by Dori Kenny

Created on: November 13, 2008

There are so many jokes, stories, photos and so on that come across my email on a daily basis, sometimes it's easier to hit the delete button rather than forward them to five friends so nothing bad happens to me. However, a few days ago I'm very happy I took the time to read this one. I received the most beautiful affirmation from a good friend of mine. "Today I am me. I am free-er than free. There is no one alive who is Me-er than Me. I am the BEST I can possibly be". As I read it a second time, I thought it had a familiar ring. I read it a third time. Holy cow! It's Dr. Seuss! I'm sure we all remember, "I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them Sam I am". Who doesn't have that ingrained into their brain? It got me thinking about all those silly, colorful characters, how everything they said rhymed and they always looked like they were having so much fun. Remember? And then, as Oprah would say, I had an 'Aha' moment! Dr. Seuss is the Doctor of Life's Lessons. Yes, life lessons! Of course, it's taken me over forty years to figure this out, but now I know what it's all about. See, it's contagious. After some research on Dr. Seuss, I believe I have found the most profound lessons for life (at least for me anyway)...

"Oh, the things you can find if you don't stay behind"

"Don't cry because it's over, Smile because it happened"

"Today you are You, that is true-er than true. There is no one alive who is you-er than You"

"I meant what I said and I said what I meant"

"Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one"

"You're in pretty good shape for the shape you are in"

"If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good"

You're with me on this now aren't you? Life's Lessons I tell you. No doubt my Mother would like to add "never leave home without identification, always wear clean underwear (you could be in a car accident), make sure you say please and thank you wherever you go, and never go to someone's home empty handed". What do you think? Read the list of lessons again. Don't you find them inspiring or grounding in some way? I find "Don't cry because it's over, Smile because it happened" a wonderful perspective on just about any situation. Think about a an exciting trip, opening holiday gifts, or going to a party. We seem to feel some kind of sadness when the event is over rather than savoring the joy of the experience. As an adult, I especially like "If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good". I'm inspired to go do something fun and exciting and feel like I'm eight years old again!

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