“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day. Doing nothing often leads to the very best of something.” 

Although Winnie the Pooh may not be what many would traditionally consider as a serious philosopher, I propose to offer reconsideration for this willy nilly silly old bear’s admittedly profound words. Let’s begin this lecture with a few questions: What makes your day “meaningful”? How is a life lived with “purpose”? Is a day really “wasted” because you “did nothing”? Winnie the Pooh claimed that it is possible to “do nothing” every day, and he seems genuinely proud of it. How could “doing nothing” lead to the very best of “something”? 

In this hive-minded world that thrives on productivity, we are expected to always function as busy and efficient bees. Daily checklists ticked-off, and social media accounts updated with every accomplished task. Everything must be flaunted for the likes and the loves. Like the upbeat character of Tigger, we give in to the notion that life must always be showcased as bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy, and fun. Alas, living is not a carefree stroll through the Hundred Acre Wood—it’s more like a desperate run for survival through Jurassic Park. Your radiant optimism will be extinguished, and anything can overwhelm you. You will feel exhausted, gradually lose steam, and uncertainty will shroud your former sense of purpose. You could no longer bee yourself—pun intended. 

As a teacher, I encourage my students to find meanings in their accomplishments—as well as failures—but caution them against misconstruing being burned-out to mean being productive. When everything becomes overpowering, I advise them to breathe, loosen their grips, and at least for a moment, “do nothing.” With all their pent-up tensions and extreme pressures, they might produce diamonds by the time they graduate. The geology-related joke aside, I remind them that there will always be battles in life that just cannot be won. In the immortal words of the Beatles, when you find yourself in times of trouble, you just need to “let it be.” 

Echoing Taoist philosophy (read Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching), to “do nothing” does not strictly mean giving up and resigning to fate. It can mean a simple yet needed pause in life; like using a promising semicolon instead of a definite period to end a train of thought. It is often in the rare instances when we decide to pause, reflect, and “do nothing” that we finally find the time to look back at what we have done, assess how we are, and gauge how further we can go. Whenever Winnie the Pooh needed to reflect on his actions, he goes to his very own “Pooh’s Thotful Spot.” (Oh, the silly old bear and his struggles with spelling) “Oh, bother! What to do? Think, think, think…” Winnie the Pooh would mutter to himself, rubbing his head with his stubby little paws. He does not act desperately, instead he “does nothing” and allows himself to be immersed in the moment. He ponders, wonders, and wanders away with his thoughts—albeit mostly about honey. For the uptight character of Rabbit, Winnie the Pooh just wasted an entire day. But is “doing nothing” always for naught? 

To the overwhelmed and exhausted student reading these words, may this short lecture serve as a pot of warm honey for your tired soul. Take a thoughtful sip of the sweet circumstances of your life, but also learn to bravely swallow the bitter realities. Slowly close your eyes and tone down your cacophonic thoughts. They have become too loud for you to endure. Listed below are few of the many readings that can accompany you as linger in your own “Thotful Spot”: 

Hoff, Benjamin. The Tao of Pooh. London: Penguin Books, 1982. 

Milne, A.A. The House at Pooh Corner. London: Puffin Books, 1992. 

Wright, Robin. “The Moral Clarity of ‘Christopher Robin.’” New Yorker, August 23, 2018. https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-moral-clarity-of-christopher-robin. 

Homework: Sit down, read, reflect, and be immersed in “doing nothing”. It may unexpectedly lead you to the very best of “something”—whatever that may be for you. Find time to “think, think, think…” 

Class dismissed. 

Bianca Angelien Aban Claveria is Lecturer at the University’s History Department. She may be reached at bclaveria@ateneo.edu

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