If there was one thing the incomparable Dr. Seuss knew about, it's the ups and downs of life. Born Theodor Seuss Geisel in 1904, he experienced everything from family hardship to trouble with school authorities. Had it not been for encouragement to continue writing from one of his professors, he might have given up. If that happened, we and our kids wouldn't have the invaluable Dr. Seuss life lessons we have today.
These 10 Dr.Deuss life lessons are among the best he had to offer.
10 Dr. Seuss Life Lessons for Everyone
Inspiration and empowerment await your young ones in a language they can understand. For us adults, there's timeless wisdom that never grows old along with a bit of nostalgia.
1. Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.
This is more than just about begin the best global citizen we can be. It's about leading the way. We can't spend our lives waiting for others to take action to make the world a better place. It begins now and it begins with us. We must strive to do what we can from our own personal corners of the world.
2. You’re off to great places! Today is your today. Your mountain is waiting, so you get on your way!
Go ahead and take that first step. Dr. Seuss isn't saying the road won't be long or have it's challenges—it most likely will. His point is that the journey is uniquely yours, and all it takes is the first step. One might even argue that he channels the wisdom of Lao Tzu here.
3. Say what you feel, and do what you say. Because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.
Be honest with others and stay true to your word always. This can make you stand out, and even put you against the status quo from time to time. True enough, this can be scary for anyone. But it's no use trying to be someone else when who we are is more than enough.
4. A person’s a person, no matter how small.
As we wrote in our article about 40 life lessons, no one is ever above you or beneath you. This is one of the Dr. Seuss life lessons that can change the life of someone else. It's up to us to lift up others when no one else will do it. Always treat everyone you meet with kindness and decency—you have no idea what their story is. That's how you'll be remembered by that person, and you could provide them with a moment that transforms them forever.
5. The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.
Lifelong learning is exactly that: the journey of a lifetime. Beyond the numerous studies indicating how good reading is for the brain, this is about the passion for learning. It also speaks to the journeys it can take us on, both in our minds and inn real life.
6. Everything stinks 'till it’s finished.
We all want life to be easy, don't we? Sometimes doing things we don't like doing can seem insurmountable. Other times the things we thought would be easy ending being harder than we expected. No matter what, following through leads to a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. After all, we often have to do things we don't like to get to where we want to be. That's how patience, character, and a sense of gratitude grow within us.
7. Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh the thinks you can think up if only you try!
Creativity is the currency of our ever-changing world. Workplaces need it, businesses thrive on it, and learning demands it. Creative people see things from angles that seem impossible, and we are all creative people. Encouraging our creative natures just makes us better people in every way. We think better and become better problem solvers in the process. If it's true for us, it's certainly true for our learners.
May you always remember that "there is no one alive who is Youer than You."
Ed note: This article is adapted from an article featured on Lifehack by Olle Lindholm.
