To this day, I still get choked up when I read the last paragraphs of the original Winnie the Pooh tales.<\/p>\n
Why?<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
They were speaking about their favorite thing to do, \u201cNothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Their appreciation for \u201cjust being\u201d touches me so deeply.<\/p>\n
As I read on, I can hardly keep from sobbing as I feel Christopher Robin\u2019s pain connected with growing up and things being different.<\/p>\n
As the two lie there together, Christopher Robin, pondering with his chin in his hands and resting his elbows on the ground says:<\/p>\n
\u201cPooh!\u201d
\n\u201cYes?\u201d said Pooh.
\n\u201cWhen I\u2019m \u2014 when \u2014 Pooh!\u201d
\n\u201cYes, Christopher Robin?\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m not going to do Nothing any more.\u201d
\n\u201cNever again?\u201d
\n\u201cWell, not so much. They don\u2019t let you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pooh waited for him to go on, but he was silent again.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Christopher Robin? said Pooh helpfully. Still with his eyes on the world, Christopher Robin put out a hand and felt for Pooh\u2019s paw.<\/p>\n \u201cPooh,\u201d said Christopher Robin earnestly, \u201cIf I \u2014 if I\u2019m not quite \u2014\u201c he stopped and tried again\u2014 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.<\/p>\n Even writing this out, I am so choked up and teary eyed.<\/p>\n 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 \u201cwell loved.\u201d To me, and I believe to most children, these treasures are alive!<\/p>\n I didn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n As I grew up and had to take more responsibility for my life, there were studies, tests, jobs, appointments, bills to pay, etc.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n What I\u2019ve come to see now is that we buy into this idea that \u201cThey don\u2019t let you\u201d have your own time.<\/strong><\/p>\n Who are \u201cThey?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u201d are the expectations, the shoulds, the cultural standards, the religious doctrines and dogmas, the economic, healthcare, educational, and judicial systems, societal pressures, etc.<\/p>\n Every one of these things are simply constructs that we choose to buy into.<\/p>\n We buy into to the idea that \u201cdoing Nothing\u201d is frivolous or wasteful.<\/strong><\/p>\n We push ourselves, often doing all the \u201cright\u201d things, even becoming successful, and then wonder why we\u2019re still so dissatisfied and unfulfilled.<\/p>\n We get stuck in the forest of our monkey-minds, and life\u2019s overwhelm and self-doubt.<\/strong><\/p>\n Perhaps this is our inner essence begging Pooh to remember because we can\u2019t remember for ourselves.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n We need to connect to our Soul (our inner Pooh) so we can remember!<\/strong><\/p>\n 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?<\/p>\n Or what if our Pooh is nourished by articles like this that remind us of how far we\u2019ve strayed from our Soul?<\/p>\n How far have you strayed?<\/p>\n Thankfully, as adults, we get to choose. We get to decide how we spend our time and how we don\u2019t spend our time. We get to build \u201cNothing\u201d into our busy schedules and remember our Soul often.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cPooh, when I\u2019m \u2014 you<\/em> know \u2014 when I\u2019m not<\/em> doing Nothing, will you come up here sometimes?\u201d
\n\u201cJust Me?\u201d
\n\u201cYes, Pooh.\u201d
\n\u201cWill you be here too?\u201d
\n\u201cYes, Pooh, I will be, really<\/em>, I promise<\/em> I will be Pooh.\u201d
\n\u201cThat\u2019s good,\u201d said Pooh
\n\u201cPooh, promise<\/em> you won\u2019t forget about me, ever.
\nNot even when I\u2019m a hundred.\u201d
\nPooh thought for a little.
\n\u201cHow old shall I be then?\u201d
\n\u201cNinety-nine.\u201d
\nPooh nodded.
\n\u201cI promise,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cPooh, whatever<\/em> happens, you will<\/em> understand, won\u2019t you?\u201d
\n\u201cUnderstand what?\u201d
\n\u201cOh, nothing.\u201d He laughed and jumped to his feet. \u201cCome on!\u201d
\n\u201cWhere?\u201d said Pooh.
\n\u201cAnywhere,\u201d said Christopher Robin\u201d<\/p>\n