The Donkey in the Well - A Story of Persistence
I have told this story before, but I believe no one can hear this enough, so if you haven't heard the story of The Donkey in the Well, or if you just need some motivation for this week, this one is for you.
Once upon a time, there was a donkey. It was a stupid, stubborn old donkey and even the farmer who owned it didn't like him very much.
The farmer owned a large property and one day he heard in the distance the loud, distinctive "eye-ore, eye-ore" of the donkey. He wondered what the stupid old donkey had done now, and so he looked all over his property until at last he found the animal at the bottom of an old abandoned well.
Exasperated, the farmer rang his neighbors and asked them to each bring a shovel. He'd had enough of the stupid old donkey, so he decided to bury it in the well.
All of his friends came over and together they started to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey protested loudly, braying with all of his might, but after about 10 minutes, he stopped. The farmers kept shoveling.
After a while, the farmer decided to have a look into the well to see what had happened to the donkey. What he saw astonished him.
Instead of being buried, the donkey would dodge the incoming dirt, standing on the ever increasing mound. Now the mission changed and the farmers went from trying to bury the donkey, to trying to save him, shoveling more and more dirt into the abandoned well until he jumped out on top victorious.
Upon his release, the farmers all dropped their shovels and applauded the old stubborn beast with a newfound admiration.
There are times in life when it seems as though we are that donkey. Trapped and feeling as though life is trying to bury us. Don't go under, but continue to find a way to overcome your challenges one at a time until you too emerge victorious.
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well, is to shake it off and step up.
Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, by never giving up!
Shake it off, and take a step upward.
Remember these 5 rules to be happy:
Free your heart from hatred
Free your mind from worries
Live simply
Give more
Expect less
Hope to see you at the top.