Dr. Seuss/Tao/Vedanta – Oh! The Places You’ll Go!

BIG0545202019.jpg

Oh, The Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Seuss

The boys and I have a routine every morning during breakfast.  We read books at the kitchen table while we have our breakfast.

This morning, ‘A’ brought me ‘Oh, The Places You’ll Go!’ by Dr. Seuss.

I have to admit to being quite impressed with the message.  Very deep to a spiritual level, lessons we learn today through Vedanta and New Age Philosophy.

 

The first page:

‘Congratulations! Today is your day.  You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away!

This is one recommended way to motivate ourselves, as adults, every morning.

‘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’.

Simply put – we have all the tools of life in us.  We are in control of our own destiny.  Decide and do!

‘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.

The Tao says to go with the flow.  Do not resist.  Surrender to the Universe and it will take you to good places.

 

The next few pages talks about,

‘you’ll be on your way up! You’ll be seeing great sights! …

… 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’ll be left in the lurch.

Ying & Yang.  While you enjoy the highs and soar in success, there will also be the lows, when you get stuck and left behind.  There is a balance in life, in the universe.

 

The next few pages speak about being in a slump and coming out of it with difficulty and then how challenges will come our way and we would need to decide which path to take – the left or the right… Getting confused…and then playing the waiting game…

‘…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… for waiting for 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.

With banner flip-flapping, once more you’ll ride high!  Ready for anything under the sky.  Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!’

… Oh the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done!…’

 

There is a chance of stagnation, of being tamasik.  Of sitting around and waiting for something to happen. You will not allow this, as this is not who you are. Because you are in charge.  This is a message we have to keep telling ourselves if we reach stagnation.

 

‘… Fame!  You’ll be famous as famous can be, with the whole wide world watching you win on TV. 

Except when they don’t.  Because, sometimes, they won’t.  I’m afraid that sometimes you’ll play lonely games too.  Games you can’t win ‘cause you’ll play against you.

 

Fame and fortune will come but sometimes we will be cheered and sometimes perhaps jeered or nothing at all.  Vedanta says do not get attached to the results of your efforts.  Focus and do and move on.

Sometimes we have an internal battle.  We compete against ourselves and sometimes we have an internal conflict.

 

And my favourite part:

‘…So be sure when you step.  Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act.  Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.  And never mix up your right foot with your left. 

And you will succeed?  Yes!  You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ per cent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

 

The reality of life: enthusiasm, passion, destiny and being in control of it.  The ups and downs and the ins and outs.  We all have to go through this beautiful cycle of life and success is to be had when we accept that ‘Life’s a Great Balancing Act.’

Dr. Seuss so deftly through his rhyme and pun gives the message to children of what to expect in life and what not to settle for and how each one of us has everything we need to create this balance and deal with the highs and lows within us.  A lesson most of us adults are still learning in adult hood.

 

 

4 thoughts on “Dr. Seuss/Tao/Vedanta – Oh! The Places You’ll Go!

  1. Great way to start the day. My bestie gave S the complete collection of Dr. Seuss books (when he was born) that I’ve been saving for when he’s older. Think it’s time to bring them out!

    • Yes I bought this collection a couple of years ago and have slowly been pulling them out one by one as and when they are age relevant. Some I have enjoyed, some are plain fun with the rhymes, this one was in a different league. I probably would have still waited another year perhaps for this book but the kids just pulled it out and now have had me read it twice!

  2. Good choice of Books A and Y. Good way to start your day with wisdom. Life could be simple if we mortals learn to Accept what befalls in our Kitty and go on in life with the flow.

Share your thoughts

%d bloggers like this: