I Think I Can

      "I Think I Can"

       -- The Little Engine That Could


This is an unscheduled post which was prompted by an event in my life that happened just last night. It was a good-bye party hosted by a group of coworkers whom I have gotten to know over a period of 16 years.  Our particular team had been terminated rather unexpectedly.  We were responsible for the software development, maintenance and daily support of a computer application referred to as an annuity engine.  It is used in the management of private investments and happens to be the smallest such software platform in use at the company.  Small yes, but somehow always capable of being expanded to take on new lines of business and implement new and unique requirements where other larger engines were not adaptable.  The system became known as the little engine that could after the child's story and book by that name first published in 1930.

The point of the story is that when faced with a challenge where bigger and stronger engines had failed or been afraid, this little engine repeated over and over "I think I can. I think I can. I think I can." in a cadence that mimicked the chugging of a steam engine.  She was ultimately successful, and after she had met the challenge she repeated "I new I could.  I knew I could. I knew I could." 

At the aforementioned going-away party each of us who are leaving the company was presented with a copy of the little book.  I reread it this morning, and although I did recall the story, I had forgotten what a marvelous lesson it was and still is for young children.  It is a lesson in positive thinking that needs to be refreshed in our minds every so often, and although it can sometimes come too late in our lives, it can never come too early.