The Synergy Project Magazine - October 2020

LESSONS
FROM
THE
BEEHIVE
By: Grace Cunningham
Independence. What exactly
does that word mean to you?
To most U.S. citizens, the idea
of independence is seen as
overwhelmingly positive. There is
even a national holiday dedicated
to celebrating the country’s
independence. A sense of the ideal
self as an autonomous individual
is ingrained into United States
culture. Personal independence
is essentially synonymous with
strength and success.
Countless U.S. books and
movies paint a picture of a “strong,
independent person,” especially
when it comes to women. Many
of these characters are portrayed
as so self-sufficient that they are
almost disinterested in connecting
with others. There is nothing
wrong with being confident, but
overemphasis of self-autonomy can
lead to an unnecessary glorification
of emotional and social seclusion.
On a personal level, just how far
is too far with all this weight on
independence?
Take another example of a
strong, independent female. The
queen bee is arguably the most
influential bee in the hive. She is
the only bee that can reproduce
and is the mother of almost all the
other members of the beehive.
Every day of her life, she has
a court of attendants feeding,
grooming, and protecting her. Her
24 THE SYNERGY PROJECT MAGAZINE