It began with a tiny miracle right outside my door — “a cluster of praying mantises hatching from their delicate egg case, each no larger than the tip of my pinky finger.” Watching them emerge from the hardened ootheca, I felt “a miniature universe had opened right before my eyes.”

Though small, these young mantises are born to survive. Without wings, they rely on nimble bodies and instincts to navigate leaves and walls. As predators, they quickly learn to hunt flies, mosquitoes, and garden pests. Even early on, “each movement [is] calculated with almost meditative focus.”

Observing them feels like a masterclass in mindfulness. With nearly 360° vision and lightning-fast strikes, mantises move with careful deliberation. In many cultures, they symbolize “stillness, awareness, and calm,” showing lessons in patience and balance.

As they climbed and explored, I realized even tiny creatures tell stories. Life doesn’t always arrive with grand gestures; sometimes it moves quietly, in careful, courageous steps.

In their brief, delicate lives, praying mantises teach “focus, patience, and the quiet strength that comes from observing and learning from the world around us.” Even tiny life carries big meaning if we take the time to notice.