Here’s a fascinating video with a stellar message, right from the pages of Dr Seuss.
It is, in fact, the words of Oh, The Places You’ll Go! by Dr Seuss spoken by men and women attending the massive Burning Man Festival (2011) in the deserts of Nevada. There is something visually arresting about watching the colourful, vibrant and wonderful festival-goers perform this literary wonder on the ancient lakebed where they go every year.
And it allows for you to sit, and really listen, to the words.
Wish we’d written that.
Comments
64 Comments so far
I read this to my 4yo daughter and it often makes me teary it’s such a beautiful book. I am in love with that musical score though! Anyone know who Darius is and how I can get hold of the track?
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COOOOOOOL
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No need for self-help books. Dr Seuss nails it.
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I Love this….Thank You
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My dad gave me this book when I graduated law school.
I’m often think I’m still waiting for the places that I was supposed to be going, but I look at it sometimes sitting on my bookshelf, nestled between oversized and overhighlighted textbooks and I smile thinking, maybe I’ve already been a lot of those places already.
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I have watched this about 20 times now, and i’m still not sick of it. Gives me tingles every time. Big thank you to whoever it was on the MM team who discovered it. It couldn’t have come at a more opportune time in my life. x
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What a BEAUTIFUL VIDEO! Brought a few gr8 memories from my own festival days… A few tears too as we LOVE Dr Seuss and this story was executed brilliantly! Thank you, Mia!!!!! I love yr Mia Culpa book – couldnt put it down
One thing though: to enjoy a massage you may try a) go to a Thai spa with Thai practitioners and b) understand that people who chose this profession most likely enjoy giving pleasure and seeng others relax and enjoy the treatment. No pressure though! 
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This was my sisters all time favourite book. She gave a copy to my son when he was born and it’s always been around our home. I read a slightly abridged version at her wedding 3 years later, and then one abridged very differently at her funeral 3 years after that (3 months ago). I watched this with my kids this morning and cried with a smile.
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What a beautiful memory to cherish her tho. Xxx
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I love this so much
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Can’t. Stop. Watching.
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Moved me!
That festival looks fantastic but I’ll never be able to go, I’m not beautiful enough!!
Haha
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yes you are … because EVERYONE is beautiful! (and if you still think you are not – just remember that some people are Beautiful on the inside instead of the outside
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Amazing! Thank you so much for posting this!
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I read a version of this at my sister’s wedding 3 months ago. I received several comments on the evening about my reading and about the mix of humour and meaning in those words that applies at all different stages of life.
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I used Dr Seuss with my year 2 class last year as inspiration to read and for messages about life and thinking. We loved it!
Thanks for the link.
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Thank you for posting this, I love it.
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Such a fave book and so wise…always makes me choke up!!!
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My partner as MC also read an abridged version of this at our daughter’s wedding – so apt. This festival does look cool – my friend tells me that they randomly pick who gets a ticket and you can only purchase two.
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me again. Just wanted to add that I LOVE how realistic Dr Seuss is about life, that there ups and downs and bad times and boring times and lonely times. Its refreshing to see that when it seems that children are taught now that there are no losers in competitions, that they should be entertained all the time with ipads and games.
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Ive watched it four times already and posted it on FB. I think everyone in the video is so beautiful, so unique, not worrying about what other people think, wearing outfits that they chose and made.
Thank you for sharing this, its just what I needed.
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that was truly beautiful
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This book is part of my standard baby shower gift! I read to each of my children, and to this day, I have not managed to get through it without a little cry! It has such an awesome message!
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This is my gift of choice for baby showers or 1st birthdays too
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I was given this when I was 14, It has accompanied me through moves (interstate and overseas) and been a reminder that ‘this too shall pass’ when the road gets a little (or a lot) bumpy.
It is one of my favourite pieces of writing. ever. all time.
The Burning Man festival looks CRAAAZY! It literally looks like they are making a movie to accompany the story.
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I know someone who was given this as a 21st birthday present. Such a great message for anyone about to begin the next phase in life!
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That’s just what I needed to see this morning
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This was read to me on my first day of year 12, and I bought it shortly after to have as a reminder that despite the rough patches, I’m going to be okay. Wonderful book, I’ll be reading it to my own kids one day. But for now I’ll start with my unborn niece or nephew
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So inspired. Love it.
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A couple of hot guys in that vid, mmmmm. Some that need sunscreen too!
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Beautiful book. I bought it for my 1 month old daughter after she had surgery. I sat by her little hospital cot and read it to her whenever I wasn’t able to hold her.
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That is so beautiful I’m crying a bit
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OMG love this book, have given for graduations and read it to my 7 yo Godchildren and they love it! It reminds of the unlimited life – when you are boxed in you, yourself can get you out!! Just what I needed at the end of a week where I have been waiting for Friday night – time to leave the waiting zone!!! xx
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LOVE LOVE LOVE this book! And the Burning man festival looks so intriguing!
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Was a reading at daughter’s grade 6 graduation
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*SNIFF!!*
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AMAZING.
My most favourite book of all time.
I only wish I had of known about this book before I had my little girl. So inspiring. I cry everytime I read it.
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We wrote a “Dr Suess” poem for our daughters 21st called “Huff and Puff”
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My daughter is 3 and I’ve read it to her since she was really little. I have always planned to read it o ther on her 21st birthday – I sometimes tear up at the end of it already! Love this book!
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I was Given this book as a graduation present from my sister-I loved Dr. Suess as a kid and still do now! I never thought of a wedding too-great idea!!
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a school did it this year as their theme for year 6 graduation. The colours and themes from the book were used to decorate the hall. very nicely done.
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Love this book!!!
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Going to Burning Man has been on my bucket list for a long time, this just renewed my motivation to get there.
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after watching this, it’s on my bucket list too! planning my costume already.
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I am about to order two copies of this book: one for my eldest daughter and one for my unborn niece or nephew as a good night story book from his/her parents – just a beautiful story.
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we had this as a reading at our wedding too, and is now on high rotation reading to our kids. Such a brilliant message.
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I am OBSESSED with this book! My graduation present from Mum was a ring engraved with “Oh, the places you’ll go …”
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I love DR SEUSS!!!!! and i am going to buy this book again for everyone i know.
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“you’re off to great places
today is your day
your mountain is waiting
so get on your way”
*love* this and it’s true of every day we wake up – even the boring, mundane ones – every step we take is another step to an adventure that may just be over the horizon, waiting for us to discover it!
Thank you so much for sharing this, it’s just fabulous!
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I am a school teacher and at the start of the year do a lot of activities based around “Oh, the Places You’ll Go”. I have also given it as a 21st present on numerous occasions. LOVE that book!
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I’m a teacher and use it lots too! I have some of the words up on my classroom wall and always use the sayings during circle time and to boost confidence! Have you also read “Hurray for Diffendoofer day”? It was Dr Suess’ last book that was finished another author. Its about a school and teachers ;o)
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How can you not smile after seeing that? That has really cheered me up this afternoon.
I also know someone who had this read at her wedding, and she gave the book to a mutual friend’s first child when he was born. So suitable for so many occasions.
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I think that “Oh the Places you’ll Go!” should form a mandatory part of every Graduation speech. (with perhaps a P.S. of ‘The Sneetches’ for good measure).
I heart Dr. Seuss and I love the look of the festival. So much liberating fun in one place.
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So good! What a great video!
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My favourite book EVER
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I loved the narrators, it is so wonderful to see adults who can still be uninhibited and enjoy colour and imagination like children.
One of our dear friends read an abridged version of this at our wedding. We were always planning to get married, but our hand was forced a little when we needed to get a visa together to study in the US. So the poem had great significance to us, because our wedding was really the start of our travels.
Also, because my friend is quite a colourful personality herself, she added a few personal touches in the form of in-joke commentary. It just made it all the more special.
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Now that you mention it, this is THE perfect thing to read at a wedding. Love that idea.
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It was beautiful and perfect, Rick. We are not the mushy romantic types so it was certainly right for us. Now I’ve seen it, I am a bit teary for all the friends I have left at home.
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…and you have 3 this year!
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I know, but I’m going to save it for MINE. *cackles*
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I love that. I recommended this as a wedding reading a few years back in the bridal mag I work for. So magical. So glad your friend was on the same wave length.
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We also had this at our wedding. It really just fit us perfectly. It’s wonderful.
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My sister had this as a reading in her wedding as well – and it has now become a tradition at family ‘Naming Day’ ceremonies for the littlest members of our family. Suits so many situations. It makes me tear up every time.
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I LOVE that video and I love the look of The Burning Man festival!!
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