The Velveteen Principles: A Guide to Becoming Real - Hidden Wisdom from a Children's Classic - Toni Raiten-D'Antonio
The idea of "becoming real" through the process of a long journey of self-discovery, empathy, suffering and enlightenment is a powerful reflection of the goal of spiritual transformation in the Christian tradition. For this reason, I have always loved two children's stories - Pinocchio and The Velveteen Rabbit. Both stories communicate the challenge of becoming real. The latter, written in 1922, "follows life in a little boy's nursery where a new arrival, a stuffed bunny covered with inexpensive fabric, copes with the insecurity of being compared with the other playthings" (xi). Through the wisdom of the Skin Horse and the experience with the little boy, the bunny becomes "real". What is real? "Real is what happens when you become your true self - not a contrived, shiny, pretend thing - and are loved despite, and maybe even because of, your imperfections" (xii). Why does this so profoundly connect with us? "It reminds us of basic truths about our heartfelt longings. We all hope to live through life's challenges and grow beautiful and valuable and loved for what we are on the inside, for our Real selves" (xii). In some ways, this is a simple fable about the difference between superficial beauty and deep, inner beauty. In other ways, this is a more profound reflection on what it means to live a truly authentic human life - what it means to really love real people in the real world! We all feel defective in some way, like we don't measure up. This feeling increases when we compare ourselves to others (especially the manufactured world of illusion portrayed through contemporary media). According to Skin Horse, we need patience to become real ("It takes a long time to be real."). We also need, among other virtues, courage, empathy, generosity, and flexibility. In a world where everything happens quickly, a world of illusion that makes impossible demands on us, a world where humans are objectified, we desperately need the wisdom of the Skin Horse. Awakening to this may be painful, but it is necessary to be "real". This book is a beautiful reflection on the wisdom found in The Velveteen Rabbit. It will help you become real - and that's the most important thing in the world!