“If you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.”
Henry Ford

You are a smart donkey

An old story with a current message: Having dirt dumped on you can get you out of a tight spot.

A farmer’s donkey fell into a well. The farmer did everything he could to figure out how to lift the donkey out, but there was no way. It was too deep and the farmer’s equipment was unable to lift that much weight. He called his neighbors to come and help him figure out a way.

The donkey was whining and crying. None of the farmers had hoisting equipment strong enough to lift it out. After many hours of creative idea casting and trying, they decided he would have to die in the well. The farmer sent them home, then reluctantly, slowly started shoveling dirt into the well, feeling awful with every shovel full.

At first the donkey cried and whined even louder. It didn’t like dirt dumped on it, so it shook it off and stomped on it. With each shovel full the farmer dropped into the well, the donkey shook it off and became calmer. It was a very smart animal. As it stepped on each shovel full of dirt, the donkey was eventually raised up. After many hours of shoveling, it was able to step out of the well.

Moral of the story: when dirt is dumped on you, use it to lift you up and out of your difficult situation.