fuonlyknew

MY REVIEW

Bear was such a gentle friend to Boy and shared with him answers to some hard questions. Some of Boy’s worries might not come to mind as adults. What seems minor to us could be huge to a child. Me, I found much of Bear’s advice helpful even as a grownup. My son asked questions I struggled to answer and I would have loved to have Bear as my sounding board.

I enjoyed this book from cover to back flap. It was filled with wisdom and delightful illustrations. I’d recommend you keep it within reach when you and child feel like reading together.

5 STARS

Excerpt from the book: Meaning and Purpose

“Bear, what is this all about? Why are we here? What am I supposed to do? I really just want to play a lot and have fun!

What Bear Said

Well, yes, we ARE here to play. Look at our beautiful playground! AND, we have to eat, and stay warm (pick berries and find a den), and that takes some work. The tricky part is keeping it all balanced.

What is this really all about? It is The Great Mystery. Many ideas have been shared, but no one really knows for sure. Perhaps we are close to the answer when we are feeling the happiest, when we have found our “place in the woods,” have loved ones who love and appreciate us, and when we have found our unique gifts—those things we are good at and have passion for—and are offering them to the world.”

My answer to the question, “What is this life all about?” has gotten simpler over the years.  I used to have a lot of dogma to share from my early days of religious and theological study.  Then I moved into much more psychological explanation for things and then more spiritual, generic language. As Bear’s answer reflects, I have drawn from all those earlier orientations and distilled it down. As corny as it sounds, I really do believe love is the answer to most questions. I am a relational person. How I am with people in my life is the most important thing. Am I kind, loving, honest? Can people count on me? Do they know I care? Do I like myself? I know when I am using my abilities, like illustrating or communicating, or even playing tennis, I am happier and feel fulfilled. When I invite a friend to meet me for breakfast or a cup of coffee, I feel richer, happier. When I stop what I’m doing because a blue jay is pecking on my kitchen window and go out and feed him or her some peanuts, I feel happier.  Anytime I enter the natural world and make conscious contact with it, I feel calmer, peaceful and even more hopeful.

Is there some lofty mission I have in this world? I used to think I did. I literally felt I should somehow save the world. These days I believe if a give a friend a ride to their doctor’s appointment or tell someone I appreciate their good work, I have, in some degree, fulfilled my mission for today as a human being.

I think it is important these days to help children have very real, direct experiences of honest, loving, in-depth communication with others—their peers or adults—that happens in person, not on a screen. They need to be really seen and heard by a real person they see and hear. We all need that! This is the main way they will learn what their strengths and gifts are which they can offer the world.

Finally, I think it is good for kids to hear that adults don’t have it “all figured out.” When Bear says, “It is the Great Mystery,” I hope that can light a little fire of curiosity in a young reader. It is important to continue at all ages to find “wonder” in living, to be amazed at the unknowns and unexplainable parts of our world and Universe. It’s really okay to seek answers and to recognize nobody has them all figured out.