Bugs Bunny was a mainstay in my home growing up. We loved the multitalented "wabbit" who ran around chasing anvils and crafting wily plans. He certainly is something else. As a kid, I didn't think much of it beyond that.
Yet, Bugs has a unique philosophy I have come to appreciate as I've grown. He is a spitting image of the Jungian archetype of the "trickster" (Błocian, 2020). Perhaps we all could learn a thing or two about enjoying our human lives from his whimsical ways.
Here are five things Bugs Bunny can teach us about lighthearted living
1. "What's up, doc?" —Bugs Bunny
Bugs' signature catchphrase, "What's up, doc?" captures the absurdity of social hierarchies of all kinds. Our species has a tendency to get caught up in power dynamics. Yet, if we can loosen our grip on some of those ideas, we might open ourselves to getting to know each other in a new way.
2. "I'm not lost; I'm just taking the scenic route." —Bugs Bunny
Whether he is distracting Elmer Fudd from a treasure hunt or running on literal air, Bugs is the personification of fearless curiosity. Research shows curiosity as a marker of well-being and meaning in life (Kashdan and Steger, 2007). As well, the cultivation of curiosity can motivate us (Silvia, 2012) to try new things and imagine opening our worlds to a universe of possibility. Maybe we could all gain some joy from taking the scenic route.
3. "Eh, I don't ask questions, I just have fun." —Bugs Bunny
I live on questions. I love trying to figure things out. Yet, taking time to wonder and let go of our plans also has virtue.
4. "Gee, ain't I a stinker" —Bugs Bunny
We tend to take ourselves quite seriously. Maybe too seriously. With his repeated, subtle remarks on his follies, Bugs doesn't so much. When we let go of rigid ideas about how we should be seen, we free ourselves to take life in as we are and to really live.
5. "What's the hurry?" —Bugs Bunny
Life goes by fast. Yet, somehow, we are often racing. We can spend a lifetime chasing goal markers. Time can become like a checklist of tasks. Finish school. Get a job. Find a partner. Have kids. Yet, it's not accomplishments but processes like conversations, relationships, and offbeat memories that make life worthwhile. Maybe we could all take more time to experience life as we wander toward what matters to us.