This challenge immediately reminded of an Instagram reel I made that went horribly wrong. It was a game that told you what kind of animal you are, and then you were supposed to look up the symbolism of that animal and include it in your video's description.

I'm a roach.

I was mortified and immediately replayed the game a second and third time. The video is pretty hilarious, and I learned some very important things after I researched the roach as a totem animal. Here's some symbolic roach facts...

1. Roaches thrive in small, dark, hidden places. They represent the acceptance of your dark side. You might try to keep your flaws and shadow side hidden from other people, but you can learn to accept yourself.

2. Roaches have remained unchanged for 300 million years. They may not be the most loved creatures, but they are perfect specimens of survival and determination. They symbolize adaptation to evolving circumstances and situations without needing to change themselves.

3. Roaches are nearly impossible to kill. They do not go down without a fight. They can live without food for months, they can withstand fire and freezing temperatures, and they can even continue to live after being decapitated. They represent tenacity and unrivaled resilience.

4. Roaches are incredibly social creatures. They're not always the most welcome guest at your house, but they have plenty of their own friends and family backing them up. Roaches symbolize an ability to find your tribe of creepy weirdos just like you.

You can watch the Instagram reel at the following link if you'd like. You'll also get a bonus never-before-seen glimpse into part of my real life :)

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CglTg7KgMhV/?hl=en

No one knew how bad the problem had gotten... Madelyn sat on her front stoop same as ever, though paler everyone said in the end. Day by day the ledger grew in signatures. Condolences were proffered. Eminent domain was announced. The town said the place was infested; and maybe it was. All anyone ever saw was old Madelyn out on her metal chair, cigar in hand, or cold cola, and her cotton skirts bundled around. The exterminators found nothing. She said they wouldn't. She wouldn't budge, said they'd have to come take her. The day before they would have, and did, she died. That's when the coroner discovered it. What few folks knew, in rumor, that the stubborn broad was diabetic, with amputated leg; casualty of treatment refusal. It was no ordinary peg leg. Madelyn, as she sat and sat, was Royal Chamber for the termite king and queen. Whisper has it the colony had tapped her marrow and developed a special breed. Seems, they'd built channels in her stiff skirting, and took great care not to take too much from the central apartment. Madelyn walked stiff, and nobody gave it second thought, old age and negligence were cited, from the roadside. And a vaguely suspected infestation in that run down dwelling.

But when they took her, all the termites had already taken off...

10.08.2023

The Term challenge @kNoTeS