Farmer Thinks He’s Burying the Donkey, but the Donkey Wasn’t Through Teaching Him

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. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s amazement, he quieted 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!

Moral of the Story

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 troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never 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 happens.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less from people but more from yourself.

Related Posts

When a Promise of Help Became a Test of Trust

The offer sounded almost unreal when it crossed our kitchen table. After years of infertility and quiet heartbreak, my mother-in-law said she would carry our baby herself….

When a Bold Message Became a Quiet Reminder

It flashed onto my screen before I’d finished my first sip of coffee—a bold, urgent message wrapped in red and impossible to miss. It promised luck, momentum,…

How a Simple Kitchen Herb May Support Brain Health After 60

For many adults over 60, staying mentally sharp becomes just as important as staying physically active. Small shifts—misplaced keys, slower recall, brief mental fog—can raise quiet concerns,…

How to Understand the Feeling That a Loved One Is Still Near After Loss

After a profound loss, many people experience something unexpected: a brief sense that their loved one is still close. It may surface as a sudden memory, a…

How a Split-Second Moment Became a Digital Narrative

Public life now unfolds at a speed that would have been hard to imagine just a generation ago. With smartphones, high-definition video, and social platforms operating around…

Shania Twain’s Las Vegas Look Sparks a Bigger Conversation About Stage Style

During a recent Las Vegas performance, Shania Twain reminded audiences that a live show is as much about visual storytelling as it is about music. While her vocals and…