One summer day, I watched a honey bee collect pollen
from a flowering bush in the garden. I initially paused to inspect the bee
itself – accustomed to fat fuzzy bumblebees, I saw something resembling a wasp
wearing a furry jacket and wanted a closer look. How diligent the bee was,
given the size of the bush and the territory he had to cover. I studied his
technique for a minute, vastly impressed. Then I noticed something else. He
wasn’t the only bee in the bush. There were lots of honey bees harvesting
pollen from the flowers; I just hadn’t seen them at first. They certainly
hadn’t arrived after me – I would definitely have noticed an approaching swarm
(and likely not stuck around to welcome them). They simply came into
consciousness as I stood still.
The Honeybee Observation occurred a few years ago, but
the lesson has stayed with me. I’m always jumping around from thought to
thought, bouncing back and forth between the past and the future. No wonder I
remember less and less; I’m rarely present enough to retain anything from a
given moment!
How much more will I see if I stop and look? How much
more will I hear if I take more than a second to listen?
Slow down. Stand still. Pay attention. Be amazed.
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