Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Cast Down your Bucket

This is from a speech given by Booker T. Washington in 1895. The idea to "cast down your bucket" was that no matter what situation you find yourself in, you should try to make the best of it.

In the speech he references a boat out at sea that has run out of water. They spot a friendly ship and signal they are dying of thirst and need water. The ship replies to cast down your bucket. They reply multiple times and receive the same response. They finally out of desperation or frustration cast down their buckets... at this time they bring up fresh water. (they were at the mouth of the river sitting on top of fresh water, completely unaware)

This story is always in the back of my mind as I go through life. So often we work towards the something else. We focus on the where we can go or who can help us to get out of the place we are in.

But when I embrace this idea, I often find myself in a different place than I thought I was in. It's about perspective I guess, perspective of where I am standing and what I can gain from my footing or lack there of. I am constantly guilty of wanting to get out of where I am standing and move onto something else, sometime feeling like if I could just escape my current circumstances, I would be better off. Whether that be any list of examples. But sadly, this temptation is just that... a temptation to remain in the same place and without growth. To hunker down and explore my circumstances and ask myself what I can learn of them and what they tell me about myself tends to be more fruitful than a graceful amount of dodging around.

So I guess the challenge of this post is to "cast down your bucket" and see what is around you. Cast yourself into your current position and focus on what you are doing today instead of what you could be doing somewhere else. Embrace what you have to learn about where you are and drink deep because I do believe fresh water is usually closer than we think.

11 comments:

  1. I like this blog, Although I am only a teenager, I speak more wisdom than most. The most wisdom I have ever spoke though is "Don't smoke weed." :DD Better than no wisdome eh? Well I certainly can write stories better than I speak wisdom so will you check it out? I am pretty sure alot of you are not into love stories but that is the best that this love drunk teenager can write. Please check it out! Thankyou! http://love-stories-bug152.blogspot.com/

    P.S. My brothers name is Brad. :oo

    ReplyDelete
  2. long sleeve for womenl color is take the blue color as the bottom seven colored is a cool color. With the cool-colored main key matching harmonious neutral color POLO Shirts For Men, should better select, the ash black, colored, avoids with the light tan, the coffee color is matching. E is black, white, ash, red, eternal series law. The jacket unlined upper garment processing must certainly have key prominent! In brief, when you did not know how should match POLO L-Sleeved Shirt For Men, but also has the following two rules to be possible to use POLO T-Shirts For Men.
    First, the whole body color take three kind of colors as suitable. When you not understood oneself style time, does not surpass three kind of colors to put on xj73uhn, will not let you go too far absolutely. Generally the integral color Polo for women polo are less, can manifest the graceful makings, and gives the human agily, the clear impression. Next, understanding color matching area proportion. Whole body clothing color's matching avoids polo shirt, particularly is putting on contrast color. Generally take 3:2 or 5:3 as suitable POLO Sweaters For Men.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Local gas stations and convenience stores appear to be newport cigarettes experiencing an uptick in sales over the last couple of weeks as the Oneida Indian Nation’s supply of mainstream brand cigarettes dwindles.But earlier this year Kinley Tshering, then a media consultant in the capital, Thimphu, discussed with friends over drinks the jailing of a Buddhist monk for three years for possessing $3 worth of tobacco, one of the first to be prosecuted under a new law banning public smoking cheap newport cigarettes.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Local gas stations and convenience stores appear to be newport cigarettes experiencing an uptick in sales over the last couple of weeks as the Oneida Indian Nation’s supply of mainstream brand cigarettes dwindles.But earlier this year Kinley Tshering, then a media consultant in the capital, Thimphu, discussed with friends over drinks the jailing of a Buddhist monk for three years for possessing $3 worth of tobacco, one of the first to be prosecuted under a new law banning public smoking cheap newport cigarettes.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Local gas stations and convenience stores appear to be newport cigarettes experiencing an uptick in sales over the last couple of weeks as the Oneida Indian Nation’s supply of mainstream brand cigarettes dwindles.But earlier this year Kinley Tshering, then a media consultant in the capital, Thimphu, discussed with friends over drinks the jailing of a Buddhist monk for three years for possessing $3 worth of tobacco, one of the first to be prosecuted under a new law banning public smoking cheap newport cigarettes.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love this speech- did a paper on it in high school. I have a blog that is somewhat similar to your's, you should check it out. www.shemaycontaintheurgetorunaway.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Please Check this out please :-) http://juststevoo.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1

    ReplyDelete
  8. I like it
    - Elisabeth-
    FOLLOW ME :
    http://elisabethsantosarellano.blogspot.com.es/

    ReplyDelete