“A Sustaining Book, such as would help and comfort a Wedged Bear in a Great Tightness”
- By Gina LaRoche
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“Great Tightness” was the phrase that caught my attention first. That is what scarcity feels like to me. Am I “Wedged in a Great Tightness” like Winnie-the-Pooh was wedged in Rabbit’s door? All Pooh had to do to get free was wait a week – don’t eat and then have his community push him out.
This feels comforting to me. When I feel a “Great Tightness” maybe I just need to sit and wait and then have my friends give me the extra support I need to break free.
While I pondered the “Great Tightness” I also turned my mind to what “A Sustaining Book, such as would help and comfort a Wedged Bear in a Great Tightness” might be . . . then, what would a plain old Sustaining Book be? In my version of Winnie-The Pooh (from the The World of Pooh published in the United States by Dutton Children’s Books ©1957) Christopher Robin is reading an alphabet picture book and he is stopped on the letter J for JAM. I assume that since Pooh couldn’t eat honey or jam for the week Christopher Robin thought that reading to him about jam would make him feel better for not having any.
What would my Sustaining book be? If I were to have one read to me, particularly if I was in a “Great Tightness.” What would nourish and Sustain me in that moment?
Gina’s Sustaining Book, such as would help and comfort a Wedged Person in a Great Tightness:
| A And
B Bike C Courage D Dog E Enough F Flow G Goodness |
H Holding Hands
I Inquiry J Joy K Kite L Love M Mud N Nourish |
O Open
P Possible Q Quiet R Rain S Smile T Truth U Unconditional |
V Veggies
W Wonder X “X-ing x’s”** Y Yes Z Zero
|
**Sendak, M. Alligators All Around HarperCollins ©1962
