Wisdom of Honeybees and Sunflowers

What does it mean to be a honeybee?

Honeybees are connected to all life upon our planet. Their self-less dedication to the well-being of their hive is vital to our own survival as a species. Without their existence, we would not exist. 

Just like the bees, our own personal lives are intertwined with one another like an invisible web. We are individuals, but our existence is so much greater than just ourselves. Our choices, contributions, and stories affect the hive for better or worse. No matter how small and insignificant we may feel or believe ourselves to be, we make an impact on the entire hive.

While honeybees can sting, this is a last resort defense mechanism only used when the bees feel threatened or to protect their hive. Normally bees are docile, but they will fearlessly sacrifice themselves for the survival of the collective. They have a sense of purpose that goes beyond their own individual life.

They spend their entire lives searching flowers for pollen to collect. This pollen is what they transform into honey. They make the honey to survive the brutal winters when the flowers are dead.

Electric Honeypot is inspired by the lessons taught by the bees.

There is something greater than our own individual lives to work towards together. Success is built collectively through care and teamwork. Life can be sweet with community. The more "nectar" you find for the hive, the greater the hope to survive even the coldest, darkest seasons. Don't sacrifice yourself unless it serves a greater purpose. Save your stinger for the moment it counts. Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself and others.

In a world full of aggressive wasps ready to attack, be a sweet little honeybee that only stings when necessary.

What does it mean to be a sunflower?

Sunflowers are resilient even through harsh conditions. They can be planted in toxic environments where other plants struggle to survive. They not only still find a way to grow into something beautiful, but they clean up the soil as they do it. 

When sunflowers are young, they are flexible. They can turn to face the sun as it moves across the sky to soak in as much light as possible. As they age, this flexibility diminishes. They face the East to maximize sun exposure as it rises. As the sun sets, they see the darkness in front of them even when light still shines in the direction they aren't looking.

Life as a human can be challenging, especially when we find ourselves "planted" in harmful environments. Our circumstances do not have to prevent us from blooming. Just like the sunflower, we can learn to thrive through the toxins within our lives. When we choose to grow no matter where we are, we improve the spaces we take up, too. 

It is easy to follow the joy of sunshine and see the light when we are children. As we get older and take on the stress of adulthood responsibilities and societal expectations of work, bills, and assimilation, we get stuck in our ways. The darkness can seem to loom over our lives, but we must face the darkness to see the sun rise again. Like our friend the sunflower, we must choose to focus on the direction that will bring the most sunshine into our lives. Becoming a bit more flexible to have a new perspective can show us the light still exists even in dark times.

In a world full of toxins, be a sunflower.

Bee curious, question everything.

Stay sweet honeybee.

Sting when it counts.

—Everbee Honeywell, Electric Honeypot 💜🐝♾️

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