Saturday May 15, 2004

Moving with the Cheese

Sarah and I stopped at the local library today in search of some good flicks to watch. We picked up Love, Actually and Something's Got to Give, both of which I really want to see. As we wandered the library, I also picked up a copy of Who Moved My Cheese --a book that so many have told me about and I always wanted to read. I saw it sitting on a random shelf in the inspirational section, so I checked it out and took it home.

Before I picked it up I had no idea it was such a short book. So short, in fact, that I just finished reading it... about 30 minutes after I started. The story follows four characters, two mice and two "littlepeople" as they run through a maze in search of cheese. After becoming comfortable in a cheese-filled section of the large, confusing maze, the characters find one day that their stockpile of cheese is gone. Actually, only the two littlepeople had become comfortable in their cheese station. The mice, on the other hand, had their running shoes on and bolted out the door in search of new cheese as soon as their station came up empty. Smart little mice.

The two littlepeople became angry and frustrated, and let their fear of the maze hold them to a cheese-less life. That is, until one of the littlepeople got the courage to step out into the unknown and leave the familiarity of the empty cheese station behind him. After experiencing some doubts and disappointments along the journey (this is where I give away the ending, be aware) he finally finds a glorious pile of brand new cheese some distance away from the old station. And this isn't all that he finds... his also discovers some bits of wisdom he picked up on the way.

It is safer to search the maze than remain in a cheeseless situation. The quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you find new cheese. And (my favorite) when you move beyond your fear, you feel free. The book was about changes... life changes, and how we must adapt to them. And how adapting to them leads us to better cheese, because the journey that brings us to the new cheese station helps us to grow and to enjoy the new cheese more graciously.

I'm so glad that I waited until now to read that book. It couldn't have come at a better time. I've gradutated from college and just wrapped up one awesome job. Now I'm looking for grad programs and an apartment (complete with uber-compatible new roomie, I hope). And being the rodent lover that I am, I'm taking a cue from the little mice in the story: I'm going to get ready and move with the cheese. I know it's out there.