Early in the story a Velveteen Rabbit meets the Skin Horse who consciously awakens the rabbit when he explains, "Real isn't how you were made, it's a thing that happens to you." The story is about the journey of the Velveteen Rabbit learning about love and what it means to become real; a story that reflects the human sojourn we all take to discover our authentic selves. "All of us have an innate drive within us to become real, authentic and whole.