Top Ten Life Lessons I Learned From Pooh

I love Edward Bear.  You might be more familiar with his other name, Winnie-the-Pooh.  Yes, I’m well aware that I’m not exactly considered his target audience, but just ask my husband how much I love children’s books.   

Actually, don’t do that.  He’ll take that opportunity to tell you how if we started reading books to our daughter today, and just went straight through my her collection, we’d still be reading to her five years from now. 

I lack self-control when it comes to books.

But I digress.

Back to my adoration of Winnie-the-Pooh.  Who also lacks self-control.  Oh, Pooh, you and I are like two peas.  There will always be room in my pod for you.

Pooh may believe he’s a “bear of very little brain,” but in many ways, he’s far wiser than every adult I have ever known. 

As today is Top Ten Tuesday, I took the opportunity to indulge in my recently rekindled Pooh obsession (it’s justifiable, not insane- I have a toddler) and list Ten Life Lessons I Learned From Pooh.

10.  "When having a smackerel of something with a friend, don't eat so much that you get stuck in the doorway trying to get out."  


Or, don’t overstay your welcome.

9.  Never leave your friend alone in the woods.  There are woozles and heffalumps about.  


Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind, "Pooh!" he whispered.  "Yes, Piglet?"  "Nothing." said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw. "I just wanted to be sure of you.”

8.  It doesn’t matter if someone is different than you; everyone is special. 


"Tigger is all right, really," said Pooh lazily. "Of course he is," said Christopher Robin. "Everybody is really," said Pooh. "That's what I think," said Pooh. "But I don't suppose I'm right," he said.  "Of course you are," said Christopher Robin. 

7.  “When late morning rolls around and you're feeling a bit out of sorts, don't worry; you're probably just a little eleven o'clockish.”  

Always feed a grouchy bear.  Or baby.  Or papa.

6. "Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day."  


Why rush the journey?  It goes by fast enough as it is.

5. “Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering.”  


Don’t always be so busy doing, doing, doing.

4.  Being book-smart isn’t everything.   

"You can't help respecting anybody 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.” 

3.  “A bear, however hard he tries, grows tubby without exercise.”   

I must remind myself of this tomorrow when I have to drag myself out of bed to get yelled at by Jillian Michaels, who is not very Pooh-ish at all.

2.  “A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference.”  
 
I couldn’t have said it better myself.  I would like to post this over the entrance to Costco.

1.  “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.”  

I whisper this to my daughter almost every night, and it’s the lesson I treasure the most from Pooh.  The presence of those who love us is always there, always with us, always showing more faith in us than we ever have in ourselves. 

  

All quotes from A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner.

All pictures by E.H. Shepherd.