Ants and Bees, a Metaphor

Ants and Bees, a Metaphor by [Madisyn Taylor]( We can learn a lot from watching ants and bees, living in community and working for the greater good. When we see ants and bees out in the world, we often see just one, but this belies the reality of their situation. More than any other species, ants and bees function as parts of a whole. They cannot and do not survive as individuals; they survive as members of a group, and the group's survival is the implicit goal of each individual's life. There is no concept of life outside the group, so even to use the word individual is somewhat misleading. Often, humans, on the other hand, strongly value individuality and often negatively associate ants and bees with a lack of independence. And yet, if we look closer at these amazing creatures, we can learn valuable lessons about how much we can achieve when we band together with others to work for a higher purpose. Most ants and bees have highly specified roles within their communities, some of which are biologically dictated, and they work within the confines of their roles without complaint, never wishing to be something other than what they are. In this way, they symbolize self-knowledge and humility. They also display selfless service as they work for the common good. In many ways, they are like the individual cells of one body, living and dying as necessary to preserve the integrity of the whole body, not to protect themselves as individuals. In this way, ants personify the ability to see beyond one's small self to one's place within the greater whole, and the ability to serve this whole selflessly. Ants and bees can inspire us to fully own what we have to offer and to put it to use in the pursuit of a goal that will benefit all of humanity, whether it be raising consciousness about the environment, feeding the hungry, or raising a happy child. Each one of us has certain talents we were born with, as well as skills we have acquired. When we apply these gifts, knowing that we are one part of a greater organism working to better the whole world, we honor and implement the wisdom of ants and bees. [PRINT]( [SAVE]( [DISCUSS]( --------------------------------------------------------------- DailyOM Course Spotlight [Be Abtastic in 7 Days]( by Sarah Rector A strong core mobilizes and balances your upper and lower body, protects your spine, and creates a stable foundation for every activity. With this course, you'll be guided through a series of seven 15-minute ab workouts that are suitable for any fitness level. You'll start with simple movements working with your own strength resistance to get those core muscles activated. Then, you'll build on that every day with more progressive movements. The workouts are fun, challenging, and fly by, so even if you have a super busy schedule, all you need is 15 minutes of effort a day to build a stronger core. [Learn More]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Top 10 DailyOM Courses 1. [Be Abtastic in 7 Days]( 2. [No Sit-Up Abs Workout]( 3. [Why Good Things Fall Apart]( 4. [8 Week Whole Body Makeover!]( 5. [Pelvis Reset for Lower Back Pain]( 6. [From Codependent to Independent]( 7. [Speak with Purpose, Not Impulse]( 8. [Shedding Your Menopausal Middle in 10 Days]( 9. [What to Eat Over 40]( 10. [Beneficial Stretches for the Inflexible]( New Courses • [No Sit-Up Abs Workout]( • [Tell Your Story, Heal Your Life]( • [Moving On After Things End]( • [Guided Relaxation with Ocean Sounds]( > [More Courses]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Home]( | [Inspiration]( | [Courses]( | [Horoscopes]( | [Gift Shop]() [Email Settings]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Help/FAQ]( © 2019 DailyOM - All Rights Reserved No portion of this site can be reprinted without express permission. Subscribed as {NAME}[at]gmail.com (1276706) [1]