It's amazing the things you can learn from a book. When was the last time that you had a look? It's true what they say. You should read every day, because good books are playgrounds where strong minds can play.
Children the most should be taught how to read, because books come with tools that every kid needs, and of all children's authors (besides Mother Goose), we really most highly recommend Dr. Seuss.
But even for grown-ups, Dr. Seuss is a must. His writings are full of life lessons we trust. Even though the good Dr. has already passed, his teachings live on and his influence lasts. He just had his birthday, 110, and in his honor, we visit his lessons again. We hope to inspire a revisit of some, because you're never too old to make your own fun.
Don't Be Greedy
"I know, up on top you are seeing great sights, but down here at the bottom we, too, should have rights." - Yertle the Turtle
Remember when the Grinch stole Christmas? That wasn't very nice, but Dr. Seuss shows us how even the Grinch can come around. It's never too late to have a change of heart, after all. (It also shows us that holidays are about more than just buying presents, but that's another lesson). But greed doesn't come only in the form of material things. Dr. Sueuss warns against the dangers of hoarding power as well. Yertle the Turtle thought he was a mighty king that could step all over his subjects, but in the end, that mindset sent him toppling down in the mud. Don't be a Yertle.
Try New Things
"If you never did, you should. These things are fun and fun is good." - One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
In Green Eggs and Ham, we learn a lesson we could all do to remember once in a while. It's important that we not judge before we try, and this goes for other walks of life, as well. Keep an open mind as you travel through life. Don't miss out on great people and things just because you think you already understand them.
Challenge Yourself
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in 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." - Oh, the Places You'll Go
When you dare to dream big, you do big things, so it's important never to limit yourself or become too comfortable with a routine. Whenever you feel like things are easy, push yourself to a new limit. You're much stronger than you give yourself credit for, and you don't know what you're capable of until you try. Even if you fail, you will have learned a great deal, and no one ever lost sleep wondering what wouldn't have happened.
Take Responsibility
"Unless someone like you cares a while awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." - The Lorax
As we grow up, we learn that the world is a very complicated place. Live is about facing problems on all fronts - personal, national, global. It's easy to think we only have to take care of ourselves. The fact is, nothing changes if no one tries, and we can't rely on others to make things happen for us. Likewise, if you do something wrong, it's not alright to just blame Thing 1 and Thing 2. You've got to learn to clean up after your own messes. When we become responsible for our own actions, we can better attack the problems we share, and that's good for everyone.
Celebrate Differences
"Today you are you. That is truer than true. There is no one alive who is you-er than you!" - Happy Birthday to You!
Some sneetches have stars on their bellies, and some sneetches don't. It really doesn't matter what kind of sneetch you are. When it comes right down to it, people of all ethnicities, cultures, classes, genders, sexual preferences, ages - everything under the sun - all feel the same feelings. We all love, and we all hurt, and we have a lot more in common than we may think. But it's great that we aren't all the same. Things would be boring if we were (and much more confusing), and it's vital to the health of humanity that we proudly represent ourselves while respecting the ways of others.
Use Your Imagination
"Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!" - Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!
Of course, more than anything else, everything Dr. Seuss ever wrote teaches us to use our imagination. Nothing limits the things you can think, not even the language you speak. Make up your owns words, your own creatures, your own automobiles, your own path to life. There is no right or wrong way to be, and everything is possible if you just believe. That goes for grown-ups, too, you know. You're never too old to dream a dream, so start dreaming.
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