Things We Learn from Winnie the Pooh

Winnie the Pooh is a permanent resident in the hundred acre woods. We've read about his adventures with his friends. This simple and fun little bear has much to teach us. All we need to do is step back and really get to know Winnie the Pooh.

What do we know about this bear? He is overweight possibly because the thing he likes best is that moment just before he gets to eat the sweet honey. Is there a lesson here? Maybe there is more than one.

Often times anticipation is the best part of an adventure. Think about the major holidays. I think getting ready, decorating and preparing are often the best par. Winnie the Pooh certainly teaches us this.

Now about being overweight. It seems that he does get quite a bit of exercise tramping about with his friends. It is fair to assume he is at least exercising and not obsessing about his weight. Although eating too much honey will still make us rather large, slow, and we can get stuck in some tight places.

Sometimes nicknames are more fitting than our given names. Embrace the names and terms of endearment given by others if they fit and make us happy. After all, Edward Bear seems like a misnomer, it is Winnie's given name. Feel free to find a name that works for you.

Pooh Bear has many friends and absolutely none of them are alike. Racism just doesn't exist in the hundred acre woods. Tolerance and appreciating differences is the name of the game.

Respect is a big part of the hundred acre woods. Christopher Robbins needs to be home on time and everyone respects that. Piglet is a brave soul and he is needed to lead the pack. Tigger must be given room and reasons to bounce. Kanga is a wonderful mother and is the one who is in charge of Roo. Roo has great manners. Owl is very wise and willing to share. He is never a know-it-all. Rabbit is very industriuos. Eeyore is a realist. Somehow the one thing they have in common is Winnie the Pooh and respect for each other. Isn't that the way a community should be?

Wouldn't it be interesting if each day when we got up we tried to be a little more like Winnie the Pooh. We would eat when we were hungry, rest when we were tired and always have time for the friends who need us.

It seems fitting to end with one of my favorite Pooh Moment.

"I ought to say," explained Pooh as they walked down to the shore of the island, "that it isn't just an ordinary sort of boat. Sometimes it's a Boat, and sometimes it's more of an Accident. It all depends."
"Depends on what?"
"On whether I'm on the top of it or underneath it."