Simply, the “Dragonfly Effect” is the belief that a series of small acts can create big change.
After losing my father to dementia in 2019, I had the realization that I wanted to do better. I needed to do better. I always knew my brother and I looked up to my father, but with his passing, I learned that his generosity and kindness had a much larger impact on far more people than I ever imagined. I want to leave the same legacy.
The day my father died, I took a drive through one of the most scenic areas of Massachusetts via the Mohawk Trail. At a rest stop, I sat with my coffee and watched as a beautiful dragonfly gently landed on the driver’s side mirror of my truck. I had a sense that this creature was more than just a dragonfly. In fact, I witnessed more dragonfly sightings the year my dad passed than in the whole of my life, including one that landed on the palm of my hand. A coincidence? I don’t think so.
Folklore says that seeing a dragonfly is akin to being visited by an angel. They are also a biologically amazing being, said to date back to prehistoric times. They have survived and evolved by adapting into one of the fastest, most agile creatures on Earth. Dragonflies can be breathtakingly beautiful in their endless colors and flight patterns, yet they are one of the most tenacious predators ever known because of their ability to fly, hover, and maneuver in six different directions. They also symbolize change, transformation, and self realization.
For me, the dragonfly represents all of the above, plus it’s a constant reminder to do, and be, better—to give back to family, friends, clients, and my community, so that we may all have what we need to change and transform in wonderful ways.
One of the avenues in which I am able to do better is through a commitment to donation. In honor of my father and the significance of the dragonfly, I have created the Dragonfly Effect as a way to give back to the community and to the causes my clients and I are passionate about. Through the Dragonfly Effect, I share a portion of my personal real estate business success in concert with my clients’ donations to the charitable organizations of their choice. As the program grows, I look forward to meeting and exceeding previous milestones, while bringing my community along for a most beautiful ride. It is my sincerest hope that we are all touched by the Dragonfly Effect, whether we realize it or not.
Photo Credit: Jamie Malcolm-Brown
