Every year at graduation time Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss soars to the top of the New York Times bestseller list.
His words are good news,
whether you are ninety-five or twenty-five;
twenty-two, eighteen or even five—
any age you choose.
I have selected a few verses that are appropriate for all of us:
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
I’m sorry to say so, but, sadly, it’s true
that bang-ups and hang-ups can happen to you.
When you’re in a Slump, you’re not much fun.
Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.
Do you dare to stay out?
Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose?
How much can you win?
Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find,
How much can you win?
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 across 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 pour or the phone to ring,
or the snow to snow.
No!
That’s not for you!
You’ll escape all that waiting and staying.
You’ll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing.
There is fun to be done!
There are games to be won.
Step with care and great tact,
remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way