I came across a Facebook post with a photo of this poem on a piece of paper. When I looked at the engagement numbers, I could see the post had gone viral. So, I read it to find out why. I read it several times.
Not only was it insightful, but it was done in a light-hearted way. I could immediately see the meaning behind the poignant poem.
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In this life, I’m a woman. In my next life, I’d like to come back as a bear. When you’re a bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing but sleep for six months. I could deal with that.
(My take - Sometimes, as women, we always feel tired and like we never get enough sleep. It seems like everyone always needs us. A six-month nap does sound good.)
Before you hibernate, you’re supposed to eat yourself stupid. I could deal with that too.
(My take - As women, we are always trying to watch what we eat. We feel like we eat too much or don't eat the right foods to help keep us fit. Then, when we eat ourselves stupid, we feel guilty and we shouldn't.)
When you’re a girl bear, you birth your children (who are the size of walnuts) while you’re sleeping and wake to partially grown, cute, cuddly cubs. I could definitely deal with that.
(My take - Being a mom is great, but delivering a baby is hard. Then being the mother of a newborn is hard, too. Babies the size of walnuts instead of 8 lbs, and moving right past the sleepless night stage of newborns, would be amazing.)
If you’re a mama bear, everyone knows you mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too. I could deal with that.
(My take - Moms don't always get their fierceness validated. Women are often considered bitchy and bossy if they speak their minds. But, that never stopped me. A bear's personality would fit me, and most women I know, perfectly.)
If you’re a bear, your mate EXPECTS you to wake up growling. He EXPECTS that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat.
(My take - It's time to accept ourselves as we are, big belly, bad attitude, big hips, hairy legs, chin whiskers, and all. everyone around us needs to accept it, too. Mixed with the love and tenderness in our hearts, we make the perfect mama bears. 0 )
(My take - Me, too!)
- Author Unknown
