This week:
You Are Resilient:
Wow did I have a BBBAAADDDD Monday. Another cloudy day, my weight went up, some calls didn’t go well, I spent the day telling myself what a terrible leader I am, got slammed by an e-mail where I felt someone was questioning my ability to do my job, and that ended with a friend of mine letting me know that she got COVID and is very afraid. What a day! Ever had one like that?
I woke up this morning thinking – how the heck am I going to be positive for others when I didn’t sleep, I don’t feel like anyone cares or sees how hard I am trying, I can’t do anything to help my friends, and the world is in such a bad place (in other words – pity party in full swing – really more than full swing, kind of like – took over Disneyland, had Beyoncé sing in person, and had a cocktail named after me, kind of over the top pity party).
Then this showed up in my feed…
When I saw this, I remembered the story of the Farmer and the Donkey. Thought that maybe some of you may be going through a rough patch as well. If you are, you may benefit from this as well. If you’ve heard it before, well, I know it helped me to read it again. Maybe keep it handy for a time when you feel like you are heading out to your own pity party, or we can have a party together (socially distanced with masks on) and read it to each other. 😊
The Farmer and the Donkey
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 of 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 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.
A MacDonald’s Employee Jumped Through a Window and Saved a Customer. Here’s What Every Leader Can Learn:
Sydney Raley, a 15-year-old with autism, likely saved the woman’s life.
The Boldest Design Proposals of 2021:
Robot forest rangers, floating houses and other fascinating ways to look at the future…
5 Lessons on Spirituality, Activism and Humility I Learned From George Harrison
George Harrison stood as an example of modesty and humility, and his legacy is one that I think we can all learn from.
Lessons on Spirituality, Activism and Humility From George Harrison – Rolling Stone
“An unhealed person can find offense in pretty much anything someone does.
A healed person understands that the actions of others have nothing to do with them.
Each day you get to decide which one you will be.” – Unknown
18th Annual Nonprofit Governance Symposium Jan 27th 2022 (Virtual):
Please join me at the 18th Annual Nonprofit Governance Symposium on January 27th!
I will be presenting on Leading Consciously with Purpose- Especially During a Pandemic, alongside over 30 local and nationally recognized experts in nonprofit leadership, governance, and more!
Hope to see you there…
Register now! https://buff.ly/3DbidkS
Thanks this week go to Angelica G-W, Brad W, Chris B, Kurt C, and Sherry S.
Please pay it forward!
Love,
Neville
“We’re still living with the old paradigm of age as an arch. That’s the old metaphor:
You’re born, you peak at midlife and decline into decrepitude.
A more appropriate metaphor for aging is a staircase.
The upward ascension of the human spirit, bringing us into wisdom, wholeness, and authenticity.”
– Jane Fonda
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Happy Soul Food Friday! 