Josh Smith reveals the power of putting 15,000 bees in your car with your kids, and what that teaches a person about being present. Very, very present. When I first became a hobby beekeeper five years ago, I didn’t turn off my cell phone before tending the bees. Now I always turn it off.
The phone vibrations agitate them. Calls, texts, and Facebook notifications disrupt them. They become defensive, raise their abdomens. Some of the bees bounce off the face veil. At least that was my experience. Now I turn off the phone.
Even if I did receive a text while beekeeping, it’s not as though I could answer it, elbow deep in a hive full of honey. I’m completely absorbed with the bees. Keeping bees absorbs my mind, my senses. The hive obligates me to think about my breathing and movements. Slow myself.
I like to think that this engagement in the present extends to other areas of my life: marriage, my role as a father of four children. I also teach math at Hillcrest High School. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx
12 апр 2018
