Sometimes it’s the smallest things that give us inspiration, like a white mug with a drawing created by Jacky Fleming that sits on my desk that has a girl/ woman who is jumping for joy, with the symbol for female on her shirt, that says never give up.  I purchased it in a women’s bookshop in London about 20 years ago and it reminds me of my Junior year Abroad when I felt so free being  far away from New York and I was sure that the world was waiting for me with open arms.

What do you do when moments of despair take over and it feels like there is no hope?  We quickly lose that feeling of invincibility that you feel at the age of 21 and it’s increasing hard to conjure up hope.

So I’m amazed how one day I’m pulled out of my own funk by reading to my bright eyed 8 year old daughter from Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”

There’s an adorable little yellow guy who struts his stuff as he goes confidently into the world.  At times, he’s “soaring to high heights” but there are many bumps and snags along the road, that “scare you so much you won’t want to go on.” But onward he goes.

I think we can all take a page from Dr. Seuss as we go through our lives.

“So be sure when you step,

Step with care and great tact,

and remember that Life’s

a Great Balancing Act.

Just never forget to be dexterous and deft

And never mix up your right foot

from your left.

And will you succeed!

Yes! You will indeed!

(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

If you ever get caught in a downward spiral in your life, try taking a deep breath and find this Seuss book and read it.  Or watch one of inspiring graduation talks like the one that Steve Jobs gave as a commencement speech at Stamford that can be viewed on Ted Talks.