It’s a lazy Saturday afternoon in mid-June. The lawn is mowed and you have a little time to relax. The hammock is the perfect spot! A frosty glass of iced lemonade and life is complete! It’s quiet for a Saturday afternoon, but that’s OK. In fact, you listen to the silence. But what is that droning sound? Sounds big. Sounds like it is right underneath you. Carefully, you peer over the side of the hammock. Careful now! We all know how this could end. What do you see? What is making that throaty drone? None other than . . . a Bumblebee! A Bumbler in flight! Because they can, Bumblebees do the impossible!
Bumblers are so amazing all because they can be amazing
Bumblebees are really amazing. They have a large body for their wing size. Supposedly there were scientific articles at some point in time explaining how it was impossible for a bumblebee to fly. Well, nobody every told the Bumblebee!
Bumblebees flap their undersized wings at a rate of about 200 beats per second. The wings flex and arch as they are flapped allowing some navigational control. They can fly the length of a football field in about 30 seconds. Yes, they can fly. Do it all the time.
A Bumbler invasion
I built a number of Wren houses one year and placed them about the property. Lots of Wrens moved in! But I noticed one of them was not being used. Then I noticed a bumbler fly into it. Yes, Bumblebees nest. Usually on the ground in something like an abandoned mouse burrow or amongst patio rocks. Sometimes under layers of vegetation. But this particular queen bumblebee opted for a Wren house. I was fine with that. Bumblers are my guests as well as the Wrens.
Bumblers have a ‘can do’ attitude because they can do
I like Bumblers and their attitude! Doing the impossible is just another tricky day for a Bumbler. We should adopt the attitude when faced with challenge. Self-doubt or lack of confidence may want to creep in and say it can’t be done. Not so for the Bumbler. The Bumbler attitude is, ‘out of my way while I do this!’ I think that’s a great positive attitude to have. You might absolutely amaze yourself if you allow the opportunity.
Be your own author
And that should be how we approach life. Be your own author. Don’t let someone else complete your life journal. That is for you and only you to do. Nobody else writes for the Bumblebee.
Accomplishing greatness
Now I’m not expecting you to take flight anytime soon. I’m not expecting it for myself either. But there are plenty of other things staring me in the face that I’ve considered impossible. All I know is if I don’t try, impossible it will be, for me. It is true for all of us. Give it a try. Don’t allow your own self to be the number one obstacle in accomplishing greatness.
What is greatness? Greatness varies by the individual. For someone just having undergone hip replacement surgery, greatness may be walking the length of the hospital hall. Greatness may be getting through a tough day of sobriety. It may be taking the first step in mending a broken relationship. Greatness may be just getting through the day.
Don’t give up
And don’t knock it. Be the Bumblebee! Accomplish your own great things today. And when tomorrow is in grasp. Do it all over again! And, if not, do it all over again the following day. The key is to keep pushing, keep trying and keep being.
Closing
We can learn a great deal from Bumblebees. A mighty little creature, they are. They serve to inspire. I think that is the Bumblebees ultimate contribution in life. This summer I hope you think back on this blog post, and appreciate the Bumblebees you see. Because now you know their secret.
Questions regarding my artwork in this post. Contact me. Just for the fun of it, why not buzz over to my website, RedBarnProject.com and check out the Flowers & Insects Gallery. Cool stuff inside!
