Thursday 2 May 2013

The Farmer, The Mule and The Well.

“Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.”

– Arnold Schwarzenegger


This parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule, which he didn't love very much. The mule fell into the farmer's well, a well which the farmer considered extremely useless - the well was dry all year long so it had no real importance.

The farmer heard the
mule praying or whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully accessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving.

Instead, he called his neighbours together, told them what had happened and how useless both the mule and the well were to him. He therefore enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Initially the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbours continued shovelling, and the dirt hit his back, a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back, he would shake it off and step up.
This he did, blow after blow. "Shake it off and step up... Shake it off and step up... Shake it off and step up!" He repeated to encourage himself.

No matter how painful the blows, or how distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought panic and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!

It wasn't too long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped
triumphantly over the wall of that well! What seemed like it would bury him, actually helped him, all because of the manner in which he handled his
adversity.

MORAL
It doesn't matter what the situation is, what matters is your reaction to the situation! Your reaction determines how strong you are!

Till next time,, Keep dreaming!!

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