Everyone needs to 'think they can'

"Mo-om! Do you have any idea how many times I had to read that book you sent to Emma?" my daughter asked me accusingly.

I chuckled to myself and thought, "Payback!"

I recited the main refrain of the book, "I think I can. I think I can. I think I can."

It is a message I forget all too often. We all know the story - a train breaks down and asks for assistance. All but the little blue engine refuse to help, citing one excuse after another. The little blue engine gives it a try and succeeds in getting the train to where it needs to be ... all because it thought it was up to a difficult task.

I sent the book because I want granddaughter Emma and baby Jacob to never be afraid to try. I want them to hear, "I think I can. I think I can. I think I can." in the backs of their minds whenever they are faced with a challenge.

I have heard it before, but whether we think we can or we think we can't, we are right. The power of positive thinking and the willingness to try will bring us more success than never being willing to attempt something difficult.

Of course, it also means that sometimes we fall flat on our ... um ... whatever. As long as we get back up and try again then we have not truly failed.

I also sent the book because it is a part of being an American. We all know the story. We have all heard the words. It is a part of our collective memory.

One of the ladies at the book group I attend made a comment about a foreign student who had never heard the story of Moses and the bulrushes. She found it challenging to teach someone who did not have the same tales stored in the background of her brain as most of her contemporaries did.

I bet the girl had never heard of "The Little Engine That Could" either.

The story of the little engine is a fable we tell our children to illustrate the value of optimism. The moral is that if we try hard enough and work hard enough, and believe in ourselves, anything is possible.

Hard work and an upbeat attitude are highly valued. We believe that anything is possible if we just work harder. That is why it is so disillusioning in today's economy when hard work and optimism will not keep a company afloat.

Sometimes, no matter how hard the little engine tries, it will slide right back down the mountain and crash at the bottom. No matter how much the little engine believes, bad things will still occur.

When that happens I have found that it is best to curl up in a ball, eat some chocolate, indulge in a little self-pity then get up and try it again.

It doesn't matter what "it" is. The difference between success and failure is the willingness to try again and again. Of course, it helps to know when to stop banging one's head against the wall and go around rather than through an obstacle.

The other message in the story is that it is better to help when asked. Do you remember the other engines? No, you remember the one that was willing to help.

Next time you are faced with an insurmountable mountain you can choose to be the little engine that thought it could or you could reach out for help. Either way, you will get to where you need to be.

Believe in yourself and you will go far.

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