Consider too that bumblebees perform the very necessary task of pollinating our trees and flowers. Without them, the world would be in trouble. Hurray for bumblebees! Now ask yourself how much of what we feel we cannot do is the result of believing that we cannot do it, or of being afraid of the risk involved? Charles Lindbergh said, ‘I don’t believe in taking unnecessary risks, but a life without [any] risk isn’t worth living.’ I say, ‘go for it!’
When you’re feeling discouraged, or when others keep telling you that you can’t succeed because of some obstacle, consider the bumblebee. Years ago, I read that a group of engineers ‘proved’ that the bumblebee was aerodynamically incapable of flight. It shouldn’t be able to get off the ground. Of course no-one told the bumblebees this. Every summer, they fly happily about my garden doing whatever it is they feel they must do. They don’t know they aren’t supposed to be able to fly, that their behavior contravenes the laws of aerodynamics so dearly believed in by a certain group of humans who ‘know’ that they can’t fly under their own steam, either.
Consider too that bumblebees perform the very necessary task of pollinating our trees and flowers. Without them, the world would be in trouble. Hurray for bumblebees! Now ask yourself how much of what we feel we cannot do is the result of believing that we cannot do it, or of being afraid of the risk involved? Charles Lindbergh said, ‘I don’t believe in taking unnecessary risks, but a life without [any] risk isn’t worth living.’ I say, ‘go for it!’
19 Comments
2/4/2013 03:27:40 am
We're not supposed to be able to ice skate, either. It's supposedly impossible for us to balance on a blade that thin. 2/4/2013 07:41:30 am
Great advice. Much of the time we are all bumblebees bumbling through life. 2/4/2013 10:10:26 am
2/4/2013 12:47:14 pm
Shirlene, you just summed up a thousand plus thoughts that go through my head on a daily basis in two paragraphs, or rather what I should stop thinking about myself as a writer straight away. So, what I'm trying to say is THANK YOU for the amazing post. It has brightened my day and this little thing called my writing journey.
Karen A
5/4/2013 04:57:40 am
Hurray for bumblebees, indeed - an inspiration to not limit ourselves in daily life, as well as inciting our curiosity (how DO they fly, anyway!)
Megan
8/4/2013 01:14:13 am
Thanks for your comment Karen. Perhaps it's like our exercise class. They see other bees flying, and decide that they can do it too. 8/4/2013 01:33:38 am
This is really a fun little nugget. I'm soliciting work for the next issue of The Woven Tale Press and would love to use it.
Megan
8/4/2013 02:16:17 am
I would be delighted if you used my snippet. Your magazine is very interesting.
sandra tyler
16/4/2013 03:43:02 am
great! can you shoot me an email so I have it on file? I just happened to drop by back here and saw that you were ok with the publication. Leave a Reply. |