The Diving Bell and the Butterfly - Jean-Dominique Bauby

I recently finished this improbable memoir written by Jean-Dominique Bauby (1997) - a former french editor for Elle magazine who suffered a massive stroke at 43, leaving him aware of his surroundings but unable to communicate or move due to complete paralysis (aka locked-in syndrome).

In order to write this memoir, Bauby had a nurse or friend read the french alphabet back to him (from the most frequently used letter to the least) and he would blink with his left eye (the right eye was sown shut) to indicate the next letter. Tragic, I know.

Throughout the book Bauby refers to his body, this crippled and seemingly useless collection of flesh, as his diving bell - the curse that keeps him bedridden and unable to live in any capacity that might be regarded as a life. But through the extraordinary weight of this burden Bauby discovers and learns to appreciate one of the most taken for granted capabilities of the human body - imagination. It's through his imagination - his butterfly - that he is able to escape his diving bell and relive his memories or embark on a new adventure.

I know that Bauby's situation was rare - if not unique given his background. But the notion of a diving bell - that thing that brings a person down or makes a person feel trapped - is not unique. We all have one, or several, that hinder our dreams day in and day out. It may take the form of a body, an apartment (for the old and feeble), a job, or some other burden.

But by the same analogy, we all have our butterflies. The things in life that are capable of making us happy. Bauby was able to see past his diving bell, in the most dire of circumstances, and find something that made his life positive rather than negative.

That is what defines our character - what makes us who we are. Whether or not you live by your diving bell, or your butterfly.

Recommended.