So Why Is It That I Like the Grinch So Much?

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     In 1957, Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel wrote and published the timeless children’s classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2014).  I remember growing up as a kid waiting for this time of year because I knew the animated feature of the same name would soon be on TV.  When the film version starring Jim Carrey was released in 2000, I had to see it on the first day.  I possess the following Grinch items: A 6 foot tall singing Grinch, coffee mug, pajama bottoms, Christmas stocking, the 40^th Anniversary edition of the book, and one each stuffed Grinch and Max; all of which are brought out of storage on the day after Thanksgiving.  So why is it that I like the Grinch so much?

     While it may seem to you, my readers, that I am on Grinch overload, the answer to this question is quite simple.  The story of the Grinch is about transformation.  The expanded movie version tells the story of the Grinch (who was a Who), and how he was ostracized and made fun of because he was different, even eccentric one might say.

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     The Grinch grew to become heartless, and despised all things that were Christmas because of a painful childhood memory.  As the story continued, he hatched a plot to steal everything (that represented this holiday) away from every Who down in Who-ville out of spite, and to get even.  However, the Who people were undeterred by his efforts and celebrated Christmas without all the toys, lights, and roast beast.

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     Upon seeing this high up from Mount Crumpit, the Grinch had a change of heart and realized that Christmas was much more that about commercialization.  In fact, his heart grew “three sizes that day” (1985).  This was his moment of truth, as he looked in the proverbial mirror and did not like what he saw staring back at him.  In the end, the Grinch took personal responsibility for his actions and returned everything he stole.  For this gesture, he was rewarded and blessed with new found friends, who looked past his differences and accepted him as one of their own.

     We can all take a page out of the Grinch’s playbook when it comes to transformation.  The recurrent theme of this blog is all about self-care of the mind-body-spirit paradigm.  It is also about taking a journey towards a more balanced life.  In order to effect this transformation, we, like the Grinch, must take personal responsibility for our own wellbeing.  Nobody else is going to do it for us.

     So as a new year quickly approaches, let’s continue to take the road less traveled.  If you are a new reader, please join in on the conversation.  As Lao Tzu once said “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”.  I leave you with this you tube video that contains the lyrics to the end title song of the Jim Carrey version of the Grinch.  As the words unfold, watch for the inspirational transformation.

Mele Kalikimaka,

Tim

 

References

How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2014).  Wikipedia.  Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_the_Grinch_Stole_Christmas! On 12/12/14.

Geisel, T. (renewed 1985). How The Grinch Stole Christmas 40^th Anniversary Edition.  New York: Random House.

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