"So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads." — Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss, truly a brilliant man! From "I do not like your hat" to "One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish" he has influenced my life. Who knew that some of his most poignant lines would still affect me today? Of course I read many Dr. Seuss books with my mom growing up and in return read many more with my girls. One book I NEVER heard of though was "Oh the places you'll go!" which I heard for the first time, when my oldest completed grade 7. What a book! Insightful, true, amusing and relevant to what we live in our daily lives.
"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." — Dr. Seuss (Oh, the Places You'll Go!)
Simple, true and deep. We can read his story and enjoy the rhyming, pictures and images we take away. We can also read the story and realize that so much of what happens to us in life is not really all that important as much as it may feel life altering when we are in the moment. The last few weeks have taken a bit of a toll on me. One of my poetry readers saw this and reached out to me, thank you L. P. It meant a lot. I am OK though. I just had to re-center myself, determine who I am and what I am made of. I had to separate the what from the who and let myself make do. (Am I starting to sound like Dr. Seuss?)
I think I have done that. Often when life happens it feels targeted and personal, but it isn't. Oh, not that people aren't building their own empires and looking out for number one rather than looking at how the ends reached the means, but I don't have to be a part of it. Even when situations occur that indirectly involve me, my life or my family, there is usually another purpose driving it. I am me, I don't deliberately try to hurt people, I speak my mind but try to be respectful while doing it, I hope I am really listening to the other person and not just waiting for them to quit talking until it is my turn and even if it is directed, targeted or personal, I can walk away. It sure can be hard at times though!
"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 one who'll decide where to go..." — Dr. Seuss (Oh, the Places You'll Go!)
So, when life brings me confusion and despair, I can turn and move those feet and walk away. I steer myself, no one else. I do have brains in my head and I will decide where I go! We all lose face at times or make mistakes or get involved in a circular discussion that isn't going to move forward. That is when I can decide to walk on... (Maybe you can tell I got a little nap in today and my mind is more clear.)
In conclusion, read Dr. Seuss your whole life, the man is brilliant! (I don't think he was really a Dr. but he cured me so I am going to bow to the great man!) In one of my old lives and previous personalities, when we went out on home visits we had our own Dr. Seuss book - "Looking for a spouse in the house" - don't worry we often found them in the cupboard, bathroom or garage hiding... maybe that isn't what the Dr. was looking for?
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