Brilliant Books: Oh, the Places You'll Go! By Dr. Seuss

This is one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books (my other favorite is Horton Hears a Who because of it's pro-life and generally wise themes: "A person's a person no matter how small.", "I meant what I said and I said what I meant. . . " )
This book is full of truths that I find comforting. Even in the midst of how complicated life can get, this children's book always seems to speak to whatever season I happen to be in and will be in.
It has yet to fail at putting a smile on my face when I read it. 


Sometimes it gets to saying that things will be fine and dandy and start to think, "Wait a minute, it's not always like that. . . " And then come my favorite parts of the book.
Here's one of them:

"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 like the perspective. Hope for the best in life and that's what you'll get.  Except when you don't. Because, sometimes, you won't.
It doesn't say this, but it might as well say "And that's okay."
What a relief and good reminder of the fact that there's more to life than it going according to your plan.
And it's okay if it doesn't.

"So...

be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray

or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,

You're off the Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So...get on your way!"