Smile because it happened
Dr. Seuss helped me get into college.
Like thousands of other higher education hopefuls, I peppered my college essay (remember when those mattered?) with insightful quotes from Theodor Geisel’s famous stories. My general point was how his simple, melodic messages influenced my passion for writing as well as how I should live my life.
Here’s a sampling:
“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
I’m sure you’ve heard that one before. Sure, it’s hokey and featured on every Tumblr page in existence, but it’s still a nice sentiment about how to reflect on the recent and distant past.
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
Ah, the classic pitch for a college education. I guess it worked for me. He neglects the part about how much it costs, though.
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”
Absolute gem from Mr. Geisel. For some reason, this quote hits me differently each time I hear or read it. But the impact is still the same: You do you, and the important people won’t care … only Dr. Seuss put it much prettier.
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.”
Points for the rhyme and yet another solid, quaint adage. The best part of a Seussian quotes is that there are not debatable. I do, in fact, possess a brain and feet that control my decisions!
Sure, these quotes litter graduations across the country. And they may garner a few eye-rolls on social media. But even now, I can read them and aspire to do more and be better. Dr. Seuss’ true power was translating these valuable maxims into the themes of digestible and classic children’s stories. Geisel is gone, but he truly, deservingly lives on through his inspiring words.
