Several years ago, just after my wife and I first married, money was certainly not prevalent in our household. Hopefully, some of you can relate. We still have an electric weed eater which has long since worn out, but continues to remain in our garage as a symbol of our beginning poverty. My wife and I had a family discussion regarding whether or not we could afford this $25 weed eater or would this force us into starvation.

Just after this meeting, I came up with this great idea to construct a picture frame. Please note my training was practically none and my equipment was an old saw and a worn wooden miter box for the slanted cuts. For the frame itself, I used some scrap wood left over from the previous homeowner.

Well, the end product after a big struggle was a heavy wooden frame with ragged edges which was unsightly in appearance. A coat of shellac and putty did not make it much prettier, but it did not matter. This was my own accomplishment with only my determination pushing me to completion. The feeling was so exhilarating, an open page from the children’s book “The Little Train That Could” was placed in the frame. The page that reads “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can” has inspired and continues to inspire me, today! My ugly frame has been a motivation for me throughout my career.

If you get down or depressed when a project or plan is not going your way and you feel others may be trying to hold you back, review “The Little Train That Could." My hope is you will find as much inspiration from this children’s book as I do. When times get tough, may this book help you push through to your goals.

My grandchildren are insured of having copies in their homes. We are expecting a new granddaughter any day now and she already has a copy in her home.

Keep going, figure it out, and do not get discouraged! I think you can.

Standard contributor Don Alexander can be contacted at dalexander@southernstandard.com