Finding Calm Amidst Current Events: How Winnie the Pooh uses the Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin
- Bruce Schutter
- Jul 26
- 5 min read
It was one of those crisp, sunny mornings — the kind where you head downtown for a diet soda and maybe, just maybe, a bit of people-watching. But as fate would have it, I ran into none other than Winnie the Pooh. Yes, the Winnie the Pooh — iconic red shirt, honey pot tucked under one arm, and a look of quiet worry behind those gentle eyes.
“Pooh!” I called, catching up to him.
He stopped, visibly relieved, as if I were a familiar face he’d been hoping to see. “Oh, hello, Bruce,” he said, adjusting his honey pot. “Well, you see… I’ve been a bit… bothered.”
“What’s going on?” I asked.
Pooh sighed and slumped a little. “It’s all the things in the world,” he said softly. “News of wars, arguments over elections, prices going up — even honey’s gotten too fancy for me. It just feels like the chaos of current events — is so heavy and depressing.”
I nodded, feeling the weight too. “I get it. It’s like the whole world’s stress sneaks into our heads — like we’re carrying a backpack full of worries we didn’t even pack ourselves.”
That’s when it hit me. I had just the thing to help.
“Pooh,” I said, reaching into my pocket, “let me show you something. ”I pulled out my Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin, held it in my palm, and watched as his eyes followed it curiously.
Warrior Solutions
Pooh’s eyes lit up with curiosity. “What’s that?”
“This,” I said, “is a Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin. I created it as part of the Mental Health Warrior Program.”
Now, Pooh already knows my story — how I spent 20 years battling Bipolar Disorder, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders, and PTSD. Challenges that left me feeling so powerless, I tried to end my life. But in that dark time, I discovered something life-changing: Mental health is the key to overcoming any challenge.
Armed with that knowledge — and everything I learned through my own journey — I created the Mental Health Warrior Program. A bold new SELF-HELP approach that puts YOU in charge! So you can take control of your emotions, overcome life’s challenges, and build the life you really want!
Pooh looked at the coin in awe, his round eyes wide. “It’s shiny! And… oh, what’s written on the back?”
I flipped it over and smiled. “The back of this coin displays the Mental Health Warrior Creed: ‘Bend Not Break.’”
“It’s a reminder,” I explained, “that as Mental Health Warriors, we don’t let life break us — even when things get tough. We bend, we adapt, and we keep moving forward on our journey.”
Then I handed him the coin. “And since you’re feeling weighed down by the world, Pooh, let me share 3 ways I use this coin — and the Warrior mindset — to stay calm during chaotic times and stressful news cycles.”
Example 1: Anchor Yourself in the Chaos
“When I hear something in the news,” I began, “something heavy that makes me feel a little hopeless or lost, I reach into my pocket and hold the coin. "The weight reminds me of the battles I’ve already faced — how I once felt powerless, but found the strength to take back control of my life."
The coin works because it’s physical. It brings my spinning thoughts back to the present.
The creed on the back — 'Bend Not Break' — isn’t just a motto, it’s a truth I’ve lived. It reminds me: I’m a warrior — and today, I will bend by staying centered. That grounded mindset becomes my path through the storm!”
Pooh’s Takeaway:
Pooh’s ears perked up as he gently held the coin. “So, it’s like when I feel a big storm is coming in the Hundred Acre Wood, and I start to feel all flustered. I hold the coin and think about all the times I’ve gotten through storms before.”
“Exactly, Pooh!” I said, smiling. “You don’t let the storm break you. You’ve weathered storms before — and you’ll weather this one too. The coin is your reminder of your strength.”
Example 2: Your Desk-Side Warrior Reminder
“I keep the coin on my desk while I work because—let’s be honest—sometimes the day just snowballs. Emails stack up, surprise projects hit, deadlines loom… it can get overwhelming fast.
But when I pause, glance at the coin and read the words Bend Not Break, it acts like a mini meditation. It grounds me. It reminds me: I am strong. I am in control. That shift puts me in a calm oasis — right in the middle of the chaos.
My day becomes filled with small triumphs because I’m responding from a grounded, empowered place — refusing to let the stress break me.”
Pooh’s Takeaway:
Pooh’s eyes brightened. “You know, sometimes when I’m trying to get honey and things aren’t going my way, I feel like giving up. But if I had the coin on my shelf, I could look at it and remember to be patient. I could try again without getting so upset.”
“Exactly, Pooh,” I nodded. “You don’t have to rush. The coin reminds us that strength isn’t loud — it’s about staying steady and calm, even when life gets tricky.”
Example 3: Control What You Can — Let Go of the Rest
I held the coin again and explained, “Pooh, there are so many things we can’t control — world events, the weather, or even how other people behave.
But when I hold this coin and read the words Bend Not Break, I’m reminded to shift my energy back to where my power actually is: right here, in this moment, with what I can do.”
“One thing I always do when the world feels overwhelming is go for a quick Walkabout with my sandbag. Even just 15 minutes clears my head and reminds me that I still have power over my choices, my breath, my movement. That’s something I control. It changes everything.”
Pooh’s Takeaway:
Pooh clutched the coin in his paw and nodded slowly. “I think that would help me when Rabbit gets worried about his garden. I get flustered too, like I have to fix the weather!
But maybe instead, I could tidy up the picnic blanket, or check our supplies, or just… breathe.”
I smiled. “Exactly, Pooh. You can’t stop the rain, but you can calm your mind and help your friends with what’s right in front of you. That’s what Warriors do — we focus on what we can do, and let go of what we can’t!”
Wrap Up
As we wrapped up, I knew what I had to do.
“Pooh,” I said, handing him the coin, “I want you to have your very own Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin — a reminder of the strength you already have to face whatever comes your way.”
Pooh’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. “For me? Really?” He held the coin up to the light, marveling at its shine. “Thank you, Bruce! I’ll keep it with me — and I promise to keep it out of the honey.”
I laughed. “Probably a good idea, Pooh.”
He tucked the coin safely away and gave me one of his famous bear hugs. “This is going to help so much. The next time something big happens — like a windy day or some scary news — I’ll hold this coin, read the words on the back, and remind myself that I’m strong enough to Bend Not Break.”
So the next time the chaos of the world starts to feel too heavy… do what Pooh does: Reach for your Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin. Hold it. Breathe. And remember — you are a Warrior — You’ve faced storms before and you have the power to rise again!
Bruce Schutter
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