Let's face it, sometimes we don't always have it figured out. We get stuck in this thing called life, and sometimes, we don't have the answers. When put in these times, it is good to have some motivation. Who better to help us in life than words by one of the most famous authors of all time: Dr. Seuss.
1. "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose."
We have the power in life to choose where we want to go and what we want to do. We are smarter than we think, and we have more power within ourselves than we think. All you have to do is start yourself in the direction you want to go to begin your journey.
2. "Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple."
I think, in life, we ask ourselves questions that we feel like have complicated answers, or sometimes, no answers when, in fact, maybe the answers are simpler than we think once we figure them out. It's like when we are given a new toy, and we read the directions and think to ourselves, "There is no way I can do this." Because when presented with these complicated instructions, the final product seems so far away or impossible to do when, in fact, once the toy is put together, we realize maybe it was more simple than we thought.
3. "A person's a person, no matter how small."
Being a young college student who values other people's feelings more than my own, I sometimes feel smaller than others when wanting to voice my opinion (or maybe it is because I am only 4’ 11”). We sometimes feel, because we don’t have a higher power or because majority might vote against what we believe, that it is wrong. But that is not true. Not only do everybody’s opinions matter, but you matter. It doesn’t matter if you are the president of the United States or a young college student who comes from a middle class family, you always matter.
4. "Be who you are and say what you mean. Because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
We are sometimes faced with situations in life, we are afraid to be ourselves, and as weird as it sounds, that is OK. We value others’ opinions, and we are sometimes afraid our opinions and actions will hurt others. But sometimes sharing our opinions and feelings is a good thing; in fact, it is what you should do. You should never have to hold back how you feel with somebody. If they truly care about you, they will not mind! They will accept how you feel and not let that affect your relationship. If you come to learn that that person let your opinion change the way they look at you, do they really matter?
5. "Oh, the things you can find if you don't stay behind."
Of course, sometimes we have those moments when we tend to fall behind or sort of steer off our path toward what we want, but what good does staying behind do? We should never be discouraged when this happens. We will never know what is ahead if we just linger behind. Life is a big awaiting adventure that you will only get to find out if you get up and get out there.
6. "If you never did, you should. These things are fun and fun is good."
One major thing I have learned in my life, so far, is to do what makes you happy. I fought with myself on deciding where I wanted to go to college months before I ended up deciding, and I thought to myself a lot, “How will I know what going off and exploring a new life is like if I don’t try it?” Like any harmless situation in life, there is the question we ask ourselves, “Should I do it?” But maybe, just maybe, if we decided to do more of these harmless things in life, the door could open to more opportunities for even more fun things.
7. "Why fit in when you were born to stand out?"
Middle school and high school was a tough time for all of us. We played tug of war between different friends and trying to fit in with our surroundings. As I got older, I realized that fitting in was boring. I learned quickly that people who really love you and care about you will accept you no matter what. I love to read, and I love to write. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be writing this now. Be yourself! Don’t let someone’s irrelevant opinion about “nerdy book readers” stop you from reading every book in the world. Don’t let society’s viewpoints on anything change the way you live your life.
8. "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
We never want good things to come to an end. These can be very sad times in our lives. But, what if we looked at them in more positive ways? You see, some people never get to experience what you did. Some people will never get to meet the wonderful person who just passed away. Some will never get to go to the place you are saying goodbye to. Consider yourself blessed enough to get to have whatever is ending happen to you.
9. "Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you."
There is nobody in this world who is you. You are unique. You can make your own decisions. You can live your life the way you want to. Nobody is allowed to think for you, and nobody can be you, so be the best you that you can!
10. "Today I shall behave, as if this is the day I will be remembered."
Every day when we wake up, we have choices to make. We have to choose how this day is going to go. Of course, things happen and your day can not go as planned, but we can choose to be remembered. We can decide to do something great and have everyone remember it. Do things that will be remembered. If we go out and stand out, we can be remembered.
Who would’ve thought Dr Seuss from the books in elementary school could help us out when we are a little bit older? I guess there are two things to be learned from this: You are never too old for Dr Seuss and it is OK to be a book nerd.
