The Elephant Rope

 

The Elephant Rope (Belief)

A gentleman was walking through an elephant camp, and he spotted that the elephants weren’t being kept in cages or held by the use of chains.

All that was holding them back from escaping the camp, was a small piece of rope tied to one of their legs.

As the man gazed upon the elephants, he was completely confused as to why the elephants didn’t just use their strength to break the rope and escape the camp. They could easily have done so, but instead, they didn’t try to at all.

Curious and wanting to know the answer, he asked a trainer nearby why the elephants were just standing there and never tried to escape.

The trainer replied;

 

“when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”

The only reason that the elephants weren’t breaking free and escaping from the camp was that over time they adopted the belief that it just wasn’t possible.

 

Moral of the story:

No matter how much the world tries to hold you back, always continue with the belief that what you want to achieve is possible. Believing you can become successful is the most important step in actually achieving it.

 

A Pound of Butter

 

A Pound of Butter (Honesty)

There was a farmer who sold a pound of butter to a baker. One day the baker decided to weigh the butter to see if he was getting the right amount, which he wasn’t. Angry about this, he took the farmer to court.

The judge asked the farmer if he was using any measure to weight the butter. The farmer replied, “Honor, I am primitive. I don’t have a proper measure, but I do have a scale.”

The judge asked, “Then how do you weigh the butter?”

The farmer replied;

“Your Honor, long before the baker started buying butter from me, I have been buying a pound loaf of bread from him. Every day when the baker brings the bread, I put it on the scale and give him the same weight in butter. If anyone is to be blamed, it is the baker.”

Moral of the story:

In life, you get what you give. Don’t try and cheat others.

The Butterfly

 

The Butterfly (Struggles)

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly.

One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole.

Until it suddenly stopped making any progress and looked like it was stuck.

So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily, although it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.

The man didn’t think anything of it and sat there waiting for the wings to enlarge to support the butterfly. But that didn’t happen. The butterfly spent the rest of its life unable to fly, crawling around with tiny wings and a swollen body.

Despite the kind heart of the man, he didn’t understand that the restricting cocoon and the struggle needed by the butterfly to get itself through the small opening; were God’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings. To prepare itself for flying once it was out of the cocoon.

Moral of the story:

Our struggles in life develop our strengths. Without struggles, we never grow and never get stronger, so it’s important for us to tackle challenges on our own, and not be relying on help from others.

The Obstacle In Our Path

 

The Obstacle In Our Path (Opportunity)

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. He then hid himself and watched to see if anyone would move the boulder out of the way. Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it.

Many people loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none of them did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

A peasant then came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to push the stone out of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.

After the peasant went back to pick up his vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been.

The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King explaining that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.

Moral of the story:

Every obstacle we come across in life gives us an opportunity to improve our circumstances, and whilst the lazy complain, the others are creating opportunities through their kind hearts, generosity, and willingness to get things done.

The wise man

 The Wise Man

People have been coming to the wise man, complaining about the same problems every time. One day he told them a joke and everyone roared in laughter.

After a couple of minutes, he told them the same joke and only a few of them smiled.

When he told the same joke for the third time no one laughed anymore.

The wise man smiled and said:

 

“You can’t laugh at the same joke over and over. So why are you always crying about the same problem?”

Moral of the story:

Worrying won’t solve your problems, it’ll just waste your time and energy.

 

 

December BY MATTHEW ZAPRUDER

At first we all went down to the lake to hold hands, all the multicolored  signs said with love we will resist, over my head I lifted my son so he could see what people look like when they hear the song Imagine, a few weeks later again people stood at the water, this time at night holding flashlights to say to fire you came  without permission and took our young gentle soldiers for art so we will show even with our old technology we can see each other without you, others booed  the mayor which was my friend said understandable, I don't know  what is anymore, everyone understands in a different contradictory way the so far purely  abstract catastrophe so many millions of choices brought us, not too far from the water I sat on the couch below the sound  of blades drinking amber numbing fluid my thoughts chopping the air feeling not what is the word to be a father equipped, mine never told me where to hide a brick of gold, for a long time I have known no voices  will come at last to tell us how to stop pretending we don't know  if it is not  safe for some it is not for anyone.

Saying of the day

 As Busy As a Bee

Someone that has a lot of work to do; they are busy, like a bee.

Joke of the day

  □ Day 8 

Q: Which school supply is king of the classroom? 

A: The ruler. 

Sayings and phrases

 An Elephant Never Forgets

Someone with a good memory.

Joke of the day

Day 7 

 Why was the math book always worried? 

A: Because it had so many problems.

Sayings and phrases

 An Arm And a Leg

Something that is very pricey; expensive.

Joke of the day

 Day 6 

Q: Why was the math book always worried? 

A: Because it had so many problems.

Joke of the day

     □ Day 5

 Q: Why was the math book always worried? 

A: Because it had so many problems.

 

Autumn BY ADAM ZAGAJEWSKI TRANSLATED BY RENATA GORCZYNSKI

Autumn is always too early. The peonies are still blooming, bees    are still working out ideal states, and the cold bayonets of autumn    suddenly glint in the fields and the wind rages. What is its origin? Why should it destroy    dreams, arbors, memories? The alien enters the hushed woods,    anger advancing, insinuating plague;    woodsmoke, the raucous howls of Tatars. Autumn rips away leaves, names,    fruit, it covers the borders and paths,    extinguishes lamps and tapers; young    autumn, lips purpled, embraces    mortal creatures, stealing their existence. Sap flows, sacrificed blood, wine, oil, wild rivers, yellow rivers swollen with corpses, the curse flowing on: mud, lava, avalanche,    gush. Breathless autumn, racing, blue knives glinting in her glance. She scythes names like herbs with her keen    sickle, merciless in her blaze and her breath. Anonymous letter, terror,    Red Army.

25 Common English Idioms for Students of English

 

25 Common English Idioms
for Students of English

Learn Colorful and Useful English Vocabulary!
Increase your vocabulary and speak more natural English by studying the idioms and expressions below. These are some of the most common expressions in English. Study the example sentences which show how idioms are used in context when you speak English. Have fun!

English Expression 1. as easy as pie means "very easy" (same as "a piece of cake")
Example: He said it is a difficult problem, but I don't agree. It seems as easy as pie to me!

English Expression 2. be sick and tired of means "I hate" (also "can't stand")
Example: I'm sick and tired of doing nothing but work. Let's go out tonight and have fun.

English Expression 3. bend over backwards means "try very hard" (maybe too much!)
Example: He bent over backwards to please his new wife, but she never seemed satisfied.

English Expression 4. bite off more than one can chew means "take responsibility for more than one can manage"
Example: John is so far behind in his studies. Besides classes, he plays sports and works at a part-time job. It seems he has bitten off more than he can chew.

English Expression 5. broke means "to have no money"
Example: I have to borrow some money from my Dad. Right now, I'm broke.

English Expression 6. change one's mind means "decide to do something different from what had been decided earlier"
Example: I was planning to work late tonight, but I changed my mind. I'll do extra work on the weekend instead.

English Expression 7. Cut it out! means "stop doing something bad"
Example: That noise is really annoying. Cut it out!

English Expression 8. drop someone a line means "send a letter or email to someone"
Example: It was good to meet you and I hope we can see each other again. Drop me a line when you have time.

English Expression 9. figure something out means "come to understand a problem"
Example: I don't understand how to do this problem. Take a look at it. Maybe you can figure it out.

English Expression 10. fill in for someone means "do their work while they are away"
Example: While I was away from the store, my brother filled in for me.

English Expression 11. in ages means "for a very long time"
Example: Have you seen Joe recently? I haven't seen him in ages.

English Expression 12. give someone a hand means "help"
Example: I want to move this desk to the next room. Can you give me a hand?

English Expression 13. hit the hay means "go to bed" (also "hit the sack")
Example: It's after 12 o'clock. I think it's time to hit the hay.

English Expression 14. in the black means "the business is making money, it is profitable"
Example: Our business is really improving. We've been in the black all year.

English Expression 15. in the red means "the business is losing money, it is unprofitable"
Example: Business is really going poorly these days. We've been in the red for the past three months.

English Expression 16. in the nick of time means "not too late, but very close!"
Example: I got to the drugstore just in the nick of time. It's a good thing, because I really need this medicine!

English Expression 17. keep one's chin up means "remain brave and keep on trying"
Example: I know things have been difficult for you recently, but keep your chin up. It will get better soon.

English Expression 18. know something like the back of your hand means "know something very, very well"

Example: If you get lost, just ask me for directions. I know this part of town like the back of my hand

English Expression 19. once in a while means "sometimes, not very often"
Example: Have you been to the new movie theater? No, I only see movies once in a while. I usually stay home and watch TV.

English Expression 20. sharp means "exactly at a that time"
Example: I'll meet you at 9 o'clock sharp. If you're late, we'll be in trouble!

English Expression 21. sleep on it means "think about something before making a decision"
Example: That sounds like a good deal, but I'd like to sleep on it before I give you my final decision.

English Expression 22. take it easy means "relax"
Example: I don't have any special plans for the summer. I think I'll just take it easy.

English Expression 23. to get the ball rolling means "start something, especially something big"
Example: We need to get this project started as soon as possible. I'm hoping you will help me get the ball rolling.

English Expression 24. up to the minute means "the most recent information"
Example: I wish I knew more about what is happening in the capital city. We need more up to the minute news.

English Expression 25. twenty-four/seven means "every minute of every day, all the time"
Example: You can access our web site 24/7. It's very convenient!

Phrase of the day

 Actions Speak Louder Than Words

A person’s actions have more of an impact than just their words alone.

Joke of the day

 Q: What has two legs but can’t walk?

A: A pair of pants.

Poem of the day

Alone BY JACK GILBERT

I never thought Michiko would come back

after she died. But if she did, I knew

it would be as a lady in a long white dress.

It is strange that she has returned

as somebody's dalmatian. I meet

the man walking her on a leash

almost every week. He says good morning

and I stoop down to calm her. He said

once that she was never like that with

other people. Sometimes she is tethered

on their lawn when I go by. If nobody

is around, I sit on the grass. When she

finally quiets, she puts her head in my lap

and we watch each other's eyes as I whisper

in her soft ears. She cares nothing about

the mystery. She likes it best when

I touch her head and tell her small

things about my days and our friends.

That makes her happy the way it always did.