It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion.

It is easy in solitude to live after our own.

But the great man is he

who in the midst of the crowd

keeps with perfect sweetness

the independence of solitude."

ANSWER:

Ralph Waldo Emerson,

in SELF-RELIANCE

(I used it with my high school yearbook picture)

(I see this moral as a common thread in these stories, which I can identify with.)

Do you remember these children's 
storybooks?  The quirky main characters 
are independent-minded.  They're 
overwhelmingly self-motivated each in 
their own right, definintely NOT 
Followers!  They each got something they 
needed out of their respective 
"eccentricities," were unstoppable and 
could not be molded.  To these degrees, 
the stories could be very suggestive of 
A.D.D.  This is just to get you thinking! 



JACK AND THE BEANSTALK

(Impulsive, Naiive, Curious, Adventurous, 
Daredevilish, 
Resourceful, Intuitive.)

WHY:  Jack was too easily distracted from 
his purpose and then WOW! What an 
adventure!  He got out of trouble just as 
easily as he got into it.  Besides, 
consider that the "Big Guy" Jack has to 
contend with is depicted as a giant OGRE.  

Soul Reward for Jack:  FOOD, GOLD THRILLS, 
ACCEPTANCE



PETER PAN

(Independent, Curious, Adventurous, Bossy, 
Impulsive, Crafty, Fickle, Immature, Thrill 
Seeker)

WHY:  Peter saw things very differently than 
most.  He could never be held down except by 
moods or feelings.  He was both fickle and 
deeply affected by his contacts with others.

Soul Reward for Peter:  A "FAMILY," 
STRUCTURE, AND LOTS OF THRILLS! 



THE LITTLE RED HEN

(Stubborn, Independent, Hyperfocused, 
Impatient, Fussy, Restless, Bossy)

WHY:  Hen jumped right in and did everyone's 
chores herself;  single-minded, seemingly 
hyperactive/compulsive, she couldn't wait.  

Soul Reward for Hen:  SET EXAMPLE, INSTANT 
GRATIFICATION - MISSION ACCOMPLISHED 



LITTLE BOBO AND HIS BLUE JACKET

(Bobo: Child-like, Naiive; 
Old Monkey: Over-Emotional & Hyperfocused; 
Hippo:  Disinhibited, Impulsive)

WHY:  The Old Monkey cried so hard when he 
shrunk the beautiful little blue jacket.  
Little Hippo didn't think ahead and tore 
the jacket trying to put it on.  

Soul Reward for Bobo:  CONSOLATION.  



FERDINAND

(Selectively Attentive, Independent,
Content Being Innately Spacy)

WHY:  He was the "different" bull who always 
got in trouble for daydreaming.

Soul Reward for Ferdinand:  SIMPLISTIC, 
INDEPENDENT PURSUITS



THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER

(Selectively Attentive, Deep-Thinking, 
Creative)

WHY:  Grasshopper didn't participate in 
stockpiling food like the busy colony of 
ants who took him in.  But once their food 
was gone, they finally saw value in the 
music he had produced in reverie.

Soul Reward for Grasshopper:  VALUE OF HIS 
INDEPENDENT PURSUITS EVENTUALLY APPRECIATED



LITTLE BLACK SAMBO

(Independent, Flexible, Intuitive, Resourceful, 
Curious)

WHY:  Sambo figured how to get the tigers' 
minds off eating him by giving them his clothes.  
Then he brought home the butter they became, 
and feasted on their remains over his favorite 
meal, a huge stack of pancakes.

Soul Reward for Sambo:  IRONY; HE SPARED HIS 
OWN LIFE & CONSUMED THE DANGERS INSTEAD OF 
BEING CONSUMED



THE GINGERBREAD MAN

(OBVIOUSLY Hyperactive & Restless, Curious, 
Intelligent, Resourceful)

WHY:  He was the smartest, fastest Cookie 
Boy you ever saw!  (He could run circles 
around Pop'n Fresh, tickle him and knock 
the PUFF out of him!)  And he outsmarted 
the Fox, even.



CURIOUS GEORGE

(Well, just LOOK at him!)

WHY:  He's all over the place, can't resist 
his impulses or curiosity; he's irresistably 
cute, both helpful and destructive, yet his 
heart is true, and he certainly means well!
He can't help himself from trying to help himself!