A
Poem for the New Year
Isn’t it strange
that
princes and kings,
And clowns that caper
in sawdust rings,
And common people
like you and me
Are builders for
eternity?
Each is given
A bag of tools,
A
shapeless mass,
A book of rules;
And each must make –
Ere life is flown –
A stumbling block
Or a steppingstone.
Anon
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Message from Rita
Let’s make 2010 the year of
the Stepping Stones.
This poem and the following
story came into my life 10 years apart. I don’t know who wrote
them but I presume they are not by the same person, yet they
both have the idea of taking whatever comes our way and making
it a way to step up not fall down.
Here is the story:
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 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 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.
**********
If you know who wrote this story or the poem above it,
please let me know. They deserve to receive credit for these
ideas. What more can I add? Let’s make 2010 the year of the
Stepping Stones -- regardless of what is thrown at us.
Happy
New Year.
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Great New Year’S Idea From A Reader
Dear Rita, Here
is our plan for 2010. Three of us decided to conquer clutter so
we are going to be “Accountability Partners”. We all bought
copies of The Clutter-Busting Handbook and will meet every other
Saturday either for breakfast or by phone to set our next
clutter busting goals.
At each meeting, we will report on
how we did on our last goal and will set a new goal. All goals
have to be small -- like you always say -- not the whole office,
just one stack on the floor -- not the whole garage, just the
boxes on one shelf.
Rita, you were smart to put the
sentimental clutter chapter early in the book. That is a problem
for all 3 of us and our families. Thanks for giving us hope and
the book to help us do it.
Curt Hansen, Lansing, MI
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Free Teleclass Coming Up
FEB. 17, 2010
Blast Away Procrastination: Get It Done Now
Wed, Feb 17 at 8
ET, 7 Central time
Presented by Hilton Johnson Productions
Rita Emmett will be interviewed giving tips and strategies to
help
break the procrastination habit.
Cost: Free
More
information to come later
