Re-Reading the Tale of Peter Rabbit

"Mr. McGregor came up with sieve, which he intended to pop upon the top of Peter; but Peter wriggled out just in time, leaving his jacket behind him." - Beatrix Potter, The Tale of Peter Rabbit - Peter, the only boy in a family with four females, has a bad day when he ignores the warnings of his widowed mother. To escape from life-threatening peril, he must sacrifice possessions that he holds dear. After a terrorizing time of matching wits with his nemesis, Peter makes his way home to safety and rest. Only his mother seems concerned about his tattered condition, as his sisters party happily while he tries to sleep and recover. Here are a few life lessons gained from this charming tale about a young rabbit.

Lesson One
Sometimes older people do have the experience you need to get ahead. There are lots of self-help books on the market.

The themes reappear for each new generation. As Americans declared in their Constitution, they are about "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." The recent best selling book, The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne follows in the tradition of earlier writers in saying that positive thinking, directed self-effort, and peer support can propel you to greatness. Reading any or all of the earlier books that include that advice can be a valuable experience. The Secret of the Ages, by Robert Collier, 1926, is available online. There are new and used copies of The Science of Getting Rich, By Wallace D. Wattles, 1910, as well as Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill, 1937.

Lesson Two
You should develop skills that make you independent rather than relying on family connections.

While not everyone will inherit the family business, everyone can get an education. This learning can be in an accredited university, from books borrowed at the local library, or on the streets. Everyone is free to learn at whatever level they start from. The distance, time, and cost necessary to take classes has shrunk with online learning opportunities. The adage, "my family couldn't afford to send me to college," is out of fashion in an age when every person is free to work, earn, and learn.

Start with resources like Find Schools Online , eLearners, Directory of Schools, and CollegeandUniversity.net. Investigate the opportunities at the local community college. People who are currently unemployed may be eligible for tuition assistance through state programs like No Worker Left Behind in Michigan.

Lesson Three
Staying healthy gives you the necessary strength and endurance to handle life's problems.

The message about achieving and maintaining good health is everywhere. Employers want to reduce the cost of health care. Governments want to lessen transfer costs for the disabled. People want enjoy longer lives. The image of fit, healthy people pervades television, movies, and magazine pages. The weight loss industry in the US is a $60 billion-plus market and is growing. Ironically, the size of people is also growing.

Everyone can take control of their health and improve their life style. It is possible to lose weight, eat healthier meals, and get the proper amount of exercise without joining a gym, signing up for a diet program, or taking pills. Self control is a good habit to acquire.