Robert Fulghum first wrote All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten way back in 1988; and it stayed on the New York Times bestseller list for nearly two years. His book, subtitled "Uncommon Thoughts on Common Things," was the first of many works he has produced which expound what has been called his “down-home philosophy of seeing the world through the eyes of a child”.
A cottage industry of sorts has also arisen surrounding his particular title. Perusing the internet will quickly produce dozens of works consisting of similar titles and/or collections
of thoughts. Recently, my sister sent me one such collection. As a good soaking rain is falling outside my window this evening, I thought I would post this piece titled All I Really Need to Know I Learned From Noah's Ark.
1. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.
2. Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone might ask you to do something REALLY big.
3. Don't listen to critics -- do what has to be done.
4. Build on high ground.
5. For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
6. Two heads are better than one.
7. Speed isn't always an advantage. The cheetahs were on board, but so were the snails.
8. If you can't fight or flee -- float!
9. Take care of your animals as if they were the last ones on earth.
10. Don't forget that we're all in the same boat.
11. Stay below deck during the storm.
12. Remember that the ark was built by amateurs and the Titanic was built by professionals.
13. If you have to start over, have a friend by your side.
14. Remember that the woodpeckers INSIDE are often a bigger threat than the storm outside.
15. Don't miss the boat.
AND, ABOVE ALL ELSE...
16. No matter how bleak it looks, there's always a rainbow on the other side.
A cottage industry of sorts has also arisen surrounding his particular title. Perusing the internet will quickly produce dozens of works consisting of similar titles and/or collections
of thoughts. Recently, my sister sent me one such collection. As a good soaking rain is falling outside my window this evening, I thought I would post this piece titled All I Really Need to Know I Learned From Noah's Ark.
1. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.
2. Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone might ask you to do something REALLY big.
3. Don't listen to critics -- do what has to be done.
4. Build on high ground.
5. For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
6. Two heads are better than one.
7. Speed isn't always an advantage. The cheetahs were on board, but so were the snails.
8. If you can't fight or flee -- float!
9. Take care of your animals as if they were the last ones on earth.
10. Don't forget that we're all in the same boat.
11. Stay below deck during the storm.
12. Remember that the ark was built by amateurs and the Titanic was built by professionals.
13. If you have to start over, have a friend by your side.
14. Remember that the woodpeckers INSIDE are often a bigger threat than the storm outside.
15. Don't miss the boat.
AND, ABOVE ALL ELSE...
16. No matter how bleak it looks, there's always a rainbow on the other side.