Oh, The Places You'll Go

Does it freak you out that the above picture I just took right before I started typing this? So it is sort of like you are looking at me and reading this and we are 'talking' to each other...kind of creeps me out. Or maybe I am the only one who even gets what I am trying to say here.

Anyway, I am officially on island time and have been since Monday! Island time basically means that everything moves slower and there is no such thing as actual time because you are leaving in paradise where the sun always shines. For real. Different than West Michigan (and definitely different than Indiana), but I am enjoying my new surroundings.

The past few days have been like a whirlwind of graduating, packing/repacking four times over, plane, trains and automobiles, and meeting a whole lot of new people. Today was my first day working, and I will write more about that tomorrow. I will give you a teaser and just say that I have already met and worked with some amazing people and laughed an incredible amount (if you can't tell, I enjoy laughing). After work today at 3, I hurried home, got in my suit and ran down to the beach. I walked a bit along the shore trying to remember everything I learned today, and when I got back to my 'spot,' I began reading and then crashed. It felt amazing. I had my chair hugging the shoreline so the breeze hit. Considering it was 92 degrees today, I needed that breeze. I feel asleep on the beach for an hour straight; no interruptions. It was glorious, and much needed. I still can't get over the fact that I am living on the ocean.

After jogging around the neighborhood, grilling 2 hot dogs (yes, I did it by myself!), and unpacking some more, here I am. Since I am in a new place, doing something totally new, and meeting new people, I wanted to share with you one of my favorite books of all time. I first heard it when I was in first grade and my teacher read it to my class on our student teacher's last day to sort of send her off. I always remembered that, and was especially thinking of this book as I prepared to graduate and move away for a bit. I always knew I would travel and end up somewhere for a while, but it really is true that you never know how far life can take you when you are willing and put in the effort. It is extremely exciting to feel like you have the world at your feet and can make your own dreams come true. That is why I love the book "Oh, The Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss. It is so true, and what I love most about the book is how he talks about every stage of life, not just the parts where you are the most successful because every season of life is important for the journey. And as I start this new journey of post-college, I enjoy re-reading this book. The book is posted online at www.teamhope.com, but I will post it below so you can enjoy reading this favorite story of mine:

Oh, The Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss

Congratulations! Today is your day. 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 in 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.

You'll look up and down streets. Look'em over with care.

About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there." With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you're too smart to go down a not-so-good street.

And you may not find any you'll want to go down. In that case, of course, you'll head straight out of town. It's opener there in the wide open air.

Out there things start to happen, don't worry. Don't stew. Just go right along. You'll start happening too.

Oh! The Places You'll Go!

You'll be on your way up! You'll be seeing great sights! You'll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.

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 int o race down long wiggled raods at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space, headed, I fear, toward a most uselss 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 waiting 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 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. With banner filp-flapping, once more you'll ride high! Ready for anything under the sky. Ready because you're that kind of guy!

Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all. 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.

All alone! Whether you like it or not, alone will be something you'll be quite a lot.

And when you're alone, there's a very good chance you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants. There are some, down the road between hither and you, that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.

But you will go though the weather be foul. On you will go though your enemies prowl. On you will go though the Hakken-Kraks howl. Onward up many a frightening creek, though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak. On and on you will hike. And I know you'll hike far and face up your problems whatever they are.

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.

And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

Kid, you'll move mountains! So...be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O'Shea, you're off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So...get on your way!