Tiny Teddy Bears

With a bright smile situated in between two round cheeks, a button nose the size of an almond, and big round eyes full of innocence. Chubby fingers that squish and stretch while squeezing mine. A silver bell of a giggle rang cheerily through my head, the kind of sound that could only put a smile on someone’s face. What a beautiful soul, so sweet and so innocent. A smile that could win any bad-tempered person calm. Hair so soft, and eyes so kind, the tiniest glance could steal any self-proclaimed ice-cold heart.

Kicking their feet, humming their tune, it hit me. This tiny teddy bear was worth it. This world wasn’t ready for them, and honestly, they were too good for the world anyways. Unchanged, innocent being, who hasn't been hardened by the cruel world. So, that’s why I’ve decided I will put every ounce of my being into protecting the innocent of such a creature. With nothing to fear of just yet, they cooed one more time. Through soft lips, you blow bubbles, such simple entertainment.

When you sit there wondering what silver lining this world holds, I hope you can close your eyes and envision the innocence that we all had and one point or another. The bright-eyed children who run in the streets, or the young make believers that play cops and robbers in the backyards. What a world we orchestrate for them to grow into. Through covered eyes and stuffed ears, we ignore what damage we've done. It feels easier than change. The world we paint for ourselves only multiplies for them. The round faces wishing to be caregivers, doctors, scientists, and artists, what will their options be when they come of age?

My smile fades and my heartaches. Tears would well up if it was more shocking than it is. I want things to change but what power do I have? Life has never been easy. This world has never been at peace and it never will, but we can try. Let's try to do better, not for ourselves but for them. We ultimately do better for ourselves but that's the last prize to our games. This game of life runs around all of the faces one after the other. A game of struggle, and a game of unfair rules.

What if things were just not as bad?

Tiny teddy bear, with skin so soft and eyes so bright, what will you be? Where will you go? A whole world behind your rose-tinted lenses, it’s fascinating. Your mind is clear, and your conscious is clean, but in this conniving realm, would you even make it? With infinite possibilities, we all are given a choice. The choice to make the changes in your life worthwhile, or to choose to do nothing at all. It's almost overwhelming to think about. I hope you never have to struggle with such problems.

When will things get better?

They say hard times make strong men. As well as strong men make for good times. While good times make for weak men. Then finally, weak men bring hard times, leaving the cycle to start all over again. Be the good in your surroundings and bring goodness to the world around you. Leave everywhere a little bit better than where it started. Teach others to not take things for granted and maybe just maybe we will be hopeful that our little teddy bears can live a better world than us.

Let's leave things for our future better than we found it. Then, maybe, we can find peace in ourselves and in others. Now sleep little one, tomorrow is a new day and you will conquer it as you have always been meant to do.