THE SWEET LIFE
At a recent OCHO event, beekeeper and yoga teacher Josh Wilson shared a perspective as golden as the honey he harvests. Alongside his wife, Michelle Hamilton, he runs Nectar Honey & Herb, a business rooted in clean living, sustainability, and a deep connection to nature. Their approach is both mindful and intentional—qualities reflected in the way they tend to their hives.
Josh has spent years observing bees, learning from their rhythms, their challenges, and their innate wisdom. Through this, he’s come to see the hive as more than just a colony—it’s a philosophy.
LIFE LESSONS FROM THE BEES
BY JOSH WILSON
1. Hard Work is Meaningful When It Serves the Whole
To produce a single pound of honey, bees visit two million flowers and fly over 90,000 miles. A single bee’s lifetime contribution? Just 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey. Their effort is small in isolation, but essential to the whole. It’s a reminder that the value of our work isn’t measured by quantity alone—it’s about what we build together.
2. Failure is Part of Growth
Beekeeping is full of unpredictability. Colonies collapse. Hives don’t always thrive. Even the most experienced beekeepers face setbacks. But failure isn’t an endpoint—it’s part of the process. Each challenge is an interval between lessons, a necessary step toward something stronger.
3. Pain is Just a Sensation
A bee sting is sharp, immediate, impossible to ignore. But pain, when viewed differently, can be simply a sensation—something temporary, something to move through rather than resist. Learning to sit with discomfort, whether physical or emotional, builds resilience and awareness.
4. Protect What Matters
Bees are fiercely protective of their hive. They guard against predators, intruders, and anything that threatens their community—including the formidable murder hornet. In life, not everything deserves access to our energy. Defending what matters—our values, our peace, our people—is essential.
5. Perspective Shapes Reality
Bees see the world through ultraviolet vision, perceiving colors and patterns beyond human sight. Their reality is entirely different from ours, yet no less true. It’s a reminder that perception is never absolute—there is always more beyond what we immediately understand. Staying open to different viewpoints allows for greater clarity and connection.
6. Communication is the Foundation of Harmony
A hive thrives on communication. Bees don’t simply coexist—they signal, vibrate, and collaborate to maintain balance. Through subtle wing vibrations, entire colonies stay informed and responsive. Clear communication—whether spoken or unspoken—creates trust, clarity, and a shared sense of purpose.
7. Strength Lies in Community
No single bee is self-sufficient. Each plays a role—nurturing, foraging, guarding—so that the hive as a whole flourishes. There is wisdom in specialization, but also in interdependence. A well-functioning community doesn’t diminish individuality; it enhances it.
8. Honey is a Gift
Honey is more than sweetness—it’s medicine. Used for healing, immunity, digestion, and nourishment, it reflects the dedication and selflessness. It can be used in many ways; from wound healing to cough suppressant, antioxidants to digestive health, skin care, immune support and allergy relief. Diverse therapeutic properties and versatile formulations make it extremely useful.
You can find Josh & Michelle at Boerne Farmers Market
on Tuesdays or at nectarhoneyandherb.com
