The Farmer's Donkey - What to do when life throws dirt at you?

by Tony Chin
(Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

For everything that has happened to you, you can either feel sorry for yourself or treat what has happened as a gift. Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing... You get to choose!"

The Farmer's Donkey

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway. It just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.

When the donkey realized what was happening it cried horribly.

Then, to everyone's amazement it quietens down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw.

With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the
animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

* 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 take a step up.

Each of our trouble is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells by not giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy?

1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive!


2. Free
   your mind from worries - Most never happen!


3. Live simply and
   appreciate what you have!


4. Give more!


5. Expect less!