Pam Brown - In a world gone bad, a bear – even a bear standing on its head – is a comforting, uncomplicated, dependable hunk of sanity

Welcome to the Daily Quote – a podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm Andrew McGivern for November 7th.Today is National Hug A Bear Day – celebrating those faithful companions that have comforted children and adults alike for over a century.The teddy bear was born in 1902, named after President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt. After he refused to shoot a captured bear on a hunting trip, a political cartoon captured the moment, and a toy maker created a stuffed bear in his honor. The teddy bear became an instant sensation.What makes teddy bears special isn't just their softness – it's their constancy. They never age, never judge, never leave. They're there for the scraped knees, the first days of school, the lonely nights, and somehow, many of them survive well into our adult years.Writer Pam Brown perfectly captured their importance when she said:"In a world gone bad, a bear – even a bear standing on its head – is a comforting, uncomplicated, dependable hunk of sanity."Brown understands something essential: we all need something to hold onto when life gets complicated.Teddy bears don't require anything from us. They don't need to be fed, walked, or entertained. They simply exist to be there, offering quiet companionship without demands or conditions.In an increasingly complex world full of uncertainty, a teddy bear represents simplicity itself. Pick it up, and it's exactly what it was yesterday and will be tomorrow – soft, safe, familiar.That's not childish. That's wisdom.She may have been talking about teddy bears but in my neighborhood we have plenty of actual bears. Black bears galore.And we see them all the time. Walking down the street and in the trails by our house. My wife took the dog for walk a couple nights ago just after dark and there was a bear walking down the sidewalk right towards her. She didn't think it was comforting at all. But maybe if the bear was standing on it's head she would have thought that was funny. Anyway...Today, hug a teddy bear. If you still have your childhood bear, pull it out of storage. If your kids have one, respect its importance. If you don't have one, maybe it's time to get one – comfort has no age limit.Because Pam Brown was right. In a complicated world, sometimes the most sophisticated thing we can do is hold onto something simple.That's going to do it for today. I'm Andrew McGivern signing off for now but I'll be back tomorrow. Same Pod time, same Pod Station - with another Daily Quote.