The Little Engine That Could

I recently saw an interview with country singer Dolly Parton about a literacy reading program called Dolly’s Imagination Library. Dolly’s goal is to send a book each month to children from birth to age five. She recently started “Goodnight with Dolly.” One night a week, she reads a story to children via YouTube. In her first episode she read the book, The Little Engine That Could.

The story is about a train, filled with toys and gifts for little boys and girls, that breaks down before reaching the children. After asking several passing trains for help over a hill, a little blue train agrees to help. Even though she is small, the blue train tries her best to bring the toys to the children on the other side of the hill.

As the little blue train is chugging up the hill, she bravely puffs faster and faster and repeats: “I think I can, I think I can,” and as she goes over the hill she repeats, “I knew I could, I knew I could.”

The moral of the story helps children realize what optimism and hard work can accomplish. Many times, when my children said they couldn’t do something I always reminded them to think about the little engine that could.

Lately, my blogs might seem like I’ve been in children’s land, but I believe many of life’s lessons can be learned from observing children. Children are very trusting and honest — sometimes embarrassingly so.

I’ve talked to many towers over the last couple of days. It felt good to talk to others going through the same things I’m going through. I’ve come to the conclusion that we’re all in the same boat right now, and while we have oars to work, I’m glad we’re not yet having to use a pail.

Like the little engine that could, I’m going to keep saying “I think I can, I think I can.”

Together we can do this. Let’s keep pulling for each other.