a Very Happy Thursday
Posted on 09. Apr, 2009 by Deb in Observations, The Girl
Today my father had cataract surgery and I needed a book to pass the time, so I borrowed The Tao of Pooh from my oldest daughter. I didn’t have much reading time, as my mother was happy to chat about family drama and share her opinion on a variety of topics, but I did get through the first couple of chapters. Benjamin Hoff does a nice job of describing Taoism and relating it to the classic AA Milne Characters of Winnie the Pooh and the other inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood. Pooh, the author explains, is the Western World’s Taoist, explaining that Pooh may be simple minded, but that does not equate to stupidity. Instead, he sees Pooh as “mirror-minded” and is thus the hero of the stories, rather than the other characters who appear more clever, like the Book Smart Owl or the Ever Clever Rabbit.
I am striving these days to learn something out of each book I spend time reading and a discussion between Pooh and Piglet rang very true to me in how I see the Real World:
“Rabbit’s Clever,” said Pooh thoughtful.
“Yes,” said Piglet, “Rabbit’s Clever.”
“And he has Brain.”
“Yes,” said Piglet, “Rabbit has a Brain.”
There was a long silence.
“I suppose,” said Pooh, “that that’s why he never understands anything.”
It’s a good lesson, one that I need to remind myself of, as well as the actual owner of the book. Cleverness is a good thing, but if we allow our brains to overrule our hearts, we can never understand the lessons that sometimes mean the most. And I thought that a fitting thing to share today, since the discussion between Pooh and Piglet began on a Very Happy Thursday.
My father did well in the surgery and we had a late lunch of eggs and toast.
Tomorrow is Good Friday and Sunday is Easter. I hope you have a good holiday weekend planned. And a Very Happy Thursday.
Nothing | Deb Smouse
13. Apr, 2009
[...] in the sounds and smells of the ocean while doing what many would see as “nothing”. I mentioned the other day that I am reading the Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff and towards the end of the book, the author [...]