I stepped outside yesterday morning for my ritualistic first cigarette of the day, and I found what appeared to be a beautiful butterfly hanging on a brick wall by the back porch swing. Upon further inspection, I realized it was a giant moth with enormous pale green wings, burgundy trimming, eye spots, and a furry white cocoon-like body. I poked it a little and observed no real response, so I assumed it was at the final stages of its life. I was right.
However, today, after forgetting about my find, honestly, I came outside again, only to discover two moths in its place. They were embracing each other, dying together. Come to find out, adult Luna Moths have a life span of approximately one week. During this time, their sole purpose is to seek out a mate and reproduce. They do not eat, as they are born with no mouths, and they rarely move from their chosen spot. Birth, reproduction, death, repeat. Nothing more, nothing less.
Is this life?
At first I thought how horrible it would be to exist in such a way--and how pointless it would be for me, especially, since I have no real plans for reproducing. And then I realized that humans have a slight advantage--instead of only being able to pass along our genetic code, we are able to live on through generations in the form of ideas. Even the most unmotivated and inartistic people can and do have the ability to affect the course of human events in some way. A simple "Hello" has the power to alter the future of the entire universe--or even just witnessing the awe-inspiring and bittersweet life and death of one of nature's most beautiful and tragic creatures.
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