A Firefly in My Garden

Have you ever experienced that magical moment when something you've wished for materialises before your eyes? Johnny Lee's enchanting story "Firefly in my Garden" captures exactly this phenomenon through a tale that begins in a backyard sanctuary and culminates in a profound lesson about self-acceptance.

Johnny, both an author featured in Voice Within's first edition and a talented digital animation artist, takes us on a journey alongside a protagonist who finds himself questioning his life choices as spring approaches. During a moment of peaceful reflection under the stars, he recalls childhood memories of chasing fireflies in America – something he hasn't experienced since moving to Australia. What happens next defies explanation: immediately after wishing to see a firefly, one appears in his garden.

This luminous visitor becomes more than just an insect; it transforms into a powerful metaphor for embracing authenticity. As the protagonist catches the firefly and witnesses its gentle glow, he experiences an epiphany that challenges our modern preoccupation with self-improvement. Perhaps, he realises, not everything about ourselves needs changing. The firefly – naturally emitting light without modification – becomes the perfect symbol for embracing one's true nature.

The story's beautiful conclusion reminds us that in a world constantly pushing us toward reinvention, sometimes the most powerful transformation comes from recognising and celebrating who we already are. "Keep your light lit and don't let it fade," the protagonist tells the firefly as he releases it – words that resonate with anyone seeking permission to shine authentically. Listen now and rediscover the magic that happens when we allow ourselves to glow exactly as we are.

This piece is available in Voice Within: A Storybook by Storytellers Edition 1. Get it today!

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Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction and Welcome
• 0:36 Meeting Author Johnny Lee
• 2:34 Firefly in the Garden Begins
• 5:09 The Childhood Memory
• 6:45 Manifestation and Self-Acceptance
• 9:10 Closing and Submission Information

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:01

Ah, if you're here, this is wonderful news because it means you're here to support the authors, the storytellers and the writers that have entrusted us to share their tales through this platform. Thank you, thank you for your support, thank you for supporting this art form, and I look forward to sharing many more tales with you. So, cup of tea in hand and a couple of biggies too, enjoy the love of a good story. So, with great pleasure, today I introduce Johnny Lee. Now, johnny is an author in the Voice Within Edition 1, and I'll be sharing his story today, called Firefly in the Garden. But he's also an amazing digital animation artist and I had the great pleasure of having his work commissioned from his very own father for the second edition, which was titled Mother Fox, which will be coming up in the next few podcasts and more stories from John Shuttleworth. But today his son, johnny Lee, will take us on a heartfelt, sentimental journey of the wonders of seeing such a small being, can we say, that glows up his life literally. And it takes me back to a story that I remember of a friend of mine who was a bit nonchalant about the power of a firefly, and she said well, you know, they kind of glow and that's about it. And I'm like are you saying that something that can light up on its own accord without any electricity or plugs or Wi-Fi is not fascinating to you? And we laughed, of course. But I loved Johnny Lee's story because it really does highlight the magic of the firefly. So enjoy Firefly in my garden. By Johnny Lee.

Speaker 1: 2:37

I would like to tell you a tale. It's a story about change manifesting and, most of all, about embracing your authentic self. And it all starts with a beautiful space in my own backyard. It is my safe haven, a space I can call my own, a place I can retreat to and just switch off for a while. Mind you, I am not technically here on my own, though. Let me explain. I share this house with a friend, but he is a lot younger than I. We share different interests and lead very different lifestyles and so, yes, I do feel as though this is my own space. This suits me just fine. I like to spend my late afternoons out here when the sun starts to descend. I enjoy just sitting here in my comfy padded outdoor chair. I like to just relax, unwind and try and clear my head of all the noise. I enjoy the feel of the crisp, cool breeze on my skin, and sometimes I close my eyes and just listen intently to the birds.

Speaker 1: 3:41

So, getting back to our story about change, spring was in the air as the season was on the cusp of changing, and during these times I often find myself pondering my life. I think about where I am heading, my life choices and even my behaviors. At the time there I was, on my back patio, but on this particular occasion my friend who lives with me was actually with me and we were exchanging stories about how our week was. He told me he was pleased about getting a lot of work of late and that not only was he enjoying it, but he was making some great money. He was planning a three-day fishing trip with some friends. In return, I shared him with my thoughts on a girl I was dating at the time, about her being hot and cold and showing some red flags. During our conversation I confided in him that I go through seasonal depression as a result. It puts me in a place where I start to question my life, and then went on to explain that I wasn't happy with some of my behaviors and life choices as of late. I didn't go into it much detail because I felt some of it was a bit personal and I also feared he may judge me. But I stressed to him that I felt change was needed. I told him that I wanted to get back to nature, as I needed to reconnect with my inner self, dig deep and work on self-improvement. He wished me the best of luck and pointed out he was getting hungry, as was heading out to grab some food. As he puts it. Waiting for me inside was an already prepped, ready to go home-bound peri-peri chicken pizza with sliced avocado, and I decided to eat it on the patio instead of gazing at the idiot box Digesting.

Speaker 1: 5:31

I sat there, ever so relaxed in my chair, feeling calm and collected and realizing I was in a beautiful state of bliss, taking in the crisp, cool air and admiring my freshly cut lawn. I then took a look at the stars, recalling the conversation I had earlier with my friend. As my mind wandered, my thoughts shifted and I felt myself recalling a memory from childhood. A memory from childhood running around my backyard in the evenings trying to catch fireflies, or rather lightning bugs as we called them in America. It made me a little sad because in all my years of living in Australia. I just could not recall ever seeing one single firefly. Believe me, I have actively searched.

Speaker 1: 6:22

I thought in that moment how wonderful it would be to see a firefly right now. And, would you believe, in less than a minute's time I actually saw one light up, as it rose from my neighbor's garden and soared over and above the colorboard fence. Just one single little firefly, all by his lonesome. I could not believe my eyes. I shot out and up out of my chair and walked out onto my lawn. The feel of the wet grass under my feet, the rush of excitement I felt inside me.

Speaker 1: 7:02

Suddenly, I was a kid again. I washed as it slowly flew through my garden, intermittently lighting up. I gazed upon it with wide-eyed awe and then became overwhelmed with such joy and admittingly, yes, I had a trickle of a tear in my eye. I then began to question my very own eyes and wonder if this was all in my head. I tried to catch it With patience and careful hands. I successfully managed to catch it. I could feel it inside my cupped hands, leaping from palm to palm. I even peeked inside and saw its little bum light up. It was real.

Speaker 1: 7:48

And in that moment I realized, by the pure power of belief, desire and thought I had indeed successfully manifested this precious little entity. I saw this as a sign, a sign of well. Let's say, just because I do have the power to make change doesn't necessarily mean I have to. Self-improvement and change are all well and good, but I realize now that just maybe some things about myself I just do not need to change. So, just like questioning whether the firefly was real, why question myself and why change who I am inside? I think it's important we all accept ourselves for who we truly are. Being our true, authentic self is the only way to be.

Speaker 1: 8:37

After having this epiphany, I slowly opened my hands, raised my arm in the air and released him into the wild Fly. My friend, be free and be yourself. Keep your light lit and don't let it fade. Want to be a published author and have your voice here at Voice Within, narrating your own story? Then hop online at wwwvoice-withinco and check out our page, our submission page, and we have edition three open at the moment for submissions and that will be closing on the 30th of June. So please jump on board and join the community and have your voice heard For the love of the good story. Thank you.