Each of us, especially as children, has been fascinated by ants in the woods. Their dedication, hard work, and mutual assistance are hypnotizing, as if watching them could give you an insight. I think it does. After all, the behavior of all social creatures has a lot in common, and looking at the model of society from a height allows you to see what you do not notice or depreciate near yourself.
I have always been struck by the readiness with which ants rush to solve an unexpected problem that has ruined their perfectly established life. Whether an animal stepped into an anthill, other insects attacked them, or a branch fell from a tree blocked their way, these amazing creatures do not fall into a stupor, go on a nectar binge, or vent their anger on others. It seems as if they merge without delay with the question, “How do we survive when our world has changed?” Each deals with his local task within the framework of a global goal meaningful to all. And soon enough, there is no trace of damage on the anthill, the path is cleared, and the enemy is dismantled for parts.
Some might say, “Of course, it’s easy for ants. Their instincts help them out. They just act like a clockwork mechanism. But I - a man floundering in the anxieties and doubts. That’s why I suffer so much.” This seems to me to be a half-truth. Indeed, in addition to animal instinct, nature has endowed us with complex feelings and a developed mind. Potentially, for everyone, this is a valuable gift. Which, however, can become a curse. If the fire hose is in weak hands, the barn will eventually burn to the ground and those around it will be soaked to the skin. On the contrary, if one has shackled one’s emotions and saddled one’s mind, one is no longer a wading walker but a galloping rider.
One is born with the ability to subdue the volcano within, channeling its energy to solve a pressing problem without delay. Another deliberately trains this skill as his professionalism grows. The third is unceremoniously taught by life, driving him into a tube of circumstances from which there is only one way out. There is no single way to become a true master of oneself. But those people who have succeeded in doing so inspire in me respect, admiration, and hope. “What one man has done, another can do,” I recall a quote from the beloved movie “The Edge.” There turn out to be an astonishing number of such inspiring people around.
Sincerely yours,
-Alexander
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