Are you sitting on a nail?

A young man, who moved into a new neighborhood and settled down. Everything was fine, except for his neighbor and his dog. The dog howled all the time.

The young man was patient. He thought, perhaps the dog had a problem? He assumed it would sooner or later stop howling and go about its business.

No such luck though. The dog kept at it.

Days passed.

Still nothing.

The young man finally lost his patience and decided to pay his neighbor a visit and find out what was up with the dog.

He found the man relaxing in his armchair, enjoying a book, looking unperturbed by his dog’s constant howling.

The young man asked him why his dog howled all the time.

The neighbor coolly answered that the dog was sitting on a nail.

The young man was shocked. He asked the neighbor why the dog wouldn’t get off the nail.

The neighbor replied:  It isn’t hurting bad enough.

While it makes me mad that the neighbor is unconcerned about the dog sitting on the nail, this story nevertheless has an important life lesson.

Isn’t it true that each one of us have nails that hurt us?

Could be to do with work that doesn’t make us happy.

Or that painful relationship.

Or about cash issues.

Or about school.

Or dreams we’re unable to pursue for whatever reason.

Or health

…family

…friends

We each have one or more of these nails hurting us.

Big nails, small nails.

Often, instead of doing something about it, we put up with it.

We whine.

We wait until it gets too painful to take action.

We have a tendency to take action when we are desperate.

Of course, we have the choice to moan and complain or just get up and make a change.

What nails are hurting you right now?

What are you going to do?

Waste your energy complaining or finding a solution?

♥

Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain – Henry Ford

♥

Wednesday Wisdom is a series with short bursts of non-fattening, easy-to-consume wisdom in the form of stories, quotes, anecdotes, and humor.