I’m laying low this week and next. Trying to tie up some loose ends… catch up on some reading… and spending time with my family, relaxing. And I hope you are doing something similar.

I just want to take this opportunity to wish you and your family, warmth and good cheer during this holiday season — and to leave you with this story:

One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into the old well at the back of his farm.

While the farmer was trying to figure out what to do… the donkey began crying. And after some time, this crying turned into non-stop braying. It became so overwhelming, you could almost “feel” the animal’s fear and desperation.

After several hours of this, the farmer felt he had no choice but to put the animal down. He simply didn’t know what to do. The donkey was old, and the well needed to be covered, anywa

And so, the farmer called all his neighbors over and asked them to help him put his beloved donkey out of its misery.

Each one of his neighbors grabbed a shovel and began scooping up dirt, and then tossing it down into the well.

The donkey, who was a little old, but FAR from stupid… immediately realized what was happening, and his crying got even LOUDER. But then… after a few minutes of this, the donkey suddenly regained his composure and quieted down.

So, the farmer looked down into the well, and he was astonished at what he saw: Every time someone shoveled dirt down into the well… instead of letting the dirt pile up on him… the donkey shook the dirt off his back and stepped up onto it.

And as each new scoop of dirt was tossed into the well, the donkey continued stepping up — higher and higher, over time.

Pretty soon, the farmer and all his neighbors stood there in amazement, as the donkey stepped up and out, over the edge of the well… shook the final clumps of dirt off his back… and walked away, smiling.

The moral of the story, of course… is this. From time to time… life is going to shovel dirt on you.

All kinds of dirt, in fact. And sometimes, that dirt is going to feel like it’s piling up so deep and so high… it feels like you’re going to collapse underneath the weight of it all.

The trick to getting out of the well isn’t to fight the dirt, or stop the dirt, or to turn the dirt into gold. You have no control over these things, and all that’s going to do is take away your energy and frustrate you even more. Lead you into more desperation.

The thing to do, is what the old donkey did. Shake it off… and take a step up.

In fact, just like the donkey — this… is usually your only option available… if you want to survive.

Have a great holiday and enjoy you family,

Craig Garber

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