An excerpt from "Oh The Places You'll Go!" by Dr. Seuss.


...You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don't.
Because, sometimes, you won't.

I'm sorry to say so
but, sadly, it's true
that Bang-ups
and Hang-ups
can happen to you.

You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You'll be left in a Lurch.

You'll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you'll be in a Slump.

And when you're in a Slump,
you're not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they're darked.
A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused
that you'll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles cross weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place...

...for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or the waiting around for a Yes or No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for the wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.

NO!
That's not for you!

Somehow you'll escape
all that waiting and staying
You'll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.

I think it defines where a lot of us are, and experience especially with our illness. My favorite line in the whole book is "Except when you don't, because sometimes, you won't" -- it's the most candid statement you can give someone. We end up sometimes just waiting for the change we need.. the depression to pass.. the sun to shine again.. We fall down, but we will get back up again, that's who we are. We may stay down awhile, to heal and recoup.. but we'll find our way again.

Just wanted to share. If you've never read the book, you should. You can find the full text online.

I had never read that before, Brentus. Thank you so much for sharing it!

Some of these older children's stories and poetic compositions are the best. I have such fond memories of Dr. Seuss writings. I first learned to read by my mother using a Dr. Seuss book.

I grew up on Looney Toons. Their humor, often with important messages, have stayed with me my whole life and I believe they have taught me to see positive and fun when one might not have.

[~Christina]

Thank you for this

[bizi]

I have the book I got it for graduation from my parents.
thanks for sharing it here.
((((HUGS))))
bizi

[Blue_Bird]

I was given this book from my principal as a kind of reward/acknowledgment thing as a kid in 5th grade. They chose a couple kids in the school who were going through very difficult times but still trying hard and doing well in class to get it during an assembly (My mom and I were homeless on and off and struggling really hard financially) it had a nice message written in it. unfortunately I no longer have it from moving a lot it ended up getting lost at some point. It really meant a lot to me though