The Turtle: A Mirror of Perseverance
Some animals stay with us for a lifetime. Others appear when we need them most.
The turtle became my mirror during my immigration journey. I've always been a fast-paced person—my mind moves far faster than my feet—but some of life's most important journeys cannot be rushed. When your future depends on paperwork, waiting, and decisions beyond your control, the only thing you can do is keep moving forward, one step at a time.
Across many cultures, the turtle symbolizes wisdom, patience, endurance, and the quiet perseverance needed to reach a destination. Looking back, I realize those were exactly the lessons I needed to learn.
India: Endurance
The turtle is the foundation of the world, holding four elephants on her shell. Elephants carry enormous weight, and a turtle bearing that weight represents endurance. At my immigration interview, my shell was my coat; I didn't take it off, because it made me feel safe. It was my way of withstanding the interview and the enormous weight that moment carried for my life, despite the immigration officer's hostile reaction.
China: The Origin of Writing
Chinese writing is based on the markings found on turtle shells. The turtle is a symbol of longevity, able to live for thousands of years. During my visa application, I had to fill out documents in languages I was just beginning to learn — it felt like deciphering those shell markings to start building a new path.
Turtle Island
There's an Indigenous creation story that says the world was once covered in water, and a giant turtle appeared and offered her shell so the animals could place earth on top of her — and that's how North America was born. In other words, Canada rests on a turtle's shell. It's a fitting image, because the turtle represents the ground where I had to come and start over, planting my feet firmly and putting down roots.
Egypt: Protection
In Egypt there's a duality: the turtle is feared as a creature of the depths, but she's also an amulet of protection against evil. My inner strength has always been my shield. I knew it was only a matter of time and paperwork before I reached a place where my worth would be recognized for what it was.
Polynesia: Finding the Way
In these cultures, the turtle is the navigator who always finds her way home. I don't know why, but I always sensed that every obstacle on my path was just one step — a rung on the ladder — carrying me toward the place I belonged: Canada.
Japan: The Wisdom of Time
Turtles live for thousands of years and have a long tail that symbolizes spiritual wisdom. They also represent happiness and longevity. Looking back, it was a long road to Canada. Since I was a girl I knew my destiny lay far away — I didn't know where, how, or when — but in the end I arrived at the destination that was written for me.
Jung: The Return to Center
According to Jung, the turtle represents the self, protected by its own armor. That armor includes the introspection and inward retreat we use to protect ourselves — much like the turtle withdrawing into her shell for safety. Like the turtle, I've always looked inward and trusted myself. That's how I was able to emigrate: I always knew everything depended on me, and it was only a matter of time before I accomplished what I set out to do.
A Mirror of Perseverance
The turtle doesn't rush. She moves forward without anxiety, without comparing herself to others, without running.
I learned to do things at my own pace, trusting that every step I took was the right one, and that the time it would take was exactly as it should be.
The turtle moves slowly, but she's constant—she never stops. That's how my life has been, both in Colombia and in Canada: trying again and again without giving up.
The turtle's wisdom also appears in the way she makes decisions: calmly and with purpose. I don't always do it that way myself. I tend to weigh every possibility, every advantage and disadvantage, until I find the decision that feels right for that moment.
The turtle protects herself. Her shell is her boundary, and she knows how to keep herself safe. During my immigration process, my coat became part of that protection, but I also knew my real strength wasn't something I wore. It was something I carried within me.
Looking back, I understand why the turtle became one of my mirrors. She reminds me that reaching the destination isn't about moving faster than everyone else. It's about never stopping.
Continue the Journey
Against All Odds: My Visa Odyssey
Like the turtle, I learned that the most meaningful journeys are built one step at a time. Read the story of my immigration journey to Canada.
The Day I Offended a Canadian Officer Without Knowing It
Sometimes moving forward means slowing down, observing, and learning the customs of a new world. Discover the unexpected lesson that began with a simple coat.
