by Dr. Kathy Milano

As a child, I was fascinated by tadpoles. And I wasn’t alone. Freely roaming the neighborhood during summer months, we kids would gather in my neighbor’s frog enclosure to search for new life. When tadpoles first appeared in the manmade pond, we peered into the murky water.

Like curious child scientists, we observed the natural evolutionary process of this ancient species.

Between neighborhood games of sheep and wolf, picking berries from the garden and sleeping under the stars, we tracked the tadpoles’ progress. Spending quality time on our bellies became an integral part of our playtime.

We were delighted by the alchemical process when tiny legs appeared. As small arms grew and tails shortened, we knew to check the surrounding banks to ensure gradual slopes of dirt and rocks for the froglets to make their way onto land.

Beyond observing, we became participants in creating an environment to support progress.

The froglets had to navigate their way out of water in order to live and breathe on land. The water, which sourced early development, became deadly if they were unable to make the transition. This unfolding mystery trained us as naturalists and strengthened our connection to the rhythms of nature.

Our experiential learning required no adult supervision, textbooks or standardized testing—just the presence of enthusiastic playmates with curious minds and a sense of wonder for a complex ecosystem resulting from millions of years of evolution.

Looking back upon my tadpole research, I recognize the valuable modeling of how to live in an ever-changing world.

Complex personal, societal and global challenges require us, like the tadpole, to grow legs, learn to breathe through change, climb out of our comfort zone and skillfully navigate new terrain. The combination of outer turmoil and inner evolutionary pulsing invites the potential to adapt skillfully. As adults, we rely upon learned experience, cognitive problem solving and well-honed defense mechanisms to move through adversity.

Yet, the inner curious child scientist suggests a different approach.

Letting go the mind, we might breathe deeply, drop into (onto) our belly and reconnect with the rhythm of our essential nature. Relaxed and open, we’re free to gaze into the murky situation. We seek subtle clues which offer a broader understanding of the potential for transformation. From this vantage point, we may recognize that we are swimming in the evolutionary stream of life.

What began millions of years ago is unfolding through us, inviting the next phase of becoming.

What was once perceived as a problem may be welcomed as a necessary phase of our own evolution. Broadening our vision, we recognize that so many others, seen and unseen, have prepared the environment for our growth and cleared the way for our move into new territory. Welcoming support makes sense as no one travels alone on the journey of life.

Swim. Climb. Leap. My love affair with tadpoles taught me how every phase of development has value—that it’s important to look beneath the surface, engage a sense of childlike wonder and enlist playmates to make life’s journey more enjoyable.