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

The Dinner That Revealed Everything I Needed to Know

I sensed something was off from the start. My future mother-in-law called with an unusually upbeat tone, insisting that she and her sisters wanted to host a…

Title: A Small-Town Diner Lesson in Respect, Accountability, and Quiet Confidence

After more than two decades working in a small-town diner, I have come to see the job as far more than taking orders and clearing tables. It…

How a Simple Note Turned a Family Conflict Into Understanding and Healing

What began as a surprising babysitting bill quickly became something much deeper—a moment that revealed unspoken expectations and hidden emotions within a family. Instead of responding with…

Pope Leo makes grim 2-word statement on Donald Trump amid horrifying Iran threat

Tensions between the United States and Iran surged dramatically after Donald Trump issued a warning suggesting that “a whole civilization” could be destroyed. The statement, delivered just before a…

Psychologist reveals alarming message Donald Trump hid in shocking threats to Iran

A clinical psychologist has suggested that Donald Trump’s increasingly intense rhetoric toward Iran may serve a deeper psychological function beyond politics or military signaling. His recent statements, including…

Mother discovers a black spot in her daughter’s mouth and goes to the hospital in a hurry

While playing with her child, a mother noticed something that left her disturbed. On the hard palate inside the girl’s mouth was a huge black patch the…