Turning what YOU call  ”play”  into your life’s work could be the icing on the cake of career choices. Your inner wack-o just might be the genius streak that lights up the sky for the the rest of us. 

A great example is the story of DR. SEUSS, the prolific children’s author and illustrator.  For many of us, childhood would not have been the same without him.  He tried, oh, how he tried, to do the “normal” thing.  Aren’t we glad he did not ’succeed’?

He was born Theodor Seuss Geisel.  His parents, strict Germans and devout Lutherans, had big expectations for their son.  Their overarching  perfectionism and serious nature, rather than cowing him into submission,  ”tripped my silly switch”, as he would later report.   He was always the class clown. 

While a student at Dartmouth, young Theodor, was caught throwing a drunken brawl.  That may seem normal for “higher education” as we have come to know it, but this was during Prohibition when all alcohol was illegal.  Uh Oh.  Even though he was not expelled—-he was stripped of all other college activities—the one he loved most was working for the campus humor magazine, writing commentary and creating his “strange” illustrations.  Determined to continue, and to get around the authorities, he began using the pen name “Suess”.   He also altered his drawings,  so he would not be found out.  It was out of this desire to continue what he was doing, “no matter what”, that he created the style of illustrations which millions are familiar with today.

And, well….he kept on trying to be “the good boy”.  His  parents were immensely pleased to learn that he had been accepted to Lincoln College, Oxford, England, to pursue his doctorate in literature.  But…….oh dear.  He returned from England with a new wife and no degree.  All the while, he continued drawing and writing “because, he had to“.  That’s when he also decided to add “Dr” to his pen name—-as an ironic tribute to his parents and his failure to become “serious”.

His first book came from a passion to correct a problem.  Geisel was moved by a 1954 LIFE magazine article which exposed a growing trend of illiteracy in young children.  It seemed they actually resisted learning to read…..because  they were bored to death with the materials required.  He believed his “wacky” style and words, set to verse, would inspire children.  The result—-”A Cat in the Hat’ .

He was not received with open arms.  His work was deemed “too weird and bizarre”.  DR. SUESS was rejected by 23 publishers.   He became relentless, determined not to give up on himself.  He ardently believed that the very thing that made him “goofy” and “different” was his innate gift.  The 24th  publisher agreed—–6 million copies were sold in the first year.  Sixty more books were to become part of his collection, creating joy in the world of  childhood learning, not only tickling the funny bone but also by setting into motion, a serious new look  at the ways children could be inspired to learn.  Wacky worked.

So, what’s our take-away?  Let’s look at the facts about Dr. Suess.

1.  He was never a doctor.

2.  He never even had children of his own.

3.  He suffered rejection—from his family, his peers, and publishers who did not understand him.

4.  He did what he loved anyway.

5.  He had a passion to “fix a problem” using his gift.

What “ridiculous thing” might light up your life—-what “silli-ness” might solve a problem for others—what “wacky method” of delivering your innate talent might move some part of the world in a new direction?

What might be true…….for you?