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Starting, Stumbling, and Succeeding:
The Beekeeper’s Guide to Perseverance
By: David Burns
One thing I’ve learned from my YouTube channel on beekeeping is Spring is a stressful time for beekeepers. For many, beekeeping is a whole new thing, and the learning curve is intense. When we start anything new – whether it be a relationship, job or hobby, we have to move from one level to the next. From one plane to the next. From a comfortable perch to a very uncomfortable box. We might even have to move to a new location to make this new project happen. We might have to take classes which cost money and time. We may have to rearrange our lives in order to fit this new thing in.
Sometimes starting something new, like beekeeping, is really scary. We may doubt our ability or have family and friends telling us it can’t be done, or we don’t have what it takes. We may let money, time or a lack of education keep us from our pursuits. And the truth is, the more we think we want something, the worse our doubts become and the barriers become mightier. Children never seem to have problems believing they can do something, but as adults, we know all the problems and issues that can arise. We doubt and overthink. Instead of preparing, we worry. Instead of making plans, we talk ourselves out of it and make excuses.
Maybe you’ve been beekeeping for a while, but your passion has faded. Perhaps your resolve is gone, and inspiration is in short supply. You might have started alongside a friend, but they gave it up and you’re all alone. Maybe your local bee club dissolved, leaving you without a community. Maybe the real obstacle isn’t lost passion or a fading community — it’s the doubts we carry within.
Finding our ‘why’ and true passion takes commitment. Until you commit to your plan, you’ll always hesitate, leaving yourself an easy way out. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, “Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” Whether you are just starting beekeeping or trying to talk yourself into not quitting, here are some ideas to help motivate you.
- Research and learn. Read books. Take a class. Let these ideas permeate your thinking. List your reasons why you really want to do this and why this is important to you. Sit with this awhile, letting it become part of your consciousness or your ‘why’.
- Think big. Reach for the stars. You can always dial it back later on. But for now, imagine your wildest dreams, your biggest hopes, your greatest plans.
- Write out those thoughts, hopes, dreams, pros and cons. Just do it, don’t overthink it. Keep it to a single paragraph.
- Break it all down into manageable sections. What needs to be first, then second, then third? What will it look like at the end? Do you absolutely love this? Does it feel right? Do this section quickly, don’t spend time pondering over it. You can always tweak it later.
When you commit and put ideas out into the universe, you are creating your own dreams and reality. - Have a meeting with yourself every week or so. Remind yourself of your plan, your passion. When we forget why we are beekeeping, it’s easier to give up on it. Not knowing or losing sight of your end goal allows lethargy to take over and your dreams to end. Write or type out your end goal and put it where you’ll see it every day.
- Don’t ever be afraid to change that goal. Is something missing from your original goal? Fill in the gaps. Sometimes a piece of art takes the artist in an entirely different direction than their original intention, so be open to this possibility as well. After all, beekeeping in some ways, is an art.
- Are you having fun and loving this? Loving the challenge and loving the work? Is this still interesting to you? Be honest, because if the answer is NO, it may be time to dial back your goals or even to let it go.
Do you know the biggest reasons why beekeepers fail? Fear of failure and judgment.
You will have moments of failure and fear. We all do; it is an inevitable part of life.
Maybe your colonies were overrun with mites and beetles. Perhaps the foragers got into some nearby poison and returned with a death sentence to your hive. Or you were switched to a night shift at work, making it difficult to do daytime inspections or you found out you have to move. Crashes will happen.
But crashes don’t mean you failed. You are not a bad beekeeper. It may just mean that you haven’t learned something yet that you still need to learn. You need to figure out what works and what doesn’t work. Dieters and weightlifters will often talk about hitting a ‘plateau’ but they know it just means that even though it’s not working right now, it eventually will. We fall down when we first learn to walk.
Follow it through, all the way to the end. There may be chaos, and even some tears. You will be full of doubt and possibly fail. Accept those crashes, knowing that it’s through the failures that you succeed. Do it for the love, the fun, and creativity. Know that your efforts benefit your corner of the world and enjoy the friends you make along the way.
If you’d like to watch my YouTube video where I discuss this topic in more detail, visit: https://www.honeybeesonline.com/davids-youtube-channel
