For people who know me well, you will know that I have a love for Winnie the Pooh. The story is enchanting, and it was written with such skill and beauty with many underlying messages. All of the characters have been said to have some form of illness; Winnie has an addiction problem (honey), Tigger has ADHD, Owl is dyslexic (despite being exceedingly bright), Piglet has an anxiety disorder, Rabbit has OCD, Kanger Roo has social anxiety disorder, and Eeyore has depression. I cannot tell you how incredible the stories of Winnie the Pooh are - truly captivating.
So why am I telling you this? Well, today I read a quote about Eeyore which was amazing, I think it really sums up what being a true friend to someone with depression is all about. It reads 'One awesome thing about Eeyore is that even though he is basically clinically depressed, he still gets invited to participate in adventures and shenanigans with all of his friends. What is amazing is that they never expect him to pretend to feel happy, they never leave him behind or ask him to change, they just show him love'. What I think is truly remarkable is the fact that all these, albeit fictional, characters have their own problems, and perhaps this is why they never judge Eeyore. They show him love and support. Despite the fact that he probably isn't the most fun to have around, he has a lack of energy and a negative outlook, they still want him to be around. To me, I believe they do this simply because they want to help their friend get better.
I know this seems somewhat silly to be ranting about Winnie the Pooh, but I honestly believe that A. A. Milne has created something that is outstanding. A children's book with so many beautiful, inspiring quotes, such as: "you're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think". It teaches children, and adults, to have self-confidence, to appreciate how massively important friends are, and about serious mental health illnesses. This is groundbreaking, as it seems that Milne is attempting to get rid of the stigma that still plagues mental health illnesses today.
So why am I telling you this? Well, today I read a quote about Eeyore which was amazing, I think it really sums up what being a true friend to someone with depression is all about. It reads 'One awesome thing about Eeyore is that even though he is basically clinically depressed, he still gets invited to participate in adventures and shenanigans with all of his friends. What is amazing is that they never expect him to pretend to feel happy, they never leave him behind or ask him to change, they just show him love'. What I think is truly remarkable is the fact that all these, albeit fictional, characters have their own problems, and perhaps this is why they never judge Eeyore. They show him love and support. Despite the fact that he probably isn't the most fun to have around, he has a lack of energy and a negative outlook, they still want him to be around. To me, I believe they do this simply because they want to help their friend get better.
I know this seems somewhat silly to be ranting about Winnie the Pooh, but I honestly believe that A. A. Milne has created something that is outstanding. A children's book with so many beautiful, inspiring quotes, such as: "you're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think". It teaches children, and adults, to have self-confidence, to appreciate how massively important friends are, and about serious mental health illnesses. This is groundbreaking, as it seems that Milne is attempting to get rid of the stigma that still plagues mental health illnesses today.