I had the good fortune recently to stumble across a new rendition of an old favorite: Dr. Seuss’ Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
The Burning Man team produced this modern telling in breathtaking fashion. The setting is magical. The personas are fascinating. The production quality is remarkable.
But the most captivating piece of the entire video remains Seuss’ original message, which, in my analysis, is a timeless testament to the power, vitality and necessity of individual curiosity.
Every sentence and syllable is stunning. These are most striking to me:
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.And when things start to happen,
don’t worry. Don’t stew.
Just go right along.
You’ll start happening too.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?You’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!
If you allow yourself to become absorbed by Seuss’ vision, then you situate yourself for a high likelihood of incredible inspirations and idea breakthroughs. That, at least, has been my experience.
Like many, my experience with this whimsical story starts in my early childhood. But it wasn’t until later that it made its deepest impact, when my mother gave me a special, limited edition copy of the story as a college graduation present.
My mom wrote a touching message of her own on the inside. It’s highly emotional and personal, so I won’t share it all. But I do wish to convey a single thought:
This chapter of your life is closing, but the next is just beginning. Continue to create happy memories as you journey through life.
And with that, I leave you with my own little bit of Seussness…
Oh, the places we’ll go. So let’s pick up our feet
and let our curiosity lead us far down the street.
We may fishtail this way and that.
We may have the occasional splat.
But with our itchy, curious nose,
our creative futures forever glows.
Oh, the places we’ll go!
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Feature image: Sarah Han; Video: Burning Man
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Tomorrow’s today is to far away,
to run down your passion
and turn work into play.
Too commitments too many,
and ideas too few,
if you went forth an dropped some,
what’s the world to do?
Would it huff a great huff
and halt to a stop?
Would the world just stop spinning,
like a tumblous top?
No, my friend, I’m sorry to say,
Your just not so important,
The world won’t give way.
It would keep moving and turning,
indifferent to you,
so stop making excuses:
and make a commitment to do!
Commit to making each day an adventure,
To investing your life in a more creative venture,
Drinking a custom-curiosity-quencher,
And avoid a-servering your life an indenture.
There so much meaning in these simple and nice phrase. Thanks for sharing
Loved this – thank you!
Matt,
Thanks for the inspiration. Curiosity is the mother of innovation. Lets all be more curious!
Cheers,
Marc
This video is so awesome!!! And even though this is a childrens book, I read it over and over again and I make my little brother read it out loud to me haha!