I'm Gretchen Rubin and this is a little happier.

As I mentioned frequently, I love children's literature, I love chapter books, I love young adult books, I love picture books.

One drawback with children's books is that occasionally the moral lesson is painted in such crude colors that an adult winces.

I have a real passion for didactic fiction. I love books like Little Women, The Secret Garden, even Heidi.

I think I can. I think I can. Lesson of perseverance by the little blue engine.

Remember that page from Wadi Piper's hugely popular book?

First published in 1930, the little engine that could, puff puff, chug chug went the little blue engine, I think I can.

I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.

But I have to admit it. The little engine that could has made its way into my head throughout my life.

I found myself thinking I think I can. I think I can.

With the image of that smiling blue engine chugging up the mountain for the first time,

that image paired with that phrase perfectly to capture that sentiment.

It reminds me of George Orwell's observation about the writing of Rudyard Kipling.

Orwell criticized Kipling on many worthy grounds, but nevertheless, Orwell acknowledged,

Kipling was often somehow able to express ideas and emotions in words that stuck.

Of Kipling's famous phrase, he travels fastest who travels alone.

Orwell observes, it may not be true, but at any rate, it is a thought that everyone thinks.

Sooner or later, you will have the occasion to feel that he travels the fastest who travels alone.

And there the thought is, ready made as it were waiting for you.

That's the genius of the little engine that could, and probably the reason that it has been in print for almost 90 years.

Whenever I have the occasion to try to push myself to persevere, the thought and the words to express it are ready made.

It's not great literature, but it's what stays in my mind.

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