The wisdom of Christopher Robin

I can't believe I made it through childhood without reading the orginal Winnie the Pooh stories. I did have a wonderful childhood, though, full of stories and outdoors and make-believe. And while somewhat sadly finishing "The House at Pooh Corner" this morning with my children, I encountered this excerpt that describes the childhood I desire to give to my children: slow, simple, whole. Or as Christopher Robin says, "Nothing."

"I like that too," said Christopher Robin, "but what I like doing best is Nothing."

"How do you do Nothing?" asked Pooh, after he had wondered for a long time.

"Well, it's when people call out at you just as you're going off to do it, What are you going to do, Christopher Robin, and you say, Oh, nothing, and then you go and do it."

"Oh, I see," said Pooh.

"This is a nothing sort of thing that we're doing now."

"Oh, I see," said Pooh again.

"It means just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering."

"Oh!" said Pooh.