Women’s Web is saying Goodbye! Please make sure you read this important notification.
There is a good deal of wisdom tucked away in books for children. Here are 8 takeaways from Winnie The Pooh for all ages!
8 Positive Takeaways From Winnie the Pooh For All
You need to cut him some slack for being greedy when it comes to devouring pots full of honey, but the silly old bear and his gang have invaluable lessons to impart. I am talking about the adorable Pooh bear and his inseparable friends from Winnie the Pooh.
Based on a teddy bear owned by his son, English author A.A. Milne created the fictional anthropomorphic teddy Winnie-the-Pooh in the early 1920s, writing several collections of stories on the character. The books chronicle the adventures of little boy Christopher Robin with his favourite Pooh and other animal pals in the Hundred Acre Woods.
The stories were written with children in mind, but they are soaked in such profound wisdom that over time they have resonated with adults as well. Little did Milne know that he was leaving behind a rich legacy to be fondly remembered by posterity.
Well, there has been a deluge of posts about the valuable lessons the stories have taught. I thought of looking through the lens of Pooh’s world to pick those quotes that appealed to me the most.
Piglet, who is Pooh’s closest friend, is unbelievably tiny. He says:
“The things that make me different are the things that make me, me”
This thought is so relevant in our day-to-day lives. Each one of us has an identity that we need to be proud of. It is wrong to compare ourselves with others. Self-love is what we need to foster because unless we love ourselves for who we are, we cannot command respect from others.
”What day is it?”
It’s today,” squeaked Piglet.
“My favourite day,” said Pooh.
The future is unknown, so it is extremely necessary to greet each day with a smile and drown in its glory. There is so much truth in this quote by Dutch writer Corrie ten Boom: “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength”.
To live at the moment and make the best out of it should be the mantra of life, and Pooh Bear sure does that!
In the stories, Kanga is the over-protective kangaroo mommy. Her description is so apt:
“Kanga never takes her eye off Baby Roo, except when he’s safely buttoned up in her pocket.”
So here is an important lesson for mommies! As much as you love your children and pamper them, teach them to be independent. They need to be left on their own so that they can learn to stand on their feet to face life’s challenges with courage and conviction.
The gloomy donkey Eeyore may be depressed and gloomy most of the time, but he too understands the value of friendship:
“After all, one can’t complain. I have my friends”
Friends are the family we choose. When we have those genuine friends who hold us back in times of trouble and celebrate our joys, do we have a reason to worry? We certainly need to value our friends and not take them for granted!
Christopher Robin says to Pooh: “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
Do we need validation from the world to tell us what we can achieve? Not at all! There is nothing to stop us from achieving our goals the moment we start believing in ourselves. It is confidence and determination, coupled with hard work, that can make our dreams come true.
Can it be true love if you do not feel the emotions? Love needs to flow organically to flourish in our hearts. This conversation between Pooh and Piglet is undoubtedly epic!
“How do you spell love?” – asked Piglet
”You don’t spell it, you feel it” – said Pooh
Milne talks about Piglet in one of the most endearing and heart-warming ways:
“Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.”
We pass the test of humanity with flying colours when we practice the gospel of gratitude. Every breath we take in this universe is a gift. We need to look around us and count the tiniest of blessings showered upon us and be thankful for all that we have in life.
May we never forget all those who cheered us when our days were cloudy because sans gratitude, the circle of love remains broken and incomplete!
No wonder, Winne the Pooh has stolen the hearts of millions. Silly as he is, the chubby little bear is endowed with the milk of human kindness and with countless pearls of wisdom. He and his friends share with us those gems of truth that can make life beautiful and nice!
Image source: Dragonimages, and Taha from unsplash, free and edited on CanvaPro
Rashmi Bora Das is a freelance writer settled in the suburbs of Atlanta. She has a master’s degree in English from India, and a second master’s in Public Administration from the University of read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
Please enter your email address