Thursday 12 June 2014
Wednesday 5 March 2014
ExactSeek.com
href="http://www.exactseek.com">
<img src="http://www.exactseek.com/images/
exactbutton1.gif" width="88" height="31" border="0"
alt="ExactSeek: Relevant Web Search"></a>
Posted via Blogaway
Monday 24 February 2014
"GREAT ATTITUDE"
Once a Bird asked a BEE, After a continuous hard
work, you prepare the honey..........
But a man steals the honey.
Do you not feel sad?"
Then the Bee replied, Never......
Because a man can only steal my honey, not the art
of making honey....
Posted via Blogaway
Saturday 22 February 2014
Chopsticks
A woman who had worked all
her life to bring about good
was granted one wish:
"Before I die let me visit both
hell and heaven." Her wish
was granted.
She was whisked off to a
great banqueting hall. The
tables were piled high with
delicious food and drink.
Around the tables sat
miserable, starving people as
wretched as could be. "Why
are they like this?" she asked
the angel who accompanied
her. "Look at their arms," the
angel replied. She looked and
saw that attached to the
people's arms were long
chopsticks secured above the
elbow. Unable to bend their
elbows, the people aimed the
chopsticks at the food,
missed every time and sat
hungry, frustrated and
miserable. "Indeed this is hell!
Take me away from here!"
She was then whisked off to
heaven. Again she found
herself in a great banqueting
hall with tables piled high.
Around the tables sat people
laughing, contented, joyful.
"No chopsticks I suppose,"
she said. "Oh yes there are.
Look - just as in hell they are
long and attached above the
elbow but look... here people
have learnt to feed one
another".
Posted via Blogaway
The Japanese master
A great Japanese master
received a university
professor who came to
enquire about wisdom. The
master served tea. He poured
his visitor's cup full, and then
kept on pouring. The
professor watched the
overflow until he could no
longer restrain himself. 'It is
overfull. No more will go in!'
'Like this cup,' the master
said, 'you are full of your own
opinions and speculations.
How can I show you wisdom
unless you first empty your
cup?'
Posted via Blogaway
The Seeker Of Truth
After years of searching, the
seeker was told to go to a
cave, in which he would find a
well. 'Ask the well what is
truth', he was advised, 'and
the well will reveal it to you'.
Having found the well, the
seeker asked that most
fundamental question. And
from the depths came the
answer, 'Go to the village
crossroad: there you shall
find what you are seeking'.
Full of hope and anticipation
the man ran to the crossroad
to find only three rather
uninteresting shops. One shop
was selling pieces of metal,
another sold wood, and thin
wires were for sale in the
third. Nothing and no one
there seemed to have much to
do with the revelation of truth.
Disappointed, the seeker
returned to the well to demand
an explanation, but he was
told only, 'You will understand
in the future.' When the man
protested, all he got in return
were the echoes of his own
shouts. Indignant for having
been made a fool of - or so he
thought at the time - the
seeker continued his
wanderings in search of truth.
As years went by, the
memory of his experience at
the well gradually faded until
one night, while he was
walking in the moonlight, the
sound of sitar music caught
his attention. It was wonderful
music and it was played with
great mastery and inspiration.
Profoundly moved, the truth
seeker felt drawn towards the
player. He looked at the
fingers dancing over the
strings. He became aware of
the sitar itself. And then
suddenly he exploded in a cry
of joyous recognition: the sitar
was made out of wires and
pieces of metal and wood just
like those he had once seen
in the three stores and had
thought it to be without any
particular significance.
At last he understood the
message of the well: we have
already been given everything
we need: our task is to
assemble and use it in the
appropriate way. Nothing is
meaningful so long as we
perceive only separate
fragments. But as soon as the
fragments come together into
a synthesis, a new entity
emerges, whose nature we
could not have foreseen by
considering the fragments
alone.
Posted via Blogaway
The Chinese farmer
There is a Chinese story of an
old farmer who had an old
horse for tilling his fields. One
day the horse escaped into
the hills and, when all the
farmer's neighbours
sympathised with the old man
over his bad luck, the farmer
replied, 'Bad luck? Good luck?
Who knows?'
A week later the horse
returned with a herd of wild
horses from the hills and this
time the neighbours
congratulated the farmer on
his good luck. His reply was,
'Good luck? Bad luck? Who
knows?'
Then, when the farmer's son
was attempted to tame one of
the wild horses, he fell off its
back and broke his leg.
Everyone thought this very
bad luck. Not the farmer,
whose only reaction was, 'Bad
luck? Good luck? Who
knows?'
Some weeks later the army
marched into the village and
conscripted every able-bodied
youth they found there. When
they saw the farmer's son
with his broken leg they let
him off. Now was that good
luck? Bad luck? Who knows?
Posted via Blogaway
Meaningless Goals
A farmer had a dog who used to sit by the roadside
waiting for vehicles to come around. As soon as
one came he would run down the road, barking and
trying to overtake it. One day a neighbor asked the
farmer "Do you think your dog is ever going to
catch a car?" The farmer replied, "That is not what
bothers me. What bothers me is what he would do if
he ever caught one." Many people in life behave
like that dog who is pursuing meaningless goals.
Life is hard by the yard,
but by the inch,
it's a cinch.
Posted via Blogaway
The frogs and the tower
There once was a bunch of
tiny frogs...
... who arranged a running
competition. The goal was to
reach the top of a very high
tower. A big crowd had
gathered around the tower to
see the race and cheer on the
contestants...
The race began...
Honestly, no-one in crowd
really believed that the tiny
frogs would reach the top of
the tower. You heard
statements such as:
"Oh, WAY too difficult!!"
"They will NEVER make it to
the top".
"Not a chance that they will
succeed. The tower is too
high!"
The tiny frogs began
collapsing. One by one...
... Except for those who in a
fresh tempo were climbing
higher and higher...
The crowd continued to yell
"It is too difficult!!! No one will
make it!"
More tiny frogs got tired and
gave up...
...But ONE continued higher
and higher and higher...
This one wouldn't give up!
At the end, everyone else had
given up climbing the tower.
Except for the one tiny frog
who, after a big effort, was
the only one who reached the
top!
THEN all of the other tiny
frogs naturally wanted to
know how this one frog
managed to do it?
A contestant asked the tiny
frog how the one who
succeeded had found the
strength to reach the goal?
It turned out...
That the winner was deaf.
Posted via Blogaway
Reaction vs. Response
Suddenly, a cockroach flew from somewhere and
sat on her. I wondered if this was the cockroach’s
response to all the glory that was spoken about it!
She started screaming out of fear. With panic
stricken face and trembling voice, she started
doing jumping, with both her hands desperately
trying to get rid of the cockroach. Her reaction was
contagious, as everyone in her group got cranky to
what was happening. The lady finally managed to
push the cockroach to another lady in the group.
Now, it was the turn of the other lady in the group to
continue the drama. The waiter rushed forward to
their rescue. In the relay of throwing, the cockroach
next fell upon the waiter. The waiter stood firm,
composed himself and observed the behavior of the
cockroach on his shirt. When he was confident
enough,
he grabbed and threw it out with his fingers.
Sipping my coffee and watching the amusement,
the antenna of my mind picked up a few thoughts
and started wondering, was the cockroach
responsible for their histrionic behavior? If so, then
why was the waiter not disturbed? He handled it
near to perfection, without any chaos. It is not the
cockroach, but the inability of the ladies to handle
the disturbance caused by the cockroach that
disturbed the ladies.
I realized even in my case then , it is not the
shouting of my father or my boss that disturbs me,
but its my inability to handle the disturbances
caused by their shouting that disturbs me.
It’s not the traffic jams on the road that disturbs
me, but my inability to handle the disturbance
caused by the traffic jam that disturbs me.
More than the problem, it’s my reaction to the
problem that hurts me.
Lessons learnt from the story:
I understood, I should not react in life. I should
always respond.
The women reacted, whereas the waiter responded.
Reactions are always instinctive whereas
responses are always intellectual...
Posted via Blogaway
The secret of happiness
A certain shopkeeper sent his
son to learn about the secret
of happiness from the wisest
man in the world. The lad
wandered through the desert
for 40 days, and finally came
upon a beautiful castle, high
atop a mountain. It was there
that the wise man lived.
Rather than finding a saintly
man, though, our hero, on
entering the main room of the
castle, saw a hive of activity:
tradesmen came and went,
people were conversing in the
corners, a small orchestra
was playing soft music, and
there was a table covered
with platters of the most
delicious food in that part of
the world. The wise man
conversed with everyone, and
the boy had to wait for two
hours before it was his turn to
be given the man's attention.
The wise man listened
attentively to the boy's
explanation of why he had
come, but told him that he
didn't have time just then to
explain the secret of
happiness. He suggested that
the boy look around the
palace and return in two
hours.
"Meanwhile, I want to ask you
to do something", said the
wise man, handing the boy a
teaspoon that held two drops
of oil. "As you wander around,
carry this spoon with you
without allowing the oil to
spill".
The boy began climbing and
descending the many
stairways of the palace,
keeping his eyes fixed on the
spoon. After two hours, he
returned to the room where
the wise man was.
"Well", asked the wise man,
"Did you see the Persian
tapestries that are hanging in
my dining hall? Did you see
the garden that it took the
master gardener ten years to
create? Did you notice the
beautiful parchments in my
library?"
The boy was embarrassed,
and confessed that he had
observed nothing. His only
concern had been not to spill
the oil that the wise man had
entrusted to him.
"Then go back and observe
the marvels of my world",
said the wise man. "You
cannot trust a man if you
don't know his house".
Relieved, the boy picked up
the spoon and returned to his
exploration of the palace, this
time observing all of the
works of art on the ceilings
and the walls. He saw the
gardens, the mountains all
around him, the beauty of the
flowers, and the taste with
which everything had been
selected. Upon returning to
the wise man, he related in
detail everything he had seen.
"But where are the drops of oil
I entrusted to you?" asked the
wise man. Looking down at
the spoon he held, the boy
saw that the oil was gone.
"Well, there is only one piece
of advice I can give you", said
the wisest of wise men. "The
secret of happiness is to see
all the marvels of the world
and never to forget the drops
of oil on the spoon".
Posted via Blogaway
Thinking "Out of the Box"
Many hundreds of years ago in a small Italian town,
a merchant had the misfortune of owing a large
sum of money to the moneylender. The
moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the
merchant's beautiful daughter so he proposed a
bargain. He said he would forgo the merchant's
debt if he could marry the daughter. Both the
merchant and his daughter were horrified by the
proposal.
The moneylender told them that he would put a
black pebble and a white pebble into an empty bag.
The girl would then have to pick one pebble from
the bag. If she picked the black pebble, she would
become the moneylender's wife and her father's
debt would be forgiven. If she picked the white
pebble she need not marry him and her father's
debt would still be forgiven. But if she refused to
pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail.
They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the
merchant's garden. As they talked, the
moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As
he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that
he had picked up two black pebbles and put them
into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick her
pebble from the bag.
What would you have done if you were the girl? If
you had to advise her, what would you have told
her? Careful analysis would produce three
possibilities:
1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.
2. The girl should show that there were two black
pebbles in the bag and expose the moneylender as
a cheat.
3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice
herself in order to save her father from his debt and
imprisonment.
The above story is used with the hope that it will
make us appreciate the difference between lateral
and logical thinking.
The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew
out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and
let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it
immediately became lost among all the other
pebbles.
"Oh, how clumsy of me," she said. "But never mind,
if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you
will be able to tell which pebble I picked." Since the
remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that
she had picked the white one. And since the
moneylender dared not admit his dishonesty, the
girl changed what seemed an impossible situation
into an advantageous one.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Most
complex problems do have a
solution, sometimes we have to think
about them in a different way. think
about them in a different way.
Posted via Blogaway
A Pound Of Butter
There was a farmer who sold a pound of butter to
the baker. One day the baker decided to weigh the
butter to see if he was getting a pound and he found
that he was not. This angered him and he took the
farmer to court. The judge asked the farmer if he
was using any measure. The farmer replied, amour
Honor, I am primitive. I don't have a proper
measure, but I do have a scale." The judge asked,
"Then how do you weigh the butter?" The farmer
replied "Your Honor, long before the baker started
buying butter from me, I have been buying a pound
loaf of bread from him. Every day when the baker
brings the bread, I put it on the scale and give him
the same weight in butter. If anyone is to be
blamed, it is the baker."
What is the moral of the story? We get back in life
what we give to others. Whenever you take an
action, ask yourself this question: Am I giving fair
value for the wages or money I hope to make?
Honesty and dishonesty become a habit. Some
people practice dishonesty and can lie with a
straight face. Others lie so much that they don't
even know what the truth is anymore. But who are
they deceiving? Themselves
Posted via Blogaway
Building Bridges
Once upon a time two brothers who lived on
adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first
serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side,
sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods
as needed without a hitch.
Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began
with a small misunderstanding and it grew into
a major difference, and finally it exploded into
an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks
of silence.
One morning there was a knock on John's door.
He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's
toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days work," he
said.
"Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here
and there. Could I help you?"
"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job
for you. Look across the creek at that farm.
That's my neighbor, in fact, it's my younger
brother. Last week there was a meadow
between us and he took his bulldozer to the
river levee and now there is a creek between
us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but
I'll go him one better. See that pile of lumber
curing by the barn? I want you to build me a
fence - an 8-foot fence - so I won't need to see
his place anymore. Cool him down, anyhow."
The carpenter said, "I think I understand the
situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole
digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases
you."
The older brother had to go to town for
supplies, so he helped the carpenter get the
materials ready and then he was off for the day.
The carpenter worked hard all that day
measuring, sawing, nailing.
About sunset when the farmer returned, the
carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's
eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped.
There was no fence there at all. It was a
bridge... a bridge stretching from one side of
the creek to the other! A fine piece of work
handrails and all - and the neighbor, his younger
brother, was coming across, his hand
outstretched.
"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after
all I've said and done."
The two brothers stood at each end of the
bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking
each other's hand. They turned to see the
carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder.
"No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other
projects for you," said the older brother.
"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but, I
have many more bridges to build."
Posted via Blogaway
I wanted to change the world
When I was a young man, I
wanted to change the world.
I found it was difficult to
change the world, so I tried to
change my nation.
When I found I couldn't
change the nation, I began to
focus on my town. I couldn't
change the town and as an
older man, I tried to change
my family.
Now, as an old man, I realize
the only thing I can change is
myself, and suddenly I realize
that if long ago I had changed
myself, I could have made an
impact on my family. My
family and I could have made
an impact on our town. Their
impact could have changed
the nation and I could indeed
have changed the world.
Posted via Blogaway
Bank Account
Imagine there is a bank, which credits your account
each morning with Rs 86,400, carries over no
balance from day to day, allows you to keep no
cash balance, and every evening cancels whatever
part of the amount you had failed to use during the
day. What would you do? Draw out every pence, of
course!
Well, everyone has such a bank. Its name is Time.
Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds.
Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this
you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries
over no balance. It allows no overdraft. Each day it
opens a new account for you. Each night it burns
the records of the day. If you fail to use the day's
deposits, the loss is yours.
There is no going back. There is no drawing against
the "tomorrow."
Therefore, there is never not enough time or too
much time. Time management is decided by us
alone and nobody else. It is never the case of us
not having enough time to do things, but the case of
whether we want to do it.
Posted via Blogaway
Frog In A Milk Pail
A frog was hopping around a farmyard, when it
decided to investigate the barn. Being somewhat
careless, and maybe a little too curious, he ended
up falling into a pail half-filled with fresh milk.
As he swam about attempting to reach the top of
the pail, he found that the sides of the pail were too
high and steep to reach. He tried to stretch his back
legs to push off the bottom of the pail but found it
too deep. But this frog was determined not to give
up, and he continued to struggle.
He kicked and squirmed and kicked and squirmed,
until at last, all his churning about in the milk had
turned the milk into a big hunk of butter. The butter
was now solid enough for him to climb onto and get
out of the pail!
The Moral of The Story? "Never Give Up!"
Posted via Blogaway
The little wave
The story is abut a little wave,
bobbing along in the ocean,
having a grand old time. He's
enjoying the wind and the
fresh air - until he notices the
other waves in front of him,
crashing against the shore.
"My God, this terrible", the
wave says. "Look what's
going to happen to me!"
Then along comes another
wave. It sees the first wave,
looking grim, and it says to
him: "Why do you look so
sad?" The first wave says:
"You don't understand! We're
all going to crash! All of us
waves are going to be
nothing! Isn't it terrible?"
The second wave says: "No,
you don't understand. You're
not a wave, you're part of the
ocean."
Posted via Blogaway
A turn of the screw
There was an industrialist
whose production line
inexplicably breaks down,
costing him millions per day.
He finally tracks down an
expert who takes out a
screwdriver, turns one screw,
and then - as the factory
cranks back to life - presents
a bill for £10,000.
Affronted, the factory owner
demands an itemised version.
The expert is happy to oblige:
"For turning a screw: £1. For
knowing which screw to turn:
£9,999."
Posted via Blogaway
The law of the garbage truck
One day I hopped in a taxi
and we took off for the airport.
We were driving in the right
lane when suddenly a black
car jumped out of a parking
space right in front of us. My
taxi driver slammed on his
brakes, skidded, and missed
the other car by just inches!
The driver of the other car
whipped his head around and
started yelling at us. My taxi
driver just smiled and waved
at the guy. And I mean, he
was really friendly. So I
asked, 'Why did you just do
that? This guy almost ruined
your car and sent us to the
hospital!' This is when my taxi
driver taught me what I now
call, 'The Law of the Garbage
Truck'.
He explained that many
people are like garbage
trucks. They run around full of
garbage, full of frustration, full
of anger, and full of
disappointment. As their
garbage piles up, they need a
place to dump it and
sometimes they'll dump it on
you. Don't take it personally,
just smile, wave, wish them
well, and move on. Don't take
their garbage and spread it to
other people at work, at home,
or on the streets.
Posted via Blogaway
The fence
There once was a little boy
who had a bad temper. His
father gave him a bag of nails
and told him that every time
he lost his temper, he must
hammer a nail into the fence.
The first day the boy had
driven 37 nails into the fence.
Over the next few weeks as
he learned to control his
anger, the number of nails
hammered daily, gradually
dwindled down. He
discovered it was easier to
hold his temper than to drive
those nails into the fence.
Finally the day came when
the boy didn’t lose his temper
at all. He told his father about
it and the father suggested
that the boy now pull out one
nail for each day that he was
able to hold his temper. The
days passed and the young
boy was finally able to tell his
father that all the nails were
gone.
The father took his son by the
hand and led him to the fence.
He said “you have done well,
my son, but look at the holes
in the fence. The fence will
never be the same. When you
say things in anger, they
leave a scar just like this
one.” You can put a knife in a
man and draw it out. It won’t
matter how many times you
say I’m sorry, the wound is
still there. Make sure you
control your temper the next
time you are tempted to say
something you will regret
later.
Posted via Blogaway
The hedgehogs
It was the coldest winter ever.
Many animals died because of
the cold.
The hedgehogs, realizing the
situation, decided to group
together to keep warm. This
way they covered and
protected themselves; but the
quills of each one wounded
their closest companions.
After awhile, they decided to
distance themselves one from
the other and they began to
die, alone and frozen. So they
had to make a choice: either
accept the quills of their
companions or disappear from
the Earth.
Wisely, they decided to go
back to being together. They
learned to live with the little
wounds caused by the close
relationship with their
companions in order to
receive the heat that came
from the others. This way
they were able to survive.
The best relationship is not
the one that brings together
perfect people, but when each
individual learns to live with
the imperfections of others
and can admire the other
person's good qualities.
Posted via Blogaway
Every bucket counts
Once day, having learned that
the King of Fez was hunting
lions in the neighbourhood,
they decided to invite him and
his court, and killed a number
of sheep in his honour. The
sovereign had dinner and
went to bed. Wishing to show
their generosity, they placed a
huge goatskin bottle before
his door and agreed to fill it up
with milk for the royal
breakfast.
The villagers all had to milk
their goats and then each of
them had to tip his bucket into
the container. Given its great
size, each of them said to
himself that he might just as
well dilute his milk with a good
quantity of water without
anyone noticing.
To the extent that, in the
morning, such a thin liquid
was poured out for the king
and his court that it had no
taste than the taste of
meanness and greed.
Posted via Blogaway
The Eagle
Once a farmer found an
abandoned eagle's nest and
in it was an egg still warm. He
took the egg back to his farm
and laid it in the nest of one of
his hens. The egg hatched
and the baby eagle grew up
along with the other chickens.
It pecked about the farmyard,
scrabbling for grain. It spent
its life within the yard and
rarely looked up. When it was
very old, one day it lifted up
its head and saw above it a
wonderful sight - an eagle
soaring high above in the sky.
Looking at it, the old creature
sighed and said to itself, "If
only I'd been born an eagle".
Posted via Blogaway
The Two Wolves
A Native American
grandfather was talking to his
grandson about how he felt.
He said, "I feel as if I have
two wolves fighting in my
heart. One wolf is the
vengeful, angry, violent one.
The other wolf is the loving,
compassionate one." The
grandson asked him, "Which
wolf will win the fight in your
heart?" The grandfather
answered: "The one I feed.
Posted via Blogaway
King Solomon and the baby
One day, the wise King
Solomon was approached by
two women arguing over a
baby. Each claimed the child
was hers. Unable to judge,
King Solomon thought up a
plan - he offered to cut the
baby in half, giving half to the
one and half to the other.
The first women agreed with
the King: "Let the baby be
neither mine nor hers, but
divide it. If I can't have the
child", she cried, "she can't
have it either". The second
women pleaded with Solomon
not to hurt the child. "Give her
the baby. I'd rather lose the
child that see it slain".
Solomon knew immediately
that this was the rightful
mother. He returned the baby
to her.
Posted via Blogaway
The great fire and the little water
Among the Aztec people of
Mexico, it is said that a long
time ago there was a great
fire in the forests that covered
our Earth. People and animals
started to run, trying to
escape from the fire. Our
brother owl, Tecolotl, was
running away also when he
noticed a small bird hurrying
back and forth between the
nearest river and the fire. He
headed towards this small
bird.
He noticed that it was our
brother the Quetzal bird,
Quetzaltototl, running to the
river, picking up small drops
of water in his beak, then
returning to the fire to throw
that tiny bit of water on the
flame. Owl approached
Quetsal bird and yelled at him:
"What are you doing brother?
Are you stupid? You are not
going to achieve anything by
doing this. What are you
trying to do? You must run for
your life!"
Quetzal bird stopped for a
moment and looked at owl,
and then answered: "I am
doing the best I can with what
I have."
It is remembered by our
Grandparents that a long time
ago the forests that covered
our Earth were saved from a
great fire by a small Quetzal
bird, an owl, and many other
animals and people who got
together to put out the fire.
Posted via Blogaway
The house with the golden windows
The little girl lived in a small,
very simple, poor house on a
hill and as she grew she
would play in the small garden
and as she grew she was
able to see over the garden
fence and across the valley to
a wonderful house high on the
hill - and this house had
golden windows, so golden
and shining that the little girl
would dream of how magic it
would be to grow up and live
in a house with golden
windows instead of an
ordinary house like hers.
And although she loved her
parents and her family, she
yearned to live in such a
golden house and dreamed all
day about how wonderful and
exciting it must feel to live
there.
When she got to an age where
she gained enough skill and
sensibility to go outside her
garden fence, she asked her
mother is she could go for a
bike ride outside the gate and
down the lane. After pleading
with her, her mother finally
allowed her to go, insisting
that she kept close to the
house and didn't wander too
far. The day was beautiful and
the little girl knew exactly
where she was heading! Down
the lane and across the
valley, she rode her bike until
she got to the gate of the
golden house across on the
other hill.
As she dismounted her bike
and lent it against the gate
post, she focused on the path
that lead to the house and
then on the house itself...and
was so disappointed as she
realised all the windows were
plain and rather dirty,
reflecting nothing other than
the sad neglect of the house
that stood derelict.
So sad she didn't go any
further and turned, heart
broken as she remounted her
bike ... As she glanced up she
saw a sight to amaze
her...there across the way on
her side of the valley was a
little house and its windows
glistened golden ...as the sun
shone on her little home.
She realised that she had
been living in her golden
house and all the love and
care she found there was
what made her home the
'golden house'. Everything she
dreamed was right there in
front of her nose!
Posted via Blogaway
Everyone Has Story In Life
A 24 year old boy seeing out from the train’s
window shouted…
“Dad, look the trees are going behind!”
Dad smiled and a young couple sitting nearby,
looked at the 24 year old’s childish behavior with
pity,
suddenly he again exclaimed…
“Dad, look the clouds are running with us!”
The couple couldn’t resist and said to the old man…
“Why don’t you take your son to a good doctor?”
The old man smiled and said…
“I did and we are just coming from the hospital, my
son was blind from birth, he just got his eyes today.
Every single person on the planet has a story. Don’t
judge people before you truly know them. The truth
might surprise you.
Posted via Blogaway
Potatoes, eggs, and coffee beans
Once upon a time a daughter complained to her
father that her life was miserable and that she didn’t
know how she was going to make it. She was tired
of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just
as one problem was solved, another one soon
followed.
Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled
three pots with water and placed each on a high
fire. Once the three pots began to boil, he placed
potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot, and
ground coffee beans in the third pot.
He then let them sit and boil, without saying a word
to his daughter. The daughter, moaned and
impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing.
After twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He
took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in
a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a
bowl.
He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup.
Turning to her he asked. “Daughter, what do you
see?”
“Potatoes, eggs, and coffee,” she hastily replied.
“Look closer,” he said, “and touch the potatoes.”
She did and noted that they were soft. He then
asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling
off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.
Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich
aroma brought a smile to her face.
“Father, what does this mean?” she asked.
He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and
coffee beans had each faced the same adversity–
the boiling water.
However, each one reacted differently.
The potato went in strong, hard, and unrelenting, but
in boiling water, it became soft and weak.
The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell
protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the
boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became
hard.
However, the ground coffee beans were unique.
After they were exposed to the boiling water, they
changed the water and created something new.
“Which are you,” he asked his daughter. “When
adversity knocks on your door, how do you
respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee
bean? “
Moral:
In life, things happen around us, things happen to
us, but the only thing that truly matters is what
happens within us.
Which one are you?
Posted via Blogaway
Shake off your problems
A man's favorite donkey falls into a deep precipice;
He can't pull it out no matter how hard he tries;
He therefore decides to bury it alive.
Soil is poured onto the donkey from above.
The donkey feels the load, shakes it off, and steps
on it;
More soil is poured.
It shakes it off and steps up;
The more the load was poured, the higher it rose;
By noon, the donkey was grazing in green
pastures.
After much shaking off (of problems)
And stepping up (learning from them),
One will graze in GREEN PASTURES.
Posted via Blogaway
The Elephant Rope
As a man was passing the elephants, he suddenly
stopped, confused by the fact that these huge
creatures were being held by only a small rope tied
to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was
obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break
away from their bonds but for some reason, they
did not.
He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these
animals just stood there and made no attempt to get
away. “Well,” trainer said, “when they are very
young and much smaller we use the same size
rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold
them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to
believe they cannot break away. They believe the
rope can still hold them, so they never try to break
free.”
The man was amazed. These animals could at any
time break free from their bonds but because they
believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where
they were.
Like the elephants, how many of us go through life
hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something,
simply because we failed at it once before?
Failure is part of learning; we should never give up
the struggle in life.
Posted via Blogaway
A dish of ice cream
In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much
less, a 10 year old boy entered a hotel coffee shop
and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in
front of him.
“How much is an ice cream sundae?”
“50 cents,” replied the waitress.
The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and
studied a number of coins in it.
“How much is a dish of plain ice cream?” he
inquired. Some people were now waiting for a table
and the waitress was a bit impatient.
“35 cents,” she said brusquely.
The little boy again counted the coins. “I’ll have the
plain ice cream,” he said.
The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on
the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice
cream, paid the cashier and departed.
When the waitress came back, she began wiping
down the table and then swallowed hard at what
she saw.
There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were 15
cents – her tip.
Posted via Blogaway
One Step
Foolish people with all their other thoughts, have
this one too: They are always getting ready to live,
but never living.
Your success will start when you begin to pursue it.
To reach your goal or to attain success, you don’t
need to know all of the answers in advance. You
just need to have a clear idea of what your goal is.
Don’t procrastinate when faced with difficult
problems. Break your problems into parts, and
handle one part at a time.
Develop tendencies toward taking action. You can
make something happen right now. Divide your big
plan into small steps and take that first step right
away.
Everyone who ever got where they are had to begin
where they were. Your big opportunity is where you
are right now.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
Take it.
Posted via Blogaway
Don’t Hope,… Decide!
While waiting to pick up a friend at the airport in
Portland, Oregon, I had one of those life-changing
experiences that you hear other people talk about —
the kind that sneaks up on you unexpectedly. This
one occurred a mere two feet away from me.
Straining to locate my friend among the passengers
deplaning through the jet way, I noticed a man
coming toward me carrying two light bags. He
stopped right next to me to greet his family.
First he motioned to his youngest son (maybe six
years old) as he laid down his bags. They gave
each other a long, loving hug. As they separated
enough to look in each other’s face, I heard the
father say, “It’s so good to see you, son. I missed
you so much!” His son smiled somewhat shyly,
averted his eyes and replied softly, “Me, too, Dad!”
Then the man stood up, gazed in the eyes of his
oldest son (maybe nine or ten) and while cupping
his son’s face in his hands said, “You’re already
quite the young man. I love you very much, Zach!”
They too hugged a most loving, tender hug.
While this was happening, a baby girl (perhaps one
or one-and-a-half) was squirming excitedly in her
mother’s arms, never once taking her little eyes off
the wonderful sight of her returning father. The man
said, “Hi, baby girl!” as he gently took the child from
her mother. He quickly kissed her face all over and
then held her close to his chest while rocking her
from side to side. The little girl instantly relaxed and
simply laid her head on his shoulder, motionless in
pure contentment.
After several moments, he handed his daughter to
his oldest son and declared, “I’ve saved the best for
last!” and proceeded to give his wife the longest,
most passionate kiss I ever remember seeing. He
gazed into her eyes for several seconds and then
silently mouthed. “I love you so much!” They stared
at each other’s eyes, beaming big smiles at one
another, while holding both hands.
For an instant they reminded me of newlyweds, but
I knew by the age of their kids that they couldn’t
possibly be. I puzzled about it for a moment then
realized how totally engrossed I was in the
wonderful display of unconditional love not more
than an arm’s length away from me. I suddenly felt
uncomfortable, as if I was invading something
sacred, but was amazed to hear my own voice
nervously ask, “Wow! How long have you two been
married?
“Been together fourteen years total, married twelve
of those.” he replied, without breaking his gaze from
his lovely wife’s face. “Well then, how long have you
been away?” I asked. The man finally turned and
looked at me, still beaming his joyous smile. “Two
whole days!”
Two days? I was stunned. By the intensity of the
greeting, I had assumed he’d been gone for at least
several weeks – if not months. I know my
expression betrayed me.
I said almost offhandedly, hoping to end my
intrusion with some semblance of grace (and to get
back to searching for my friend), “I hope my
marriage is still that passionate after twelve years!”
The man suddenly stopped smiling.
He looked me straight in the eye, and with
forcefulness that burned right into my soul, he told
me something that left me a different person. He
told me, “Don’t hope, friend… decide!” Then he
flashed me his wonderful smile again, shook my
hand and said, “God bless!”
Posted via Blogaway
A Simple Gesture
Mark was walking home from school one day when
he noticed the boy ahead of him had tripped and
dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with
two sweaters, a baseball bat, a glove and a small
tape recorder. Mark knelt down and helped the boy
pick up the scattered articles. Since they were
going the same way, he helped to carry part of the
burden. As they walked Mark discovered the boy’s
name was Bill, that he loved video games, baseball
and history, and that he was having lots of trouble
with his other subjects and that he had just broken
up with his girlfriend. They arrived at Bill’s home
first and Mark was invited in for a Coke and to
watch some television. The afternoon passed
pleasantly with a few laughs and some shared
small talk, then Mark went home. They continued to
see each other around school, had lunch together
once or twice, then both graduated from junior high
school. They ended up in the same high school
where they had brief contacts over the years.
Finally the long awaited senior year came and three
weeks before graduation, Bill asked Mark if they
could talk.
Bill reminded him of the day years ago when they
had first met. “Did you ever wonder why I was
carrying so many things home that day?” asked Bill.
“You see, I cleaned out my locker because I didn’t
want to leave a mess for anyone else. I had stored
away some of my mothers sleeping pills and I was
going home to commit suicide. But after we spent
some time together talking and laughing, I realized
that if I had killed myself, I would have missed that
time and so many others that might follow. So you
see, Mark, when you picked up those books that
day, you did a lot more, you saved my life.”
Posted via Blogaway
Don't Be Afraid
Here we are, afraid of losing what we have all the
time, holding on to it so tight that not a soul can
touch it. We think by hiding it from the world, it’s
hidden and it’s ours. Nothing is. Nothing ever will
be. For, nothing ever was.
If you think there is anything that you have, that’s
yours, be it money, a house, a job, or a girlfriend…
it’s nothing but an illusion. It’ll all disappear… in one
blow. One blow, my man.
Here we are, so insecure that we are afraid of re-
starting our lives, so we just carry on trying to sort
out the current mess. The thought that we should
give it all up and just start all over – with nothing –
might cross our minds some time, sure, but we get
scared and we push away anything that scares us.
There is nothing I can ever achieve or gain that I
cannot lose, in a matter of seconds. You have never
gained enough to not be able to lose it all, in just a
few minutes. What you think is yours, was never
yours and will never be yours. Whatever you make
here, you leave here. You came naked and you’re
going to go back naked.
So what are you afraid of?
Let all be lost. Let them take away everything. As
long as you have your heart beating strong, as long
as you have your nostrils working fine, as long as
the blood flows in your veins, you will live, you will
breathe and you can get it all back… again and
again. For, if you can do it once, you can damn well
do it again. It’s just a game we play – Life.
Posted via Blogaway
To Let Go
To let go does not mean to stop caring, it means I
can’t do it for someone else.
To let go is not to cut myself off, it’s the realization
that I can’t control another.
To let go is not to enable, but to allow learning from
natural consequences.
To let go is to admit powerlessness, which means
the outcome is not in my hands.
To let go is not to try to change or blame another,
it’s to make the most of myself.
To let go is not to care for, but to care about.
To let go is not to fix, but to be supportive.
To let go is not to judge, but to allow another to be a
human being.
To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the
outcomes, but to allow others to affect their own
destinies.
To let go is not to be protective, it’s to permit
another to face reality.
To let go is not to criticize, or regulate anyone, but
to try to become what I dream I can do.
To let go is to fear less, and to love more.
Posted via Blogaway
Believe In Your Self
There may be days when you get up in the morning
and things aren’t the way you had hoped they would
be.
That’s when you have to tell yourself that things will
get better. There are times when people disappoint
you and let you down.
But those are the times when you must remind
yourself to trust your own judgments and opinions,
to keep your life focused on believing in yourself.
There will be challenges to face and changes to
make in your life, and it is up to you to accept them.
Constantly keep yourself headed in the right
direction for you. It may not be easy at times, but in
those times of struggle you will find a stronger
sense of who you are.
So when the days come that are filled with
frustration and unexpected responsibilities,
remember to believe in yourself and all you want
your life to be.
Because the challenges and changes will only help
you to find the goals that you know are meant to
come true for you.
Posted via Blogaway
Friday 21 February 2014
Live and Work
Father was a hardworking man who delivered bread
as a living to support his wife and three children. He
spent all his evenings after work attending classes,
hoping to improve himself so that he could one day
find a better paying job. Except for Sundays, Father
hardly ate a meal together with his family. He
worked and studied very hard because he wanted
to provide his family with the best money could buy.
Whenever the family complained that he was not
spending enough time with them, he reasoned that
he was doing all this for them. But he often yearned
to spend more time with his family.
The day came when the examination results were
announced. To his joy, Father passed, and with
distinctions too! Soon after, he was offered a good
job as a senior supervisor which paid handsomely.
Like a dream come true, Father could now afford to
provide his family with life’s little luxuries like nice
clothing, fine food and vacation abroad.
However, the family still did not get to see father for
most of the week. He continued to work very hard,
hoping to be promoted to the position of manager. In
fact, to make himself a worthily candidate for the
promotion, he enrolled for another course in the
open university.
Again, whenever the family complained that he was
not spending enough time with them, he reasoned
that he was doing all this for them. But he often
yearned to spend more time with his family.
Father’s hard work paid off and he was promoted.
Jubilantly, he decided to hire a maid to relieve his
wife from her domestic tasks. He also felt that their
three-room flat was no longer big enough, it would
be nice for his family to be able to enjoy the facilities
and comfort of a condominium.
Having experienced
the rewards of his hard work many times before,
Father resolved to further his studies and work at
being promoted again. The family still did not get to
see much of him. In fact, sometimes Father had to
work on Sundays entertaining clients. Again,
whenever the family complained that he was not
spending enough time with them, he reasoned that
he was doing all this for them. But he often yearned
to spend more time with his family.
As expected, Father’s hard work paid off again and
he bought a beautiful condominium overlooking the
coast of Singapore. On the first Sunday evening at
their new home, Father declared to his family that
he decided not to take anymore courses or pursue
any more promotions. From then on he was going to
devote more time to his family.
Father did not wake up the next day.
Posted via Blogaway
A Smile
A smile costs nothing, but gives much.
It enriches those who receive, without making
poorer those who give.
It takes a moment, but the memory of it sometimes
lasts forever.
None is so rich or mighty that he can get along
without it, and none is so poor, but that he can be
made rich by it.
A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters
good will in business, and is the countersign of
friendship.
It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the
discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and it is nature’s
best antidote for trouble.
Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or
stolen, for it is something that is of no value to
anyone, until it is given away.
Some people are too tired to give you a smile;
Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so
much as he who has no more to give.
Posted via Blogaway
A glass of Milk, paid in Full
One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from
door to door to pay his way through school, found
he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.
He decided he would ask for a meal at the next
house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely
young woman opened the door.
Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She
thought he looked hungry so brought him a large
glass of milk.
He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much do I
owe you?”
“You don’t owe me anything,” she replied. “Mother
has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness.”
He said, “Then I thank you from my heart.”
As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt
stronger physically, but his faith in God and man
was strong also. He had been ready to give up and
quit.
Year’s later that young woman became critically ill.
The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her
to the big city, where they called in specialists to
study her rare disease.
Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation.
When he heard the name of the town she came
from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he
rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her
room.
Dressed in his doctor’s gown he went in to see her.
He recognized her at once. He went back to the
consultation room determined to do his best to save
her life. From that day he gave special attention to
the case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly
requested the business office to pass the final bill to
him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote
something on the edge and the bill was sent to her
room.
She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take
the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she
looked, and something caught her attention on the
side of the bill. She began to read the following
words:
Posted via Blogaway
Never Quits
Abraham Lincoln never quits.
Born into poverty, Lincoln was faced with defeat
throughout his life. He lost eight elections, twice
failed in business and suffered a nervous
breakdown.
He could have quit many times – but he didn’t and
because he didn’t quit, he became one of the
greatest presidents in the United States history.
Here is a sketch of Lincoln’s road to the White
House:
1. 1816 His family was forced out of their home. He
had to work to support them.
2. 1818 His mother died.
3. 1831 Failed in business.
4. 1832 Ran for state legislature – lost.
5. 1832 Also lost his job – wanted to go to law school
but couldn’t get in.
6. 1833 Borrowed some money from a friend to begin
a business and by the end of the year he was
bankrupt. He spent the next 17 years of his life
paying off this debt.
7. 1834 Ran for state legislature again – won.
8. 1835 Was engaged to be married, sweetheart died
and his heart was broken.
9. 1836 Had a total nervous breakdown and was in
bed for six months.
10. 1838 Sought to become speaker of the state
legislature – defeated.
11. 1840 Sought to become elector – defeated.
12. 1843 Ran for Congress – lost.
13. 1846 Ran for Congress again – this time he won –
went to Washington and did a good job.
14. 1848 Ran for re-election to Congress – lost.
15. 1849 Sought the job of land officer in his home state
– rejected.
16. 1854 Ran for Senate of the United States – lost.
17. 1856 Sought the Vice-Presidential nomination at his
party’s national convention – get less than 100
votes.
18. 1858 Ran for U.S. Senate again – again he lost.
19. 1860 Elected president of the United States.
Posted via Blogaway
Thursday 20 February 2014
The Important Things In Life
A philosophy professor stood before his class with
some items on the table in front of him. When the
class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large
and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it
with rocks, about 2 inches in diameter.
He then asked the students if the jar was full. They
agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles
and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar
lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open
areas between the rocks.
He then asked the students again if the jar was full.
They agreed it was.
The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it
into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up the
remaining open areas of the jar.
He then asked once more if the jar was full. The
students responded with a unanimous “Yes.”
“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize
that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the
important things – your family, your partner, your
health, your children – things that if everything else
was lost and only they remained, your life would
still be full. The pebbles are the other things that
matter – like your job, your house, your car. The
sand is everything else, the small stuff.”
“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued,
“there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The
same goes for your life. If you spend all your time
and energy on the small stuff, you will never have
room for the things that are important to you. Pay
attention to the things that are critical to your
happiness. Play with your children. Take your
partner out dancing. There will always be time to go
to work, clean the house, give a dinner party, or fix
the disposal.”
“Take care of the rocks first – the things that really
matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”
Posted via Blogaway
Learn From Mistakes
Thomas Edison tried two thousand different
materials in search of a filament for the light bulb.
When none worked satisfactorily, his assistant
complained, “All our work is in vain. We have
learned nothing.”
Edison replied very confidently, “Oh, we have come
a long way and we have learned a lot. We know that
there are two thousand elements which we cannot
use to make a good light bulb.”
Posted via Blogaway
Making A Difference....
One day a man was walking along the
seashore. He noticed that during the
night many seashells and starfish had
washed up on the shore.
Thoroughly
enjoying the morning sun and cool sea
air, the man strolled for miles along the
sand.
Far off in the distance, he saw a small
figure dancing. The man was joyous
that someone was celebrating life in
such a grand and uninhibited manner.
As he drew closer, however, it became
apparent that the figure was not
dancing, but repeatedly performing
some act.
Approaching the small figure, the man
noticed that it was a child. The girl was
methodically picking up starfish from
the shore and tossing them back into
the surf.
The man paused for a moment,
puzzled, then asked, "Why are you
throwing those starfish back into the
ocean?"
"If I leave these starfish on the beach,"
she replied, "the sun will dry them, and
they will die. I am throwing them back
into the ocean because I want them to
live."
The man was thoughtful for a moment,
impressed with the child's
thoughtfulness. Then he motioned up
and down the miles and miles of beach
and said, "There must be millions of
starfish along here! How can you
possibly expect to make a difference?"
The young girl pondered the man's
words for a moment, then she slowly
leaned over, reached down, and
carefully picked up another starfish
from the sand. With a gentle effort, she
lobbed the starfish back out into the
surf.
She turned to the man and smiled. "You
may be right," she said, "but I made a
difference for that one!"
Posted via Blogaway
Posted via Blogaway
The Story of The Two Bulls...
Two bulls, one young and full of
enthusiasm, and the other older and
wiser, see a herd of cows.
The young bull says, "Let's charge down
this hillside and have our wicked way
with a couple of those cows."
The old bull replies, "No, how about we
stroll gently down this hillside and have
our wicked way with them all."
You will perhaps have heard this story
told with more fruity language. Feel free
to adapt it for your own situation.
Posted via Blogaway
Negative And Positive Thinking
Now, which one are you?
You will perhaps have heard this very old
story illustrating the difference between
positive thinking and negative thinking:
Many years ago two salesmen were sent
by a British shoe manufacturer to Africa
to investigate and report back on market
potential.
The first salesman reported back, "There
is no potential here - nobody wears
shoes."
The second salesman reported back,
"There is massive potential here - nobody
wears shoes."
This simple short story provides one of
the best examples of how a single
situation may be viewed in two quite
different ways - negatively or positively.
We could explain this also in terms of
seeing a situation's problems and
disadvantages, instead of its opportunities
and benefits.
When telling this story its impact is
increased by using exactly the same form
of words (e.g., "nobody wears shoes") in
each salesman's report. This emphasizes
that two quite different interpretations
are made of a single situation
Posted via Blogaway
The obstacle in our path...
In ancient times, a King had a boulder
placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself
and watched to see if anyone would
remove the huge rock.
Some of the
king's wealthiest merchants and
courtiers came by and simply walked
around it.
Many loudly blamed the King
for not keeping the roads clear, but none
did anything about getting the stone out
of the way.
Then a peasant came along carrying a
load of vegetables. Upon approaching the
boulder, the peasant laid down his
burden and tried to move the stone to the
side of the road. After much pushing and
straining, he finally succeeded.
After the
peasant picked up his load of vegetables,
he noticed a purse lying in the road
where the boulder had been. The purse
contained many gold coins and a note
from the King indicating that the gold
was for the person who removed the
boulder from the roadway.
The peasant learned what many of us
never understand! Every obstacle
presents an opportunity to improve our
condition.
Posted via Blogaway
Hospital Window
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same
hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his
bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid
from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only
window. The other man had to spend all his time flat
on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They
spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their
jobs, their involvement in the military service,
where they had been on vacation.
Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the
window could sit up, he would pass the time by
describing to his roommate all the things he could
see outside the window.
The man in the other bed began to live for those
one hour periods where his world would be
broadened and enlivened by all the activity and
color of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.
Ducks and swans played on the water while
children sailed their model boats. Young lovers
walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color
and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in
the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in
exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the
room would close his eyes and imagine the
picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon the man by the window
described a parade passing by.
Although the other man couldn’t hear the band – he
could see it. In his mind’s eye as the gentleman by
the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days and weeks passed.
One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water
for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the
man by the window, who had died peacefully in his
sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital
attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man
asked if he could be moved next to the window. The
nurse was happy to make the switch, and after
making sure he was comfortable, she left him
alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one
elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.
He strained to slowly turn to look out the window
beside the bed.
It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what
could have compelled his deceased roommate who
had described such wonderful things outside this
window
The nurse responded that the man was blind and
could not even see the wall.
She said, “Perhaps he just wanted to encourage
you.”
Posted via Blogaway
I Dreamed I Had An Interview With God
I dreamed I had an INTERVIEW WITH GOD.
"So, you would like to interview me?"
GOD asked.
"If you have time," I said.
GOD smile. "My time is eternity... what
questions do you have in mind for me?"
"What surprises you the most about
humankind?"
GOD answered...
"That they get bored with childhood, that
they rush to grow up, and then long to be
children again."
"That they lose their health to make
money... and then lose their money to
restore their health."
"That by thinking anxiously about the
future, they forget the present, such that
they live in neither the present nor the
future."
"That they live as if they would never die,
and die as though they had never lived."
GOD's hand took mine... and we were
silent for a while.
And then I asked, "As a parent, what are
some of life's lessons you want your
children to learn?"
GOD replied, "To learn they cannot make
anyone love them. All they can do is let
themselves be loved."
"To learn that it is not good to compare
themselves to others."
"To learn to forgive by practicing
forgiveness."
"To learn that it only takes a few seconds
to open profound wounds in those they
love, and it can take many years to heal
them."
"To learn that a rich person is not one
who has the most, but is one who needs
the least."
"To learn that there are people who love
them dearly, but simply do not yet know
how to express or show their feelings."
"To learn that two people can look at the
same thing, and see it differently."
"To learn that it is not enough that they
forgive one another, but they must also
forgive themselves."
"Thank you for your time," I said humbly.
"Is there anything else you would like
your children to know?"
GOD smiled, and said... "Just know that I
am here. Always."
Posted via Blogaway
Testing For Gossip
In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed
to hold knowledge in high esteem.
One
day an acquaintance met the great
philosopher and said, "Do you know what
I just heard about your friend?"
"Hold on a minute", Socrates replied.
"Before telling me anything I'd like you to
pass a little test. It's called the Triple
Filter Test."
"Triple filter?"
"That's right", Socrates continued.
"Before you talk to me about my friend, it
might be a good idea to take a moment
and filter what you're going to say. That's
why I call it the triple filter test.
The first
filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely
sure that what you are about to tell me is
true?"
"No,",the man said, "Actually I just heard
about it and ..."
"All right", said Socrates. "So you don't
really know if it's true or not.
Now let's
try the second filter, the filter of
Goodness.
Is what you are about to tell
me about my friend something good?"
"No, on the contrary."
"So", Socrates continued, "you want to
tell me something bad about him, but
you're not certain it's true.
You may still
pass the test though, because there's one
filter left: the filter of Usefulness.
Is what
you want to tell me about my friend
going to be useful to me?"
"No, not really."
"Well", concluded Socrates, "if what you
want to tell me is neither true nor good
nor even useful, why tell it to me at all
Wednesday 19 February 2014
King Arthur And The Witch
Young King Arthur was ambushed and
imprisoned by the monarch of a
neighboring kingdom.
The monarch
could have killed him but was moved by
Arthur's youth and ideals.
So, the
monarch offered him his freedom, as
long as he could answer a very difficult
question.
Arthur would have a year to
figure out the answer and, if after a year,
he still had no answer, he would be put to
death.
The question?....What do women really
want?
Such a question would perplex
even the most knowledgeable man, and
to young Arthur, it seemed an impossible
query.
But, since it was better than
death, he accepted the monarch's
proposition to have an answer by year's
end.
He returned to his kingdom and began to
poll everyone: the princess, the priests,
the wise men and even the court jester.
He spoke with everyone, but no one could
give him a satisfactory answer. Many
people advised him to consult the old
witch, for only she would have the
answer.
But the price would be high; as
the witch was famous throughout the
kingdom for the exorbitant prices she
charged.
The last day of the year arrived and
Arthur had no choice but to talk to the
witch She agreed to answer the question,
but he would have to agree to her price
first.
The old witch wanted to marry Sir
Lancelot, the most noble of the Knights of
the Round Table and Arthur's closest
friend!
Young Arthur was horrified.
She
was hunchbacked and hideous, had only
one tooth, smelled like sewage, made
obscene noises, etc.
He had never
encountered such a repugnant creature
in all his life.
He refused to force his friend to marry
her and endure such a terrible burden;
but Lancelot, learning of the proposal,
spoke with Arthur.
He said nothing was
too big of a sacrifice compared to Arthur's
life and the preservation of the Round
Table.
Hence, a wedding was proclaimed and the
witch answered Arthur's question thus:
What a woman really wants, she
answered....is to be in charge of her own
life!
Everyone in the kingdom instantly
knew that the witch had uttered a great
truth and that Arthur's life would be
spared.
And so it was, the neighboring
monarch granted Arthur his freedom and
Lancelot and the witch had a wonderful
wedding.
The honeymoon hour approached and
Lancelot, steeling himself for a horrific
experience, entered the bedroom.
But,
what a sight awaited him. The most
beautiful woman he had ever seen lay
before him on the bed.
The astounded
Lancelot asked what had happened
The beauty replied that since he had
been so kind to her when she appeared
as a witch, she would henceforth, be her
horrible deformed self only half the time
and the beautiful maiden the other half.
Which would he prefer? Beautiful during
the day...or night?
Lancelot pondered the predicament.
During the day, a beautiful woman to
show off to his friends, but at night, in
the privacy of his castle, an old witch?
Or,
would he prefer having a hideous witch
during the day, but by night, a beautiful
woman for him to enjoy wondrous
intimate moments?
Noble Lancelot said that he would allow
HER to make the choice herself.
Upon
hearing this, she announced that she
would be beautiful all the time because
he had respected her enough to let her
be in charge of her own life.
Tuesday 18 February 2014
The Wise Teacher And The Jar
There was once a very wise teacher,
whose words of wisdom students would
come from far and wide to hear.
One day
as usual, many students began to gather
in the teaching room.
They came in and
sat down very quietly, looking to the
front with keen anticipation, ready to
hear what the teacher had to say.
Eventually the teacher came in and sat
down in front of the students.
The room
was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
On one side of the teacher was a large
glass jar. On the other side was a pile of
dark grey rocks.
Without saying a word,
the teacher began to pick up the rocks
one by one and place them very carefully
in the glass jar (Plonk. Plonk.)
When all
the rocks were in the jar, the teacher
turned to the students and asked, 'Is the
jar full?'
'Yes,' said the students. 'Yes,
teacher, the jar is full'.
Without saying a word, the teacher began
to drop small round pink pebbles
carefully into the large glass jar so that
they fell down between the rocks.
(Clickety click. Clickety click.)
When all
the pebbles were in the jar, the teacher
turned to the students and asked, 'Is the
jar now full?'
The students looked at one
another and then some of them started
nodding and saying, 'Yes. Yes, teacher,
the jar is now full. Yes'.
Without saying a word, the teacher took
some fine silver sand and let it trickle
with a gentle sighing sound into the large
glass jar (whoosh) where it settled
around the pink pebbles and the dark
grey rocks.
When all the sand was in the
jar, the teacher turned to the students
and asked, 'Is the jar now full?'
The students were not so confident this
time, but the sand had clearly filled all
the space in the jar so a few still nodded
and said, 'Yes, teacher, the jar is now full.
Now it's full'.
Without saving a word, the teacher took
a jug of water and poured it carefully,
without splashing a drop, into the large
glass jar. (Gloog. Gloog.)
When the water reached the brim, the
teacher turned to the students and
asked, 'Is the jar now full?'
Most of the
students were silent, but two or three
ventured to answer, 'Yes, teacher, the jar
is now full. Now it is'.
Without saying a word, the teacher took
a handful of salt and sprinkled it slowly
over the top of the water with a very
quiet whishing sound. (Whish.)
When all
the salt had dissolved into the water, the
teacher turned to the students and asked
once more, 'Is the jar now full?'
The
students were totally silent..
Eventually
one brave student said, 'Yes, teacher. The
jar is now full'.
'Yes,' said the teacher
'The jar is now full'.
The teacher then said: 'A story always
has many meanings and you will each
have understood many things from this
demonstration.
Discuss quietly amongst
yourselves what meanings the story has
for you.
How many different messages
can you find in it and take from it?'
The students looked at the wise teacher
and at the beautiful glass jar filled with
grey rocks, pink pebbles, silver sand,
water and salt.
Then they quietly
discussed with one another the meanings
the story had for them.
After a few
minutes, the wise teacher raised one
hand and the room fell silent. The
teacher said:
'Remember that there is
never just one interpretation of
anything.
You have all taken away many
meanings and messages from the story,
and each meaning is as important and as
valid as any other'.
And without saying another word, the
teacher got up and left the room.
What lesson have you picked from this
story yourself?
Power To Make A Decision
The power to make a decision or the
power of choice is one of the greatest
powers that we as humans have because with
it, we have the ability to change
whatever it is that we don't like about
ourselves & our lives.
We decide what to
focus on, we decide on its meaning &
then we decide on what to do thereafter.
If we don't like something about
ourselves, whether it's our weight or our
financial status, all we need to do is make
the decision to change, & then we go on
to make that change happen.
We are
adaptive & constantly evolving beings,
simply because we have the ability to do
something about the various
uncomfortable circumstances we find
ourselves in.
So, remember it is your duty
to change either yourself or your
surroundings if you find that you are
getting uncomfortable in the position you
are currently in...
power of choice is one of the greatest
powers that we as humans have because with
it, we have the ability to change
whatever it is that we don't like about
ourselves & our lives.
We decide what to
focus on, we decide on its meaning &
then we decide on what to do thereafter.
If we don't like something about
ourselves, whether it's our weight or our
financial status, all we need to do is make
the decision to change, & then we go on
to make that change happen.
We are
adaptive & constantly evolving beings,
simply because we have the ability to do
something about the various
uncomfortable circumstances we find
ourselves in.
So, remember it is your duty
to change either yourself or your
surroundings if you find that you are
getting uncomfortable in the position you
are currently in...
The Story Of A Blind Girl
There was a blind girl who hated herself just
because she was blind. She hated everyone, except
her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her.
She said that if she could only see the world, she
would marry her boyfriend.
One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her and
then she could see everything, including her
boyfriend. Her boyfriend asked her, “now that you
can see the world, will you marry me?”
The girl was shocked when she saw that her
boyfriend was blind too, and refused to marry him.
Her boyfriend walked away in tears, and later wrote
a letter to her saying:
“Just take care of my eyes dear.”
This is how human brain changes when the status
changed. Only few remember what life was before,
and who’s always been there even in the most
painful situations.
Life Is A Gift
Today before you think of saying an unkind word–
think of someone who can’t speak.
Before you complain about the taste of your food–
think of someone who has nothing to eat.
Before you complain about your husband or wife–
think of someone who is crying out to God for a
companion.
Today before you complain about life–
think of someone who went too early to heaven.
Before you complain about your children–
think of someone who desires children but they’re
barren.
Before you argue about your dirty house, someone
didn’t clean or sweep–
think of the people who are living in the streets.
Before whining about the distance you drive–
think of someone who walks the same distance with
their feet.
And when you are tired and complain about your
job–
think of the unemployed, the disabled and those
who wished they had your job.
But before you think of pointing the finger or
condemning another–
remember that not one of us are without sin and we
all answer to one maker.
And when depressing thoughts seem to get you
down–
put a smile on your face and thank God you’re alive
and still around.
because she was blind. She hated everyone, except
her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her.
She said that if she could only see the world, she
would marry her boyfriend.
One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her and
then she could see everything, including her
boyfriend. Her boyfriend asked her, “now that you
can see the world, will you marry me?”
The girl was shocked when she saw that her
boyfriend was blind too, and refused to marry him.
Her boyfriend walked away in tears, and later wrote
a letter to her saying:
“Just take care of my eyes dear.”
This is how human brain changes when the status
changed. Only few remember what life was before,
and who’s always been there even in the most
painful situations.
Life Is A Gift
Today before you think of saying an unkind word–
think of someone who can’t speak.
Before you complain about the taste of your food–
think of someone who has nothing to eat.
Before you complain about your husband or wife–
think of someone who is crying out to God for a
companion.
Today before you complain about life–
think of someone who went too early to heaven.
Before you complain about your children–
think of someone who desires children but they’re
barren.
Before you argue about your dirty house, someone
didn’t clean or sweep–
think of the people who are living in the streets.
Before whining about the distance you drive–
think of someone who walks the same distance with
their feet.
And when you are tired and complain about your
job–
think of the unemployed, the disabled and those
who wished they had your job.
But before you think of pointing the finger or
condemning another–
remember that not one of us are without sin and we
all answer to one maker.
And when depressing thoughts seem to get you
down–
put a smile on your face and thank God you’re alive
and still around.
Hello World!!!
Beginning today I will no longer worry about
yesterday. It is in the past and the past will never
change. Only I can change by choosing to do so.
Beginning today I will no longer worry about
tomorrow. Tomorrow will always be there, waiting
for me to make the most of it. But I cannot make
the most of tomorrow without first making the most
of today.
Beginning today I will look in the mirror and I will
see a person worthy of my respect and admiration.
This capable person looking back at me is someone
I enjoy spending time with and someone I would like
to get to know better.
Beginning today I will cherish each moment of my
life. I value this gift bestowed upon me in this world
and I will unselfishly share this gift with others. I
will use this gift to enhance the lives of others.
Beginning today I will take life one day at a time,
one step at a time. Discouragement will not be
allowed to taint my positive self-image, my desire to
succeed or my capacity to love.
Beginning today I will open my mind and my heart. I
will welcome new experiences. I will meet new
people. I will not expect perfection from myself nor
anyone else: perfection does not exist in an
imperfect world. But I will applaud the attempt to
overcome human foibles.
Beginning today I will learn something new; I will try
something different; I will savor all the various
flavors life has to offer. I will change what I can and
the rest I will let go. I will strive to become the best
me I can possibly be.
yesterday. It is in the past and the past will never
change. Only I can change by choosing to do so.
Beginning today I will no longer worry about
tomorrow. Tomorrow will always be there, waiting
for me to make the most of it. But I cannot make
the most of tomorrow without first making the most
of today.
Beginning today I will look in the mirror and I will
see a person worthy of my respect and admiration.
This capable person looking back at me is someone
I enjoy spending time with and someone I would like
to get to know better.
Beginning today I will cherish each moment of my
life. I value this gift bestowed upon me in this world
and I will unselfishly share this gift with others. I
will use this gift to enhance the lives of others.
Beginning today I will take life one day at a time,
one step at a time. Discouragement will not be
allowed to taint my positive self-image, my desire to
succeed or my capacity to love.
Beginning today I will open my mind and my heart. I
will welcome new experiences. I will meet new
people. I will not expect perfection from myself nor
anyone else: perfection does not exist in an
imperfect world. But I will applaud the attempt to
overcome human foibles.
Beginning today I will learn something new; I will try
something different; I will savor all the various
flavors life has to offer. I will change what I can and
the rest I will let go. I will strive to become the best
me I can possibly be.
Monday 17 February 2014
Two Travelling Angels
Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in
the home of a wealthy family.
The family was rude and refused to let the angels
stay in the mansion’s guest room. Instead the
angels were given a small space in the cold
basement.
As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older
angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it.
When the younger angel asked why, the older angel
replied, “Things aren’t always what they seem.”
The next night the pair came to rest at the house of
a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his
wife.
After sharing what little food they had the couple let
the angels sleep in their bed where they could have
a good night’s rest.
When the sun came up the next
morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in
tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their
sole income, lay dead in the field.
The younger angel was infuriated and asked the
older angel, “How could you have let this happen?
The first man had everything, yet you helped him.”
– she accused. “The second family had little but
was willing to share everything, and you let the cow
die.”
“Things aren’t always what they seem.” – the older
angel replied.
“When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I
noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the
wall.
Since the owner was so obsessed with greed
and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the
wall so he wouldn’t find it.
Then last night as we
slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came
for his wife. I gave him the cow instead.
Things
aren’t always what they seem.”
Sometimes that is exactly what happens when
things don’t turn out the way they should.
If you
have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome
is always to your advantage.
You might not know it
until some time later…
Should you find it hard to get to sleep tonight,
remember the homeless family who has no bed to
lie in.
Should you find yourself stuck in traffic, don’t
despair,
there are people in this world for whom driving is
an unheard-of privilege.
Should you have a bad day at work,
think of the man who has been out of work for many
months struggling to feed his family.
Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror,
think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes
she had hair to examine.
Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering
what is life all about, asking, “What is my
purpose?”, be thankful,
there are those who didn’t live long enough to get
the opportunity.
the home of a wealthy family.
The family was rude and refused to let the angels
stay in the mansion’s guest room. Instead the
angels were given a small space in the cold
basement.
As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older
angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it.
When the younger angel asked why, the older angel
replied, “Things aren’t always what they seem.”
The next night the pair came to rest at the house of
a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his
wife.
After sharing what little food they had the couple let
the angels sleep in their bed where they could have
a good night’s rest.
When the sun came up the next
morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in
tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their
sole income, lay dead in the field.
The younger angel was infuriated and asked the
older angel, “How could you have let this happen?
The first man had everything, yet you helped him.”
– she accused. “The second family had little but
was willing to share everything, and you let the cow
die.”
“Things aren’t always what they seem.” – the older
angel replied.
“When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I
noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the
wall.
Since the owner was so obsessed with greed
and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the
wall so he wouldn’t find it.
Then last night as we
slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came
for his wife. I gave him the cow instead.
Things
aren’t always what they seem.”
Sometimes that is exactly what happens when
things don’t turn out the way they should.
If you
have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome
is always to your advantage.
You might not know it
until some time later…
Should you find it hard to get to sleep tonight,
remember the homeless family who has no bed to
lie in.
Should you find yourself stuck in traffic, don’t
despair,
there are people in this world for whom driving is
an unheard-of privilege.
Should you have a bad day at work,
think of the man who has been out of work for many
months struggling to feed his family.
Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror,
think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes
she had hair to examine.
Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering
what is life all about, asking, “What is my
purpose?”, be thankful,
there are those who didn’t live long enough to get
the opportunity.
Mother's Love
The Vietnam War broke out. Followed the heart, the
young husband joined the military and sacrificed his
life leaving behind his wife and kids.
Life postwar was very hard, often with not enough
food to eat. Still young and beautiful, the wife
refused to remarry and dedicated her entire life to
raise her kids with the best possible care and
education.
An opportunity came, the first born son immigrated
to America, studied hard and became a NASA
Engineer having a good life.
The son sent home letters often, together with
much money for mom to spend, however,
Christmas after Christmas, New Year after New
Year, with the many excuses, the son stubbornly
refused to travel home to visit mom.
When the mother died, the son returned and
organized a big funeral but people did not see him
shredding tear.
Mother left behind a chest that she always placed
at the top of her bed. During the funeral, the son
opened the chest and suddenly bursted into tears,
sobbed, embraced his mother’s coffin and
screamed hysterically, “Mom! Mom!”
Everyone looked at each other and looked at the
chest. It was full of $100 dollar bills and a piece of
paper.
In it read, “Son, I don’t spend too much money. I
miss you a lot. Every time I hear a motorcycle
passing by, I run out the door but it wasn’t my son.
I saved this money for you in case when you get
sick.”
young husband joined the military and sacrificed his
life leaving behind his wife and kids.
Life postwar was very hard, often with not enough
food to eat. Still young and beautiful, the wife
refused to remarry and dedicated her entire life to
raise her kids with the best possible care and
education.
An opportunity came, the first born son immigrated
to America, studied hard and became a NASA
Engineer having a good life.
The son sent home letters often, together with
much money for mom to spend, however,
Christmas after Christmas, New Year after New
Year, with the many excuses, the son stubbornly
refused to travel home to visit mom.
When the mother died, the son returned and
organized a big funeral but people did not see him
shredding tear.
Mother left behind a chest that she always placed
at the top of her bed. During the funeral, the son
opened the chest and suddenly bursted into tears,
sobbed, embraced his mother’s coffin and
screamed hysterically, “Mom! Mom!”
Everyone looked at each other and looked at the
chest. It was full of $100 dollar bills and a piece of
paper.
In it read, “Son, I don’t spend too much money. I
miss you a lot. Every time I hear a motorcycle
passing by, I run out the door but it wasn’t my son.
I saved this money for you in case when you get
sick.”
Planting Potatoes
When I was a boy growing up we had several
gardens around our old house. The largest one of all
was used just for growing potatoes.
I can still remember those potato planting days.
The whole family helped. After my Dad had tilled the soil,
my Mom, brothers, and I went to work.
It was my
job to drop the little seed potatoes in the rows while
my Mom dropped handfuls of fertilizer beside them.
My brothers then covered them all with the freshly
turned earth.
For months afterward I would glance over at the
garden while I played outside and wonder what was
going on underneath the ground.
When the harvest
time came I was amazed at the huge size of the
potatoes my Dad pulled out of the soil.
Those little
seedlings had grown into bushels and bushels of
sweet sustenance. They would be turned into meal
after meal of baked potatoes, mashed potatoes,
fried potatoes, and my personal favorite: potatoes
slowed cooked in spaghetti sauce. They would keep
the entire family well fed throughout the whole year.
It truly was a miracle to behold.
Thinking back on those special times makes me
wonder how many other seeds I have planted in
this life that have grown unseen in the hearts and
minds of others.
How many times has God used
some little thing that I said or did to grow something
beautiful? How many times has Heaven used these
little seedlings to provide another’s soul with sweet
sustenance?
Every single day of our lives we step out into the
garden of this world. Every single day we plant
seeds that can grow into something wonderful. We
may never see the growth that comes from the kind
words or loving acts we share but God does. I hope
then that you always tend the garden around you
with care. I hope that you plant only goodness,
peace, and compassion in the lives of everyone you
meet. I hope that everyday you help miracles to
grow.
gardens around our old house. The largest one of all
was used just for growing potatoes.
I can still remember those potato planting days.
The whole family helped. After my Dad had tilled the soil,
my Mom, brothers, and I went to work.
It was my
job to drop the little seed potatoes in the rows while
my Mom dropped handfuls of fertilizer beside them.
My brothers then covered them all with the freshly
turned earth.
For months afterward I would glance over at the
garden while I played outside and wonder what was
going on underneath the ground.
When the harvest
time came I was amazed at the huge size of the
potatoes my Dad pulled out of the soil.
Those little
seedlings had grown into bushels and bushels of
sweet sustenance. They would be turned into meal
after meal of baked potatoes, mashed potatoes,
fried potatoes, and my personal favorite: potatoes
slowed cooked in spaghetti sauce. They would keep
the entire family well fed throughout the whole year.
It truly was a miracle to behold.
Thinking back on those special times makes me
wonder how many other seeds I have planted in
this life that have grown unseen in the hearts and
minds of others.
How many times has God used
some little thing that I said or did to grow something
beautiful? How many times has Heaven used these
little seedlings to provide another’s soul with sweet
sustenance?
Every single day of our lives we step out into the
garden of this world. Every single day we plant
seeds that can grow into something wonderful. We
may never see the growth that comes from the kind
words or loving acts we share but God does. I hope
then that you always tend the garden around you
with care. I hope that you plant only goodness,
peace, and compassion in the lives of everyone you
meet. I hope that everyday you help miracles to
grow.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)