Table Topics
Mind-stretching brain games and conversation starters. It's the perfect opportunity for sharing stories, building knowledge, strengthening character, and having fun!
Two frogs named Will and Fern weren't looking where they were going and fell into a deep pit. At first they thought it would be easy to jump out, but after numerous failed attempts they were getting desperate. A crowd of animals gathered around the pit.
The consensus of the crowd was there was no way either one could jump high enough, so they urged Will and Fern to accept their fate. The harder the trapped frogs jumped, the more the crowd yelled at them to surrender. Finally, Will fell back to the bottom and gave up. Fern refused to quit, and with one mighty last try she leaped out of the pit.
The other animals were amazed. One asked her how she could keep trying despite the discouraging taunts of the crowd. Fern was shocked. "What do you mean? I'm a bit deaf. I thought you were rooting for me. I couldn't have done it without you."
This uplifting story came to me via e-mail in the Character Counts Commentary by Michael Josephson.
CHARACTER COUNTS!: Character Education Lessons, Training and Resources
Can you think of a time when encouragement gave you the power to try one more time?
Read another issue of Table Topics
Combined Animal Characteristics
An aphorism is a short statement that expresses a truth or observation in a witty manner.
"It is easier to forgive your enemies than your
friends."
--William Blake
"It is better to fail in originality than to succeed
in originality."
--Herman Melville
"The best way to succeed in life is to act on the
advice we give others"
--unknown
Can you think of more examples of aphorisms? Or, make up some more of your own.
