One of the most prolific writers of our times, Dr. Suess (Theodor Seuss Geisel) was born in 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts. Prior to sitting down to write today, I discovered there is an official Dr. Suess Day (on his birthday- March 2) that promotes reading to children and young adults. As an “obsolete child” which is how Suess referred to adults, I enjoy the wisdom of yhis author, whose works offer so much more than childish rhymes. Based on his recommendation (see #17 below), I hope you learn as I have.
- Today you are you. That is truer than true. There is no one alive that is YOUer than you.
- The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn the more places you’ll go.
- Think and wonder. Wonder and think.
- Why fit in when you were born to stand out.
- A person’s a person no matter how small.
- You’ll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut.
- Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.
- We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.
- You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.
- I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant is faithful 100%.
- You’re off to great places. Today is your day. Your mountain is waiting so get on your way.
- Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you could think up if only you tried.
- I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living.
- Today I will behave as if this is the day I will be remembered.
- Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.
- You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
- So the writer that breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads.
- If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good.
- Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.
- And will you succeed? Yes! You will indeed! (98 and ¾% guaranteed)
- 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.
- Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.
My gratitude to Dr. Suess for “looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope…to laugh at life’s realities.”
My favourite book by him is “O The Places You’ll Go”, which continues to inspire me at every stage of life. Which one of Dr. Suess’ books do you enjoy the most? Why?
I love Dr Suess books too. I also like the fact the the author faces a challenge head on and with wonderful out-of-the-box creativity. I heard that he was challenged to create a children’s book only using words on the lowest levels of Dolch word list (which in total contains 220 words). The internet sites The Cat in the Hat as the end result of that creative writing challenge. Also One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish covers over 75% of the Dolch words, too.
By making learning of the “tough” words that don’t follow the rules fun for kids to learn- he has helped many children overcome one of the toughest challenges of the primary years… learning to read! If you could read this, think back to who taught and helped you learn to read, and then acknowledge and express appreciate to them.