Hello Loves,
And as the story goes …
It occurred to Pooh and Piglet that they hadn’t heard from Eeyore for several days, so they put on their hats and coats and trotted across the Hundred Acre Wood to Eeyore’s stick house. Inside the house was Eeyore.
“Hello Eeyore,” said Pooh.
“Hello Pooh. Hello Piglet “said Eeyore, in a Glum Sounding Voice.
“We just thought we’d check in on you,” said Piglet, “because we hadn’t heard from you, and so we wanted to know if you were okay.”
Eeyore was silent for a moment. “Am I okay?” he asked, eventually. “Well, I don’t know, to be honest. Are any of us really okay? That’s what I ask myself. All I can tell you, Pooh and Piglet, is that right now I feel really rather Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun To Be Around At All. Which is why I haven’t bothered you. Because you wouldn’t want to waste your time hanging out with someone who is Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun To Be Around At All, would you now.”
Pooh looked at Piglet, and Piglet looked at Pooh, and they both sat down, one on either side of Eeyore in his stick house.
Eeyore looked at them in surprise. “What are you doing?”
“We’re sitting here with you,” said Pooh, “because we are your friends. And true friends don’t care if someone is feeling Sad, or Alone, or Not Much Fun To Be Around At All. True friends are there for you anyway. And so here we are.”
“Oh,” said Eeyore. “Oh.”
And the three of them sat there in silence, and while Pooh and Piglet said nothing at all; somehow, almost imperceptibly, Eeyore started to feel a very tiny little bit better.
Because Pooh and Piglet were There.
No more; no less.
(A.A.Milne, E.H.Shepard)
Ohhh, the wisdom and heart of Pooh and Piglet …
I don’t know if I would been that wise and generous. I can imagine myself getting to Eeyore’s house and pulling out my bag of tricks, attempting to cheer Eeyore up.
Maybe I’d suggest a walk in the woods; that could be good medicine for Eeyore’s spirit.
Maybe I’d ask for some details about what was wrong, and after being a very good listener, I’d offer my antidote or some grand practice to fix the situation. I imagine I’d come up with some good, helpful advice that would show Eeyore how understanding and caring I am.
I can see myself pointing out the good things Eeyore has going for him and encouraging him to put his attention on those.
Sometimes I underestimate the value of just showing up as that kind of “Winnie-the-Pooh & Piglet” true friend.
No more; no less.
Let us sit with each other in loving friendship,
Sharon
