The Wings of the Queen Ant
In a flat dimension, on the X-axis, all people are equal. This means that everyone’s life holds the same value. However, humans also exist on a vertical dimension, the Y-axis, which introduces differences among people.
I often tell people to try using foreign-made products. Some may think this is unpatriotic, but by experiencing foreign goods, one can clearly understand how they differ from domestic ones. This understanding paves the way for improving domestic products. This difference lies in the invisible nuances of the Y-axis—small yet significant details that matter.
The queen ant has wings. These wings are not meant to help her gather food more easily like worker ants. In fact, the queen ant does not carry food. While it may appear that she idly roams, the queen ant is constantly observing: ensuring her colony is not swept away by floods and seeking locations with abundant resources. When the queen ant makes a decision, the entire colony follows her lead. The value of her wings is on a different plane than the toil of the worker ants.
Moreover, the queen ant’s ability to differ from others comes precisely because she has wings. She treasures her wings as if serving a divine purpose. Without elevating one’s Y-axis, no amount of hard work—be it waking up at dawn and laboring tirelessly all year—will lead to a prosperous life. Such people remain in a modest existence, finding joy only in simple pleasures like fish-shaped bread or dried squid.
We must complete our Y-axis. To do so, we need to evaluate whether our efforts are truly building wings. This discernment must become second nature. The wings of the queen ant are not merely for leisure. Worker ants labor endlessly, only to live and die within the territory designated by the queen.
The Flower of Effort
A flower is beautiful because it grows in a structured manner, harmonizing its petals. It does not randomly sprout leaves and flowers without purpose, even as it absorbs water and sunlight. If it did, neither bees nor butterflies would approach it, nor would it be cherished indoors. Similarly, no matter how hard you work, if your efforts fail to grow wings, you may end up merely surviving—a pitiful existence.
You may have often heard advice like, “Save your money. Don’t waste it.” But where does saving end, and when does it become over-cautious? Saving blindly does not necessarily lead to a better life. Working a lifetime to buy a house can be a nearly impossible task. Money saved over ten years may lose much of its value after another decade.
If your goal—a “flower”—is clear, then you must not hesitate to invest in that flower until it blooms. However, spending recklessly, hoping it will somehow result in a flower, will not create beauty. Achieving wings requires vision and discernment.
Presence of Mind and Body
A student who fails academically often thinks about home while at school, and worries about tomorrow’s homework when hanging out with friends. Time passes in this disjointed manner, and they inevitably fail their exams. Similarly, a person in the workplace who is preoccupied with family issues, or someone in one city who constantly worries about another country, cannot grow wings.
Your mind must be where your body is. Only then can your body truly exist where your mind leads it. If you’ve ever wondered, “Why do I fail even though I work so hard?” it is because your mind is scattered, and you have not dedicated yourself to building a firm foundation for your body to exist.
Wherever you are, you must immerse yourself completely in the present reality. Only then can your mind and body move in harmony, allowing you to achieve great feats like Alexander the Great, who never lost a single battle. Those who understand the comfort of wings—the Y-axis world—find effort less burdensome and can rest deeply during breaks.
On the other hand, those unaware of the world of wings chase only immediate pleasures, postponing significant efforts. After the fleeting joy fades, they face an overwhelming backlog of challenges. However, those who embrace the queen ant’s winged world work hard to establish their foundation and enjoy leisure on solid ground. A student dedicated to their studies during school hours can truly relax and enjoy some rest at home.
Balancing the X and Y Axes
We must stop prioritizing ourselves and instead, like the queen ant, consider building a foundation that benefits everyone. We need to develop the ability to balance the visible X-axis and the invisible Y-axis simultaneously.
If we do not, we risk leading a desperate life: waking at 4 a.m., working all day, eating instant noodles, and anxiously awaiting the next day—a bleak and endless cycle.