“To Kill A Mockingbird,” “The Scarlett Letter,” “Animal Farm,” and “The Outsiders.” These are some of the greatest novels, and all come with valuable lessons, which is why I suppose they are all on the required reading list for high school students year after year. I’m not trying to knock any of these literary masterpieces – to this day, “To Kill A Mockingbird” is one of my favorite books. But sometimes, isn’t simpler better? What’s that saying – KISS: Keep It Simple Stupid. Not that we’re stupid, but we like to keep things simple. And the lessons we learn should be simple…right? This, finally, brings me to my point: Dr. Seuss. He always had a way of turning charming children’s books into simple life lessons for adults. So in honor of what would have been his 112th birthday March 2, 2016, I present to you the top lessons learned from the great Theodor Seuss Geisel.
“Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”
“Will you succeed? Yes, you will indeed. (983⁄4 percent guaranteed.)”
My dad gave me a copy of this book when I graduated high school. This book makes you realize the absolute necessity of positive thinking and to never put a limit on who you can be and what you can achieve. Life’s gonna knock you down, kids. Just keep getting up. At some point you’ll learn how to balance and stand on your feet.
“The Lorax”
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
It’s pretty simple: if you want a better world, you have to care. You have to take responsibility and speak up. Issues like global warming, poverty, racism, violence and discrimination, among others are not going to get any better unless action is taken. If you have something to say, if you want your voice to be acknowledged, if you want to make a difference…speak up. If you feel like you’re not being heard, speak louder.
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”
“It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”
This message is just as important as it was in 1957: having no presents does not equate to no Christmas. The Whos didn’t care that the Grinch stole all of their gifts and decorations because they knew the best Christmas presents are more than material things. Though Christmas comes once a year, the lesson is applicable year-round – coming together as a community and giving back to those in need should be something we practice all year long.
“One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish”
“From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere!”
Laughs and lessons are all around us. Sometimes we just need to step back and recognize them. The smaller things in life can often mean the most so be sure to keep your eyes open!
