My thought for the day !

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!

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:

Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
Live simply and appreciate what you have.
Give more.
Expect less

[braidman]

I much prefer this story

THE STORY OF THE SPARROW


On a beautiful winter day in Siberia, encouraged by the warm rays of the sun in a clear blue sky, a little sparrow left the security of his nest to fly and frolic in the air, but the 40o below zero temperature quickly overcame the imprudent bird who fell to the ground, frozen, and found himself buried in the snow where he would certainly have died in an instant. But by chance a cow trotted by at that moment, and at the very spot where the sparrow was struggling for his last breath, she dropped a large soft cow-dung on top of the bird. The warmth of this dung-bath resuscitated the moribund sparrow. He was so happy, he raised his head out of the cow-crap and started to twitter joyfully, which drew the attention of a wandering homeless cat who delicately pulled the sparrow out of the crap and devoured him.

The moral of this story: Your enemy is not necessarily the one who craps on your head. Your friend, however, is not necessarily the one who pulls you out of the crap. And besides, one should never twitter when one is up to their neck in crap.

[russ]

Originally Posted by braidman

I much prefer this story

THE STORY OF THE SPARROW


On a beautiful winter day in Siberia, encouraged by the warm rays of the sun in a clear blue sky, a little sparrow left the security of his nest to fly and frolic in the air, but the 40o below zero temperature quickly overcame the imprudent bird who fell to the ground, frozen, and found himself buried in the snow where he would certainly have died in an instant. But by chance a cow trotted by at that moment, and at the very spot where the sparrow was struggling for his last breath, she dropped a large soft cow-dung on top of the bird. The warmth of this dung-bath resuscitated the moribund sparrow. He was so happy, he raised his head out of the cow-crap and started to twitter joyfully, which drew the attention of a wandering homeless cat who delicately pulled the sparrow out of the crap and devoured him.

The moral of this story: Your enemy is not necessarily the one who craps on your head. Your friend, however, is not necessarily the one who pulls you out of the crap. And besides, one should never twitter when one is up to their neck in crap.

i like that one !

[russ]

Originally Posted by Phil highlander

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!

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:

Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
Live simply and appreciate what you have.
Give more.
Expect less

lot of truth in that one !

[Stig]

Very apt Phil very apt

[Blue]

Originally Posted by Stig

Very apt Phil very apt

Absolutely. I like what you've done there Phil

[silverbirch]

True words indeed. Those 5 rules are ones I remind myself to live by as often as possible Phil...but somehow seem to loose focus on 95% of the time. Western European life styles and pressures deem them virtually impossible to maintain...met a bloke in the restaurant last month who came close though, introduced himself as the luckiest bloke alive.....he was a rotund, ruddy faced man who laughed long and loud he lives on the Isle of Man and said increduously...(spell-check pls!!)

''I actually get paid to be a guard on the Manx railway trains ( a life long ambition ), i've got a small cottage over looking the sea and go Bass fishing when ever conditions look right and I have ( pointing to the rest of the table) these beautiful children and a loving wife.....I am the truly happy''

But you don't meet many like that.

[Blue]

It's not often you hear people say "I'm truly happy". People are usually moaning about not having enough money, time etc. I think the happiness is always there in people, it's just not found until a certain point/time in their life, that said, some probably never find it..

Sometimes it takes a freak, near death incident to bring out the realsation of whats important in your life. How often do you hear of someone caught up in work, life, bills, career who then has a mad accident, quits the lot, and does what the hell they want in life, doesn't worry of the risks, because they've suddenly realised life is just to short to worry

That said, I'll probably still be worrying about money, moan I don't have any time to do stuff and go straight to the fridge to see whats for tea tonight before I give the Mrs a kiss when I return from work tonight.....

Originally Posted by Blue

Sometimes it takes a freak, near death incident to bring out the realsation of whats important in your life. How often do you hear of someone caught up in work, life, bills, career who then has a mad accident, quits the lot, and does what the hell they want in life, doesn't worry of the risks, because they've suddenly realised life is just to short to worry

D

i hold my hands up to being this person
as u all know i do just enough work to get by on !
had menangitis as a child and had to get my ticker restarted 3 times in an evening.............

[kevw]

Thread is getting all deep now and philosophical, sound advice my grand dad used to say "you only come this way once, make the most of it".

Way I see it is that you should always have something to look forward to, next fishing trip, holiday, night out, could be anything. If you've not then get something planned, it doesn't matter how bad things are at the moment, 1 - it takes you're mind off whatever else is going on and 2 - gives you good times to look back on

[TheDoctor46]

Too right, your a long time gone my friends!

[Stig]

Originally Posted by TheDoctor46

Too right, your a long time gone my friends!

Speak for yourself mate i am Stig from the clan stigmeister and i'm gonna live forever i am the

' Stiglander '

[TheDoctor46]

Originally Posted by Stig

Speak for yourself mate i am Stig from the clan stigmeister and i'm gonna live forever i am the

' Stiglander '

Pmsl

[lee]

Originally Posted by kevw

Way I see it is that you should always have something to look forward to, next fishing trip, holiday, night out, could be anything. If you've not then get something planned, it doesn't matter how bad things are at the moment, 1 - it takes you're mind off whatever else is going on and 2 - gives you good times to look back on

This is just the way i look at it, look after wife and kids first then try to enjoy it in what ever way makes you happy

[whogotmelighter]

some good inspiring words there people we'll get there in the end eh??