The Great Balancing Act.

August 5th, 2011

Will you succeed?
Yes! You will indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)

Who didn’t grow up having a favorite Dr. Seuss book? Mine was “The Cat in the Hat.” I was in awe of that mischievous cat who caused a big pink household mess for two kids while their mother was away, only to clean it up just in time. I take great pleasure in giving Dr. Seuss books as gifts for children, but had never bought one only for myself until last week when I purchased “Oh, the Places You’ll Go.”

I first read this modern classic as an adult. It lay out as a coffee-table book at my father’s house. The wisdom this amazing doctor of verse wrote as a graduation speech at age 87 had come at a time I needed to hear it. I had been “waiting” for something to happen in my life.

Earlier this year, I was reminded of the power and energy behind this poem while reading Suitcase Entrepreneur Natalie Sisson’s blog about having been in the same place – in need of some “un-slumping” – when a friend presented her with a copy of the book.

Natalie hit on all the points:

“I was waiting for someone to make the decision for me. For a yes or no to make my decision for me. Even worse I was leaving my life up to the hands of fate – or other people!

“Well life doesn’t work like that. It’s up to you to take yourself where you want to go. And when you develop that clear road map of exactly what you want out of life, how your business will flourish, your health will skyrocket, your bank account will blossom and ……

Oh the places you shall go when you do!”

Dr Seuss gives such wise advice:

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 a 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.

“Make sure to read the rest of the poem as it gets very interesting. What I love most about this poem is that he points out you’ll have times when you’re lonely. When you are in fact scared about walking down the road you’ve chosen. When you want to turn back, but you’ll go on regardless.

“That’s life, that’s all part of its rich tapestry. You’re not alone, other people are walking their own road right beside you. They too have these fears – Am I good enough? Will I succeed? Am I making a huge mistake? Can I do this?”

But here’s why you carry on:

You are off to great places.
Today is your day
Your mountain is waiting
So get on your way!

I hope today you start living the life you want. Oh, the places you surely will go. And how good you will feel!

 

Tags: , , ,

Comments are closed.