Do you remember the velveteen rabbit, the children's book about a stuffed bunny, who was loved so much by a child that he actually became a real rabbit?

I love this story for a number of reasons, particularly because the idea of something like this ever happening, well, it pulls my heartstrings pretty deep, but also because it

reminds me of a few things I've learned from the teachings of the late Tick Nathan on growth

and suffering. There's one particular part of the story in the Velveteen rabbit that I'd love to share with you.

The bunny is talking to a toy horse, right? So, here, sit with me. Close your eyes.

Now, if you haven't read the book, it's really fascinating, and I'm sorry that you missed it.

But if your eyes are closed, I want you to imagine this story, okay?

Because I'm going to actually read from the book.

The bunny is talking to a toy horse.

Right? So you got the image in your head.

And the horse offers him some wisdom that speaks to what we'll be talking about today.

Here we go. The skin horse begins first. Real isn't how you are made, the skin horse says.

It's a thing that happens to you. Hmm. Does it hurt? asked the rabbit.

Sometimes, said the skin horse.

When you are real, you don't mind being hurt.

Does it happen all at once?

I mean, like being wound up or bit by bed?

Oh, no, it doesn't happen all at once, said the skin horse. You become. It takes a long time.

Generally, by the time you are real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out,

and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things, these things don't matter at all.

Because once you are real, you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.

Oh, so good.

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