Deep in the Hundred Acre Wood …
PC: Kayla Potts
Nicflix
Some say “Christopher Robin” is a children’s movie. I would argue that while kids might love talking stuffed animals and silly characters, this movie hit me — somewhat an adult — on so many more levels than any lame little kid could even comprehend.
The movie starts with Christopher’s friends, an assortment of talking stuffed animals — I know, but bear with me (HA, puns) — saying goodbye as he’s leaving for boarding school. This marks a “growing up” moment in his life that basically starts his downward spiral into adulthood.
As college students, we get the insatiable urge to return to when life was simpler at LEAST twice a week. For some, that’s high school. For others it’s definitely NOT high school. For me, it’s when life consisted of being told to take naps, eat more and go outside to leave everyone alone. Ah, the good ol’ days!
Growing up, my mom would read “Winnie-the-Pooh” as I fell asleep. So this summer when we watched “Christopher Robin” together, it was about as nostalgic as it gets. But it wasn’t the nostalgia-factor that got me. It was how much the movie pinpointed my fears for the future. As Christopher Robin grows up in the movie, he becomes so focused on making the future better that he forgets to enjoy the present. His wife even tells him, “Your life is happening now, right in front of you and you’re missing it.”
College should be some of the best years of our lives, but we can miss them by focusing on only on the future. It’s scary to think we may not experience anything better than the brutal cycle of work, homework, sleepless nights and spotty-at-best social interactions. This fear keeps us planning for and working towards a better future, robbing us of our present.
At one point in the movie Pooh asks Christopher Robin what day it is. Christopher tells him, “It’s today, Pooh.” And Pooh says, “Ah, my favorite day.” Isn’t that flippin’ adorable?! Such a simple, yet powerful mindset. Most of us would say, “I can’t put ‘today’ in my planner! That answer is unacceptable, Christopher! You’re useless.” That’s because our priorities are whack. Not Pooh’s though!
“Christopher Robin” taught me to make today my favorite day. Adulting doesn’t mean you have to “grow up” and leave fun and imagination behind. Growing up just means continuing to grow into who you are and who you want to be. Take a breath and live in the moment, because this moment is all you have.
-Your Friendly Neighborhood Movie Guy
WARNING: If you didn’t grow up in the Hundred Acre Wood, you might want to wait until it’s out of theatres.
Nicholas Morrison is a senior studying graphic design.