The 'Free to Fly' Butterfly Notebook....(And How a Butterfly was a sign to Break Free, Move House & Create My Own Brand)

Welcome to the ‘Enlighten Me…’ Gift Shop -  Lifestyle Blog ! 

In this post you might feel like a beautiful butterfly has just landed on your shoulder!  I'd like to introduce you to the 'Free to Fly' butterfly notebook, but first... 

The Origins Of 'Enlighten Me…'

As it is Independence day, 4th of July weekend here in the USA, (Happy 4th of July!), it seems like a good time to talk about freedom, transformation, dealing with change, new beginnings... and the origins of Enlighten Me… !   

As some of you may know, 'Enlighten Me…' began in London, England, and has traveled far and wide, gathering inspiration along the way, including from my homeland Australia, France, Scotland and is now beaming to you from Santa Cruz, California.

Hello from the home office -  which is currently a brightly-lit sunroom on an ocean cliff overlooking Monterey, here in the San Francisco Bay area.

The view inspires new horizons and a fresh perspective (aka ‘The Beach-House of Enlightenment’). 

 

I Had A Vision - 

The name ‘Enlighten Me...’ was inspired by a beautiful butterfly. 

'Enlighten Me...' was born as an idea one night at 3am in my top floor flat in London,  (signposted 'The Treehouse'). I had just recently voluntarily left my employer, BBC-TV, after 11 years, where I’d worked as a Producer/ Director. I was up late with my then boyfriend trying to come up with a brand name. Having enjoyed 7 years of creating Educational TV programs at the BBC, I was trying to drum up a name for my own brand of educational videos and other nurturing and inspirational content that would convey 'how to' and  ‘educate me’. 

Since embracing my newfound freedom and independence, I'd been in ‘nesting’ mode, ready to settle down and have a family life. I had only just recently bought my first property, on my own. My nesting phase began with bringing home 2 baby pet bunnies, and before long, rabbits attracted new love into my life. I also began finding comfort and inspiration in the local craft-making and hobby shop, surrounded by parents and teachers buying crafts for kids. I'd been in a high powered job at the BBC, and scrapbooking was so homely, and relaxing too. It was also an exercise in nurturing myself. I began by gathering together pictures of family and friends from a recent trip back home in Australia. I stumbled upon a vintage scrap-booking kit and stocked up on stickers and albums. 

One of the scrapbooking images was a butterfly that said ‘ENLIGHTEN’ underneath it.

Then, the words 'Enlighten Me…’ came to mind, followed by ‘tv’.

And just like that, “Enlighten Me…®TV”  was born.

 

I had thought about 'Free to Fly Films', but the name 'Enlighten Me...' felt right.  

Not because it was about 'me'. (In fact, it's the opposite). It was because the word 'me' rhymed with 'TV' (sounds much better than 'Enlighten You’). And 'Enlighten Me...' is a common phrase that asks a question, asks for more information, clarification and insight, ie. to shed light on. I loved the name so much, I trademarked it in the UK and US.

The next idea was: imagining a line of gift products to compliment a web-tv / video website ! 

(A new web-TV site is under construction. For now, check out the EMTV Facebook page. Eventually this ever-evolving online gift store will take up residence as a shop page on the central EnlightenMe.tv site. The vision for the shop is an 'Emporium of Enlightenment'! ). 

Anyway, I carried that butterfly sticker with me all over the world in my purse. 

It's a Sign…

Soon after finding the 'Enlighten' butterfly sticker, I had an interaction with an actual butterfly….which felt like a sign… and inspired a life change, and house move. 

I’d been working as a Freelance Producer / Scriptwriter on a BBC-TV property show called ‘Escape to the Country’ and it inspired me to consider actually escaping to the countryside. One Saturday morning on a summer's day in London I'd just got back from Notting Hill Gate - about 10 minutes drive away from my home in Ealing. Someone had been rude, which made me feel like getting out of the city. Then, as soon as I got home, a butterfly greeted me outside my car, hovering and flying around me for over 12 minutes (I filmed it). The butterfly would not leave me alone, until it finally flew off west. Was it trying to tell me something? I believe so.

I felt like I should follow it. 

(If you've even seen the Winona Ryder film "How to Make An American Quilt" - you'll know exactly what I mean... a blackbird leads her down the right path, to Mr Right!)

It also occurred to me that a caterpillar had crawled in from my window on to my desk a few nights before. (Maybe even the night before, I can't remember)! Maybe the caterpillar had even become that butterfly! It's a nice thought! 

And you know what they say about caterpillars breaking out of the chrysalis to become butterflies! It’s all about transformation. I had to curl out from my comfort zone that was my London home and explore new horizons! 

It was time to break free… To find more space and embrace mother nature in the heavenly English Countryside. (And, take a step towards settling down with my boyfriend, who didn't want to live in London). 

I truly believe nature speaks to us. 

After the butterfly flew off, I immediately made the decision to take off on an adventure to explore Glastonbury. A lot of my friends had talked about going to the Glastonbury Music festival and I knew it was a spiritual place, so I was intrigued. I booked a B & B, and within just over 2 hours, I was checked into my room at the bottom of the Glastonbury Tor hilltop. I climbed to the top of the steep hill, overlooking miles of green fields and valleys, and from there I could see the big picture, and I felt drawn to this sacred land..

I called my boyfriend and sent him photos of houses for sale in Somerset from the windows of real estate agents in the main street of Glastonbury. Strangely enough, he had just stumbled up on a butterfly pendant someone had lost on the road where he was walking in Edinburgh, Scotland, while on the phone with me. I just love these type of synchronicities that show us the way! (He also had a story about his grandfather who joked that he’d come back as a butterfly, and low and behold, a monarch butterfly flew into the funeral !).

Within weeks, my then boyfriend and I found a small chocolate box cottage in a quaint little village called Rode, just outside the beautiful Roman town of ‘Bath’ (think Jane Austen). The hope was that it would be a new 'love nest'. While my boyfriend was overseas working a lot of the time, it was from here that I began selling Enlighten Me…® Chocolates and researching and developing other ideas by myself, till the wee hours of the night. 

That relationship ended after 7 years, which was painful, but then there was a rebirth. Not everyone wants to grow. And while the countryside was beautiful, and my time there was part of my spiritual journey, in other ways I'd begun to feel trapped, cocooned and dominated. My soul was telling me what I didn't want to hear:  I had to get out. I was being crushed. Nothing was changing. I resisted until the decision was made for me, (which only made it worst). Despite issues, my heart wanted to stay in the relationship. But my soul knew best. When I listen to my soul, it knows the big picture. My soul knows the way.  (Or you might also say God or The Universe has a bigger plan). 

 

Life Lessons  

The break up was a life lesson in letting go, and navigating change in a healthy way (for a change). For me, this was learning to breathe through it all, and grieving and getting 'grounded' out in the cow fields - thanks to my new puppy who needed to run free! I walked and ran and sat in the grassy fields three times a day with my dog.

Sometimes you just have to sit with the uncomfortable feelings, not deny them.

My mother had just died too. But, Mother Nature nurtures us and has our back when we need it! ...(Nurturing a puppy is also healing).

 

[My baby boy wears a 'Puppia' harness. You can find them on Amazon here. ]

It was once again, time to break free and spread my wings.

I needed a fresh start somewhere else. To begin, again. This time involved crossing the Atlantic ocean. 

The phone rang with a job offer. A new beginning in California was waiting for me. 

I resisted this too. I boarded the plane in tears. But little did I know, my actual husband-to-be was also waiting on the other side of the ocean!  

And here's one other amazing thing about losses and gains... and how life is a journey of twists and turns... 

Not only did I gain my beautiful fur-baby dog in the English Countryside, but that rural location had led to a job where I worked in a castle, which ultimately led to a job offer in Santa Cruz, California!

We can't always see what's the other side of change, when we're bang in the middle of crisis, but life has a way of working out... And when Destiny calls, you answer. 

I have learned that life is a series of evolutions, retreat - expansion, retreat - expansion. Grow.  Evolve. And going with the flow. Everything has its season. It's natural to resist change, and that is what causes our suffering.

But sometimes, just like metamorphosis, when the caterpillar transforms into a butterfly, we have to let nature take its course - and evolve! 

I now find myself surrounded by butterflies. One even flew into the sunroom here at Santa Cruz beach towards my desk one time. They live next door in the Butterfly sanctuary at Natural Bridges state park beach. Right now, as summer has just arrived, butterflies are literally everywhere  -  so beautiful to see! If you’re in Santa Cruz I encourage you to visit the butterfly sanctuary next door, nestled in Aussie imported Eucalyptus Gum trees, and there’s a souvenir shop nearby too. Kids love it! A perfect outing for summer vacation time. 

'Free to Fly' Notebook 

In honor of these magical winged wonders, here's a butterfly ‘Free To Fly’ notebook (or journal) that aims to inspire freedom and to spread your wings.

Ideal for journalling through any kind of transformation. Feeling stuck or trapped is painful. Everyone deserves freedom and the ability to be free to fly.

This 'Enlighten Me...®' notebook reminds us that freedom is our birthright. 

Also ideal for butterfly lovers of all ages. Great for kids recording summer vacation notes and adventures in nature, or a back to school notebook. 

I go through so many notebooks recording all my life lessons. I have an entire treasure chest of 21 years of journals from living in England (the basis of a memoir I'm working on). 

 

Feel free to follow my journey on Instagram and Pinterest .  Here’s an insta post about cracking open out of a chrysalis cocoon (comfort zone). 

And here is a video of the butterflies next door. 

More butterfly notebooks and products coming soon. For now, you might also like this Tree of Life necklace or  Enlightened Ideas and 'Mermaid Memos' Notebooks too.  

 

Scrapbooking - let your creativity blossom !

The night after coming up with the name ‘Enlighten Me…TV’ (and Gifts),  I started creating vision boards and scrapbooks to visualize what my brand could become and look like one day.  Scrapbooking is so inspiring and making something of your own is so liberating!  

(This project is still evolving to the initial vision, but you have to start somewhere)! 

If you’re into scrapbooking and journaling, there are plenty of scrapbooking kits and bits and pieces on Amazon like here  and here and albums galore too.

And if you're craft-making with the kids during summer vacation  - consider exploring butterfly paper and scrapbooking activities. You can have a field day with 4th of July family photos ! You could get started tomorrow with these...

 

 

 

I'm working on a new vision board right now. Never stop dreaming!

Here's some inspiration on Amazon (click on the pics).

 

 

Pinterest is a great place to collect images for a vision board. Then print out and put on to a cork board.

 

On this blog, I will be sharing more of my favorite things, beyond Enlighten Me... Gifts, including supporting talent and promoting other brands, sharing other uplifting tales, tips for navigating life, all kinds of bright ideas, and much more. 

 

Here's To Your Freedom… and Enlightenment! 

And don't forget to treat yourself too! 

Xo Myfanwy (Miffy)

Founder & 'Chief Enlightenment Officer' 😉

Enlighten Me…® 

P.S.

🦋  I'd love for you to connect on the Enlighten Me...Gifts Facebook page, and the New ETSY Shop... And there's also Pinterest for more inspiration.

🦋 You can also subscribe to this blog via the Newsletter sign up at the bottom of this page.

🦋 If you're in Santa Cruz, visit 'Cal Sup Surf Outlet' where you'll find a taster of Enlighten Me...gifts,  and other treasures by the sea. And you'll also meet my husband who sells SUP Paddle Boards and Surfboards! The address is: 719 Swift Street #16, Santa Cruz, CA. 

🦋 Post-script:

Freedom is a privilege denied to many around the world - people born into difficult situations, living in domestic violence, and conflict zones, war torn countries etc, and then there are animal abuses too. The photo above reads 'Free Yourself', but of course not everyone has the ability to just simply 'free themselves'. Please spare a thought for those without freedoms to choose, and consider doing whatever you can to help. As the 'Enlighten Me...' project evolves, when possible, I will be donating a portion of profits to various charities. In the meantime, here's an example of a charity fundraiser I organized for children in need. There are many ways we can bring awareness, and also contribute to solutions - to do our bit in small or big ways to make a difference, to work towards positive change. Here's a film I worked on that also inspires positive change 'to be the change you wish to see in the world', starring Sir Richard Branson. You can watch 'Choice Point' here on Amazon Prime Video. 

💙

 

Affiliate Disclosure: Some links on this blog are affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, we earn a small percentage if you make a purchase, which can help with website costs and towards building the multi-media educational project. We only recommend products we love!

 

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