What Bees Can Teach Us About Making a Difference - how to be a better human bees.

This reflection is part of TED’s “How to Be a Better Human” series — a collection of thoughtful insights on growth, purpose, and collective action.

We often wait for the perfect moment to tackle the big challenges of our time — from climate change to community care. But when faced with the question, “Where do I start?”, it’s easy to feel paralyzed by scale. The truth is, small beginnings can spark the most meaningful transformations.

For inspiration, we might look to an unlikely source: the humble honey bee (how to be a better human bees).

As beekeeper Marianne Gee of Ottawa, Canada, explains, each worker bee lives only a few short weeks — yet within that time, she contributes tirelessly to her hive. Her purpose isn’t defined by the size of her action, but by its consistency and connection to the collective good.

Bees remind us that thinking small can be the most powerful way to think big. Each small act of care, contribution, or creativity — when multiplied across a community — becomes something monumental.

Whether it’s reducing waste, volunteering locally, or sharing knowledge, our actions ripple outward. Like bees in a hive, we are all part of a larger pattern — and the difference we make begins with simple, everyday intention.

Written by Otávio Santiago, designer and creative observer exploring how design, nature, and human behavior shape one another.