Bees don’t judge or ask for anything, so they foster peace of mind. Observing a bee colony focused on needs and family is pure joy.
inside: Find out the real reason people keep bees and learn how bees in their natural state foster inner peace.
When I first left home to live on my own, groceries were $10 per bag. At the time, bags were twice as tall as they are now. Nowadays, if you can get your hands on a bag alone, it costs about that much.
But soaring prices are just the beginning. I log into my computer every morning and read threats. “An attempt to update your WordPress installation failed.” “Your personal credentials may be for sale on the dark web.” Do not use.” “Interstates near your home will be closed for the next 16 weeks.”
Sometimes I want to run away, but I have nowhere to hide. I often wonder if it’s just me. Who else feels like life is spinning out of control?
peace is where you find it
Once I catch my breath, I am reminded that peace is not far away. Not at all. My most reliable source of tranquility and truth is in a little box in my backyard.
A close-knit family of bees is active in the wooden shelter. This nest is home to individuals who are highly focused, undisturbed by digital messages and pulsing images. Unlike us, they don’t realize what other people think is important.
Bees don’t mind if your interior paint is last year’s color or if your hair looks old. They don’t care if you split an infinitive or eat food past their pull date. And they certainly don’t care about your vehicle choice or zip code.
let the beekeeper into the room alone
Through my 20 years of teaching, teaching and writing, I have met thousands of beekeepers. On the surface, they chatter about beekeeping methods, swarm presence, honey production, and varroa mites. They discuss top portals, bottom boards and the best way to raise a queen bee. Opinion, science, and tradition merge until they are indistinguishable from each other. Everyone knows they are right and you are wrong.
But here comes the problem. If you could separate an individual from a crowd like a mutilation horse carves an animal out of the herd, you would hear a different story. Leave one of him out of a competitive beekeeping environment and they’ll tell the truth and explain how bees can develop peace of mind.
So what is truth?
Despite bravado and superiority, despite debate and innovation, it is bees that beekeepers really love.
Caught off guard, beekeepers may describe smells similar to flower shops, greenhouses, butcher shops, and winter beaches. A scent so convincing that your heart will jump. They might explain how the scents of meat, salt, molasses and soft crayons create peace out of chaos and acceptance out of fear.
Beekeepers often describe the first sting of the year as a gift, a jolt of forgotten medicine. Pain can turn your thoughts away from digital threats and endless emails back to what matters. With bees, a dire economy becomes less dire. so what? I won’t die from eating another jelly sandwich.
Another beekeeper might describe the shivering down your spine when a bee sneaks up on your arm. The bees enjoy their walks, exploring and researching what will happen as a result of global warming. Like us, they crave the outdoors, the sun, and the changing seasons.
For me, nothing awakens the senses like honey from the hive. Just drip it on your finger and it will smell warm and sweet with the essence of trees, flowers and mountain meadows. A taste unlike any other on earth.
How bees foster peace of mind
When I ask people why want When keeping bees, the answer is usually practical. They want honey, they want to pollinate their garden, or they want to save the bees.
They may all be true, but that’s not why stop in beekeeping. They stay because they form a bond with the bees. They develop a physical desire to see, hear, and touch flowers, as well as a desire to inhale the scent of the nest and taste the flowers. Cravings, like anything addictive, never go away. It just grows and matures.
In addition to physical needs, there are also emotional needs. Bees never divulge information about you, your plans, or your investment portfolio. No matter what you do, they stay focused on their mission. There is no greater joy than being among creatures who live life single-mindedly, without judgment, without asking, without expectations.
Bees let you do whatever you want. You can be yourself in front of the bees. You don’t have to follow their standards, speak their language, or imitate their style. You are free to observe, learn and help them without becoming a bee yourself. It’s all about respect, acceptance and love for nature.
And that’s the real reason people keep bees.
Rusty
honeybee suite