Save the Bees, Plant More Flowers

I was struggling to shut the windows of the living room last night when I realised that there was a picture hanging through the seal which prevented the window from closing. In case the writing isn’t clear from the picture, it reads: “Save the bees, plant more flowers “

Turns out my 5 year old had something to say and she thought she had to share it with the world by hanging it outside the window of the house. Never mind that this window is facing the rear garden and no one but us will actually see this picture.

What made this action particularly intriguing is the fact that my daughter would never be seen acting calm around a bee. I wouldn’t be completely wrong to say that she probably hates being around bees. She would even refuse to play in the garden if she hears, let alone see, a bee. I wonder if she thought through the effect of having more bees in the world in relation to her fear of bees.

This makes me ponder on the book that I’m currently reading titled “A Return to Love” by Marianne Williamson. This book contrasts what a life lived in fear vs one lived in love could look life and emphasises the fact that we were all created to love. Love for self, love for others, and love for the environment in which we live.

I am very much aware of the depth of darkness that comes with living in fear and the heights of peace that comes with living in love. I’ve lived both, the former a bit too frequently in the past few years.

Perhaps, if my 5 year old lived in fear, she would have been more concerned about the potential harm that could come from bees, rather than the inevitable goodness and beauty that comes from bees and flowers.

In summary, my 2 key takeaways from my daughter's mini-campaign are:

1. if you have something to say, say it, regardless of whether or not you think you have an audience

2. Love, not fear, must be the driving force for your actions and decisions both professionally and otherwise

So what would a business built or operating in love look like? Such a business would care about itself (it’s people), other people (customers, competitors) and the impact of its activities on its environment. This is why I've always been cheerleader for the triple bottom line - people, planet and profit. So, will you be planting more flowers in order to save bees? I must confess that I certainly wouldn't during the winter season, but definitely up for consideration when spring is back!

Feel free to add a comment if you have any ideas on what love-driven businesses should look like or if you have any other feedback.