Life Lessons: Honey, Massive Smiles And A Cropped Red Tee - Winnie The Pooh
So, before I started writing this blog, I was chatting to my mother on whether perhaps I am having a quarterlife crisis all whilst looking for life insights from a bear that loves honey and wondering if I might end up being sent to a room with padded walling....but then she reminded me, “you are 40 and well anything I am having would be considered a midlife crisis” - thanks mom!
I digress; the purpose of this blog was really to share some amazing personal life insights on something I have learned through some of my trials and tribulations or at least provide what has worked for me and what I have learned from others in this journey called life. It appears even at 40, one can still be affectionately called by your nick name “Se Bear”. So I guess it would make sense then that my alter ego is the one and only Pooh Bear. Well I am the first to demolish any blog, vlog, book or text that comes from the likes of my life mentors - you know the ones, the ones that don’t have a bear they look up to (or who knows maybe they do?) Gary Vaynerchuck, Tony Robbins, Zig Ziglar & Lisa Nichols to name a few, I remember reading something from Robin Sharma (another phenomenal life mentor) where he speaks about ensuring no matter what you do - always keep learning and take away something from every life experience, book and/ or even film. I always take that into consideration and look at how, whatever I am doing currently, is it helping me to be better - in life, love and well everything really? So, where am I going with this, well to be honest - this is my ode to all things Winnie the Pooh, because he has taught me so much about life through his cheeky little jaunts and journeys in the Hundred Acre Wood.
In saying this all, I have to be honest, being 40 and having an obsession with a bear, made me think twice before revealing this truth, but I really just want to be authentic with you all. So Pooh is that bear, he is one of my biggest life teachers and reminds me daily - that I so have this – life that is, and that I can keep on keeping on! Truth be told, he might be round and furry and perhaps I am taking what Robin Sharma said too far (I’m an all or nothing type of person just by the way) but I literally see Pooh as a mentor. Now don’t laugh, but during my dark phase with my really close friends, family and my amazing champ Pilot, all living well over one or two long haul flights away, I sometimes needed (and still do need) a little safety net and I’ve found my little safety net in Winnie the Pooh.
My “blankey” (remember those - the blankey that your parents took away from you when you were wee little cause you really had to grow up at some stage) he has been hugged, cried on and well carried to Los Angeles, France, London and Australia to name a few - all while away on business because he is the one thing that appears to get me and he seems to agree with everything I say! Jokes aside, I have seriously thought about starting an "On adventures with Pooh" social account but hey, who has time for “crazy” stuff like that, instead however, I have tried to understand my infatuation for my fluffy friend and perhaps take something positive away from this obsession instead of dismiss it as a quarter life crisis thing. I would rather be a human who can learn not only from other amazing humans, but from every little thing life can show and share us and Pooh, a round little bear with no rods, just happens to be one of them.
So, if you still reading at this stage, and not horrified or calling someone to come save me - I promise you, these are the great lessons I have personally taken from Pooh. I really believe there is some merit in sharing this with you all, cause well sharing is caring and perhaps, whether it is one or two things I can impart with you all in some way, shape or form and help you find another way of looking at life and life's situations best or hell, even remind you that you are not crazy and that any dark place you are in will make you wiser, stronger and braver, then the world will be a better place. So, while I have so many little pearlers that I would love to share from the main man of fuzz himself, below are a couple of the life lessons that I have taken and applied and worked into my life from the one and only Winnie the Pooh.
1) Healthy Body and a Healthy Mind
"A bear, however hard he tries, grows tubby without exercise" – Winnie the Pooh
Oh yes, I owe some of my morning trundles around the park partly to Pooh. Making sure you get moving through exercising is the best way to look after yourself and it really is time that you can take out for yourself and well let’s be honest, no one has ever really got back from a session and regretted it. We all know exercise helps creating more positive thoughts by releasing serotonin - so if you having a bad day - get out, if not for you - do it for Pooh!
2) If you want something go get it!
"You can’t just sit in the corner of the forest and wait for people to come by”- Winnie the Pooh
It’s so simple really. But what is easy to do, is easy not to do. If you want ANYTHING for your life - you have to get up and make it happen for yourself. No excuses. You have whatever you need inside of you - you just need to believe it. Baby steps - it’s all starts with you! Take ownership of life and grab it by the horns and enjoy the ride peeps!
3) Appreciate the little things in life!
"Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon" – Winnie the Pooh
It’s the little things, like having Pooh to accompany you on your business trips or to sit and watch telly with you at night cause well everyone else that you really love sits on another continent. Or the 7/11 that dominates Japan, which I am oh so very grateful for. At the 7/11 there is always a glass of wine, a cheeky whizzo or some of the tastiest treats that would make even Woollies proud. They are available any time and well ...(sidebar) I really think they should call it 24/7 - word - they open all the time. The ease of convenience with Japanese life is one of the many simple things I appreciate - daily. So maybe next time you will notice the little things in life you are so grateful for. So whether it’s your favourite cup of tea, lie in with a loved one, peaceful shower (or just those of you in Cape Town that can have a shower) - you name it....there really is so much to be appreciative for - just look around. After all, just look at Pooh - he finds so much joy in a pot of honey.
4) Keep conversations positive
“It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like “What about lunch?” – Winnie the Pooh
It’s so easy to get sucked in by the negativity and if you too are trying to get yourself out of a slump, a bad day, week or month - you really need to keep things positive. Surround yourself with all things happy and your world will really start to change. Because after all - we become what we think of. So, find your tribe. Pooh and his crew always try keep things positive and look for the best in any situation. The vibe tribe, stick with them - cause your energy flow is everything. Someone special once taught me - Always Be Super Vibey!
5) Always try your best
“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.” – Winnie the Pooh
I really try do this daily and specially when I am living in Japan and the language can be a challenge. Whether I have gotten lost, misunderstood a work email or just have a challenge doing daily things as one does in a foreign city like buy flour instead of salt (cause well it’s all white anyway), I have learnt, I can only do my best. Your best will always differ from time to time, but its key to remember when you do your best, your best always can only get better.
So here is to you Pooh, for teaching me so much about life and for always being up for an adventure. That smile is contagious and let’s be honest, who doesn't love a cute bear who wears nothing but a red tee and has a honey pot as an accessory and can still pull off a good look.
And to you, the you who is still reading this, no matter where you are in life or in this world, in the words of my favourite bear -
"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"
