An ant's life is not a bed of roses. From the very beginning of our existence, we are given rules and objectives to ensure that our community functions as it should. Young ants diligently care for the eggs, ensuring that each larva develops properly and gives rise to a new generation. Their lives have yet to begin, but their futures are already planned out until death. Alongside us, they will work together for the good of the queen and the entire colony.
Older, more experienced ants are entrusted with slightly more challenging tasks, including the most critical one—gathering food. Every morning, we leave the nest, following well-worn paths. We move in a single line, one after another. We never stray from our formation because the way we operate works, and no one has dared to try anything different.
We are afraid to take risks and veer off the path because we don’t know what the consequences might be. Sometimes I wonder—what is it like to turn aside? What is it like to fall out of this meticulously programmed machine?
Would taking the risk and leaving the colony mean losing my place in society? Who would I become then, and would I mean anything at all? Could I truly abandon the life I have known and everything that has given it meaning so far?