“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”

“The more that you read,
the more things you will know.
The more that you learn,
the more places you’ll go.”
-The Cat in the Hat, I Can Read with My Eyes Shut! (1978)

Held annually on March 2nd, “Dr. Seuss Day” is observed in honor of the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel – otherwise known by the pen name by which he authored children’s books: Dr. Seuss. During the 1990s, the National Education Association advocated for a day to celebrate reading all over the United States. In 1998, it started the annual “Read Across America” initiative in recognition of Dr. Seuss’ birthday.

The wise ‘ol doc coined the famous phrase, “Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” I may not be down with eating green eggs and ham, but I am in full support of the philosophy that we should embrace and appreciate the “uniqueness” that makes each of us extraordinary.

Our family isn’t normal. I suppose no family really is, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t recognize how unusual our situation is compared to most. One of the many lessons I’ve learned along the way is that what makes us “different” isn’t a bad thing. Differences are what create, represent, and celebrate the ‘special’ within each and every one of us.

Noli and Kieran are no stranger to the words of Dr. S. In our home, we read to succeed, “98 and ¾ percent guaranteed”…!

The ‘Barrett Fam’ list of quotable favs from ‘Seuss goes something like this:

“Today you are you! That is truer than true!
There is no one alive who is you-er than you!”
–Happy Birthday to You! (1959)

”You’re in pretty good shape
for the shape you are in!”
–You’re Only Old Once! (1986)

“Don’t give up! I believe in you all!
A person’s a person, no matter how small!”
–Horton Hears a Who! (1954)

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…”
–Oh, the Places You’ll Go! (1990)

And, my personal favorite from Dr. Suess (words which I gently whisper near Kieran’s ear — every single day — as a reminder of the faith we have in him):

“Kid, you’ll move mountains.”

#readacrossamerica