“Your opinion of yourself becomes your reality. If you have all these doubts, no one will believe in you and everything will go wrong. If you think the opposite, the opposite will happen. It’s that simple.” –50 Cent
My favorite how-to book will never be found in the self-help section of the bookstore. It was written long before the term self-help was even coined.
It’s a children’s book called Harold and the Purple Crayon and it rivals Oprah when it comes to addressing the possibilities of the human condition.
Written by Crockett Johnson in 1955, this little 65-page masterpiece tells the story of a little boy named Harold who decides to go out for a walk one evening. When there isn’t any moonlight (and, of course, everyone knows a good walk requires moonlight), Harold just takes out his purple crayon and draws the moon.
He also needs a sidewalk (which he draws) that leads to a forest (he only draws one tree because he doesn’t want to get lost) that turns out to be an apple tree (or at least it is after Harold’s crayon gets ahold of it). Unfortunately, the apples aren’t ripe yet, so Harold draws a frightening dragon to guard the tree.
When he falls into the ocean, Harold is able to grab his wits and his purple crayon to draw a boat and set sail for a beach, where he draws a picnic lunch with nine kinds of pie.
The whole book is about Harold’s great adventures scaling a mountain, soaring in a hot-air balloon and touring a city, all created by his ever-faithful purple crayon.
It’s a powerful book because it demonstrates a great spiritual truth—we are the authors of our own lives. We draw every detail—even the dragons and the oceans we “accidentally” fall into.
Harold could have gone on his walk, noticed there was no moon and sat down and pouted. Isn’t that what most of us do? “Damn, no moon. Better call my therapist, hit some pillows.” Or he could have drawn his moon, compared it to El Greco, and said, “I’m a hopeless sham. What was I thinking? Me? An artist?”
Instead, he kept reaching for his purple crayon and drawing every event, every answer, every friend he needed. We all have that power.
Harold was only a kid. He hadn’t yet lost his imagination, his sense of wonder and awe. No one had explained yet that he couldn’t have whatever he wanted. As long as he had his purple crayon, he could ride the universe.
Remember that big box of Crayolas with the 64 awesome colors? With that one small gold and green box you could have absolutely anything-—navy blue carousels with peach prancing ponies, magenta castles with yellow-green drawbridges, puffy white clouds and purple grass although your teacher might have frowned on that kind of thing. “Grass is green, don’t you know.”
Each year of school, the Crayola stash gets smaller. By the time we graduate from high school, we’re wielding nothing but a blue Bic for figuring our checking account.
Let’s go out this week and get some crayons. Let’s create our world the way we want it. And if we happen to fall into an ocean or run into a dragon, we’ll just draw ourselves a lifeboat and head for the beach, where at least one kind of pie will be waiting.
Pam Grout is the author of 17 books including E-Squared: 9 Do-it-Yourself Energy Experiments that Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality and the recently-released sequel, E-Cubed, 9 More Experiments that Prove Mirth, Magic and Merriment is your Full-time Gig.
49 Responses
Once again your words inspired me at a time that I can and Will put them to use. Thank you Pam!!
You’re so welcome!!!
Reblogged this on FRAGMENTS and commented:
Another wonderful blog from the always awesome [drum roll] Pam Grout!
Love the drum roll!!!
Thanks, Pam. You’re my hero!! 🙂
Wise words! Thank you <3
Nim, were you in Denver? I missed you somehow?
Love it! Thanks for sharing, Pam.
It is always my pleasure to share. Thanks for sharing your thanks!!
Yep. Nailed it! Thank you.
And I didn’t even have a hammer.
This is beautiful! So inspiring!
Thanks! We are all beautiful and inspiring. Even if we don’t always know it.
Wow Pam I never looked at the harold book that way! what an eye opener! We all have our own Purple crayon!We just have to use it! I will share this with my family! Thanks so Much!
I discovered Harold when my daughter was small. I read to her every single night. And Harold was a favorite…until, of course, Harry and Ron and Hermione came along. Of course, they were writing some pretty exciting adventures themselves.
As I’m reading this at my desk, I am looking right at a brand new large box of crayons that I bought for the grandkids. Hmmmmm, I’m getting some wonderful and fun ideas! Thanks for another inspiring post, just when I really needed it.
I’ll bet the grandkids will share.
what a wonderful reminder that we are all authors and we do create our reality– I am writing about just this now….
It all starts in the imagination. We imagine things into being. That’s the power, the fun and the glory.
I love your posts Pam but how do I find the correct crayon? And when I do, how do I use it correctly? I am the sort of person who needs solid info as opposed to figurative.
Here’s the thing, Harriet. They’re all the right crayon. Whatever is in your NOW is your crayon. You can do with it what you can imagine. Most important is to HAVE FUN!!
Very inspiring! I am going though a very hard time but this gives me some hope. Thanks a bunch!
Sorry for your hard time. But what a great opportunity to write a better story.
Great! All these years I’ve been using the orange Crayon. Now you tell me! : )
Orange is great–the new black I’ve been told. So is purple, green and magenta.
As an Art Teacher I have often read Harold and The Purple Crayon to children to inspire their creativity……..thank you for reminding me that I can use it to inspire myself….
What a great job–being an art teacher! Keep those kiddos believing in their imaginations–that’s what’s real!!!
This is a beautiful message, Pam — thanks so much!!
Is there a way to participate remotely with your weekly group?
Annette Ermini
Thanks for asking, Annette. We’re a look-each-other-in-the-eye kinda group.
Perfectly AWESOME “illustration”/message! Rummaging thru my Crayola box now!
#piccassoofmylife
Thanks!!! Just don’t leave the crayons on the dash of your car on a sunny day!!
Pam I haven’t come down from the motivation cloud since your inspiring talk in Denver this weekend. And now this. I feel as though I have my own personal cheerleader! If any of you out there EVER have the opportunity to see Pam speak in person, get your crayon out and draw a train, plane, car, go cart or camel … whatever you can to get there! As always I’m putting the vibe out to The Dude and all of you about Lazarus ..
http://jasonexplorer.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/laz_featurette_3min_broadband.mov
Bless you all for your inspiration! Lots of good energy coming from me to you.
Tammie
You are so kind, Tammie! So glad you were there!!!
Thanks Pam!I’m in recovery from recent surgery. Your posts help ma a lot! Can’t get around yet except in a walker (I call it my cage) but folks tell me that with my upbeat and positive attitude, I will recover completely! I have a lot to be grateful for, and you are one of those helps I need!
You will be out of the cage real soon! So happy to hear of your upbeat, positive attitude.
Love it.
Needed this today…going to have to go crayon shopping!
Thank you
Hugs
Pam, I absolutely love this post. I look forward to receiving your posts as much as I do an upcoming vacation. Seriously. Don’t ever stop!
P.S. I’m buying a blank coloring book…
Nicole
Pam I just love you!! Another amazing post that just makes my soul leap a little on the inside and reminds me that I am the artist who creates my canvas. Thank you 🙂
Reblogged this on Brussell's Sprouts and commented:
I absolutely love this post by Pam Grout. Our world is our canvas and our thoughts are our purple crayon.
Pam, you cosmic fount of soul joy —
I’d love to share your posts on Google Plus. Any chance of adding a button for G+ also?
With appreciation —
Evan
Well, I use gel pens instead of crayons, but it’s the same thing!
http://www.mandalagal.deviantart.com/gallery
Crayons, pencils, I use a journal..I already have written about trip to the Holy Land with Wayne..Pam, I just love your writing!!
“There was nothing but pie. All nine kinds that Harold liked best.” OMG… one of my favorite books Ever! xoxo Heather
I just love this story about Harold and the purple crayon, thank you for sharing! Kindest regards and blessings Katy Hart Gisborne, New Zealand
I LOVE this post!!! Going out to buy crayons! 🙂
HI Pam,,
I have two boxes of crayons and a fairy coloring book along with a web site that has pages you can print out and color (for adults)! Harold is a great example and I thank you for sharing your insight once more so that I can “awaken” to a deeper level” of understanding and also to give myself permission to play instead of work towards creating the world I want to live in! By the way, the bubbles I play with every day are AMAZING TOO!!!
Blessings,
Rev. Janet Ellis
Pam, your words bring comfort and joy to people all over the world. Thank You!!
Besides, I always thought that one of the great attractions of practising law was what I like to call the collegiality of the profession and I think that duty of collegiality applies even when we are retired….https://youtu.be/NMIJ2xiV87g
Len G. Murray