Living Like Bees by: Angelina Thai

 Below is an essay I wrote about how we should consider living our lives, inspired by Annie

Dillard's Living Like Weasels.

Living Like Bees by: Angelina Thai

My house’s front entrance hums a rhythmic sound, a seasonal issue that comes with

spring. The bees arrived. Staring straight above my head, I saw them—a small swarm of bees,

weaving in and out of its hive. I watch as one darts from the hive to a nearby flower on my front

lawn. Its body glimmered gold in the sunlight as it used its proboscis to suck up the delectable

nectar covering the flower. Once done, the bee flits towards another plant, tirelessly working to

collect nectar. While this bee completes the task of collecting food for the colony, other bees

complete the task of repairing the hive. To fix harmful gaps within the hive, worker bees fill these

empty spaces with wax. When large gaps hinder the movement of bees and leave no room to

fly, they create a scaffolding link by connecting the hooks on their legs, forming a safe passage

to cross. As I inspected the actions of each bee, I thought about how meticulously each

individual worked, cooperating at full efficiency to complete the task at hand. Each bee’s

existence revolved around a singular purpose: help the colony survive. Whether collecting

nectar or fixing the hive, every bee acts and never hesitates. In that moment, I felt a profound

connection with them—a silent understanding that duty comes before the individual, a simple

and selfless way of life.

A bee lives part of a seamless, interconnected whole. Bees hum in unison, gather nectar

together, and even construct honeycombs with each other, working like a well oiled machine.

Living in a crowded environment with many other bees, many perceive this lifestyle as chaotic

and hectic; however, it functions in quite the opposite way. Bees follow a structured system.

Within their hive lies a complex world of communication, cooperation, and hierarchy. “Complex

nest construction, environmental control, defense, and division of the labor are just some of the

behaviors that honey bees have developed to exist successfully in social colonies,” exemplifying

beauty through their efficiency (University of Delaware, n.d.). The amount of productivity in a

bee's day astonishes me.

Bees never waste valuable time contemplating their roles or resisting their

responsibilities. Instead, they embrace the roles given to them by society and focus on their

work without faltering. While the queen bee commits time to laying eggs, the worker bees gather

nectar and maintain the structure of the hive. Every task holds significance and indispensability,

promoting a hardworking and dedicated colony. The unity of the bees highlights the simplicity of

how a singular act impacts the majority. With the drive to protect and nurture the hive, bees

exemplify harmony.

I find it difficult not comparing our two lifestyles: one selfless, the other self-centered.

Humans fall short of achieving the same type of harmony as bees. We pride ourselves on our

own accomplishments, our independence from others. Often humans prioritize their own

agendas over the greater good of society, frequently overlooking the value of cooperation and

collective growth. The hierarchy in humans operates as a cutthroat order, with everyone

pursuing only one interest: themselves. Bees contrast this lifestyle, embodying the idea that

strength lies in unity. They provide natural answers to our difficulties, reminding us of the

possibilities when individuals prioritize the welfare of their community over personal gain.

Living like a bee means accepting simplicity and collaborative efficiency. It means finding

fulfillment in the achievements of the colony instead of the individual, valuing the dedication and

hard work completed by each and every singular bee. As I watched the bees flutter around in

such a community, I felt envious as well as admiration. Bees possess a sense of purpose,

something that people seek throughout their entire lives, sometimes never even discovered.

With such simplicity, finding purpose becomes unnecessary. A win for the colony represents a

win for everyone. Perhaps we, too, can find purpose in the whole, embracing a life of

selflessness and determination. Perhaps we, too, can hum in harmony.

Reference

University of Delaware. (n.d.). The Colony and Its Organization. Mid-Atlantic Apiculture

Research and Extension Consortium.

https://canr.udel.edu/maarec/honey-bee-biology/the-colony-and-its-organization/