A parable that improved my perspective

Shake It Off and Step Up!

A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer's well. The water wasn't very deep, so the mule could stand on the bottom. The farmer heard the mule "braying" - or whatever mules do when they fall into wells.

After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened . . . and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Initially, the old mule was hysterical. But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back, a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back he should shake it off and step up!

This he did, blow after blow. "Shake it off and step up. . . shake it off and step up . . shake it off and step up," the old mule repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows or how distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought panic and just kept right on shaking it off and stepping up. It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of the well .

What seemed like it would bury him, actually helped him all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.

That's life.

If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity . . . the adversities that come along to bury us usually have within them the very real potential to benefit and bless us.

Did you know?

Every 15 seconds someone in the United States suffers a traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Of the 1,000,000 people treated in hospital emergency rooms each year, 50,000 die and 80,000 become permanently disabled because of TBI.

When I hear statistics like this, I am overwhelmed with gratitude that I was not one of those 50,000 who died from TBI, and wonder why people aren't required to wear helmets in ALL sports and when driving more than 10 miles at one time.

I'm on a marketing rage

Marketing my book is more fun to me than was writing it. Maybe I should have picked marketing or PR as my college major?

I'm up really late tonight, I mean late since I already took a sleeping pill and I'm fighting my "need" to crawl in my bed, because I just sent my press release to two different people. One may have a connection with the Minneapolis Star Tribune Newspaper, and next week I have to call the AP office to find out who specifically I should send my information to at the Associated Press. This publishing thing is an entirely new world.

I learned, however, that most newspapers or magazine have a policy against writing a book review about a self-published book. Understandable but still dumb. So You have to find someone to write a feature story about you, and then mention your book at the end. I think this is how it works, but I'm learning as I go.

Anyone have any connections at any paper? Hey, I wonder if I should send my press release to a newspaper in Nebraska!

Bad Brain Bleed

The other day I got a silly paper cut on my finger. It oozed blood a little, and just for a second, because I grabbed a paper towel to wipe the blood away. This got me thinking. My poor brain bled after my injury with no place to go, so it just swelled. The most damage happened from this swelling. I feel so lucky that I got medical attention quickly because if the swelling went on any longer...well, we won't go there.

(I hope I explained this correctly. It makes sense in my mind). Read the below link for a better explanation:

http://brainline.org/content/2009/11/ask-the-expert-what-happens-when-a-brain-bleeds.html

INSPIRING - example of overcoming disabilities

Exercise helped him too! (admittedly I cried when I watched this)

A food that helps you sleep!

Fresh and dried cherries are one of the only natural food sources of melatonin, the chemical that controls the body's internal clock to regulate sleep. Researchers who tested tart cherries and found high levels of melatonin recommend eating them an hour before bedtime or before a trip when you want to sleep on the plane.

. . . on my way to the store to pick up some cherries. Sweet dreams!

Bob Barker Donates USD 3 Million for Brain Injury Center

October 8, 2009

The price appears to be right for former game show host and naval aviator Bob Barker, who donated USD 3 million to help build a premiere Defense Department center for wounded warriors suffering traumatic brain injuries.