out “Butterflies, Butterflies”. Liz felt lucky, she had one left and as she pulled the string of butterflies out of the envelope, the boy was “mouth-opened” awe struck and the parents were so grateful. Butterflies were his favourite thing. He played with these while they drank their coffee in peace.

Typically, Liz would just walk up to people she felt “needed” them, an uncanny knack she possessed. There was a time she gave white butterflies to a lady, and the lady started sobbing. Her daughter had died recently and the white butterfly was now her symbol for the daughter, so these butterflies meant so much to her.

Another time, Liz sat next to an elderly lady saying they look like they needed some butterflies. The elderly lady said the butterflies couldn’t come at a better time. Their son was “coming good” after years of addiction and today was her first contact with him in a long time. Liz said to her, that when she pulls the butterflies out from the envelope, she often thinks of the addict as the butterfly and they are coming out of their cocoon of addiction. Liz was given such a big hug.

The love lives on…

Liz called her home the Butterfly Factory. It is closed now but the kindness and love is still out there as there are hundreds of Butterflies of Love in a home, a garden, a patio from Wagga Wagga, to Goulburn, to Canberra, to the coast.

This story is the heart of A Caring Place Counselling. It is a reminder that all acts of care, compassion and connection can make a profound difference. At its core, counselling is about offering that sense of hope, helping people feel seen supported and capable of change.

Everyone deserves care. Everyone deserves kindness. Everyone deserves the gift of Butterflies of Love, as sometimes even the smallest gesture can help  someone begin again.