In 1957, Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel wrote and published the timeless children's classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2022). 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. I saw the 2000 film version (starring Jim Carrey) on the big screen on the first day of its release. I possess the following Grinch items: A T-shirt, coffee mug, Christmas stocking, and one each stuffed Grinch and Max, all of which appear from storage on the day after Thanksgiving. So why am I fond of the Grinch?

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.

The Grinch grew heartless and despised all things that were Christmas because of a painful childhood memory. He hatched a plot to steal this holiday away from the residents of Whoville. However, the Who people celebrated the spirit of Christmas without the trimmings, gifts, and food.

Upon seeing this high up from Mount Crumpit, the Grinch changed his heart and realized that Christmas was much more than about commercialization. His heart grew "three sizes that day" (1985). The Grinch's moment of truth came when he looked in the proverbial mirror and disliked what he had become. Ultimately, the Grinch took personal responsibility for his actions and returned everything he stole. For this gesture, he was rewarded and blessed with newfound 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 regarding transformation. This blog's recurrent theme is about self-care of the mind-body-spirit paradigm. It is also about taking a journey towards a more balanced life. To effect this transformation, we, like the Grinch, must take personal responsibility for our well-being. 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 YouTube video with the end title song of the Jim Carrey version of the Grinch. As the video unfolds, watch for his inspirational transformation. Until next time -

Namaste,

Tim

References

How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2022). Wikipedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_the_Grinch_Stole_Christmas! On 11/27/2022.

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

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