For those of you who don’t know, A. A. Milne is the creator of a beloved bear named Winnie the Pooh. A. A. Milne wrote various poems, but Pooh overshadowed all of that. Pooh Bear is a bear of very little brain and he always seems to be getting into trouble or eating hunny. Yes, in the Hundred Acre Woods, where Pooh Bear lives, that is how you spell honey. I absolutely love Pooh Bear and ever since I was little I would be able to sing the song from memory.

“Deep in the Hundred Acre Wood,

Where Christopher Robin plays.

You'll find the enchanted neighborhood,

of Christopher's childhood days.

….

Winnie the Pooh, Winnie the Pooh,

Chubby, little cubby all stuffed with fluff.

He's Winnie the Pooh, Winnie the Pooh,

Willy, nilly, silly old bear.”

There is more to the song, but this is the most memorable part. I am always up for watching some of this willy, nilly, silly, old bear. Although Pooh is a “bear of very little brain”, as he tells us, he sure does a lot of thinking and some of the things he says are so important and are things everyone should hear and remember. Like….

“It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like ‘What about lunch’?”

You have to admit this quote puts a smile on your face. How can it not! Pooh can be so funny and truthful. Seriously though I think that this quote really reminds us that sometimes we need to simplify life and not get so wrapped up in complex situations and just focus on the simple things in life. Like lunch, because “a Pooh Bear takes care of his tummy”.

Pooh also has a very different perspective on life.

“‘When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,’ said Piglet at last, ‘what’s the first thing you say to yourself?’

‘What’s for breakfast,’ said Pooh, ‘What do you say, Piglet?’

‘I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?’ said Piglet.

Pooh nodded thoughtfully. ‘It’s the same thing,’ he said.”

Pooh seems to find joy and excitement in even the smallest things. His philosophy is more of a live-in-the-moment kind of philosophy. He treats everything small just as important and special as anything else. Even breakfast is exciting. Pooh always appreciates the small things.

“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in our hearts.”

This is a very encouraging quote for me because it reminds me that, even if I can’t do something big for someone, I should at least do the small things like saying hi and seeing how they are doing because sometimes that means the most.

“‘What day is it?’ Pooh asked.

‘It’s today.’ Piglet said.

‘My favorite day.’ Pooh said.”

Pooh appreciate every day. Every day is his favorite and I think that sometimes we take days for granted.

Pooh also seems to understand people especially when it comes to friendship and love.

“‘How do you spell love?’ Piglet asked.

‘You don’t spell it you feel it.’ Pooh said.”

“‘We’ll be friends forever, won’t we, Pooh?’ Piglet asked.

‘Even longer’ Pooh said.”

“‘Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.’”

That last one is so important because we often judge others based on what they look like, but once we get to really know them and see the beauty inside, we almost can’t imagine how to live without them.

Pooh also knew that sometimes you have to go and make friends.

“‘You can’t stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.’”

Pooh’s friends have some great things to say too. Like tigger who understands just how important friendship is.

“‘I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Never, no, never. Your friendship is the best present ever.’”

I absolutely agree. I would never trade the friendships I have for anything. They have been such a blessing that I can’t help but agree with Tigger, “Never, no, never”.

Probably my favorite quote actually comes from Christopher Robin, another character created by A. A. Milne that was one of Pooh’s best friend. He always reminds Pooh of this…

“‘You are braver than you believe, stronger than you think, and smarter than you think.’”

What a great thing to remember. When you are down and think that you are not good enough just remember this. I know I struggle to remember that I am braver than I believe. Sometimes when I feel really weak I have to remember that I am stronger than I seem. When you are struggling in school and think that you aren’t smart enough to do something just remember that you are smarter than you think.

Goodbye.