2019-19 - Persistence...

A man's favourite donkey fell into a deep precipice. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. He couldn't pull it out no matter how hard he tried. Finally, as the animal was old, he decided to bury it alive.

He began pouring soil on the donkey from above. After some time, the man peered down into the well, and was astounded by what he saw. The donkey felt the load, shook it off, and stepped on it.

More soil was poured. It shook it off and stepped up. The more the soil was poured, the higher it rose.

Pretty soon, the donkey stepped up over the edge of the precipice and trotted off, to the shock and astonishment of the man.

By noon, the donkey was grazing in green pastures.

~ Author Unknown

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Positivity, confidence, and persistence are key in life, so never give up on yourself.

~ Khalid

2019-18 - Just Do It...

It was imperative that the president get a message to the leader of the insurgents. His name was Garcia and he was known to be fighting somewhere in the mountains of Cuba, but no mail or telegraph could reach him. Someone said, "There's a fellow by the name of Rowan who will find Garcia for you if anybody can."

Rowan took the letter without pause or hesitation. He sealed it in a leather pouch and set off. He landed in the dark of night off the coast of Cuba and made his way to the mountains, and after much difficulty, found Garcia. He handed him the letter, turned around and headed home. 

Hubbard tells this story in his book. Rowan didn't ask, "Where is he?" or "I doubt if I can do it." There was a job to be done, and he did it.

Instead of making a dozen excuses why you can't complete the task, think about Rowan. Deliver the goods!

~ Author Unknown

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If you're waiting until you feel talented enough to make it, you'll never make it.

~ Criss Jami, Healology 

2019-17 - The Railway Story...

Several years ago on an extremely hot day, a crew was working on the railroad bed when a train came to a stop near them and a window in the last car was raised.

A friendly voice called out, "Dave, is that you?" Dave, the crew chief called back, "Sure is, Jim, and it's really good to see you." With that pleasant exchange, Dave was invited to join Jim, the president of the railroad, for an hour long pleasant visit and then they shook hands warmly as the train pulled out.

Dave's crew immediately surrounded him and a man expressed astonishment that he knew Jim as a personal friend. Dave then explained that 20 years earlier he and Jim had started to work for the railroad on the same day. One of the men, half-jokingly and half seriously asked Dave why he was still working out in the hot sun and Jim had gotten to be president. Rather wistfully Dave explained, "twenty-three years ago I went to work for $1.75 an hour, and Jim Murphy went to work for the railroad."

~ Author Unknown

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It is not what, but who you work for, that makes the difference.

~ Author Unknown

2019-16 - The Needy King...

While a Sage was passing through the capital city of a famous king, he noticed a single coin on the road and though he had no use of it, he picked it up thinking to donate it to someone in need.

Next morning, he found that the king was going to war. When the king saw the sage, he ordered his army to stop. He came to the sage and said, "Oh Great Sage, I am going to war so that my state can be expanded. Bless me to be victorious".

After thinking a bit, the sage gave the coin to the king! The king was confused and annoyed with this because he had no need for a single coin! He curiously asked the sage, "What's the meaning of this one coin?"

The Sage explained, "Oh Great King! I found this coin yesterday, but I had no use of it. So, I had decided that I will donate it to someone needy. I strolled around till the evening but found no one such. It seemed that they were satisfied with what they had. But today, the king of this state, has the desire to gain more and is not satisfied with what he already has. So I felt you were in need of this coin."

~ Author Unknown

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Greed is destructive. Need is creative.

~ Eartha Kitt

2019-15 - The Blind Man...

The Blind Man...

Once upon a time, there was a small town. There lived a man by himself who couldn’t see. He was blind. Yet, he carried a lighted lamp with him whenever he went out at night.

One night as he was coming home after having a dinner outside, he came across a group of young travellers.

They saw that the man was blind, yet carrying a lighted lamp. They started passing comments on him and made a fun of him. One of them asked him, "Hey Man! You are blind and can't see anything! Why do you carry the lamp then?!"

The blind man replied, "Yes, unfortunately, I am blind and I can’t see anything but the lighted lamp which I am carrying is for the people like you who can see. You may not see the blind man coming and end up pushing me. That is why I carry a lighted lamp".

~ Author Unknown

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When you start to develop your powers of empathy and imagination, the whole world opens up to you.

~ Susan Sarandon