A BOOK REVIEW: WHO MOVED MY CHEESE?

I am thrilled to share the story inside this book to you. Each time I re-read this book, I always find new insight from it. Since this book means so much to me, I decided to do my first book review. Hope you enjoy what I have discovered and move with cheese!

The story talked about 2 Little People (Hem and Haw) and 2 Mice (Sniff and Scurry) who ran through a Maze looking for cheese every morning until dusk. The Maze was dark labyrinth of corridors and chambers. Some of them containing delicious cheese, but there were also dark corners and blind alleys leading nowhere.

Source: Personal Picture

One day, all of them discovered delicious cheese with super huge amount in Station C. Sniff and Scurry who have simple brains continued to wake early and race through the Maze, following the same route. When they arrived at Station C, they sniffed-scratched-scurried around, inspecting the area to see if there had been any change from the day before, then they would sit down and enjoy the cheese. However, the routine for Hem and Haw started to change. They awoke a little later, dressed a little slower, and walked straight to Station C. It wasn’t long after that, they moved their homes to be closer for it and built social life around it. They felt happy and successful, also thought they were now secure.

As time went on, there is no Cheese in Station C. Sniff and Scurry had noticed the supply of the cheese had been getting smaller every day, they weren’t surprised. They looked at each other, put back their running shoes, and quickly off in search of New Cheese. However, Hem and Haw were unprepared for what they found. They yelled, “Who moved my Cheese?” frozen with shock. They analyzed the situation over and over with their complicated brains. They believed the Cheese had been moved all of sudden.

Every morning, Hem and Haw were still back in Station C evaluating their situation and deciding what to do. They were now becoming frustrated and blaming each other for the situation.

All of sudden, Haw exclaimed, “Let’s go to Labyrinth!”

Hem quickly respond, “No, I’m getting old for that and I’m afraid of getting lost”

Haw argued, “We’ve run through many parts of the Maze before, we can do it again”

Hem said, “But what if there is no Cheese out there? Or even if there is, what if you don’t find it?”

Haw replied, “I don’t know” and quickly put his running shoes.

Source: Google Image

While Hew keep wonder why things don’t get better and wait someone put the Cheese back, Haw started explore the Labyrinth. He admit that the Maze seemed change since the last time he was out there, and found it confusing. Haw was losing his physical strength and afraid that he would not survive. He began to imagine all kind of frightening that could happen to him. He was scaring himself to death. Then he laughed at himself. He realized his fears were making things worse. Instead of heading back to Station C, he moved in a new direction.

Haw continued on through the Maze with greater strength and speed. He had let go of his past and ended feel happy with his journey. Haw proceeded along corridor that was new to him, and found New Cheese at Station N. It was the greatest supply of Cheese he had ever seen. He wondered for a moment, felt surreal, until he saw his old friends, Sniff and Scurry. They welcomed Haw with their fat little bellies which showed that they had been there for some time.

Source: Google Image

Yes, this is a story about change! Each of us has our own idea of what the Cheese is, and we pursue it because we believe it makes us happy. If we get it, we often become attached to it. And if we lose it, or it’s taken away, it can be traumatic. Sometimes, we shared our cheese to our friends which grew our confidence to the arrogance of success. The thing that I learned from the mice is they kept life simple. When the situation changed and the Cheese had been moved, they changed and moved with the Cheese. It’s not like two little people who overanalyze and overcomplicate things.

Everyone knows that not all change is good or even necessary. It was natural for the change to continually occur, whether you expect it or not. It makes things easier if we leave the comfort zone and adapt the change sooner. I remember my APJ leader said, “You need to let it go, if you wanna grow”. Once you change what you believe, you change what you do. The fastest way to change is to laugh at your own folly.

This book is surely recommended for all of you, very good advisor of life, whatever your Cheese is. Whether it’s a job, relationship, money, freedom, health, recognition, or even spiritual peace. Doing the same routine will not guarantee your Cheese will stay forever. 

Be ready to change quickly and enjoy it again and again, because they keep moving the Cheese!