Life Lessons from Winnie-the-Pooh
What is it about Milne's Pooh Bear, Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger et al. that make them so lovable, intriguing, and permanent? It is because A.A. Milne was not just your garden-variety children’s story writer. Rather, he was a scholarly thinker (Marshall, 13). His iconic book, Winnie-the-Pooh, was first published on October 14, 1926, and there’s a reason it has retained its popularity for nearly a century. It has plenty of wisdom to offer adults and children alike about the many facets of life. Milne was inspired by his son Christopher Robin Milne and his favorite stuffed toy bear whom Christopher called, “Winnie-ther-pooh” (Winnie-the-Pooh, 2). The rest of the characters were all part of Christopher Robin’s stuffed…show more content… Most of the characters are able to put themselves in their friends’ shoes and relate. When Eeyore loses his tail and is even more depressed than normal, it bothers Pooh and he, in turn, is upset also. When Christopher Robin questions him about his downcast mood, Pooh responds that he is, “Terrible and Sad because Eeyore, who is a friend of his, has lost his tail and he is moping about it” (Winnie-the-Pooh, 43). Another instance of empathy is seen in the chapter where rescue attempts are made by Rabbit to rescue Baby Roo. Pooh thinks he’s left out of the adventure and is disappointed. Piglet comforts him saying, “Never mind, Pooh. Another time, perhaps” (Winnie the Pooh, 95). Piglet, who is very timid and shy, is often overlooked and can understand how Pooh…show more content… The subtle message imparted by the stories are to approach life with an open mind devoid of expectations: “From the state of the Uncarved Block comes the ability to enjoy the simple and the quiet, the natural and the plain” (Hoff, 21). Winnie-the-Pooh shows its perusers they do not need expensive toys or video games; just an active imagination and the right company: “And that was the beginning of a game called Poohsticks, which Pooh invented, and which he and his friends used to play on the edge of the forest” (The House at Pooh Corner, 95). Some sticks and a group of friends was all it took for The Hundred Acre Woods gang to have hours of entertainment! Just taking the time to smell the roses and do nothing occasionally is much needed in this stressful world we live in right now. And this zen like philosophy is very simply stated in Pooh’s words: “It means just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.” (The House at Pooh Corner, 173). There are no better stories for finding one's way back to that special and golden childhood in a bygone era where it is possible to do nothing, “or at least nothing that has anything to do with anything” (Thwaite,