I will always love The Cat in the Hat most of all but my childhood memories are filled with Dr Seuss books scattered all over the show and talking in rhyme because that's what you do once Horton or the Grinch creep into your childish life. My love for Dr Seuss have never wavered and I was bitterly?disappointing?when my nephews didn't want to watch and Horton or Grinch with me over these holidays. Most of the time it's silly rhymes but we all know that Seuss had a message behind everything he ever wrote.
2012 has gotten off to an interesting start for me and the opportunities are arriving at a fascinating pace. I'm still battling to distinguish whether my calm is the anticipation for disappointment or the realisation that THIS IS IT. Either way, I've needed something to settle the pointless thoughts that are floating around in my head.
How better than a gift from my best friend, Greggie! What better than a dose of Dr Seuss in the most conventional of ways. Especially today! Especially when the first week of work is done for this year and I am determined to make this year a whole lot about faith and very?minuscule amount of fear.
Did I say that 2012 is a 5 year? If you add the year date together ... 2 + 0 + 1 + 2 = 5!
5 is an?interesting?numerology energy with the two sides of the coin being way out creativity and desperate chaos. The best way to control it all and keep 2012 from becoming a vomit roller coaster ride ... is to be as creative as possible.
I started it with food and am slowly moving into all areas of life ... but holy crap, it's still a story to keep from freaking at times!
In steps Dr Seuess 😉
So this is my plan, to keep me who I am. I'm going to get me a board, for papers to hoard. They shall all have a story, filled with hope, love and glory. Although my teachings will surely grow, I've decided to begin it with ... Oh, the places You'll Go!
Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own.? And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.
You'll look up and down streets.? Look 'em over with care.
About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.
And you may not find any
you'll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you'll head straight out of town.
It's opener there
in the wide open air.
Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.
And when things start to happen,
don't worry.? Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.
OH!
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!
You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.
You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
Except when you don't
Because, sometimes, you won't.
I'm sorry to say so
but, sadly, it's true
and Hang-ups
can happen to you.
You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You'll be left in a Lurch.
You'll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you'll be in a Slump.
And when you're in a Slump,
you're not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.
You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted.? But mostly they're darked.
A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out?? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?
And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.
You can get so confused
that you'll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place...
...for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.
Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.
NO!
That's not for you!
Somehow you'll escape
all that waiting and staying.
You'll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.
With banner flip-flapping,
once more you'll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you're that kind of a guy!
Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored.? there are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame!? You'll be famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.
Except when they don't.
Because, sometimes, they won't.
I'm afraid that some times
you'll play lonely games too.
Games you can't win
'cause you'll play against you.
All Alone!
Whether you like it or not,
Alone will be something
you'll be quite a lot.
And when you're alone, there's a very good chance
you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.
But on you will go
though the weather be foul
On you will go
though your enemies prowl
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.
On and on you will hike
and I know you'll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.
You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)
KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
you're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!
Download more of Dr Seuss on ebook
Moving mountains, immediately made me think of a quote from "Treasure Planet":
"Now, you listen to me, James Hawkins. You got the makings of greatness in you, but you got to take the helm and chart your own course. Stick to it, no matter the squalls! And when the time comes you get the chance to really test the cut of your sails, and show what you're made of! Well, I hope I'm there, catching some of the light coming off you that day. "
Great things indeed. 🙂
My recent post Forever Young
Totally love this ... thank you for sharing my friend! 😉
The Cat in the Hat was the first book I read by myself!
That is such a special memory ... wow! I remember every little detail about my book 😉