Few days back, I was talking to my friend who was a bit upset. He had a strained relationship with his dear friend. Obviously he was disturbed. I called him to talk to him and if possible share few good words with him just to make him feel better. We had a long conversation. Something unusual about the conversation was; I noticed, never, not even once did my friend speak a word against his dear friend. He never blamed her for what went wrong. In turn he told me “she is not to be blamed. I wanted things to go my way. But it didn’t. Why should I blame her? "
Though those were very simple words, I shall never forget them.
Don’t we all find ourselves getting angry and worked up? Don’t we all immediately start casting about in our mind to identify someone to blame for the problem?
Don’t we all blame others just because things didn’t go our way???
Like, blaming a boss who made us work late, blaming a maid who came in late.
I don’t know what difference my words made on my friend. But his wonderful words of wisdom had a great impact on me. I learnt that the easiest thing to do is to find fault. But if we make that one effort to feel compassion instead of blame, the heart opens again and shows us a new way.
Blame is a waste of time. No matter how much fault you find with another, and regardless of how much you blame him/her, it will not change YOU. The only thing blame does is to keep the focus off you when you are looking for external reasons to explain your unhappiness or frustration. You may succeed in making another feel guilty by blaming him. But you won't succeed in changing something that is about YOU which is making you unhappy.
Stop blaming others and take ownership of your life.
Thanks to my friend who shared such wisdom.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Life is all about living
Exactly 1 year back things were looking all rosy with us ... Kenny turning 1 and Nissi growing fast and I was leading a reasonably successful life as you could say with property in Sydney, and in India. You can't ask for more when you haven't even turned 30 and contracting in SAP without a break for 4 years.
Last June we visited India for Kenny's 1st birthday and before going there I was down with flu a few times but anti-biotics were doing their job reasonably well ,but not getting to that 100% you would want to. After returning to Brisbane I started again seeing my GP to dig deep on why I was constantly falling sick(in other words not feeling 100%) but still feeling quite normal and was able to do my day-to-day activities without any drama.
Prognosis went on for 2 months and after a series of tests it was revealed that there is a lump on the left side of my neck which needed biopsy to find out what exactly is happening. But by that time my GP was confident it could be Lymphoma(haven' t heard that till then and so didn't really bother me when he delivered the news, should say ignorance is healthy). GP simply said it was unfortunate and something which is not good to have and can be treated fairly effectively. Thanks to the internet I came to know what it was and shocked to know what it could be, but life wasn't flashing in front of my eyes or nothing like that but was hugely upset that I might not see my kids grow or walk my daughter down the aisle on her big day. But I wasn't complaining WHY ME? because I never thought why me when I topped studies after ordinary preparations and never asked why me when I was making heaps of money when still friends of mine were still struggling. Told Priyanka after 2 days because I had a heamotologist appointment in 2 days and I didn't want to give her a shock on that day. News spread so quickly among friends here and people started praying and my wife fasted every day for few weeks before the surgery asking God for a miracle. So after 2 months of prognosis and biopsy on the lump ... miracle didn't happen ... it was diagnosied as Hodgkin's Lymphoma which is favourable of the Lymphomas. It was at stage 3B and the hematologist decided that it would take 16 cycles of chemotherapy and radiation to treat it.
May be for the first time in my life I would have cried so badly for my future ... and I couldn't be out of work because of the commitments I have(investments ... too many in fact) ... my wife meet with her friends on friday's to pray and 1 of the girls told her that she had a vision from Jesus and I don't need to worry about finances because he is gonna provide. I am not a very religious person but anything that's in my favour am gonna take it, I was so revealed but once my treatment starts I didn't know how my physical condition would be in terms of work. No work no pay(downsides of contracting) .
Ironically my treatment started on 27th Nov, 2008 , the day after my 30th birthday ... what a start after a big birthday. Before the treatment started I just prayed that God give me the strength and energy to go through this challenge with a smile and positive attitude. Doctors were quite confident that it could be treated fairly effectively but still you will have your own doubts about the 'C' word. I had to take lot of needles for the treatment but just before the start of the treatment my 4 year old daughter had a vaccination and she took the needle with a smile . Then I said to myself -If my daughter can take it with a smile I should be able to do it and that really helped.
Finally chemo started and it wasn't a pleasant experience but thank God it's over now. Half-way through the treatment the doctor decided I don't need 16 as planned but 12 would do the job. In-fact may be 8 would have done but he wanted to give more chemo rather than less and his aim was to make sure I go through this if possible only once. 20 sittings of radiation everyday and after 7 months of treatment, I am successfully cured of cancer. I don't like to use the word but I have to live with that for the rest of my life.
Infact miracles do happen and I can say with a big smile that when it happened it was so pleasant . Could you believe that I only had to take 1 day-off every fortnight for the treatment and as an icing on the cake I made nearly 15000 dollars on stocks in 2 months after the treatment . God fulfilled the promise that he made through that girl and he has helped me to stay with postive attitude and as a matter of fact I wasn't even thinking about the disease through the journey. Having a caring wife and 2 innocent kids at home also helped during the journey because there was always fun at home and no real movie jaisa atmosphere. Even colleagues and friends made sure that I would be part of all their parties and never missed a thing except a couple of parties. A real blessing was one of our friends who left his job in Sydney and stayed with us on all the days of my treatment and he used to look after the kids when we were busy making the hospital trips.
Right now am back to normal and energy levels are back to pre-disease levels. Still need to put-on the 10 kilos I lost through disease.
The reason I am sharing this is to let you know that life could throw challenges at you but there are other people in the world who will be going through tougher things than you could imagine and also the need to not neglect health and see a doctor (there is no harm in going for a regular general check-up). Am not preachingJ
Last June we visited India for Kenny's 1st birthday and before going there I was down with flu a few times but anti-biotics were doing their job reasonably well ,but not getting to that 100% you would want to. After returning to Brisbane I started again seeing my GP to dig deep on why I was constantly falling sick(in other words not feeling 100%) but still feeling quite normal and was able to do my day-to-day activities without any drama.
Prognosis went on for 2 months and after a series of tests it was revealed that there is a lump on the left side of my neck which needed biopsy to find out what exactly is happening. But by that time my GP was confident it could be Lymphoma(haven' t heard that till then and so didn't really bother me when he delivered the news, should say ignorance is healthy). GP simply said it was unfortunate and something which is not good to have and can be treated fairly effectively. Thanks to the internet I came to know what it was and shocked to know what it could be, but life wasn't flashing in front of my eyes or nothing like that but was hugely upset that I might not see my kids grow or walk my daughter down the aisle on her big day. But I wasn't complaining WHY ME? because I never thought why me when I topped studies after ordinary preparations and never asked why me when I was making heaps of money when still friends of mine were still struggling. Told Priyanka after 2 days because I had a heamotologist appointment in 2 days and I didn't want to give her a shock on that day. News spread so quickly among friends here and people started praying and my wife fasted every day for few weeks before the surgery asking God for a miracle. So after 2 months of prognosis and biopsy on the lump ... miracle didn't happen ... it was diagnosied as Hodgkin's Lymphoma which is favourable of the Lymphomas. It was at stage 3B and the hematologist decided that it would take 16 cycles of chemotherapy and radiation to treat it.
May be for the first time in my life I would have cried so badly for my future ... and I couldn't be out of work because of the commitments I have(investments ... too many in fact) ... my wife meet with her friends on friday's to pray and 1 of the girls told her that she had a vision from Jesus and I don't need to worry about finances because he is gonna provide. I am not a very religious person but anything that's in my favour am gonna take it, I was so revealed but once my treatment starts I didn't know how my physical condition would be in terms of work. No work no pay(downsides of contracting) .
Ironically my treatment started on 27th Nov, 2008 , the day after my 30th birthday ... what a start after a big birthday. Before the treatment started I just prayed that God give me the strength and energy to go through this challenge with a smile and positive attitude. Doctors were quite confident that it could be treated fairly effectively but still you will have your own doubts about the 'C' word. I had to take lot of needles for the treatment but just before the start of the treatment my 4 year old daughter had a vaccination and she took the needle with a smile . Then I said to myself -If my daughter can take it with a smile I should be able to do it and that really helped.
Finally chemo started and it wasn't a pleasant experience but thank God it's over now. Half-way through the treatment the doctor decided I don't need 16 as planned but 12 would do the job. In-fact may be 8 would have done but he wanted to give more chemo rather than less and his aim was to make sure I go through this if possible only once. 20 sittings of radiation everyday and after 7 months of treatment, I am successfully cured of cancer. I don't like to use the word but I have to live with that for the rest of my life.
Infact miracles do happen and I can say with a big smile that when it happened it was so pleasant . Could you believe that I only had to take 1 day-off every fortnight for the treatment and as an icing on the cake I made nearly 15000 dollars on stocks in 2 months after the treatment . God fulfilled the promise that he made through that girl and he has helped me to stay with postive attitude and as a matter of fact I wasn't even thinking about the disease through the journey. Having a caring wife and 2 innocent kids at home also helped during the journey because there was always fun at home and no real movie jaisa atmosphere. Even colleagues and friends made sure that I would be part of all their parties and never missed a thing except a couple of parties. A real blessing was one of our friends who left his job in Sydney and stayed with us on all the days of my treatment and he used to look after the kids when we were busy making the hospital trips.
Right now am back to normal and energy levels are back to pre-disease levels. Still need to put-on the 10 kilos I lost through disease.
The reason I am sharing this is to let you know that life could throw challenges at you but there are other people in the world who will be going through tougher things than you could imagine and also the need to not neglect health and see a doctor (there is no harm in going for a regular general check-up). Am not preachingJ
Is this Bird Alive?
The young man was at the end of his training, soon he would go on to be a teacher. Like all good pupils, he needed to challenge his teacher and to develop his own way of thinking. He caught a bird, placed it in one hand behind is back and went to see his teacher.'Teacher, is this bird alive or dead?'His plan was the following: if his teacher said 'dead', he would open his hand and the bird would fly away. If the answer was 'alive', he would crush the bird between his fingers; that way the teacher would be wrong whichever answer he gave.‘Teacher is the bird alive or dead?' he asked again.'My dear student that depends on you' was the teacher's reply.
We all have a 'bird' in our hand, a bird we call 'life'. Our teachers may teach us everythinkg but finally it depends on us to how well we use our learning.
We all have a 'bird' in our hand, a bird we call 'life'. Our teachers may teach us everythinkg but finally it depends on us to how well we use our learning.
Focus on Blessings
Joan and Natty were two young mothers who lived across the street from each other. From their living room windows, each woman was able to observe the activities of the other woman's family.
One day, Joan confessed that she'd been watching what went on in Natty's front garden and that she envied her." I don't know what you mean", said Natty with puzzled look on her face. "Well, I often see your husband out in the front mowing your lawn, and I wish my husband would do the same thing", said Joan. "Your garden is beautiful!”.
Natty laughed and then made her confession." I have been doing the same thing, Joan", she said. "I watch your husband in your front garden - and I have envied you!"
Joan shook her head with disbelief. "What on earth do you mean?" she asked.
Natty replied," I see your husband playing with your toddler so nicely. How I wish Keith, my husband, would do the same thing! He never wants our boys in the way when he mows. Be honest Joan. Would you rather have your husband play with your son than have a well-manicured lawn?"
"I had not thought of that before, but you are right Natty. I may have tall grass, but Eric, my husband is right about playing with little Johnny", Joan concluded.
Very often we are blind to our own blessings that are so obvious to others. Let us cultivate the habit of concentrating on our several blessings rather than brooding over what we perceive as curses.
One day, Joan confessed that she'd been watching what went on in Natty's front garden and that she envied her." I don't know what you mean", said Natty with puzzled look on her face. "Well, I often see your husband out in the front mowing your lawn, and I wish my husband would do the same thing", said Joan. "Your garden is beautiful!”.
Natty laughed and then made her confession." I have been doing the same thing, Joan", she said. "I watch your husband in your front garden - and I have envied you!"
Joan shook her head with disbelief. "What on earth do you mean?" she asked.
Natty replied," I see your husband playing with your toddler so nicely. How I wish Keith, my husband, would do the same thing! He never wants our boys in the way when he mows. Be honest Joan. Would you rather have your husband play with your son than have a well-manicured lawn?"
"I had not thought of that before, but you are right Natty. I may have tall grass, but Eric, my husband is right about playing with little Johnny", Joan concluded.
Very often we are blind to our own blessings that are so obvious to others. Let us cultivate the habit of concentrating on our several blessings rather than brooding over what we perceive as curses.
A Pair of Old Shoes
A young man, a student in one of the universities, was on a walk with his professor one day , a man whom the students considered a friend for his kindness to those who waited on his instructions. As they went along, they saw lying in the path a pair of old shoes, which were belonged to a poor man who was working in a field close by, and who had nearly finished his day's work . . .The student turned to the professor, saying: "Let us play a trick on the man. We will hide his shoes, and hide ourselves behind those bushes, and wait to see his perplexity when he cannot find them ..." .My young friend," answered the professor, "We should never amuse ourselves at the expense of the poor . . . But you are rich, and may give yourself a much greater pleasure by means of this poor man.Put a coin in each shoe, and then we will hide ourselves and watch how this affects him.." The student did so and they both placed themselves behind the bushes close by. The poor man soon finished his work, and came across the field to the path where he had left his coat and shoes . . .While putting on his coat he slipped his foot into one of his shoes, but feeling something hard, he stooped down to feel what it was, and found the coin. Astonishment and wonder were to be seen upon his countenance. He gazed upon the coin, turned it around and looked at it again and again. He then looked around him on all sides, but no person was to be seen. He now put the money into his pocket, and proceeded to put on the other shoe; but his surprise was doubled on finding the other coin . . .His feelings overcame him . . . He fell upon his knees, looked up to heaven and uttered aloud a fervent thanks in which he spoke of his wife, sick and helpless, and his children without bread, whom this timely bounty, from some unknown hand, would save from perishing .The student stood there deeply affected, and his eyes filled with tears."Now," said the professor, are you not much better pleased than if you had played your intended trick?"The youth replied, "You have taught me a lesson which I will never forget. .. I feel now the truth of these words, which I never understood before- "It's more blessed to give than to receive."
If you want happiness for a lifetime - Help someone
If you want happiness for a lifetime - Help someone
The Old Fisherman ~ Mary Bartels Bray
Our house was directly across the street from the clinic entrance of John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. We lived downstairs and rented the upstairs rooms to out-patients at the clinic. One summer evening as I was fixing supper, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to see a truly awful looking man. "Why, he's hardly taller than my eight-year-old," I thought as I stared at the stooped, shriveled body. But the appalling thing was his face - lopsided from swelling, red and raw.
Yet his voice was pleasant as he said, "Good evening. I've come to see if you've a room for just one night. I came for a treatment this morning from the eastern shore, and there's no bus 'til morning. "He told me he'd been hunting for a room since noon but with no success, no one seemed to have a room. "I guess it's my face... I know it looks terrible, but the doctor says with a few more treatments..."
For a moment I hesitated, but his next words convinced me: "I could sleep in this rocking chair on the porch. My bus leaves early in the morning."
I told him we would find him a bed, but to rest on the porch. I went inside and finished getting supper. When we were ready, I asked the old man if he would join us. "No thank you. I have plenty." And he held up a brown paper bag. When I had finished the dishes, I went out on the porch to talk with him a few minutes. It didn't take a long time to see that this old man had an oversized heart crowded into that tiny body. He told me he fished for a living to support his daughter, her five children, and her husband, who was hopelessly crippled from a back injury. He didn't tell it by way of complaint. In fact, every other sentence was prefaced with a thanks to God for a blessing. He was grateful that no pain accompanied his disease, which was apparently a form of skin cancer. He thanked God for giving him the strength to keep going.
At bedtime, we put a camp cot in the children's room for him. When I got up in the morning, the bed linens were neatly folded and the little man was out on the porch. He refused breakfast, but just before he left for his bus, haltingly, as if asking a great favor, he said, "Could I please come back and stay the next time I have a treatment? I won't put you out a bit. I can sleep fine in a chair." He paused a moment and then added, "Your children made me feel at home. Grownups are bothered by my face, but children don't seem to mind." I told him he was welcome to come again.
And on his next trip he arrived a little after seven in the morning. As a gift, he brought a big fish and a quart of the largest oysters I had ever seen. He said he had shucked them that morning before he left so that they'd be nice and fresh. I knew his bus left at 4:00 am, and wondered what time he had to get up in order to do this for us.
In the years he came to stay overnight with us there was never a time that he did not bring us fish or oysters or vegetables from his garden. Other times we received packages in the mail, always by special delivery; fish or oysters packed in a box of fresh young spinach or kale, every leaf carefully washed. Knowing that he must walk three miles to mail these, and knowing how little money he had made the gifts doubly precious.
When I received these little remembrances, I often thought of a comment our next-door neighbor made after he left that first morning. "Did you keep that awful looking man last night? I turned him away! You can lose roomers by putting up such people!" Maybe we did lose roomers once or twice. But oh! If only they could have known him, perhaps their illness would have been easier to bear. I know our family always will be grateful to have known him; from him we learned what it was to accept the bad without complaint and the good with gratitude to God.
Recently I was visiting a friend who has a greenhouse. As she showed me her flowers, we came to the most beautiful one of all, a golden chrysanthemum, bursting with blooms. But to my great surprise, it was growing in an old dented, rusty bucket. I thought to myself, "If this were my plant, I'd put it in the loveliest container I had!" My friend changed my mind. "I ran short of pots," she explained, "and knowing how beautiful this one would be, I thought it wouldn't mind starting out in this old pail. It's just for a little while, till I can put it out in the garden." She must have wondered why I laughed so delightedly, but I was imagining just such a scene in Heaven. "Here's an especially beautiful one," God might have said when he came to the soul of the sweet old fisherman. "He won't mind starting in this small body."
All this happened long ago - and now, in God's garden, how tall this lovely soul must stand.
Our Lives are not determined by what happened to us, but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings us but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results.
Yet his voice was pleasant as he said, "Good evening. I've come to see if you've a room for just one night. I came for a treatment this morning from the eastern shore, and there's no bus 'til morning. "He told me he'd been hunting for a room since noon but with no success, no one seemed to have a room. "I guess it's my face... I know it looks terrible, but the doctor says with a few more treatments..."
For a moment I hesitated, but his next words convinced me: "I could sleep in this rocking chair on the porch. My bus leaves early in the morning."
I told him we would find him a bed, but to rest on the porch. I went inside and finished getting supper. When we were ready, I asked the old man if he would join us. "No thank you. I have plenty." And he held up a brown paper bag. When I had finished the dishes, I went out on the porch to talk with him a few minutes. It didn't take a long time to see that this old man had an oversized heart crowded into that tiny body. He told me he fished for a living to support his daughter, her five children, and her husband, who was hopelessly crippled from a back injury. He didn't tell it by way of complaint. In fact, every other sentence was prefaced with a thanks to God for a blessing. He was grateful that no pain accompanied his disease, which was apparently a form of skin cancer. He thanked God for giving him the strength to keep going.
At bedtime, we put a camp cot in the children's room for him. When I got up in the morning, the bed linens were neatly folded and the little man was out on the porch. He refused breakfast, but just before he left for his bus, haltingly, as if asking a great favor, he said, "Could I please come back and stay the next time I have a treatment? I won't put you out a bit. I can sleep fine in a chair." He paused a moment and then added, "Your children made me feel at home. Grownups are bothered by my face, but children don't seem to mind." I told him he was welcome to come again.
And on his next trip he arrived a little after seven in the morning. As a gift, he brought a big fish and a quart of the largest oysters I had ever seen. He said he had shucked them that morning before he left so that they'd be nice and fresh. I knew his bus left at 4:00 am, and wondered what time he had to get up in order to do this for us.
In the years he came to stay overnight with us there was never a time that he did not bring us fish or oysters or vegetables from his garden. Other times we received packages in the mail, always by special delivery; fish or oysters packed in a box of fresh young spinach or kale, every leaf carefully washed. Knowing that he must walk three miles to mail these, and knowing how little money he had made the gifts doubly precious.
When I received these little remembrances, I often thought of a comment our next-door neighbor made after he left that first morning. "Did you keep that awful looking man last night? I turned him away! You can lose roomers by putting up such people!" Maybe we did lose roomers once or twice. But oh! If only they could have known him, perhaps their illness would have been easier to bear. I know our family always will be grateful to have known him; from him we learned what it was to accept the bad without complaint and the good with gratitude to God.
Recently I was visiting a friend who has a greenhouse. As she showed me her flowers, we came to the most beautiful one of all, a golden chrysanthemum, bursting with blooms. But to my great surprise, it was growing in an old dented, rusty bucket. I thought to myself, "If this were my plant, I'd put it in the loveliest container I had!" My friend changed my mind. "I ran short of pots," she explained, "and knowing how beautiful this one would be, I thought it wouldn't mind starting out in this old pail. It's just for a little while, till I can put it out in the garden." She must have wondered why I laughed so delightedly, but I was imagining just such a scene in Heaven. "Here's an especially beautiful one," God might have said when he came to the soul of the sweet old fisherman. "He won't mind starting in this small body."
All this happened long ago - and now, in God's garden, how tall this lovely soul must stand.
Our Lives are not determined by what happened to us, but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings us but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results.
Heaven and Friends
A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them. After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, 'Excuse me, where are we?' 'This is Heaven, sir,' the man answered.. 'Wow! Would you happen to have some water?' the man asked. 'Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up.' The man gestured, and the gate began to open. 'Can my friend,' gesturing toward his dog, 'come in, too?' the traveler asked. I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets.' The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog. After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book. 'Excuse me!' he called to the man. 'Do you have any water?' 'Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in.' 'How about my friend here?' the traveler gestured to the dog. 'There should be a bowl by the pump.' They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it. The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.
When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree. 'What do you call this place?' the traveler asked. 'This is Heaven,' he answered. 'Well, that's confusing,' the traveler said. 'The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.' 'Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell.' 'Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?' 'No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.'
When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree. 'What do you call this place?' the traveler asked. 'This is Heaven,' he answered. 'Well, that's confusing,' the traveler said. 'The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.' 'Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell.' 'Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?' 'No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.'
Taste of Life
One day a young girl went out to dinner with her parents. As usual she ordered her favorite Spaghetti and waited eagerly for it. Her dad ordered few other dishes which included Tofu and Cashew Fried Rice. The young girl hated this dish which her dad ordered. But her dad would always ask her to have it. The young girl watched as her dad completed placing the order. Now she knew her dad would again ask her to have the Tofu and Cashew Fried Rice.
She contemplated in her mind that this time she will gobble up the fried rice without making much fuss before she touches her all time favorite spaghetti. She wanted to enjoy every bit of spaghetti and didn’t want to get back home with the bad taste of fried rice in her mouth. As her mind was engrossed in these thoughts, dishes arrived at the table.
Her dad quickly asked her, “Dear which dish would you like to taste first? The one you Love or the one you hate?”
Without taking a moment’s time, she answered, “I will eat the dish which I hate first. I can complete it and enjoy my favorite dish for a long time later”.
Then her dad explained to her something which made a significant difference to her way of thinking. After a long time later now, she fondly remembers this incident which can be called as, "Balanced life theory".
Her dad said, “See dear, if you eat what you like first, there are chances that you may be full before you even start eating your favorite dish, or the chances are that you are not there to enjoy your dish at all.
At the same time, if you first eat what you love the most, there are chances that you end up eating it all up and you might not have anything left for the future. Later you may end up eating what you hate for the rest of your life. So you should always strike a balance. The balance between what you like and what you do not. Balance between good and bad”.
This applies to everything in life. Life’s dish has its share of good and bad, the taste which you like and the taste which you hate. You should know how to balance it. Or you may end up blaming LIFE for having tasted BAD always.
She contemplated in her mind that this time she will gobble up the fried rice without making much fuss before she touches her all time favorite spaghetti. She wanted to enjoy every bit of spaghetti and didn’t want to get back home with the bad taste of fried rice in her mouth. As her mind was engrossed in these thoughts, dishes arrived at the table.
Her dad quickly asked her, “Dear which dish would you like to taste first? The one you Love or the one you hate?”
Without taking a moment’s time, she answered, “I will eat the dish which I hate first. I can complete it and enjoy my favorite dish for a long time later”.
Then her dad explained to her something which made a significant difference to her way of thinking. After a long time later now, she fondly remembers this incident which can be called as, "Balanced life theory".
Her dad said, “See dear, if you eat what you like first, there are chances that you may be full before you even start eating your favorite dish, or the chances are that you are not there to enjoy your dish at all.
At the same time, if you first eat what you love the most, there are chances that you end up eating it all up and you might not have anything left for the future. Later you may end up eating what you hate for the rest of your life. So you should always strike a balance. The balance between what you like and what you do not. Balance between good and bad”.
This applies to everything in life. Life’s dish has its share of good and bad, the taste which you like and the taste which you hate. You should know how to balance it. Or you may end up blaming LIFE for having tasted BAD always.
I carry this with me at all times
One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers. that Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual. On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. 'Really?' she heard whispered. 'I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!' and, 'I didn't know others liked me so much,' were most of the comments.
No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on.
Several years later, one of the students was killed in Vietnam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature.
The funeral auditorium was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin. As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. 'Were you Mark's math teacher?' he asked. She nodded: 'yes.' Then he said: 'Mark talked about you a lot.'
After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher. 'We want to show you something,' his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket 'They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it.' Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him.
'Thank you so much for doing that,' Mark's mother said. 'As you can see, Mark treasured it.' All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, 'I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home.' Chuck's wife said, 'Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album.' 'I have mine too,' Marilyn said. 'It's in my diary' .Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. 'I carry this with me at all times,' Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: 'I think we all saved our lists'
That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again. The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be. So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late.
Remember, you reap what you sow. What you put into the lives of others comes back into your own.
No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on.
Several years later, one of the students was killed in Vietnam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature.
The funeral auditorium was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin. As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. 'Were you Mark's math teacher?' he asked. She nodded: 'yes.' Then he said: 'Mark talked about you a lot.'
After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher. 'We want to show you something,' his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket 'They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it.' Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him.
'Thank you so much for doing that,' Mark's mother said. 'As you can see, Mark treasured it.' All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, 'I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home.' Chuck's wife said, 'Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album.' 'I have mine too,' Marilyn said. 'It's in my diary' .Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. 'I carry this with me at all times,' Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: 'I think we all saved our lists'
That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again. The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be. So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late.
Remember, you reap what you sow. What you put into the lives of others comes back into your own.
Perseverance
Soichiro Honda was a simple person. He attempted to design a new type of piston to improve the performance of cars. He was sure his attempt would yield path breaking results. He offered his designs to Toyota. The engineers turned his offer down, without even meeting him. But he did not lose heart. His repeated attempts at meeting Toyota engineers finally succeeded; but only to see that his product was ridiculed by them. Not losing heart, he went into great details to convince them. At last he obtained an order to supply pistons to Toyota.
Honda invested all his resources – money, materials, knowledge, hard work – as capital and constructed a plant for producing pistons. Suddenly, there was an earthquake in Japan that destroyed his factory. Yet, Honda reposed faith in his own ability. Once again, he started construction afresh. When it was ready and the production was to start the following week, World War II broke out. Bombs bombarded Japan and most of Country was devastated and so was Honda’s factory.
Although Honda lost his factory, property, wealth and friends, he did not lose his self-confidence. He continued his efforts and began to construct his factory for the third time.
Today, the Honda Car Company produces and sells more cars than many others. Honda was not only an example for the word ‘PERSEVERANCE’ but also added honour to it.
Keep persevering…victory is certain.
Honda invested all his resources – money, materials, knowledge, hard work – as capital and constructed a plant for producing pistons. Suddenly, there was an earthquake in Japan that destroyed his factory. Yet, Honda reposed faith in his own ability. Once again, he started construction afresh. When it was ready and the production was to start the following week, World War II broke out. Bombs bombarded Japan and most of Country was devastated and so was Honda’s factory.
Although Honda lost his factory, property, wealth and friends, he did not lose his self-confidence. He continued his efforts and began to construct his factory for the third time.
Today, the Honda Car Company produces and sells more cars than many others. Honda was not only an example for the word ‘PERSEVERANCE’ but also added honour to it.
Keep persevering…victory is certain.
Speech is Silver, Silence is Golden
Once upon a time an old man spread rumors that his neighbor was a thief. As a result, the young man was arrested. Days later the young man was proven innocent. After been released he sued the old man for wrongly accusing him.
In court the old man told the Judge: 'They were just comments, didn't harm anyone..'
The judge, before passing sentence on the case, told the old man: 'Write all the things you said about him on a piece of paper. Cut them up and on the way home; throw the pieces of paper out. Tomorrow, come back to hear the sentence.'
The next day, the judge told the old man: 'Before receiving the sentence, you will have to go out and gather all the pieces of paper that you threw out yesterday.'
The old man said: 'I can't do that! The wind spread them and I won't know where to find them.'
The judge then replied: 'The same way, simple comments may destroy the honor of a man to such an extent that one is not able to fix it. If you can't speak well of someone, rather don't say anything.
'Let's all be masters of our mouths, so that we won't be slaves of our words.'
In court the old man told the Judge: 'They were just comments, didn't harm anyone..'
The judge, before passing sentence on the case, told the old man: 'Write all the things you said about him on a piece of paper. Cut them up and on the way home; throw the pieces of paper out. Tomorrow, come back to hear the sentence.'
The next day, the judge told the old man: 'Before receiving the sentence, you will have to go out and gather all the pieces of paper that you threw out yesterday.'
The old man said: 'I can't do that! The wind spread them and I won't know where to find them.'
The judge then replied: 'The same way, simple comments may destroy the honor of a man to such an extent that one is not able to fix it. If you can't speak well of someone, rather don't say anything.
'Let's all be masters of our mouths, so that we won't be slaves of our words.'
A Software Engineer’s Mind
It was raining heavily outside. Dark clouds gathered in the sky and nature was in its ominous best. I took a break from my work and went to the pantry to grab a cup of coffee. I had a sip and went near the window to see the rain pouring down heavily outside the glass structure. I was inside our huge office building, unruffled by even the fierceness of the nature.
Through the heavy transparent glass, I could see a small girl trying to hold on to her umbrella which the wind was snatching away from her. I felt sorry for the girl, and was happy that I was not in a similar pathetic situation. Yes. I take pride for the fact that I am a software engineer.
I have everything which a common man would envy; money, status, respect, you name it I have it. I always wanted to be software professional and here I am, working for one of the best firms in the world. But then, am I really happy? Now, I could see an imprint of my palm on the other glass window, through which I reminisced my past, basked in the warmth of the sun shine.
My childhood was so much of fun. I vividly remember those rainy days, when I hugged my mother tightly during sleeping listening to all the stories told by her. Now, I have a big house here, but then it is just a house, not a home. My parents are pretty far away from me now. I have a cell phone to talk to them every day, but then I really miss those dinners which I had with my family every day. I could easily afford to taste all the different cuisines these days, but the best of food there, lack the love and affection which is present in the food prepared by my mother.
I threw a lavish party for my colleagues for my birthday, but then they would never replace the birthdays when my friends secretly brought a cake and at the end, half of the cake would have ended up on my face. The couple of hundred bucks that u save for a long period just to give a treat to your friends in the road side chat shop can never give the pleasure even after spending a few thousand bucks these days.
The scene of me crying and refusing to have dinner on the day when I fought with my best friend came to my mind. Today, she has gone far away from me, taking away my love and with it my life, but I am sitting and coding here with a false smile on my face. Every day I meet new people, but then I long ceased to make a new friend.
It's true that I have a lot of things now. I have a nice bed, but no time to sleep. Lots of money, but no friends to spend it with. The latest designer clothes, but a worn out body . Awards for technical excellence, but no reward for the crave for peaceful ambience. A confident demeanor, but a reluctant and apathetic mind. Full of rain, but no sunshine even in the farthest distance.
Now, I could see the small girl on the road enjoying in the rain with her umbrella firmly in her grip. She might not have all the comforts which I have, but then she has the innocence and fun which I lost a long time back.
I have decided to come out of this false fantasy, even if it is at the expense of losing the tap of the software engineer. I am going to again enjoy my life. I am going to go out in the rain and play with the small kid now. I removed my tie, and went near my computer to shut it down. Just then, I saw a new mail alert in my mail box. I slowly opened outlook and I found a message from my manager with an attachment saying that there was a critical defect in the code and I have to fix it soon. I convinced myself that I am not going to get bogged down again by these pressures and stick to my decision. I ignored the mail and went to the rest room. After a couple of minutes, the software engineer in me came out, his shirt tucked in with the perfect tie knot, sat before the computer, and started typing,
Hi XYZ,
I am looking into the defect and will send the patch files before EOD.
Through the heavy transparent glass, I could see a small girl trying to hold on to her umbrella which the wind was snatching away from her. I felt sorry for the girl, and was happy that I was not in a similar pathetic situation. Yes. I take pride for the fact that I am a software engineer.
I have everything which a common man would envy; money, status, respect, you name it I have it. I always wanted to be software professional and here I am, working for one of the best firms in the world. But then, am I really happy? Now, I could see an imprint of my palm on the other glass window, through which I reminisced my past, basked in the warmth of the sun shine.
My childhood was so much of fun. I vividly remember those rainy days, when I hugged my mother tightly during sleeping listening to all the stories told by her. Now, I have a big house here, but then it is just a house, not a home. My parents are pretty far away from me now. I have a cell phone to talk to them every day, but then I really miss those dinners which I had with my family every day. I could easily afford to taste all the different cuisines these days, but the best of food there, lack the love and affection which is present in the food prepared by my mother.
I threw a lavish party for my colleagues for my birthday, but then they would never replace the birthdays when my friends secretly brought a cake and at the end, half of the cake would have ended up on my face. The couple of hundred bucks that u save for a long period just to give a treat to your friends in the road side chat shop can never give the pleasure even after spending a few thousand bucks these days.
The scene of me crying and refusing to have dinner on the day when I fought with my best friend came to my mind. Today, she has gone far away from me, taking away my love and with it my life, but I am sitting and coding here with a false smile on my face. Every day I meet new people, but then I long ceased to make a new friend.
It's true that I have a lot of things now. I have a nice bed, but no time to sleep. Lots of money, but no friends to spend it with. The latest designer clothes, but a worn out body . Awards for technical excellence, but no reward for the crave for peaceful ambience. A confident demeanor, but a reluctant and apathetic mind. Full of rain, but no sunshine even in the farthest distance.
Now, I could see the small girl on the road enjoying in the rain with her umbrella firmly in her grip. She might not have all the comforts which I have, but then she has the innocence and fun which I lost a long time back.
I have decided to come out of this false fantasy, even if it is at the expense of losing the tap of the software engineer. I am going to again enjoy my life. I am going to go out in the rain and play with the small kid now. I removed my tie, and went near my computer to shut it down. Just then, I saw a new mail alert in my mail box. I slowly opened outlook and I found a message from my manager with an attachment saying that there was a critical defect in the code and I have to fix it soon. I convinced myself that I am not going to get bogged down again by these pressures and stick to my decision. I ignored the mail and went to the rest room. After a couple of minutes, the software engineer in me came out, his shirt tucked in with the perfect tie knot, sat before the computer, and started typing,
Hi XYZ,
I am looking into the defect and will send the patch files before EOD.
Presence of Mind
Once, a dog lost his way deep into the jungle.
He almost fainted to see a lion coming straight to him at a very near distant. "I will be dead today" , thought he. There were some bones lying over there. He turned his back towards lion and started pretending as if he is eating those bones. When lion was very close to him he cried out loudly "Wow, what a fun eating a lion, by chance if I can get another one, it will be a treat ".
Lion thought "What a dangerous dog!!!!! He kills lions and eats it. Let me run away from here and save my life ".
Now, there was a Monkey hiding on the tree there watching the entire show. He thought "It's a good chance to tell the truth to the lion. Lion will become my friend and I will not have to run saving my life from him ". He just ran away to inform the entire episode to Lion.
The dog had seen him going and quickly understood the ploy. Both lion and monkey were coming back to the dog and the lion was furious.
When lion was very close to him he again cried out loudly " It has been half an hour and yet that stupid monkey can't fetch another lion??!!!!"
Moral: "It is by presence of mind in untried emergencies that the native metal of man is tested."
He almost fainted to see a lion coming straight to him at a very near distant. "I will be dead today" , thought he. There were some bones lying over there. He turned his back towards lion and started pretending as if he is eating those bones. When lion was very close to him he cried out loudly "Wow, what a fun eating a lion, by chance if I can get another one, it will be a treat ".
Lion thought "What a dangerous dog!!!!! He kills lions and eats it. Let me run away from here and save my life ".
Now, there was a Monkey hiding on the tree there watching the entire show. He thought "It's a good chance to tell the truth to the lion. Lion will become my friend and I will not have to run saving my life from him ". He just ran away to inform the entire episode to Lion.
The dog had seen him going and quickly understood the ploy. Both lion and monkey were coming back to the dog and the lion was furious.
When lion was very close to him he again cried out loudly " It has been half an hour and yet that stupid monkey can't fetch another lion??!!!!"
Moral: "It is by presence of mind in untried emergencies that the native metal of man is tested."
Always Follow Your Dreams
There were once 2 brothers who lived on the 80th level. On coming home one day, they realized to their dismay that the lifts were not working and that they have to climb the stairs to get home.
After struggling to the 20th level, panting and tired, they decided to abandon their bags and come back for them the next day. They left their bags there and climbed on. When they had struggled up to the 40th level, the younger brother started to grumble and both of them began to quarrel. They continued to climb the flights of steps, quarreling all the way to the 60th floor.
They then realized that they have only 20 levels more to climb and decided to stop quarreling and continue climbing in peace. They silently climbed on and reached their home at last. Each stood calmly before the door and waited for the other to open the door.
And then they realized that the key was in one of their bags which they had left on the 20th floor.
This story reflects on our life...many of us have to live up to the expectations of our parents, teachers and friends when young. We seldom get to do the things that we really love and are under so much pressure that by the age of 20, we get tired and decide to dump the load.
Being free of the stress and pressure, we work enthusiastically and dream big.
But by the time we reach 40, we start to losing our vision and dreams. We begin to feel unsatisfied and start to complain and criticize. We live life as a misery as we are never satisfied. Reaching 60, we realize that we have little time left to complain, and we begin to walk the final episode in peace and calmness.
We think that there is nothing left to disappoint us, only to realize that we cannot rest in peace because we have an unfulfilled dream ...... a dream that we abandoned 60 years ago.
So what is your dream? Follow your dreams, so that you will not live with regrets.
Because Life is a journey which is traveled only once...
After struggling to the 20th level, panting and tired, they decided to abandon their bags and come back for them the next day. They left their bags there and climbed on. When they had struggled up to the 40th level, the younger brother started to grumble and both of them began to quarrel. They continued to climb the flights of steps, quarreling all the way to the 60th floor.
They then realized that they have only 20 levels more to climb and decided to stop quarreling and continue climbing in peace. They silently climbed on and reached their home at last. Each stood calmly before the door and waited for the other to open the door.
And then they realized that the key was in one of their bags which they had left on the 20th floor.
This story reflects on our life...many of us have to live up to the expectations of our parents, teachers and friends when young. We seldom get to do the things that we really love and are under so much pressure that by the age of 20, we get tired and decide to dump the load.
Being free of the stress and pressure, we work enthusiastically and dream big.
But by the time we reach 40, we start to losing our vision and dreams. We begin to feel unsatisfied and start to complain and criticize. We live life as a misery as we are never satisfied. Reaching 60, we realize that we have little time left to complain, and we begin to walk the final episode in peace and calmness.
We think that there is nothing left to disappoint us, only to realize that we cannot rest in peace because we have an unfulfilled dream ...... a dream that we abandoned 60 years ago.
So what is your dream? Follow your dreams, so that you will not live with regrets.
Because Life is a journey which is traveled only once...
You are a Masterpiece
A plum once said, just because a banana lover came by, I converted myself into a banana. Unfortunately, his taste changed after a few months and so I became an orange. When he said I was bitter I became an apple, but he went in search of grapes. Yielding to the opinions of so many people, I have changed so many times that I no more know who I am. How I wish I had remained a plum and waited for a plum lover.Just because a group of people do not accept you as you are, there is no necessity for you to strip yourself of your originality. You need to think good of yourself, for the world takes you at your own estimate. Never stoop down in order to gain recognition. Never let go of your true self to win a relationship. In the long run, you will regret that you traded your greatest glory - your uniqueness, for momentary validation.There is a world for each one of you, where you shall reign as king / queen by just being yourself. Find that world... in fact, that world will find you.What water can do, gasoline cannot and what copper can, gold cannot. The fragility of the ant enables it to move and the rigidity of the tree enables it to stay rooted. Everything and everybody has been designed with a proportion of uniqueness to serve a purpose that we can fulfill only by being our unique self. You as you alone can serve your purpose and I as I alone can serve my purpose. You are here to be you... just you.There was a time in this world when a Krishna was required and he was sent; a time when a Christ was required and he was sent; a time when a Mahatma was required and he was sent; a time when a J.R.D.Tata was required and he was sent. There came a time when you were required on this planet and hence you were sent. Let us be the best we can be. Don't miss yourself and let the world not miss you.In the history of the universe, there has been nobody like you and to the infinite of time to come, there will be no one like you.Existence should have loved you so much that it broke the mould after making you, so that another of your kind will never get repeated. You are original. You are rare. You are unique. You are a wonder. You are a masterpiece... your Master's piece. Celebrate your Uniqueness.
The Acorn Planter
A young traveler was once exploring the French alps. He came upon a vast stretch of barren land. It was desolate, forbidding and ugly. It was the kind of place you would hurry away from. Then suddenly, the young traveler saw something that amazed him. In the middle of this vast wasteland was a bent over old man. On his back was a sack of acorns and in his hand, a long iron pipe. The man was using the iron pipe to punch holes in the ground. Then from the sack he would take an acorn and place it in the hole. The old man told the young traveler, “I’ve planted over 100,000 acorns. Perhaps only a tenth of them will survive and grow.”
The old man’s wife and son were dead, and this was how he chose to spend his final years. “ I want to do something useful,” he said. Twenty five years later, the now-not-as-young traveler returned to the same desolate area. What he saw made him stop dead in his tracks. He could not believe his own eyes. The land was covered with a beautiful forest almost two miles wide and five miles long. Birds were singing, animals were playing, and wild flowers perfumed the air. The traveler stood there recalling the desolation there once was; a beautiful oak forest stood there now – all because someone cared.
I am only one but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something and just because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can.
The old man’s wife and son were dead, and this was how he chose to spend his final years. “ I want to do something useful,” he said. Twenty five years later, the now-not-as-young traveler returned to the same desolate area. What he saw made him stop dead in his tracks. He could not believe his own eyes. The land was covered with a beautiful forest almost two miles wide and five miles long. Birds were singing, animals were playing, and wild flowers perfumed the air. The traveler stood there recalling the desolation there once was; a beautiful oak forest stood there now – all because someone cared.
I am only one but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something and just because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can.
Embracing Imperfection
A story by a girl.
"When I was a little girl, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage, and extremely burnt toast in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his toast, smile at my mom, and ask me how my day at school was. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that toast and eat every bite!
When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the toast. And I'll never forget what he said: 'Baby, I love burnt toast.'
Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his toast burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, 'Debbie, your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides-a little burnt toast never hurt anyone!'
You know, life is full of imperfect things.....and imperfect people. I'm not the best housekeeper or cook.
What I've learnt over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults - and choosing to celebrate each other's differences - is the one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.
And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good ,the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of GOD. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where burnt toast isn't a deal-breaker! We could extend this to any relationship in fact - as understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!! "
"When I was a little girl, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage, and extremely burnt toast in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his toast, smile at my mom, and ask me how my day at school was. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that toast and eat every bite!
When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the toast. And I'll never forget what he said: 'Baby, I love burnt toast.'
Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his toast burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, 'Debbie, your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides-a little burnt toast never hurt anyone!'
You know, life is full of imperfect things.....and imperfect people. I'm not the best housekeeper or cook.
What I've learnt over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults - and choosing to celebrate each other's differences - is the one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.
And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good ,the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of GOD. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where burnt toast isn't a deal-breaker! We could extend this to any relationship in fact - as understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!! "
It’s an empty vessel
young farmer was covered with sweat as he paddled his boat up the river. He was going upstream to deliver his produce to the village and he was in a hurry. It was a hot day and he wanted to make his delivery and get home before dark. As he looked ahead, he spotted another vessel, heading rapidly downstream towards his boat. It was coming at a good pace too. This farmer rowed furiously to get out of the way, but it did not seem to help.
He yelled at the other vessel, “Change direction, you idiot! You are going to hit me. The river is wide. Change your course". His screaming was of no use. The other vessel hit his boat with a big loud thud. He was enraged as he stood up and cried out to the other vessel. “Stupid! How could you manage to hit my boat in the middle of this wide river? What is wrong with you? "
And as he looked at the other vessel he realized that there was no one in the other boat. He was screaming at an empty vessel that had broken free of its moorings and was going downstream with the current.
The lesson is very simple.
There is never anyone in the other boat.
When we are angry we are screaming at an empty vessel.
All of us know people who drive us crazy, whom we hate to the core with passion. We may have spent countless hours reliving the moments when this person was unfair, unappreciative or inconsiderate to us. Even remembering this person pumps up our blood pressure.
The best way of dealing with people like this is to not let them make us angry. Getting angry doesn’t help in improving the situation and life is too short to waste on feeling bad or staying with grudges.
Next time when there is a surge of anger in you, just remember this.
There is never anyone in the other boat. It’s an empty vessel always
He yelled at the other vessel, “Change direction, you idiot! You are going to hit me. The river is wide. Change your course". His screaming was of no use. The other vessel hit his boat with a big loud thud. He was enraged as he stood up and cried out to the other vessel. “Stupid! How could you manage to hit my boat in the middle of this wide river? What is wrong with you? "
And as he looked at the other vessel he realized that there was no one in the other boat. He was screaming at an empty vessel that had broken free of its moorings and was going downstream with the current.
The lesson is very simple.
There is never anyone in the other boat.
When we are angry we are screaming at an empty vessel.
All of us know people who drive us crazy, whom we hate to the core with passion. We may have spent countless hours reliving the moments when this person was unfair, unappreciative or inconsiderate to us. Even remembering this person pumps up our blood pressure.
The best way of dealing with people like this is to not let them make us angry. Getting angry doesn’t help in improving the situation and life is too short to waste on feeling bad or staying with grudges.
Next time when there is a surge of anger in you, just remember this.
There is never anyone in the other boat. It’s an empty vessel always
Pearls Necklace
Jenny was a bright-eyed, pretty five-year-old girl. One day when she and her mother were checking out at the grocery store, Jenny saw a plastic pearl necklace priced at $2.50. How she wanted that necklace!
When she asked her mother if she would buy it for her, her mother said, "Well, it is a pretty necklace, but it costs an awful lot of money. I'll tell you what. I'll buy you the necklace, and when we get home we can make up a list of chores that you can do to pay for the necklace.
And don't forget that for your birthday Grandma just might give you a whole dollar bill, too. Okay?" Jenny agreed, and her mother bought the pearl necklace for her. Jenny worked on her chores very hard every day, and sure enough, her grandma gave her a brand new dollar bill for her birthday. Soon Jenny had paid off the pearls. How Jenny loved those pearls. She wore them everywhere to kindergarten, to bed and when she went out with her mother to run errands. The only time she didn't wear them was in the shower. Her mother had told her that they would turn her neck green!
Now Jenny had a very loving daddy. When Jenny went to bed, he would get up from his favorite chair every night and read Jenny her favorite story. One night when he finished the story, he said, "Jenny, do you love me?"
"Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you," the little girl said.
"Well, then, give me your pearls."
"Oh! Daddy, not my pearls!" Jenny said. "But you can have Rosy, my favorite doll. Remember her? You gave her to me last year for my birthday. And you can have her tea party outfit, too. Okay?"
"Oh no, darling, that's okay." Her father brushed her cheek with a kiss. "Good night, little one."
A week later, her father once again asked Jenny after her story, "Do you love me?"
"Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you."
"Well, then, give me your pearls."
"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls! But you can have Ribbons, my toy horse. Do you remember her? She's my favorite. Her hair is so soft, and you can play with it and braid it and everything. You can have Ribbons if you want her, "Daddy," the little girl said to her father.
"No, that's okay," her father said and brushed her cheek again with a kiss. God bless you, little one. Sweet dreams."
Several days later, when Jenny's father came in to read her a story, Jenny was sitting on her bed and her lip was trembling. “Here, Daddy," she said, and held out her hand. She opened it and her beloved pearl necklace was inside. She let it slip into her father's hand. With one hand her father held the plastic pearls and the other he pulled out of his pocket a blue velvet box. Inside of the box were real, genuine, beautiful pearls. He had had them all along. He was waiting for Jenny to give up the cheap stuff so he could give her the real thing.
So it is with GOD. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so he can give us a beautiful treasure. Isn't God good?Young Minds1k
This made me think about the things I hold on to and wonder what God wants to give me in its place.
Want Beautiful Pearls? Give up cheap things in life...
When she asked her mother if she would buy it for her, her mother said, "Well, it is a pretty necklace, but it costs an awful lot of money. I'll tell you what. I'll buy you the necklace, and when we get home we can make up a list of chores that you can do to pay for the necklace.
And don't forget that for your birthday Grandma just might give you a whole dollar bill, too. Okay?" Jenny agreed, and her mother bought the pearl necklace for her. Jenny worked on her chores very hard every day, and sure enough, her grandma gave her a brand new dollar bill for her birthday. Soon Jenny had paid off the pearls. How Jenny loved those pearls. She wore them everywhere to kindergarten, to bed and when she went out with her mother to run errands. The only time she didn't wear them was in the shower. Her mother had told her that they would turn her neck green!
Now Jenny had a very loving daddy. When Jenny went to bed, he would get up from his favorite chair every night and read Jenny her favorite story. One night when he finished the story, he said, "Jenny, do you love me?"
"Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you," the little girl said.
"Well, then, give me your pearls."
"Oh! Daddy, not my pearls!" Jenny said. "But you can have Rosy, my favorite doll. Remember her? You gave her to me last year for my birthday. And you can have her tea party outfit, too. Okay?"
"Oh no, darling, that's okay." Her father brushed her cheek with a kiss. "Good night, little one."
A week later, her father once again asked Jenny after her story, "Do you love me?"
"Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you."
"Well, then, give me your pearls."
"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls! But you can have Ribbons, my toy horse. Do you remember her? She's my favorite. Her hair is so soft, and you can play with it and braid it and everything. You can have Ribbons if you want her, "Daddy," the little girl said to her father.
"No, that's okay," her father said and brushed her cheek again with a kiss. God bless you, little one. Sweet dreams."
Several days later, when Jenny's father came in to read her a story, Jenny was sitting on her bed and her lip was trembling. “Here, Daddy," she said, and held out her hand. She opened it and her beloved pearl necklace was inside. She let it slip into her father's hand. With one hand her father held the plastic pearls and the other he pulled out of his pocket a blue velvet box. Inside of the box were real, genuine, beautiful pearls. He had had them all along. He was waiting for Jenny to give up the cheap stuff so he could give her the real thing.
So it is with GOD. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so he can give us a beautiful treasure. Isn't God good?Young Minds1k
This made me think about the things I hold on to and wonder what God wants to give me in its place.
Want Beautiful Pearls? Give up cheap things in life...
Velocity of Money...!!!
It is August. In a small town on the South Coast of France ,the holiday season is in full swing, but it is raining so hard that there is not too much business happening. Everyone is heavily in debt. Luckily, a rich Russian tourist arrives in the foyer of the small local hotel. He asks for a room and puts a 100 Euro note on the reception counter, takes the key and goes to inspect the room located up the stairs on the third floor. The hotel owner takes the banknote in hurry and rushes to his meat supplier to whom he owes E100. The butcher takes the money and races to his supplier to pay his debt. The wholesaler rushes to the farmer to pay E100 for the pigs he had bought some time ago. The farmer triumphantly gives the E100 note to a local hair dresser who had provided him his services on credit. The hair dresser quickly goes to the hotel, as he owed the hotel for using a room a month back. At that moment, the rich Russian comes down to the reception and informs the hotel owner that the proposed room is unsatisfactory and takes his E100 back and departs. There was no profit or income. There was NO real economic activity. But everyone is no longer in debt and the small town people look optimistically towards their future. That's the power of the velocity of money!
Don't Change the World
Once upon a time, there lived a king who ruled over a prosperous country. One day, he had to visit a distant part of his country. When he returned to his palace, he complained that his feet hurt very badly, as it was the first time that he had gone on such a long trip, and the path that he went through was very rough and stony. He then ordered his people to cover every road in the entire country with leather. Definitely, this would need thousands of cows' skin, and would cost a huge amount of money. Then one of his wiser servants dared to tell the king, "Why do you have to spend such a large sum to cover the roads ? Why don't you just cut a little piece of leather to cover your feet?" The king was surprised, but he agreed - to make a "shoe" for himself. There is actually a valuable lesson for life in this story: To make this world a happy place to live in, you better change yourself - your heart; and not the world
Thanks for your time
It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.
Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.
"Jack, did you hear me?"
"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said..
"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.
"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.
"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said.
"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said.
"I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important... Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.
As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown.
Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time.
Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time.
The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture....Jack stopped suddenly.
"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.
"The box is gone," he said.
"What box? " Mom asked.
"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.
It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.
"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."
It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox.
"Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read.
Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention.
"Mr. Harold Belser" it read.
Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope.
Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.
"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter.
His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover.
Inside he found these words engraved: "Jack, Thanks for your time..! Harold Belser."
"The thing he valued most.. was.. my time . . ."
Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days.
"Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.
"I need some time to spend with my son..," he said.
"Oh, by the way, Janet.. Thanks for your time..!"
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away . . . It is not the years that we put in to our life, but the life that we put into the years that really matters.
Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.
"Jack, did you hear me?"
"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said..
"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.
"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.
"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said.
"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said.
"I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important... Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.
As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown.
Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time.
Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time.
The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture....Jack stopped suddenly.
"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.
"The box is gone," he said.
"What box? " Mom asked.
"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.
It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.
"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."
It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox.
"Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read.
Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention.
"Mr. Harold Belser" it read.
Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope.
Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.
"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter.
His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover.
Inside he found these words engraved: "Jack, Thanks for your time..! Harold Belser."
"The thing he valued most.. was.. my time . . ."
Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days.
"Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.
"I need some time to spend with my son..," he said.
"Oh, by the way, Janet.. Thanks for your time..!"
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away . . . It is not the years that we put in to our life, but the life that we put into the years that really matters.
Diamond Message
Once a king called upon all his wise men and asked them "Is there a mantra or suggestion which works in every situation, in every circumstance, in every place and in every time? Something which can help me when none of you is available to advise me. Tell me is there any mantra?" All the wise men were puzzled by the king’s question. One answer for all questions? Something that works everywhere in every situation? In every joy, every sorrow, every defeat and every victory? They thought and thought.
After a lengthy discussion, an old man suggested something which appealed to all of them. They went to the king and gave him a piece of paper. But the condition was that the king should not look at it out of curiosity. Only in extreme danger, when the King finds himself alone and there seems to be no way out, should he see it. The King put the paper under his diamond ring.
After a few days, its neighbours attacked the kingdom. The King and his army fought bravely but lost the battle. The King had to flee on his horse. His enemies followed him. The horse was taking him deeper into the jungle and the sound of hooves was getting closer. Suddenly the king found himself standing at the end of the path. Below him was a rocky valley a thousand feet deep. If he jumped, he would be finished .But returning through the narrow path was impossible. The sound of enemy horses was getting louder . The King became restless. There seemed to be no way.
Then he saw the Diamond in his ring shining in the sun, and he remembered the message hidden in the ring. He opened the diamond and read the message. The message was small but great. It said, "This too will pass."
The King read it. Again and again .Suddenly something struck him- Yes! This too will pass.
A few days ago I was the ruler of a mighty kingdom. Yet today, I have lost everything. However, as those days of luxury have passed, this danger will pass. His face regained its calm.
He looked around him. He had never known that such a beautiful place was a part of his kingdom. The message had a great effect on him. He forgot about those following him.
After a few minutes he realized that the noise of the horses was receding. They had moved to some other part of the mountains .The brave king reorganized his army and fought back. He defeated the enemy and regained his lost empire. When he returned to his empire , he was received with much fan fare at the door. The whole capital was rejoicing in the victory. His subjects sang and danced on the streets. Everyone was in a festive mood. Flowers were being showered on the King from every house, from every corner. For a moment the King said to himself," I am one of the bravest and greatest Kings. It is not easy to defeat me..:
In the glory of the moment , he felt ego emerging in him. Suddenly the Diamond of his ring flashed in the sunlight and reminded him of the message. He opened it and read it again: "This too will pass" . He became silent. So did the egotist in him.
If this too is going to pass, it is not yours. The defeat was not yours, the victory is not yours. You are just a spectator . Everything passes by. We are a witness to all of this. We are the perceiver. Life comes and goes. Happiness comes and goes. Sorrow comes and goes.
Now as you have read this story, just sit silently and evaluate your own life.. Think of the moments of joy and victory in your life. Think of the moment of Sorrow and defeat. Are they permanent? They all come and pass . Life just passes away. There were friends in the past.They have gone. There are friends today. They too will go. There will be new friends tomorrow. They too will go. There were enemies in the past. They have gone. There may be enemies in the present. They too will go. There will be new enemies tomorrow and they too will go.
nothing is permanent in this world. Everything changes except the law of change. Think it over from your own perspective. You have seen all the changes. You have survived all setbacks, all defeats and all sorrows. All have passed away. If there are problems in the present, they too will pass away. Because nothing remains forever. Joy and sorrow are the two faces of the same coin. They too will pass .
Who are you in reality? Know your real face. The face in your mirror will not be the same tomorrow . It will change with time. However, there is something in you, which will not change. It will remain unchanged. What is that unchangeable? It is nothing but your true self. You are just a witness of change.
After a lengthy discussion, an old man suggested something which appealed to all of them. They went to the king and gave him a piece of paper. But the condition was that the king should not look at it out of curiosity. Only in extreme danger, when the King finds himself alone and there seems to be no way out, should he see it. The King put the paper under his diamond ring.
After a few days, its neighbours attacked the kingdom. The King and his army fought bravely but lost the battle. The King had to flee on his horse. His enemies followed him. The horse was taking him deeper into the jungle and the sound of hooves was getting closer. Suddenly the king found himself standing at the end of the path. Below him was a rocky valley a thousand feet deep. If he jumped, he would be finished .But returning through the narrow path was impossible. The sound of enemy horses was getting louder . The King became restless. There seemed to be no way.
Then he saw the Diamond in his ring shining in the sun, and he remembered the message hidden in the ring. He opened the diamond and read the message. The message was small but great. It said, "This too will pass."
The King read it. Again and again .Suddenly something struck him- Yes! This too will pass.
A few days ago I was the ruler of a mighty kingdom. Yet today, I have lost everything. However, as those days of luxury have passed, this danger will pass. His face regained its calm.
He looked around him. He had never known that such a beautiful place was a part of his kingdom. The message had a great effect on him. He forgot about those following him.
After a few minutes he realized that the noise of the horses was receding. They had moved to some other part of the mountains .The brave king reorganized his army and fought back. He defeated the enemy and regained his lost empire. When he returned to his empire , he was received with much fan fare at the door. The whole capital was rejoicing in the victory. His subjects sang and danced on the streets. Everyone was in a festive mood. Flowers were being showered on the King from every house, from every corner. For a moment the King said to himself," I am one of the bravest and greatest Kings. It is not easy to defeat me..:
In the glory of the moment , he felt ego emerging in him. Suddenly the Diamond of his ring flashed in the sunlight and reminded him of the message. He opened it and read it again: "This too will pass" . He became silent. So did the egotist in him.
If this too is going to pass, it is not yours. The defeat was not yours, the victory is not yours. You are just a spectator . Everything passes by. We are a witness to all of this. We are the perceiver. Life comes and goes. Happiness comes and goes. Sorrow comes and goes.
Now as you have read this story, just sit silently and evaluate your own life.. Think of the moments of joy and victory in your life. Think of the moment of Sorrow and defeat. Are they permanent? They all come and pass . Life just passes away. There were friends in the past.They have gone. There are friends today. They too will go. There will be new friends tomorrow. They too will go. There were enemies in the past. They have gone. There may be enemies in the present. They too will go. There will be new enemies tomorrow and they too will go.
nothing is permanent in this world. Everything changes except the law of change. Think it over from your own perspective. You have seen all the changes. You have survived all setbacks, all defeats and all sorrows. All have passed away. If there are problems in the present, they too will pass away. Because nothing remains forever. Joy and sorrow are the two faces of the same coin. They too will pass .
Who are you in reality? Know your real face. The face in your mirror will not be the same tomorrow . It will change with time. However, there is something in you, which will not change. It will remain unchanged. What is that unchangeable? It is nothing but your true self. You are just a witness of change.
Life Together
One fine day, an old couple around the age of 70, walks into a lawyer's office. Apparently, they are there to file a divorce.
Lawyer was very puzzled, after having a chat with them, he got their story....This couple had been quarreling all their 40 over yrs of marriage nothing ever seems to go right.
They hang on because of their children, afraid that it might affect their up-bringing. Now, all their children have already grown up, have their own family, there's nothing else the old couple have to worry about, all they wanted is to lead their own life free from all these years of unhappiness from their marriage, so both agree on a divorce....
Lawyer was having a hard time trying to get the papers done, because he felt that after 40 yrs of marriage at the age of 70, he couldn't understand why the old couple would still want a divorce..
While they were signing the papers, the wife told the husband..
"I really love u, but i really cant carry on anymore, I'm sorry.."
"Its o.k, i understand.." said the husband. Looking at this, the lawyer suggested a dinner together, just 3 of them,wife thought, why not, since they are still gonna be friends..
At the dining table, there was a silence of awkwardness.
The first dish was roasted chicken, immediately, the old man took the drumstick for the old lady.."take this, its your favorite.."
Looking at this, the lawyer thought maybe there is still a chance, but the wife was frowning when she answer.."
This is always the problem, you always think so highly of yourself, never thought about how I feel, don't you know that i hate drumsticks?"
Little did she know that, over the years, the husband have been trying all ways to please her, little did she know that drumsticks was the husband's favorite. Little did he know that she never thought he understand her at all, little did he know that she hates drumsticks even though all he wants is the best for her.
That night, both of them couldn't sleep, toss and turn, toss and turn...after hours, the old man couldn't take it anymore, he knows that he still loves her, and he cant carry on life without her, he wants her back, he wants to tell her, he is sorry, he wanted to tell her "i love you"...
He picks up the phone, starting dialing her number....ringing never stops..he never stop dialing....
Lawyer was very puzzled, after having a chat with them, he got their story....This couple had been quarreling all their 40 over yrs of marriage nothing ever seems to go right.
They hang on because of their children, afraid that it might affect their up-bringing. Now, all their children have already grown up, have their own family, there's nothing else the old couple have to worry about, all they wanted is to lead their own life free from all these years of unhappiness from their marriage, so both agree on a divorce....
Lawyer was having a hard time trying to get the papers done, because he felt that after 40 yrs of marriage at the age of 70, he couldn't understand why the old couple would still want a divorce..
While they were signing the papers, the wife told the husband..
"I really love u, but i really cant carry on anymore, I'm sorry.."
"Its o.k, i understand.." said the husband. Looking at this, the lawyer suggested a dinner together, just 3 of them,wife thought, why not, since they are still gonna be friends..
At the dining table, there was a silence of awkwardness.
The first dish was roasted chicken, immediately, the old man took the drumstick for the old lady.."take this, its your favorite.."
Looking at this, the lawyer thought maybe there is still a chance, but the wife was frowning when she answer.."
This is always the problem, you always think so highly of yourself, never thought about how I feel, don't you know that i hate drumsticks?"
Little did she know that, over the years, the husband have been trying all ways to please her, little did she know that drumsticks was the husband's favorite. Little did he know that she never thought he understand her at all, little did he know that she hates drumsticks even though all he wants is the best for her.
That night, both of them couldn't sleep, toss and turn, toss and turn...after hours, the old man couldn't take it anymore, he knows that he still loves her, and he cant carry on life without her, he wants her back, he wants to tell her, he is sorry, he wanted to tell her "i love you"...
He picks up the phone, starting dialing her number....ringing never stops..he never stop dialing....
Butterfly
A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further. So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.
What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. We could never fly!
What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. We could never fly!
Money has no memory. Experience has it
You will never know what was the total cost of your education, but for a lifetime you will recall and relive the memories of schools and colleges. Few years from now, you will forget the amount you paid to settle the hospitalization bill, but will ever cherish having saved your mother's life or the life you get to live with the just born. You won't remember the cost of your honeymoon, but to the last breath remember the experiences of the bliss of togetherness. Money has no memory. Experience has.
Good times and bad times, times of prosperity and times of poverty, times when the future looked so secure and times when you didn't know from where the tomorrow will come… life has been in one way or the other a roller-coaster ride for everyone. Beyond all that abundance and beyond all that deprivation, what remains is the memory of experiences. Sometimes the wallet was full… sometimes even the pocket was empty. There was enough and you still had reasons to frown. There wasn't enough and you still had reasons to smile. Today, you can look back with tears of gratitude for all the times you had laughed together, and also look back with a smile at all the times you cried alone. All in all, life filled you with experiences to create a history of your own self, and you alone can remember them all.
· The first time you balanced yourself on your cycle without support…
· The first cry… the first steps… the first word… all of your child…
· The first gift you bought for your parents and the first gift your daughter gave you…
· The first award… the first public appreciation… the first stage performance…
· And the list is endless… Experiences, with timeless memory…
No denying that anything that's material cost money, but the fact remains the cost of the experience will be forgotten, but the experience never.
So, what if it's economic recession? Let it be, but let there not be a recession to the quality of your life. You can still take your parents, if not on a pilgrimage, at least to the local temple. You can still play with your children, if not on an international holiday, at least in the local park. It doesn't cost money to lie down or to take a loved one onto your lap. Nice time to train the employees, create leadership availability and be ready for the wonderful times when they arrive. Hey! Aspects like your health, knowledge development and spiritual growth are not economy dependent.
Time will pass… economy will revive… currency will soon be in current… and in all this, I don't want you to look back and realize you did nothing but stayed in gloom. Recession can make you lose out on money. Let it not make you lose out on experiences… If you are not happy with what you have, no matter how much more you have, you will still not be happy.
Make a statement with the way you live your life: How I feel has nothing to do with how much I have.
Good times and bad times, times of prosperity and times of poverty, times when the future looked so secure and times when you didn't know from where the tomorrow will come… life has been in one way or the other a roller-coaster ride for everyone. Beyond all that abundance and beyond all that deprivation, what remains is the memory of experiences. Sometimes the wallet was full… sometimes even the pocket was empty. There was enough and you still had reasons to frown. There wasn't enough and you still had reasons to smile. Today, you can look back with tears of gratitude for all the times you had laughed together, and also look back with a smile at all the times you cried alone. All in all, life filled you with experiences to create a history of your own self, and you alone can remember them all.
· The first time you balanced yourself on your cycle without support…
· The first cry… the first steps… the first word… all of your child…
· The first gift you bought for your parents and the first gift your daughter gave you…
· The first award… the first public appreciation… the first stage performance…
· And the list is endless… Experiences, with timeless memory…
No denying that anything that's material cost money, but the fact remains the cost of the experience will be forgotten, but the experience never.
So, what if it's economic recession? Let it be, but let there not be a recession to the quality of your life. You can still take your parents, if not on a pilgrimage, at least to the local temple. You can still play with your children, if not on an international holiday, at least in the local park. It doesn't cost money to lie down or to take a loved one onto your lap. Nice time to train the employees, create leadership availability and be ready for the wonderful times when they arrive. Hey! Aspects like your health, knowledge development and spiritual growth are not economy dependent.
Time will pass… economy will revive… currency will soon be in current… and in all this, I don't want you to look back and realize you did nothing but stayed in gloom. Recession can make you lose out on money. Let it not make you lose out on experiences… If you are not happy with what you have, no matter how much more you have, you will still not be happy.
Make a statement with the way you live your life: How I feel has nothing to do with how much I have.
The Legend of the Cherokee Indian!
Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage?
His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience because each lad must come into manhood on his own. The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump,
but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man! Finally, after a horrific night, the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm. We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, our Heavenly Father is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him. Moral of the Story: Just because you can't see God, doesn't mean He is not there. For we walk by faith, not by sight.
His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience because each lad must come into manhood on his own. The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump,
but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man! Finally, after a horrific night, the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm. We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, our Heavenly Father is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him. Moral of the Story: Just because you can't see God, doesn't mean He is not there. For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Favourite Cricketer
My Favourite Cricketer
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar (born April 24, 1973 in Mumbai) is an Indian cricketer widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket. He is the leading run-scorer and century maker in Test and One Day International cricket In 2002, Wisden ranked him the second greatest Test batsman of all time, next to Donald Bradman, and the second greatest one day international (ODI) batsman of all time, next to Viv Richards. In September 2007, the Australian leg spinner Shane Warne rated Tendulkar as the greatest player he has played with or againstTendulkar was the only player of the current generation to be included in Bradman's Eleven.He is sometimes referred to as Little Master or Master Blaster Tendulkar is the highest run scorer in both Test matches and ODIs, and also the batsman with the most centuries in either form of the game. The first player to score fifty centuries in all international cricket combined, he now has eighty-eight international centuries. On November 20, 2009, Tendulkar passed 30,000 runs in international cricket. On October 17, 2008, when he surpassed Brian Lara's record for the most runs scored in Test Cricket, he also became the first batsman to score 12,000 runs in that form of the game,having also been the third batsman and first Indian to pass 11,000 runs in Test cricket.He was also the first player to score 10,000 runs in one-day internationals, and also the first player to cross every subsequent 1000-run mark that has been crossed in ODI cricket history. In the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, Tendulkar surpassed Australia's Allan Border to become the player to cross the 50-run mark the most number of times in Test cricket history, and also the second ever player to score 10 Test centuries against Australia, after only Sir Jack Hobbs of England more than 70 years back. endulkar has been honored with the Padma Vibhushan award, India's second highest civilian award, and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, India's highest sporting honor.
My Favourite Tennis Player
My Favourite Tennis Player
"Roger Federer is definitely the best tennis player of all-time. He is the perfect tennis player. Some players are great physically, some mentally, and others technically, Roger is all of them."
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