A Lesson on Resilience from a Honey Farmer
I’ve always been curious about people, their stories and what makes them tick. It was a beautiful sunny day in Upstate NY when I drove by an older gentleman selling honey on the corner of the street. Sitting alone, I’ve seen him selling his product on some of the coldest winter days.
For months I passed him heading to the local horse farm where my daughter rides. But that day was different. I was compelled to turn around.
He smiled as I approached the small card table he set up to display his merchandise. His jars of honey were glistening in the sun. We struck up a conversation as he did his best to communicate in broken English. “My name is Michael” he said. “I moved here six years ago from the Ukraine.”
He asked me to guess how old he was. Feeling a bit awkward, are you in your 60’s, I asked? His smile widened. “I am 72 years old, he stated proudly”. I couldn’t help but acknowledge the courage it takes to uproot oneself and make such a big move later in life. So, I asked him why he came to America. “Family”, he said. “I have four children here and grandchildren too. I wanted to be near them.” I nodded quietly, understanding the importance of what he said.
While he was sharing, I kept thinking to myself…how does he do it? It must be freezing to sit out here for hours at a time, day after day, hoping someone will stop to buy a jar of honey. That takes tremendous resilience.
The more we talked, the richer the experience became. Here are a few gentle reminders about life I received that day from an unassuming honey farmer.
Show up every day whether you have a customer or not. Bring your discipline and talents to the world and be of service, even when the circumstances aren’t ideal. The venture may not be easy, and the outcome isn’t guaranteed, but show up and give your best.
Be bold, take risks, follow your heart. You’re never too old to chase after your dreams and do what brings you joy, even if it’s just exploring a new hobby. Enjoying the lighter side of life is so important to balance work and all the other responsibilities we have.
Honor the journey you’re on. Most of us keep pushing through life, not taking a breath to acknowledge how far we’ve come, what we’ve learned, the challenges we’ve surmounted, or what we’ve achieved. It can be especially difficult to have self-compassion with our imperfect selves, but that is where the sweetness sits. All the while, remembering the importance of our loved ones, friends, and community as we make our way forward.
In my conversation with Michael, I received more than the jar of honey I purchased that day. It was a gentle reminder about my own family, my dreams, and the faith and action it takes to manifest dreams into reality. And it reinforced the importance of resiliency in our personal lives, in business and entrepreneurship.
Messages are everywhere if we’re open to receive them.