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 filled in anyway. It just wasn’t worth retrieving the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed shovels and began to shovel dirt into the well.At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried even more loudly. But then, to everyone’s amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw.
With every 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. The more they shoveled, the higher the donkey climbed.
Soon, to everyone’s amazement, the donkey stepped over the edge of the well and trotted off, happily braying. The well was filled, and the donkey was unharmed.
The moral of the story is that life is going to shovel dirt on you. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.
The farmer and his neighbors stood there in awe, witnessing the donkey’s remarkable escape. They couldn’t believe how the animal had turned a potentially dire situation into a triumph.
As the donkey disappeared into the distance, the farmer couldn’t help but reflect on the lesson he had just learned. It wasn’t just about the donkey’s resilience; it was also about the power of perspective. The farmer realized that what initially seemed like a burden or obstacle could, in fact, be an opportunity for growth and transformation.
Inspired by the donkey’s journey, the farmer started to apply this lesson to his own life. Whenever he faced challenges on the farm or in his personal life, he reminded himself to shake off the difficulties and take a step up. The once-discouraging situations became steppingstones for personal development and success.
Word of the donkey’s incredible escape spread throughout the village, turning the story into a local legend. People began adopting the “shake it off and take a step up” philosophy in their own lives. The community started to thrive, facing challenges with newfound resilience and determination.