Lovable, huggable Winnie the Pooh has long
captivated audiences with his jolly laugh and zest for life (and honey). But
this sweet bear and his beloved buddies do more than entertain fans with tales
from the Hundred Acre Woods. The characters navigate life’s ups and downs, with
helpful advice that’s relevant well beyond Christopher Robin’s neighborhood.
It all starts with author A.A.
Milne. The mastermind behind the original four-volume Winnie-the-Pooh series is renowned for his
children’s stories — his gentle Pooh Bear gave rise to a wildly popular
franchise beloved around the world, with the help of Walt Disney’s animated
films and television shows. But Milne was also an intellectual writer and deep
thinker, which is reflected through the abiding wisdom of Pooh and his pals.
Milne graduated from the University of
Cambridge, and wrote his first play, Wurzel-Flummery, while serving
in the British Army’s Royal Corps of Signals during World War I. He went on to
make a name for himself as a playwright and, later, a novelist. All along, his
calling as a children’s author was taking shape — and it’s largely thanks to
his own son, Christopher Robin Milne, proud owner of the sweet little stuffed
bear audiences worldwide now call Pooh.
From the first Winnie-the-Pooh book
in 1926, Milne and illustrator E. H. Shepard took Pooh and his pals through
many of life’s twists and turns, much to the despair of eternally gloomy
Eeyore. Through it all, Pooh, Piglet, and the Hundred Acre gang showed readers
how to cherish life’s best moments and navigate through the worst of them.
Almost 100 years later, this Hundred Acre wisdom couldn’t be more relevant.
You can't stay in your corner
of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them
sometimes.
– Pooh, "Pooh's Little Instruction Book"
As Pooh “notes” in his little instruction
book, life is about more than cozying up in our favorite corners, or staying in
our safe spaces to avoid the unknown. Putting ourselves out there leads to new
experiences, important lessons, and valuable friendships we’d never form
staying safe at home. There’s a dazzling, enriching world just waiting beyond
our comfort zones, if we’re brave enough to leave our corner of the forest.
If ever there is tomorrow when
we're not together, there is something you must always remember. You are braver
than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the
most important thing is, even if we're apart, I'll always be with you.
– Christopher Robin, "Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for
Christopher Robin"
This sweet conversation between Christopher
Robin and Pooh is relatable, and even tear-jerking, for anyone who has
experienced loss. The young Christopher Robin wants his best friend Pooh to
know that if they were ever to be separated one day, Pooh has everything he
needs to carry on and fulfill his dreams. It’s a lesson for us all. While our
loved ones may be gone, their spirit and memories live on, and the strong bonds
we’ve built make us braver, stronger, and smarter than we realize — just like
Winnie the Pooh.
You find sometimes that a Thing
which seemed very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into
the open and has other people looking at it.
– Pooh, "The House at Pooh Corner"
He may be a silly old bear, but Pooh was
onto something with his knack for collaboration. In chapter six of The
House at Pooh Corner, Pooh came up with a new game. But like most
ideas, the game didn’t blossom until he shared it with others. In this case, it
took Eeyore joining in for Pooh’s little game to take shape. This lesson
extends well beyond lighthearted fun; the more we share our ideas and
collaborate on our work and dreams, the better we can see and understand them
ourselves.
The things that make me
different are the things that make me me.
– Piglet’s song, You’re the One and Only One, "Welcome to Pooh
Corner"
As Piglet and Eeyore sing a duet about
individuality, this line strikes a chord. Differences set us apart from each
other; they fill our world with vibrancy, variety, and beauty. We need all
people, from all walks of life, to use their unique skills and personality
traits to make this world a better, creative, and inspiring place. Because, as
Piglet concludes, “If everybody were like everybody else, how boring would it
be!”
They’re funny things, Accidents.
You never have them till you’re having them.
– Eeyore, "The House at Pooh Corner"
Cautious and nervous Eeyore worried a lot
about life, but deep down this donkey knew that anxiety would only get him so
far. Life’s mishaps don’t wait for us to feel prepared. Ready or not, accidents
hit us full force — and to be fair, that’s not all bad. Acknowledging that
accidents will always happen means we can stop overanalyzing the risks. We
should resist the temptation to keep endlessly planning and preparing but never
getting started, because at some point, procrastination is simply fear of
failure in disguise.
Don't underestimate the value
of doing nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't
hear, and not bothering.
– Pooh, "Pooh's Little Instruction Book"
If only Pooh knew how relevant this advice
would become — especially to the parents of Winnie the Pooh’s youngest fans.
Western society praises the go-go-go work ethic, but “always on” does not lead
to a life of happiness. When we take time to unplug, close our emails, and
simply look at the world around us, we can connect with ourselves on a deeper
level. In fact, while staring into the ocean may feel like
doing nothing, this kind of “nothing” is one of the most enriching and gratitude-building
experiences on the planet.
A little Consideration, a
little Thought for Others, makes all the difference.
– Eeyore, "Winnie-the-Pooh"
It’s no secret that Eeyore is prone to
sadness; this makes him the perfect case study on why we should treat everyone
with kindness. We never know a person’s backstory, or the troubles they’re
currently navigating. It’s best to treat each person with a dose of compassion,
thinking about how we can help them instead of how much we have going on in our
own lives. Even the tiniest bit of consideration and thoughtfulness could make
a world of difference for someone else — whether it’s gloomy Eeyore who needs a
pick-me-up, or the taxi driver who’s burnt out trying to make ends meet for
their family.
We can’t all, and some of us
don’t. That’s all there is to it.
– Eeyore, "Winnie-the-Pooh"
On the surface, this may sound like another
one of Eeyore’s pessimistic musings, but Pooh’s buddy is right. The sooner we
know and accept our limits, the sooner we can find happiness and contentedness
— and it all starts with removing “should” from our vocabulary. “Should” is one
of the most dangerous words in the English language. If we dislike doing
something but feel guilty because society tells us we “should,” we’ll forever
feel less-than or inauthentic. Eeyore’s simple statement reminds us to ditch
the guilt, dig deep, and understand what you can do,
especially the things you enjoy. .
And he respects Owl, because
you can't help respecting anyone who can spell Tuesday, even if he doesn't
spell it right; but spelling isn't everything. There are days when spelling
Tuesday simply doesn't count.
– Rabbit, "The House at Pooh Corner"
Rabbit was perhaps the most intelligent of
Pooh’s pals, but that wasn’t always a good thing. Sometimes Rabbit judged his
neighbors for their silly ideas, or put them down because he knew better. Over
time, though, Rabbit realized that smarts aren’t everything. He saw how
Christopher Robin respected Owl deeply, despite his mistakes. And this lesson —
to respect everyone, mistakes and all — is more than advice for Rabbit; it’s a
reminder for us all.
