I’m Rabbit. Who Are You?
Are you a huge Winnie-the-Pooh fan? Maybe not now as an adult, but were you once as a child? It’s no secret, I still am! Yep, at 46, I still love me some Pooh-Bear.
I recall not so many years ago, sitting in business meetings, glancing around the conference table, and before too long, Tigger would show up, and Eeyore, and aye-yai-yai, Owl too. Tiggers would always catch my attention. How could they not, as they bounced in, usually declaring, “Wouldn’t it be great if….” Tigger, with his ‘pie-in-the-sky, no-action-behind-his-words’ ideas.
Tiggers are my least favorite Pooh character—it’s the 
no-action behind some grand gesture that bothers me. Probably because being Rabbit (which I’m well aware is THE most annoying Pooh character), I would end up doing all of the actual work. But hey, Rabbits are well suited for work. We’re all about action, because we LOVE doing. When we’re doing, we can rant, direct, stomp around, then get burned on our yearly appraisal, and at some point, if we’re smart, we figure out how to be a little less Rabbit-like… at least on the outside.
Today, no longer in Corporate America, no longer receiving that annual appraisal, I’m free to rant, direct, and stomp all I want. But the joke’s on me, at least the old me. This is Life! And learning to be a little less Rabbit-like has served me well, Corporate America or not.
Change? For Others??
Hold up! Am I suggesting I alter myself for others? No, not for others. For me. In order to be my best me, and to love myself, I also quiet myself. Quiet myself so I can hear what?
My heart. The inside-voice who Knows.
I was reminded of this recently when I “accidentally” knocked down my childhood copy of Winnie The Pooh while dusting. The book landed gently before me, open to a page where Pooh, Piglet, and Rabbit were lost. Rabbit, the ever frantic, obsessive “DO-ER” (of which things must be done his way), kept steering the trio in circles in his moxie to problem-solve. Finally, quite disgusted, Rabbit departs.
Pooh tells Piglet, “Let’s go home.” “But Pooh,” cries Piglet, “do you know the way?” “No,” says Pooh. “But there are 12 honey pots in my cupboard, and they’ve been calling me for hours. I couldn’t hear them properly before, because Rabbit would talk, but if nobody says anything…I shall know where they’re calling from.”
There are no accidents.
Reminders come in all shapes and sizes. Reminders such as a worn and weathered childhood book, which landed squarely in front of me, open to a page bearing a message—just for me. And maybe for you, too. Quiet your mind. Quiet your being. Listen. You aren’t lost. All you seek is inside you.
The First Step To Letting Go
Why do I think so loudly that I cannot hear my heart? Why do I do so incessantly that I grow numb? And what is the perpetual hurry?—mostly a hurry to do more work. Even if you don’t live in Rabbit’s skin, you have hints of Rabbit, so you know what I mean.
In the previous two blog posts, it was not easy admitting my addiction to doing to you—how it has gotten the best of me in the past. It felt vulnerable and I didn’t like it. But I’m tired. And it was time. The first step to letting go is admitting, so I admitted. And you know what? The more I admitted, the more I let go. And continue to let go.
For the Rabbits and the doers and anyone who lives to problem-solve (ah, now I’m talking to you), see what message the following poem brings. As Mark Nepo explains in Seven Thousand Ways To Listen, what lies beneath the want to problem-solve is the need to being-solve.
“Coming Out”
While there is much to do
we are not here to do.
Under the want to problem-solve
is the need to being-solve.
Often, with full being
the problem goes away.
The seed being-solves its
darkness by blossoming.
The heart being-solves its loneliness
by loving whatever it meets.
The tea being-solves the water
by becoming tea.
~ Mark Nepo, Seven Thousand Ways To Listen
We are not here to do.
There is nothing to solve. There is no hurry.
There is only being.
“Rivers know this: There is no hurry. We shall get there.” ~ A. A. Milne
Yes, we shall get there. More to the point, we already are there.
Tigger Disclaimer
It takes all types: Rabbits who do, Poohs who ground, Kangas who nurture, Owls who pontificate, and even Tiggers, especially Tiggers, who dream big dreams, the perpetual optimists. No wonder Tigger is so loved. He’s adorable! And it’s my Rabbit-job to embrace him just the way he is. God makes no mistakes in creating us, and neither did A. A. Milne.
Addiction Series:
Today’s post is the third in a series on addiction. Here are the first two posts, in case you missed them:
“It’s your rabibit job to embrace Tigger just the way he is.” That is priceless, Leslie. And I have no doubt there are many Tiggers in your life…all of who are lucky to have you. Great post.
Yes Bill, I have plenty of Tiggers in my life, but it’s the Poohs I love so much — steady, grounding, supportive of their friends, no matter what. Thanks my Pooh-Bear-Friend! Love ya!
Another great post. Thank you, Leslie. I, too, am shifting from being a DO-er to a BE-er. Some people have a hard time with it. I work at self-compassion with it. To DO was bred into me from so many places, and I, too, am tired. I worry how people might see me if I am not DOing. That they will see me as lazy – someone with no drive. Again, self-compassion is the ticket. Only I know who I am and where I have been, truly. I ran myself into the ground for the first 1/2 of mylife – doing, doing – so eager to please and always with something to prove. Now – so many years of therapy and a huge dose of Brene Brown have brought me to a sweet spot. And funny enough – now I own a business called Gals Who Do Stuff. Really. Difference is – it’s all about doing what I feel passionate about and holding good boundaries. I deep The Book of Awakening at my bedside. It’s been there for years – all dog eared and marked up. Yep, right there with The Gifts of Imperfection. Yes. I do need to get a copy of Seven Thousand Ways to Listen. Mark Nepo comes up in my FB news reel, and I love his quotes from there. Thanks again and BE well.
You are in excellent company – Brene Brown and Mark Nepo (by the way, did you happen to listen to the interview I did with Mark Nepo? I posted it as a podcast. His voice is so soothing — it’s a similar experience to reading his books — kinda sublime).
Speaking of excellent company, I’m going to check out yours.
Thank you for the comment, Suzan!
Love,
Leslie
(P.S. to your point about ‘lazy,’ I’ve often said that you could call me anything, I mean anything, and nothing would sting worse than if you called me lazy. I’m still working on me, too.) 😉
Hey Leslie – The Gals site needs a lot of work, and my husband is the techy guy so there is a lot there that is not quite right on. You will, at least, get the jist of who I am. The more appropriate business description is actually in my Gals Who Do Stuff FB page in the “About” section if you want to check it out. I am a sole proprietor now – as of Jan 1st. My business partner went another direction. It was best for both of us. Things are kind of all over the map, but I am slowly pulling it together and making it mine. It takes time. I did go to the TLT wall before dinner just to check in and saw that Mark Nepo interview post. I am going to listen to it now. Good for you. Just seems like he’s got to be a cool guy. Off to listen…
Hey, you too? My husband is my tech guy as well!
I had already checked out your site and also figured out more about your company from your FB page. Sounds like you’re doing some excellent stuff. And as far as being all over the map, looks like you have a plan for that too. Without a partner, your vision will be more of a straight arrow type of thing — you’ll get there.
Sending much love your way,
Leslie
Thanks. Peace, love, joy and light back atcha.
Suzan
Hello Leslie,
I’m struggling to do just that in my life. I needed those words. I am much more than I believe, just have to quiet my mind and listen. I am a Rabit, or was forced to be one…
Thank you.
Vanda
Wise words…from one Rabbit to another. 😉
Love,
Leslie