- A well-known and common practice around the advent of each new year is the making of a resolution. However, as many people are aware, most of these resolutions do not stand the test of time and result in the optimistic intended change. If you are still contemplating a resolution for 2024, consider the link here, to an article entitled “10 New Year’s Resolutions to Make a Difference in Your Community.” This article was found within the on-line publication known as NobleHour. While positive personal development is always a good thing, challenge yourself to gear resolutions towards a more altruistic change by serving others and building community, thereby magnifying the impact of your effort.
- Hope and resilience are foundational to work we do as child abuse preventionists. Without such positive thoughts, we could not do this difficult work. Consider the story below as a reminder of how we can turn the direst of situations (abused and neglected children) into a positive outcome (safe, happy, and healthy children).
- 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 – 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 happens.
- Live simply and appreciate what you have.
- Give more.
- Expect less from people but more from yourself.
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