When Winnie The Pooh Was Scared
“Piglet” said Pooh. “Yes,” said Piglet. “I’m scared,” said Pooh.
For a moment there was silence. “Would you like to talk about it,” asked Piglet, when Pooh didn’t appear to be saying anything further.
“I’m just so scared,” blurted out Pooh, “so anxious, because I don’t feel like things are getting any better. If anything, I feel like they might be getting worse. People are angry because they are so scared and they’re turning on one another and there seems to be no clear plan out of here and I worry about my friends and the people I love and I wish so much that I could give them all a hug. And, oh, Piglet, I am so scared and I cannot tell you how much I wish it wasn’t.”
So Piglet was thoughtful as he looked out at the blue of the skies, peeping between the branches of the trees in the hundred acre wood and listened to his friend.
“I’m here.” He said simply. “I hear you, Pooh, and I’m here.”
For a moment Pooh was perplexed. “But aren’t you going to tell me not to be so silly that I should stop getting myself into a state and pull myself together that it’s hard for everyone right now?” “No,” said Piglet quite decisively. “No, I am very much not going to do any of those things.”
“But,” said Pooh,
“I can’t change the world right now,” continued Piglet. “And I’m not going to patronize you with platitudes about how everything will be okay, because I don’t know that. What I can do, though, Pooh, is, I can make sure that you know that I am here and that I will always be here to listen and to support you and for you to know that you are heard. I can’t make those anxious feelings go away, not really, but I can promise you that all the time I have breath left in my body, you won’t ever need to feel those anxious feelings alone.”
And it was a strange thing because, even as Piglet said that Pooh could feel some of those anxious feelings start to loosen their grip on him, could feel one or two of them start to slither away into the forest, cowed by his friend who sat there solidly next to him.
Pooh thought he had never been more grateful to have Piglet in his life.
Excerpt inspired by Winnie-the-Pooh, a 1926 children's book by A. A. Milne.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to the notion of holding space as an authentic response to a difficult problem? Can you share a personal story of a time you held space for someone? What helps you commit to being there for someone as a witness without judgment?
Add Your Reflection
27 Past Reflections
On Nov 3, 2023 Dave wrote :
Post Your Reply
On Nov 2, 2023 Paul wrote :
Post Your Reply
On Nov 2, 2023 Sandip Sheta wrote :
Post Your Reply
On Nov 2, 2023 Barbara S. wrote :
Post Your Reply
On Oct 31, 2023 Kate Beebe wrote :
Post Your Reply
On Oct 31, 2023 Susan wrote :
Post Your Reply
On Oct 31, 2023 David B wrote :
Key is allowing whatever is arising to be there so it can be felt and resolved. Not taking it personally or giving it special weight or resisting the experience, but simply allowing it to be there. Then we can move through it quickly and help the collective.
Post Your Reply
On Oct 31, 2023 Natalie wrote :
Thank you, for sharing.
Post Your Reply
On Oct 31, 2023 Yvonne wrote :
Post Your Reply
On Oct 31, 2023 Melissa wrote :
3 replies: Amy, Dave, Dan | Post Your Reply
On Oct 30, 2023 Mandy wrote :
1 reply: Annie | Post Your Reply
On Oct 27, 2023 David Doane wrote :
Post Your Reply
On Oct 26, 2023 Stream wrote :
My son, has been without home , on the streets, with what I would call a mental health breakdown coupled with meth addiction. I was well aware of serenity prayer and that despite being able to see what would be a better path for him also aware that he would need to choose to change. I walked streets with him and listened and watched from as close as I could without interfering with his autonomy which was very important to him.
What helps me be there as a witness without judging is LOVE.
6 replies: David, Annie, Barbaras., Becky, David, Stream | Post Your Reply
On Oct 26, 2023 Jagdish P. Dave wrote :
Post Your Reply