Each New Year, positivity reigns as people make resolutions to change or improve their lives. The internet is full of quotes to inspire and encourage us and many are attributed to the characters from Alan Alexander Milne’s books.
Today (January 18) is A. A. Milne’s birthday. He was born 147 years ago, and his characters are immensely popular, with Pooh merchandise being the second most lucrative after Mickey Mouse.
Disney now holds the copyright to the characters and has ensured that each new generation of children falls in love with the charming inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood.
- A. Milne is renowned for his Pooh books, but did you know that he was actually a playwright, a screenwriter for the British film industry and author of murder mystery novels? He was assistant editor for Punch magazine, but it was only after the birth of his son Christopher Robin, in 1920, that he began to write children’s books based on his son, his stuffed toy animals and on walks they had together in the Ashdown Forest in East Sussex. Punch cartoonist Ernest Howard Shepard illustrated the books.
In 1982, Benjamin Hoff wrote The Tao of Pooh, which demonstrates a surprising similarity between the basic principles of Lao Tzu’s 2,000-year-old philosophies of Taoism and the Pooh characters.
Taoism teaches that we should live in harmony, embracing the natural flow of the universe in order to achieve simplicity and balance in our lives. Uniqueness is celebrated and everyone and everything is seen to have a purpose. Spontaneity is encouraged whilst emphasizing self-discovery and the pursuit of inner wisdom and guidance through the observation and teachings of the natural world.
According to Taoism, life’s challenges should be faced with an open mind and resilience, adapting to circumstances without resistance.
Winnie the Pooh’s ‘life’ encompasses Taoism and its concepts of Wu Wei, which means ‘effortless doing’ and of ‘pu’, accepting things as they are. He enjoys the little things simply without complications and accepts himself for who he is. His laid-back perspective leads to simple yet profound insights into life’s challenges allowing him to patiently wait for answers to his problems and letting the calming natural way of things happen on his journey.
Owl and Rabbit, on the other hand, overthink matters, while the pessimistic Eeyore worries and complains about everything.
I would like to be more like Pooh and just go with the flow, but, in reality, I am more like Eeyore worrying about what might happen and what if …
The New Year provides the opportunity for a refresh, a new start, so here are my 10 resolution suggestions for 2024 based on the Pooh characters and on Taoism philosophies.
1) Have an optimistic and positive outlook on life and develop inner strength to overcome any obstacles. Christopher Robin said: “You’re braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.” If you ever feel vulnerable, remember Piglet words, “it is hard to be brave when you’re only a very small animal”, but he faced his fears to help his friends and overcame adversity. Pooh’s outlook is that “when life throws you a rainy day, play in the puddles” and even pessimistic Eeyore said, “it never hurts to keep looking for sunshine”.
2) Be the best of you. Everyone is unique and worthy and able to make a change in the world. Piglet said: “The things that make me different are the things that make me, me”.
3) Be ambitious, believe in yourself while understanding your abilities, gifts and limitations and also learn to slow down and embrace Wu Wei. Do not set yourself unrealistic goals. Be confident in who you are and develop coping mechanisms for stress management, asking for help if needed. As Pooh said, “a fish can’t whistle and neither can I”. Go with the natural flow because “some can and some can’t. That’s how it is”.
4) Foster a positive mind set and let go of things that are not meant to be for you or that give you stress. “It could be worse. Not sure how, but it could be.” Eeyore wisely said.
5) Work on personal development and growth. Learn a new skill or start a new hobby. Make the effort to do new things because, as Pooh said, “I must go forward where I have never been, instead of backwards where I have” and “you cannot stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.”
6) Plan days out, try new experiences and add adventures to your life. Be like Piglet when he says, “I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?” Everything we do creates memories. “We didn’t realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun.” Pooh rightly says, “Sometimes the smallest things take the most room in your heart.”
7) Cherish, value and strengthen existing relationships, spend more quality time with family and friends. Pooh believes “a day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey left inside” and “any day spent with you is my favourite day”. Even Eeyore said: “After all, one can’t complain. I have my friends.”
8) Compassion, moderation and humility are the three virtues of Taoism. Practise gratitude daily and engage in acts of kindness and giving back. Eeyore said that “a little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference”. Treat others as you would hope to be treated for Kanga explains “however big Tigger seems to be, remember he wants as much kindness as Roo”.
9) Taoism has a holistic approach to health focusing on the balance of energy Qi in the body and promoting physical and mental health and spiritual well-being. Plan to Top of Form
exercise more, eat a better diet and work towards less stress in your life for “a bear, however hard he tries, grows tubby without exercise”.
10) Make time for yourself to relax and empty your mind, another of the Taoism philosophies. This is particularly relevant in today’s world where people are constantly distracted by media. Do not underestimate the value of doing nothing of “just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering”. Clear your head through Taoism’s meditation, Tai Chi or Qigong. Sit and listen to the birds or enjoy the silence on a sunny day. Pooh often does, “people say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day”.
Our future is unknown, but approaching life positively like Pooh can only be good for us.
Happy Healthy Positive New Year!
So now you know!
By Isobel Costa
|| features@algarveresident.com
Isobel Costa works full time and lives on a farm with a variety of pet animals! In her spare time, she enjoys photography, researching and writing.
