Beyond Blue

Beyond Blue

Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

posted by Beyond Blue | 11:00am Wednesday August 1, 2007

This is perhaps the best expression of depression I can find. Of course, a children’s book. From “Oh, The Places You’ll Go,” by Dr. Seuss:
I’m sorry to say so
but, sadly, it’s true
that Bang-ups
and Hang-ups
can happen to you.
You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You’ll be left in a Lurch.


You’ll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And chances are, then,
that you’ll be in a Slump.
And when you’re in a Slump,
you’re not in for much fun.
Unslumping yourself
is not easily done.
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 your dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?
And IF you go in, should you turn left or right . . .
or right-and-three-quarters? Or maybe not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.
You can get so confused
that you’ll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place . . .
for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.
Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.



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Comments read comments(3)
post a comment
Larry Parker

posted August 1, 2007 at 11:43 am


This is the favorite saying/(mini-)book in the world of a former boss of mine …
… who is also bipolar.



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therapydoc

posted August 3, 2007 at 7:04 am


One of my favorite books, of course.



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Steve Maarten

posted September 30, 2010 at 3:08 pm


AH, yes, I received this great book from my wife, upon graduation from college (as a 34-year-old). I still love Dr. Seuss, and have read many of his books to my kids.
A favorite saying about life of mine by Dr. Seuss is:
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind. ”
~ Dr. Seuss



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