Eeyore

Eeyore, the old grey Donkey, stood by the side of the stream, and looked at himself in the water.  "Pathetic," he said. "That's what it is. Pathetic." He turned and walked slowly down the stream for twenty yards, splashed across it, and walked slowly back on the other side. Then he looked at himself in the water again. "As I thought," he said. "No better from this side. But nobody minds. Nobody cares. Pathetic, that's what it is."
Winnie the Pooh


I happen to know Eeyore, we dated briefly in college. Eeyore was (and still is) a nice guy, deeply sentimental, and suffered from the WOE-IS-MEs. A simple “no thank you, I do not want Chinese food this evening” could crush him, ruin his day, and cause him to write really awful poetry. He had scores of friends who went out of their way to protect his feelings. They thought they were bolstering his self-confidence, but I think it reinforced his selfish behavior. Of course he continued to express how pitiful he was; he got a lot of attention. “Notice me, notice me, I am so miserable”

Now I could be totally off, here. Maybe I should be more compassionate…I probably should. I also think that he needs a little perspective. I wish that he could step back from himself for just a moment to appreciate how much he does have. He has a job, first of all, not one that he loves, but it pays the bills and puts a roof over his head. He has brothers and sisters that care for him. He has enough to eat, and he still has scores of friends.


I believe that perspective is the cure for most bad days. On days that I feel sorry for myself, I remind myself that perspective is all around me. My neighbor’s husband deployed for 12 months. My friend is preparing for the birth of her child and the death of her mother at the same time. Another friend lost her young son in a tragic accident. There’s perspective for you.


If Eeyore would look up from his own reflection, he may find things looking a little brighter.