Astounding isn't it? An ape, stuck in the mud would grasp the stick it was 
offered. The ape can use its intelligence while we can not. Willful 
ignorance born from our remarkable arrogance prevents us from taking hold of 
the stick and makes us less intelligent than the ape!

Finer minds than mine, through time, have provided us with those sticks but 
we refuse to see. We remain arrogant to the point of figurative blindness. 
Unwilling to admit our arrogance, we unwittingly place faith in our 
ignorance; something which the ape can not do. If we are willing to admit 
our ignorance we can set aside our arrogance. When we do, we may rise from 
our excrement.

To rise from the excrement, we must first, and in this order:

recognize our displeasure
choose to be awake
recognize change is possible
choose to reduce displeasure
choose to open our eyes
choose to look at the dry land
choose to see the dry land
recognize what the dry land can do
choose to look at the stick
choose to see the stick
recognize what the stick can do
choose to rise
choose to grasp the stick
choose to continue holding the stick
choose to move to the dry land