“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

~ Dr. Seuss

Theodore Geisel was an amazing man. Before throat cancer took him from us in 1991, he left a legacy to spark the imagination and help enlighten young minds. In honor of his birthday, March 2nd, schools across the U.S. celebrate “Read Across America” by reading his works together throughout the day.

He is a favorite of mine, no matter how old I get. Sometimes I wonder if I read his books to my children because they want to hear the stories or because I do. I can get through almost all of Fox in Socks from memory these days.

They I have a stuffed Horton among my collection of elephants because of course “an elephant’s faithful—one-hundred percent.” We’ve started a tradition of playing “Seusscrabble” and taking all the Scrabble tiles to make up words that would have made him proud (and you must make up a definition to get the points!).

He made us curious about the places we’d go. He reminded us whose opinions really matter. He inspired us to hold out for that compatible weirdo—wherever he or she may be. He taught about caring for the environment, racial equality, anti-consumerism, and many other parts of the mindful life in his delightful way.

So today, for Dr. Seuss: Just be you. Be the youest you you can be (and those of us who matter won’t mind a bit).