In distant China in the Sichuan province, somewhere in the mountains in a bamboo forest, a panda sits. Yes, a black and white, fluffy panda. Do you remember exactly what it looks like?
It’s such a big, very big, huge, teddy bear. It seems to have such soft fur that you want to get up and stomp, stomp, stomp, to happily run up to it and cuddle up to it with all your strength. Put your pink cheek on its belly and sink into it. Why? To feel so delicately wrapped up, hidden. So safe.
And this panda, so far away from us (you can check with your mom, dad, grandma, grandpa or aunt, or whoever you want – where these mountains are), right there, now, in this other land, on the ground, in the middle of bamboo shoots, it sits and gnaws its thoughts with food:
– And this lion, what a beautiful mane he has, how dignified he is, and he can run fast and roar. Everyone respects him, and me? Who am I in comparison to him? – and snap, and he’s already chewing a shoot.
– Or a rabbit – tiny, fast, with looooong ears. He hops, hops, hops nimbly across the clearing. Not like me – I can barely move, and my ears are only black, short.
– Or fish… oh, they are amazing! They can be under water all the time, and how many beautiful colors they have and how incredibly they shimmer! And me? – and our panda looked at her paws – only the black and white one.
And do you know that it’s because of this contemplation that she has such dark circles under her eyes? The longer our panda is thinking, the longer she compares herself, the more she worries about it, the darker her eyes get! Can you believe that without these worries her face would be all white?!
Panda, warm bear, please – don’t compare yourself! Look at yourself with warmth and love! Look at yourself carefully! From the front and from the back. Look at your back, under your leg, look at your belly and face. Even under your armpit! Also look inside yourself – what you are like, what you like, what you value. Every inch of your body, every piece of fur, spot and bulge, but also everything that’s inside you – your thoughts and heart. You, panda, are wonderful! And do you know why? Because you’re unique! There’s no other like you in the whole world! See how calmly you move, how many warm feelings you evoke.
Look at yourself again! Only this time differently – with warmth.
Like all animals, but not only – also like all small, but also big girls, and small and big boys – you are extraordinary.
Of course, it is worth appreciating what is beautiful in others, and even what we do not like! But appreciating is not the same as judging. Do you feel the difference now? Small, large, fast, slow, delicate, or strong – they are simply different from each other. That’s all.
There are so many different animals in the world, and plants, and birds. Let the panda remain itself, just as it is
Good night.
