Green Eggs and Ham is the first book I can remember. Sam I Am had no interest in trying something new. He would not eat green eggs and ham here, there, nor anywhere.
He just really didn’t want to eat any green eggs nor ham, alright? Finally, after getting heckled repeatedly, he relented and tried them only to find that he actually loved them.
It made a big impression on my 4-year-old self.
Since then, Dr. Seuss has served as a source of inspiration for nearly every stage of life, whether by teaching me the power and potential of positivity in The Lorax, the importance of staying curious in One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, or the beauty of believing in myself despite adversity in my very favorite Dr. Seuss book, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
It got me thinking, what can Dr. Seuss teach us about traveling and following dreams, even as adults? What can he offer about the importance of exploration, of appreciating the opportunity to see the world, and the necessity to understand and appreciate distant and foreign people and things?
Quite a lot, methinks:
“It’s not about what it is, it’s about what it can become.” – The Lorax
Most of the power of society and consumerism lies in the myth that success lies in some kind of coroprate ladder climb. As if we can’t consider ourselves worthwhile if we don’t renounce our freedom to the task at hand – the task someone else has handed down to us.
Sometimes the focus is so narrow to the immediate goal that the infinite possibilities sitting right in front of our noses remain unseen. What if there might be more to this life than what has always been taken as a given?
Sometimes, believing in the beauty of the unknown unlocks doors that would otherwise remain shut, perhaps forever.
“Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for 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.” – Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
The mythical pot of gold at the end of the rainbow may never come. What is the end, goal, anyways? Retirement on a yacht? A big savings account to plow through at the end of my life? Why? Why wait until then?
The time is now, it’s not twenty years from now. Why do so few people realize that? Everyone is just waiting.
How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon. December is here before it’s June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?
…and by waiting, the months pass. They turn into years, and before you know it, it got so late, so soon.
“There’s no limit to how much you’ll know, depending how far beyond zebra you go.” – On Beyond Zebra!
So the importance of exploration cannot be minimized! Who knows what can be discovered? Definitely not the explorer, if she hasn’t explored yet.
It can be scary out there. It certainly can. I know that. But life is like an amusement park ride and there’s only one ticket. Dr. Seuss knew this.
Why is this fact so easy to forget after childhood?
“Did you ever fly a kite in bed?
Did you ever walk with ten cats on your head?
Did you ever milk this kind of cow?
Well, we can do it. We know how.
If you never did, you should.
These things are fun and fun is good.” – One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish
You know what? Nope, I haven’t ever flown a kite in bed. I haven’t even walked with ten cats on my head. I haven’t even tried with one. I don’t suppose the cats would be too amenable, but the great goal is to try things never before possible.
The wonder of childhood is so often lost on adults. It’s hard to get back to that kind of wonder. The Dr. seemed to have that market cornered, though.
The possibilities are endless. The adventures are waiting. Who better to experience them than you and me?
“And what would you do if you met a jibboo?” – Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!
The beauty of traveling is one never knows who he’ll meet, what new culture will captivate him, and what kinds of things people from a completely different background have to teach each new person who enters into that world.
There’s a lot to see on Earth, and when expanded to the universe, wow! It is so big. Can we even expand it further to other galaxies? When I feel that small, it seems a given that a jibboo or two must be out there for the encountering.
“Young cat! If you keep
Your eyes open enough,
Oh, the stuff you will learn!
The most wonderful stuff!” – I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!
It’s true. The most wonderful stuff sits at the bottom of the ocean, or on a sandy beach, or in the middle of a forest. Maybe it’s found by standing on the side of the road, or it’s resting on the top of a mountain. It could be just beyond the next alleyway, in the back of a rickshaw, or just around the river bend.
You never know if you don’t go.
“If you want to catch beasts you don’t see every day,
You have to go places quite out of the way,
You have to go places no others can get to.
You have to get cold and you have too get wet, too.” – If I Ran the Zoo
You have to go to places that nobody goes. Ask this girl, she definitely knows.
It may not be beasts. It may be a kind woman serving you soup. She doesn’t speak your language, but she can put the chili in for you.
Your backgrounds are so different. It seems there could be nothing you hold in common, yet when you look each other in the eyes, something is understood: the beauty of being right here, and right now. no matter where you come from or what you believe.
“You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. 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.” – Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
Of course it won’t all be perfect and it won’t all be easy, but the skills you’ll develop from being confused, captivated, bewildered, and shocked are all going to lead to becoming a more fearless, adept individual.
My goodness, there’s no better gift in the world than deciding to see it. The beauty is, it’s a gift given to one’s self.
“I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!” – I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew
You have no need to worry. You’re ready.
SO darn ready.
So…
“be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea,
you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!”
Nikita says
I love Doctor Seuss more than words can describe! And those quotes are all perfection. I constantly recite passages from “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” whenever I’m feeling doubtful and fraid of life, and it works wonders.
Kristin says
I love reading that book. I must have seen it as a child but had forgotten all about it until I was 19 and a friend’s mom gave him the book for his high school graduation. I remember reading it and feeling like I could conquer the world.
Marie @ Marie Away says
“Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” always brings me back to my high school prom, when one of our teachers insert all of our names into the story (small town). Those graduation goggles always make things seem so significant, so it’s always stuck with me.
I love this post, it’s amazing how these stories have messages that deepen and resonate more as you age. Very creative work, thank you for sharing.
Kristin says
Thanks Marie I’m so glad it resonated with you.
Anna Lou says
Awww. This post made me swoon, Dr. Seuss is fantastic. We always had his books around the house growing up, but I think I appreciate them even more now. And yes, I have no doubt that Jibboos are wandering around this Universe somewhere. Probably wondering whether or not we exist.
Kristin says
He is so fantastic. His advice resonates with me so much now as an adult. Maybe one day we’ll make contact with the Jibboos 🙂
Kerry of The Insightful Wanderer says
This is the perfect post, just the travel motivation I need. 🙂 I am starting new with my travel blog and I thought about making it a literary travel blog at one point. I love both and these stories are so true for anyone at any age. thanks for writing this.
Kristin says
That honestly sounds like a great idea for a travel blog!
Brad says
I got introduced to Oh, The Places You’ll Go while on a Contiki tour in NZ. I was so inspired by it I got a permanent reminder of it on my arm, with a flag in each letter for every country I’ve visited! I just got back from a trip in Africa, and now every letter is full once I have it updated.. Such a great book.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152065563865426&l=1b0d9f47f7
Kristin says
That’s awesome! I love the idea of that.
Charlie says
I love this post! Every point is do true! Why wait until it’s too late? Life is for living right now, I couldn’t agree with that anymore. It’s incredible how a children’s series can still have so much meaning to adults. I guess these are such basic life lessons but we lose sight of them so easily.
Kristin says
Plus he communicates it all so well, in a style that can speak to any age group without sounding arrogant
Amanda says
What a fun post! And so true, too! Crazy how perfectly these quotes can be applied to travel.
Kaleena's Kaleidoscope says
Gosh I love this! So many great quotes, and I like how you put them onto pictures. I think my favorite is “When he worked, he really worked. When he played, he really played.” I can relate! 😉 Dr Seuss sure knew his stuff.
Kristin says
I didn’t know that quote until I started researching for this post and that might be my favorite of all.
Nita says
Fantastic post! Amazing how these quotes apply to travel and life in general. Great pictures too 🙂
Kristin says
Thanks!
Ligeia and Mindy says
Wow! What an amazing post!!!!!! LOVED IT! I too love Dr. Seuss and have since I was a child. As an adult I still continue to enjoy his books too. As you pointed out there are deeper messages in his stories, that seemed to get more profound as he aged. The Sneetches was about the Holocaust for example, and by extension racism in general, something we could all benefit from even today. One of my favorites is the Lorax – such an important lesson for us all. In English composition class in college we had to write a paper on a book we’d read and I chose The Cat in the Hat – did a damn good analysis too if you ask me. 🙂 But I think this post would have gotten an even better grade! :):):)
Kristin says
I had no idea that his books were political and such. I guess that’s common for children’s literature but you taught me something new today!
Abi says
I never quite fell in love with Dr Seuss…but I did with many other children’s books that inspired me to travel. TinTin, The Faraway Tree, even Nancy Drew! All left their mark – great to read this post and remember the fun of childhood (and yes, why wait?!)
Kristin says
Wow you might be the first I know of who doesn’t love the Dr! I do remember children’s books leaving a profound mark on me.
Giselleandcody says
So much great travel inspiration from such simple quotes.
I still remember laughing in school when our English teacher brought Dr Seuss books out for us to read. We all thought it was silly cause these were children’s books and we were in grade 11. After we discussed underlining themes we all learned pretty quick that he was pretty ahead of his time.
Kristin says
It’s amazing how relevant he is, especially at that age.
Leah says
Aww I really love this post! Dr. Seuss had such a way with words, I feel like we didn’t even know we were being inspired at the time, his books were just so much fun to read! I used a lot of them when my Kindergarten class was learning to read in Thailand, even across cultures the man inspires!
Diana Edelman says
I LOVE THIS. LOVE. What great quotes!!
rebecca says
Best post I have read in a while. Love Dr Seuss. Huge fan! currently working on loads of typography quotes and artworks just cause I love reading his stuff. Great post!
Kristin says
Thanks so much. He’s so inspiring.
Jordan says
Awesome post! I haven’t really read much Dr. Seuss, so I never realised what I was missing out on ’til now! Some really cool quotes in there so I got “Oh, the places you’ll go!” as birthday present for my sister’s 18th and she loved it! So thanks 🙂
Kristin says
I read it for the first time (or at least the first time I can remember) around my 18th as well. It’s really the perfect thing when you’re that age, have just graduated, and are about to go take on the world.
Kirsten says
We should all take notes from these crazy quotes,
and set out to explore on planes, trains and boats.
This post gives me pimples just like a goose—
there’s so much to learn from the great Dr. Seuss!
Kristin says
Haha cute
Mikaela says
AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING! i dont have anything to say. except wow. thank you. wow.
Karen says
Don’t know if you are seeing comments here and there is no need to reply but I just stumbled on this page and it literally brought tears to my eyes. I’m a person for whom “time has FLEWN” and I’m planning to leave my job and travel soon in my 50s.
If you are reading this in your 20s, 30s or even beyond DO NOT WAIT! Listen to that little voice and do it NOW before another day/month/year/decade has passed!
Thanks again for the inspiration and enthusiasm. xo
Kristin says
Karen, don’t have any regrets, either. You’re about to have an adventure and there’s no wrong age for that!