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by
Madisyn Taylor
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.
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