Niobrara Out!

We have shared, laughed, paddled, cooked, swam, cried, sang, hiked, and marveled over the wonder of nature together. We met up as virtual acquaintances and are leaving as friends. We became "Firefly Friends".

Fireflies symbolize communication and illumination – two necessary elements for connecting with new friends that we would never have noticed in our usual domestic habitats. Several things must be in place to generate that “firefly spark.” There needs to be vulnerability from being somewhere new. Plus a sense of proximity, similarity, and resonance between people. And the environment matters, too. When we’re somewhere unfamiliar or facing adventure, we bond more quickly with those around us.

Once these factors are in place, the fire’s been laid for firefly friendships to ignite. These friendships spark a strong bond between relative strangers. Memories of these encounters may become highlights of your journey – even if you never see these friends again. Like a firefly’s glow, these intense friendships spring up without warning and burn brightly before their light fades away. 

Northern Public Radio | By. (2022, May 24). Perspective: Firefly friendships. Northern Public Radio: WNIJ and WNIU. Retrieved June 1, 2022, from https://www.northernpublicradio.org/wnij-perspectives/2019-08-01/perspective-firefly-friendships