They Don’t Let You

To this day, I still get choked up when I read the last paragraphs of the original Winnie the Pooh tales.

Why?

At the very end of the story, Christopher Robin and Pooh are sharing a moment lying on the ground in a beautiful circle of trees at the top of the Forest.

They were speaking about their favorite thing to do, “Nothing.”

Their appreciation for “just being” touches me so deeply.

As I read on, I can hardly keep from sobbing as I feel Christopher Robin’s pain connected with growing up and things being different.

As the two lie there together, Christopher Robin, pondering with his chin in his hands and resting his elbows on the ground says:

“Pooh!”
“Yes?” said Pooh.
“When I’m — when — Pooh!”
“Yes, Christopher Robin?”
“I’m not going to do Nothing any more.”
“Never again?”
“Well, not so much. They don’t let you.”

Pooh waited for him to go on, but he was silent again.

“Yes, Christopher Robin? said Pooh helpfully.
“Pooh, when I’m — you know — when I’m not doing Nothing, will you come up here sometimes?”
“Just Me?”
“Yes, Pooh.”
“Will you be here too?”
“Yes, Pooh, I will be, really, I promise I will be Pooh.”
“That’s good,” said Pooh
“Pooh, promise you won’t forget about me, ever.
Not even when I’m a hundred.”
Pooh thought for a little.
“How old shall I be then?”
“Ninety-nine.”
Pooh nodded.
“I promise,” he said.

Still with his eyes on the world, Christopher Robin put out a hand and felt for Pooh’s paw.

“Pooh,” said Christopher Robin earnestly, “If I — if I’m not quite —“ he stopped and tried again—
“Pooh, whatever happens, you will understand, won’t you?”
“Understand what?”
“Oh, nothing.” He laughed and jumped to his feet. “Come on!”
“Where?” said Pooh.
“Anywhere,” said Christopher Robin”

So they went off together, but wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the Forest, a little boy and his Bear will always be playing.

Even writing this out, I am so choked up and teary eyed.

I remember going through exactly what Christopher Robin is feeling. I felt the sadness of knowing I was outgrowing my toys and stuffed animals. I felt so hurt when my mother threw away my favorite doll because it was so “well loved.” To me, and I believe to most children, these treasures are alive!

I didn’t realize it then, but what I see now, and what I remember in reading these touching words of A.A. Milne, is that my time was no longer my own.

As I grew up and had to take more responsibility for my life, there were studies, tests, jobs, appointments, bills to pay, etc.

Over the years, I struggled to find my time. In fact, I still often feel challenged by the many demands of motherhood, entrepreneurship, and doing all that I can to take care of my family adequately.

What I’ve come to see now is that we buy into this idea that “They don’t let you” have your own time.

Who are “They?”

“They” are the expectations, the shoulds, the cultural standards, the religious doctrines and dogmas, the economic, healthcare, educational, and judicial systems, societal pressures, etc.

Every one of these things are simply constructs that we choose to buy into.

We buy into to the idea that “doing Nothing” is frivolous or wasteful.

We push ourselves, often doing all the “right” things, even becoming successful, and then wonder why we’re still so dissatisfied and unfulfilled.

We get stuck in the forest of our monkey-minds, and life’s overwhelm and self-doubt.

Perhaps this is our inner essence begging Pooh to remember because we can’t remember for ourselves.

Perhaps we too have our inner Christopher Robin (our I Am Spirit Self) desperately promising to be there in those special moments, yet having no idea how he will ever make it happen, and hoping our inner Pooh (our Soul) will understand.

We need to connect to our Soul (our inner Pooh) so we can remember!

What if our Pooh speaks through our children reminding us of what really matters? Or perhaps an illness kicking us on our butts to remind us to slow down?

Or what if our Pooh is nourished by articles like this that remind us of how far we’ve strayed from our Soul?

How far have you strayed?

Thankfully, as adults, we get to choose. We get to decide how we spend our time and how we don’t spend our time. We get to build “Nothing” into our busy schedules and remember our Soul often.

It’s time for us to return to “that enchanted place on the top of the Forest” and come Home to our Selves.

My Manifest Your Vision course offers wonderful tips, suggestions, perspectives and exercises to help us remember to pay attention to Soul as we envision our year and move toward creating it.

May you find your magical space of wonder and peace at the top of the Forest!

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