Author Unknown

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 was an unused hazard that needed to be covered up anyway.

It just wasn’t worth it to try to save the donkey. If he filled in the old well, this type of thing wouldn’t happen again. He decided to fill in the well with the donkey, since there was nothing he could do. He thought this might also put the donkey out of its misery quicker.

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, which made the unsettling process easier for the farmer and his neighbors. They all assumed that the donkey had choked on the massive amount of dirt and died.

A few hours later, after shoveling mounds of dirt down the well, the farmer finally looked down into 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.

Hour after hour, as dirt was shoveled on top of the animal, he would persistently shake it off and continue to take a step up.

After a while, after many hours of trying to bury this poor donkey, everyone was astonished as he finally stepped up over the edge of the well, and happily trotted off to freedom.

Life is bound to throw you into a well at some point. 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 stepping stone. 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 four simple rules of happiness:

Free your heart from hatred – Forgive.

Free your mind from worries – Most never happen.

Be grateful for all of the abundance that you have.

Be giving to others. It will always come back to you.