God made us all unique,
Born in a world of talents,
Giving us one each,
Helping us all to balance.
But sometimes these are used wrong,
Sometimes we forget to thank God,
When in his arms we should belong,
Singing and chanting "I love you God."
So let those who haven't found theirs yet,
Tackle their way through life,
Give them the joy of knowing they can't regret,
In using for wrong and right.
Even when we're feeling low,
Or think there's no way out,
We think we have no way to go,
Not knowing what you're about.
Finally we pull through,
Because you're our only hope,
we know it's you we'll never loose,
You give us the strength to cope.
So as you made us all unique,
Giving us different talents,
Help us to find one each,
So we can truly balance!
- Unknown
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Believe in Your Dreams and Yourself!
I hope this story encourages you in times when your dreams seem far away, or, when you are not able to believe any words of encouragement deep in your heart.
I was doing a diploma course. When the course ended, placements started. The first company came and I was not selected. My roommate got selected though. I felt good for her, but miserable myself because I started thinking that I'm not worth anything good. I'm worthless. My room mate had not come in until dark and I was feeling so miserable that I did not even want to enter the room we shared because I had memories of both of us studying in it all through the course. I felt so miserable that I found myself crying standing on the road talking to one of my classmates, unable to control my tears. When my roommate came, she consoled me, said all the words to encourage me, pointed out the mistakes I had made in the interview so that I would do better the next day. She made me gather strength for the next set of companies that were scheduled to come the next day.
She went to bed, saying that I should wake her up if I wanted to know something about the topics we had to study for the interview. After she went to sleep, I started saying to myself half-heartedly, "Tomorrow is MY day. The company cannot go without selecting me. I will get myself selected tomorrow." I did not feel this from deep inside but I kept on saying this the whole night, probably in my sleep too, and in the morning until I faced my interview. It went ok, not too good. Still I kept on saying these one-liners to myself but now there was a difference. I found a little belief started growing that "It actually IS my day" and now it was not half-heartedly that I said all that, I started to believe it. I was so charged up by this time by my growing belief that I found myself totally at ease and confident of selection that I found myself singing with my class-mates while people were going through the interview in their respective turns.
I went through the last stage of selection, which went quite well. In the evening when the results were announced I was not selected. I went home thinking that something is wrong, this was not possible. I was not in the mood to read the topics for the interview next day with some other company.
Morning came and I sat for another written exam for the first company, still thinking about what had happened yesterday. Before sitting for the exam, I was crying when one of my classmates tried to console me that I should not worry, everything will be fine. They gave the exam and it went bad.
I came out of the room and one student told me that our head of the placements was searching for me. I went to his cabin and he congratulated me saying, "You have been selected by the company that came yesterday". I couldn't believe it. I found myself saying, "I knew this had to happen". My heart said to me, "See! I told you, you could do it. Just believe in yourself!"
My belief eventually had made me achieve what I was wishing for. Then at that point I remembered that I had an intuition that I would get selected by this company when they had come to give their pre-placement talks.
So if you have a dream then just believe that you can achieve it no matter what. Even when you can't feel deep in your heart any words of encouragement, just believe in your dream and your heart will finally show you the way. And believe that there is God who sees us every moment. Believe in intuitions and gut feelings for they are voices of your sub-conscious mind.
- Author Unknown
I was doing a diploma course. When the course ended, placements started. The first company came and I was not selected. My roommate got selected though. I felt good for her, but miserable myself because I started thinking that I'm not worth anything good. I'm worthless. My room mate had not come in until dark and I was feeling so miserable that I did not even want to enter the room we shared because I had memories of both of us studying in it all through the course. I felt so miserable that I found myself crying standing on the road talking to one of my classmates, unable to control my tears. When my roommate came, she consoled me, said all the words to encourage me, pointed out the mistakes I had made in the interview so that I would do better the next day. She made me gather strength for the next set of companies that were scheduled to come the next day.
She went to bed, saying that I should wake her up if I wanted to know something about the topics we had to study for the interview. After she went to sleep, I started saying to myself half-heartedly, "Tomorrow is MY day. The company cannot go without selecting me. I will get myself selected tomorrow." I did not feel this from deep inside but I kept on saying this the whole night, probably in my sleep too, and in the morning until I faced my interview. It went ok, not too good. Still I kept on saying these one-liners to myself but now there was a difference. I found a little belief started growing that "It actually IS my day" and now it was not half-heartedly that I said all that, I started to believe it. I was so charged up by this time by my growing belief that I found myself totally at ease and confident of selection that I found myself singing with my class-mates while people were going through the interview in their respective turns.
I went through the last stage of selection, which went quite well. In the evening when the results were announced I was not selected. I went home thinking that something is wrong, this was not possible. I was not in the mood to read the topics for the interview next day with some other company.
Morning came and I sat for another written exam for the first company, still thinking about what had happened yesterday. Before sitting for the exam, I was crying when one of my classmates tried to console me that I should not worry, everything will be fine. They gave the exam and it went bad.
I came out of the room and one student told me that our head of the placements was searching for me. I went to his cabin and he congratulated me saying, "You have been selected by the company that came yesterday". I couldn't believe it. I found myself saying, "I knew this had to happen". My heart said to me, "See! I told you, you could do it. Just believe in yourself!"
My belief eventually had made me achieve what I was wishing for. Then at that point I remembered that I had an intuition that I would get selected by this company when they had come to give their pre-placement talks.
So if you have a dream then just believe that you can achieve it no matter what. Even when you can't feel deep in your heart any words of encouragement, just believe in your dream and your heart will finally show you the way. And believe that there is God who sees us every moment. Believe in intuitions and gut feelings for they are voices of your sub-conscious mind.
- Author Unknown
Monday, December 29, 2008
Live Your Life To The Fullest
Today was a day similar to all other days..
I was coming back home after a busy full day. When I reached the entrance gate of my building, I found people dressed in white. I didn’t give it too much importance and went up to my floor. I got off the lift to find the door of my house open. There was a crowd of people.. I was frightened. I entered my house. I saw relatives gathered in the hall - all in white. The place was surrounded with grief. They were taking among themselves.
I saw their sad faces. and asked them what happed but they didn’t notice me. I quickly moved to the next room - I saw my parents sitting in front of a body covered with a white cloth.
Oooohhhh no. Who was it? I asked my parents but they continued crying and didn’t give any answer. I was bewildered and tried to guess who it was. I looked around the room trying to figure out which of the relatives was missing. Slowly I reached towards the body and tried to remove the cloth with my trembling hands.
It was me.
Now I realized why nobody noticed me. My life was over. Slowly I sat down in one corner and became listless. I tried to recollect what remained to be done in my life. My whole life was passing in front of my eyes.
I was surveying all my relatives who were present in the room. I try to hear what they were talking about me. I tried to recollect all my interactions with all of them. All the times that I wanted to apologize to them for my bad behavior and all the times I didn't because I was ashamed.
I am remembering the time which I missed out - to enjoy with my family, relatives and friends. I spent my whole life just running running and running - I forgot to enjoy with small kids.
I saw the wrinkles on my parents' face. I wanted to give happiness to them; I wanted to tell them how much I loved them. But now no one will hear me. I see some of my friends entering the room. I wanted to tell them ‘THANK YOU’ for their support and help...all the times I didn't do so only because of my ego.
I asked God to give me just a minute to tell all this too my family and friends..Please god give me only last one minute, only one minute …… I know, I will never get… Some tears drop. I closed my eyes.
I am remembering the goal which remains to be achieved. I wanted my family to become proud of me. I remembered all the time I wasted in what we loosely called ‘TIME PASS’. But now time has really passed. I wanted to help so many people but I couldn’t because of my laziness. I could see so many people whom I had wanted to meet and talk to, but as always I pushed it for tomorrow.
That tomorrow never came.
Please live your life today..to the fullest. We never get the last one minute to say BYE ..
- Author Unknown
I was coming back home after a busy full day. When I reached the entrance gate of my building, I found people dressed in white. I didn’t give it too much importance and went up to my floor. I got off the lift to find the door of my house open. There was a crowd of people.. I was frightened. I entered my house. I saw relatives gathered in the hall - all in white. The place was surrounded with grief. They were taking among themselves.
I saw their sad faces. and asked them what happed but they didn’t notice me. I quickly moved to the next room - I saw my parents sitting in front of a body covered with a white cloth.
Oooohhhh no. Who was it? I asked my parents but they continued crying and didn’t give any answer. I was bewildered and tried to guess who it was. I looked around the room trying to figure out which of the relatives was missing. Slowly I reached towards the body and tried to remove the cloth with my trembling hands.
It was me.
Now I realized why nobody noticed me. My life was over. Slowly I sat down in one corner and became listless. I tried to recollect what remained to be done in my life. My whole life was passing in front of my eyes.
I was surveying all my relatives who were present in the room. I try to hear what they were talking about me. I tried to recollect all my interactions with all of them. All the times that I wanted to apologize to them for my bad behavior and all the times I didn't because I was ashamed.
I am remembering the time which I missed out - to enjoy with my family, relatives and friends. I spent my whole life just running running and running - I forgot to enjoy with small kids.
I saw the wrinkles on my parents' face. I wanted to give happiness to them; I wanted to tell them how much I loved them. But now no one will hear me. I see some of my friends entering the room. I wanted to tell them ‘THANK YOU’ for their support and help...all the times I didn't do so only because of my ego.
I asked God to give me just a minute to tell all this too my family and friends..Please god give me only last one minute, only one minute …… I know, I will never get… Some tears drop. I closed my eyes.
I am remembering the goal which remains to be achieved. I wanted my family to become proud of me. I remembered all the time I wasted in what we loosely called ‘TIME PASS’. But now time has really passed. I wanted to help so many people but I couldn’t because of my laziness. I could see so many people whom I had wanted to meet and talk to, but as always I pushed it for tomorrow.
That tomorrow never came.
Please live your life today..to the fullest. We never get the last one minute to say BYE ..
- Author Unknown
Friday, December 26, 2008
Winning Means Giving It All
As I approached the final mile of the race I realized there were only three opponents left. Obstacles standing between my goal and me.....the finish line.
As I reached the first opponent, I closed my eyes and heard this message: "You only fail if you fail to try." I peddled with all my might and took his place. One down, two to go.
As I neared number two I once again closed my eyes. Knowing this one would be harder, I searched for strength. Not only was I more tired than before, but this opponent was the second strongest. Suddenly I heard the voice from within: "You only see the obstacle when you take your mind off the goal." I visualized the finish line and continued to push my body to it's limit and took position number two.
My last opponent, my last obstacle was in first place for a reason. He symbolized every goal that I hoped to achieve. Knowing this would be the toughest moment of the race, I again closed my eyes. This time I waited for the message. But it didn't come. As the fear rose from inside I realized it was up to me, not this voice, to win the race. With that in mind, I opened my eyes and it hit me. On the back of my Opponent's shirt was the message. It read "If you can read this........I'm winning!!!"
Then with every ounce of energy in my body and soul, I peddled and fought the toughest battle of my life. As I crossed the finish line, I realized that first place means nothing if you haven't given 150%. There is always someone out there who is a little faster or a little stronger, but the real champion is the one who reaches the finish line with nothing more to give.
- Unknown
As I reached the first opponent, I closed my eyes and heard this message: "You only fail if you fail to try." I peddled with all my might and took his place. One down, two to go.
As I neared number two I once again closed my eyes. Knowing this one would be harder, I searched for strength. Not only was I more tired than before, but this opponent was the second strongest. Suddenly I heard the voice from within: "You only see the obstacle when you take your mind off the goal." I visualized the finish line and continued to push my body to it's limit and took position number two.
My last opponent, my last obstacle was in first place for a reason. He symbolized every goal that I hoped to achieve. Knowing this would be the toughest moment of the race, I again closed my eyes. This time I waited for the message. But it didn't come. As the fear rose from inside I realized it was up to me, not this voice, to win the race. With that in mind, I opened my eyes and it hit me. On the back of my Opponent's shirt was the message. It read "If you can read this........I'm winning!!!"
Then with every ounce of energy in my body and soul, I peddled and fought the toughest battle of my life. As I crossed the finish line, I realized that first place means nothing if you haven't given 150%. There is always someone out there who is a little faster or a little stronger, but the real champion is the one who reaches the finish line with nothing more to give.
- Unknown
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Doing The Right Thing
Each day as you wake up, make the decision to strive to do what's right.
Approach your life as you would your game....
...when you make a mistake, learn from it, correct it, and get ready for the next point. Life moves too fast to sulk and dwell on the past.
...when you're down, fight harder to get back on top. Life is full of hardships. Fight hard against those feelings of despair.
...when you're doing everything right and still can't win, be patient. No matter how good we are or how hard we struggle to make the right decisions, life often makes us wait.
...when you are on top of your game, relax and enjoy it. Life is fully appreciated when we survive adversity and can relax in the sunlight of success.
Each sunrise brings a new opportunity. No matter how bad the day before was, today is brand new. When you wake up, seek the strength and courage to do the right thing.
- Author Unknown
Approach your life as you would your game....
...when you make a mistake, learn from it, correct it, and get ready for the next point. Life moves too fast to sulk and dwell on the past.
...when you're down, fight harder to get back on top. Life is full of hardships. Fight hard against those feelings of despair.
...when you're doing everything right and still can't win, be patient. No matter how good we are or how hard we struggle to make the right decisions, life often makes us wait.
...when you are on top of your game, relax and enjoy it. Life is fully appreciated when we survive adversity and can relax in the sunlight of success.
Each sunrise brings a new opportunity. No matter how bad the day before was, today is brand new. When you wake up, seek the strength and courage to do the right thing.
- Author Unknown
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Life Is About Correcting Mistakes
Monica married Satyajeet this day. At the end of the wedding party, Monica's mother gave her a newly opened bank saving passbook, with Rs.1000 deposit amount.
Mother: 'Monica, take this passbook. Keep it as a record of your marriage life. When there's something happy and memorable happened in your new life, put some money in. Write down what it's about next to the line. The more memorable the event is, the more money you can put in. I've done the first one for you today. Do the others with Satyajeet. When you look back after years, you can know how much happiness you've had.'
Monica shared this with Satyajeet when getting home. They both thought it was a great idea and were anxious to know when the second deposit can be made.
This was what they did after certain time:
- 7 Feb: Rs.100, first birthday celebration for Satyajeet after marriage
- 1 Mar: Rs.300, salary raise for Monica
- 20 Mar: Rs.200, vacation trip to Bali
- 15 Apr: Rs.2000, Monica got pregnant
- 1 Jun: Rs.1000, Satyajeet got promoted
..... and so on...
However, after years, they started fighting and arguing for trivial things. They didn't talk much. They regretted that they had married the most nasty people in the world.... no more love...Kind of typical nowadays, huh?
One day Monica talked to her Mother:
'Mom, we can't stand it anymore. We agree to divorce. I can't imagine how I decided to marry this guy!!!'
Mother: 'Sure, girl, that's no big deal. Just do whatever you want if you really can't stand it. But before that, do one thing first. Remember the saving passbook I gave you on your wedding day? Take out all money and spend it first. You shouldn't keep any record of such a poor marriage.'
Monica thought it was true. So she went to the bank, waiting at the queue and planning to cancel the account. While she was waiting, she took a look at the passbook record. She looked, and looked, and looked. Then the memory of all the previous joy and happiness just came up her mind. Her eyes were then filled with tears. She left and went home. When she was home, she handed the passbook to Satyajeet, asked him to spend the money before getting divorce.
The next day, Satyajeet gave the passbook back to Monica. She found a new deposit of Rs.5000. And a line next to the record: 'This is the day I notice how much I've loved you thru out all these years. How much happiness you've brought me.'
They hugged and cried, putting the passbook back to the safe.
Do you know how much money they had saved when they retired? I did not ask.I believe the money did not matter any more after they had gone thru all the good years in their life.
Moral :
"When you fall, in any way,
Don't see the place where you fell, Instead see the place from where you Slipped. Life is about correcting mistakes."
- Author Unknown
Mother: 'Monica, take this passbook. Keep it as a record of your marriage life. When there's something happy and memorable happened in your new life, put some money in. Write down what it's about next to the line. The more memorable the event is, the more money you can put in. I've done the first one for you today. Do the others with Satyajeet. When you look back after years, you can know how much happiness you've had.'
Monica shared this with Satyajeet when getting home. They both thought it was a great idea and were anxious to know when the second deposit can be made.
This was what they did after certain time:
- 7 Feb: Rs.100, first birthday celebration for Satyajeet after marriage
- 1 Mar: Rs.300, salary raise for Monica
- 20 Mar: Rs.200, vacation trip to Bali
- 15 Apr: Rs.2000, Monica got pregnant
- 1 Jun: Rs.1000, Satyajeet got promoted
..... and so on...
However, after years, they started fighting and arguing for trivial things. They didn't talk much. They regretted that they had married the most nasty people in the world.... no more love...Kind of typical nowadays, huh?
One day Monica talked to her Mother:
'Mom, we can't stand it anymore. We agree to divorce. I can't imagine how I decided to marry this guy!!!'
Mother: 'Sure, girl, that's no big deal. Just do whatever you want if you really can't stand it. But before that, do one thing first. Remember the saving passbook I gave you on your wedding day? Take out all money and spend it first. You shouldn't keep any record of such a poor marriage.'
Monica thought it was true. So she went to the bank, waiting at the queue and planning to cancel the account. While she was waiting, she took a look at the passbook record. She looked, and looked, and looked. Then the memory of all the previous joy and happiness just came up her mind. Her eyes were then filled with tears. She left and went home. When she was home, she handed the passbook to Satyajeet, asked him to spend the money before getting divorce.
The next day, Satyajeet gave the passbook back to Monica. She found a new deposit of Rs.5000. And a line next to the record: 'This is the day I notice how much I've loved you thru out all these years. How much happiness you've brought me.'
They hugged and cried, putting the passbook back to the safe.
Do you know how much money they had saved when they retired? I did not ask.I believe the money did not matter any more after they had gone thru all the good years in their life.
Moral :
"When you fall, in any way,
Don't see the place where you fell, Instead see the place from where you Slipped. Life is about correcting mistakes."
- Author Unknown
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
7 Ways to Make a Good Impression
Impressions are important: they leave an initial taste in people's mouths that can remain prevalent for the entire relationship. If you are paranoid about what kind of impression you make, run through these seven list items and see if you are consistent with them; if you are, then you will probably expose the best of yourself. If not, then work to meet these standards.
1. Dress: The absolute first impression you will make on someone will be through your clothing, because that is what is seen from a distance, and cannot change throughout your meeting. Make sure to dress according to the situation-don't over or under dress-and maintain within the limits of good taste. If you aren't sure if what you're wearing looks good, ask people for an honest opinion. One last thought: always, and I mean always, pull up your pants.
2. Hygiene: Take a shower! Shave! Brush your teeth! You must be fully bathed and groomed before you meet with someone for the first time, because scruffy looking people generally don't seem as neat and mature. Pay attention to the little elements like breath: keep a pack of mint gum with you wherever you go, and periodically check to make sure you aren't killing bugs every time you breathe out. If you sweat heavily, keep a small stick of deodorant/anti-perspirant close, and if you notice you're stinking you can freshen up. People notice the minutiae!
3. Manners: At the table and with other people be civilized, polite and respectful: keep your elbows off of the table, open doors for people and address everyone-initially, at least-by their formal title. This will make an especially good impression on senior citizens, because you will prove that you aren't one of those "new fangled punks."
4. Speech: Have clean, clear diction and speak sans "like" or "you know." It is important to be articulate because that inspires a feeling of intelligence and education in the person you are meeting with. Always leave out profanity, and whatever you do, make sure to speak loud enough for all to hear, because conversationalists are easily agitated if you force them say "excuse me?" more than a few times.
5. Discretion: Choose what to share about yourself: forget to tell everyone about that time you went camping and ruptured your appendix, then fell face first into a pile of bug infested leaves-it is rude and will alienate you from the group. Try to withhold from conversations on personal subjects like religion or more disgusting topics like personal medical care. Before you speak, think about the possible impact of what you might say, then imagine its implications in the long run.
6. Humor: Humor can be your most powerful tool or your doom, because everyone has a slightly different sense of humor. What might be hilarious to you might seem disgusting to another, or vice versa. Try to withhold from any jokes that aren't family or dinner table friendly; you can tell those later.
7. Start and End with a Bang: I am a classical musician, and in my orchestra, among other messages, the conductor tells us that the "audience remembers mostly the first and last notes of a symphony." This is the same in a personal encounter: whoever you are meeting with will remember how you greet them, and then in what manner you left them. If you feel you have trouble with this, practice a few different phrases in the mirror, and introduce elements like: "pleased to meet you," or "honored to make your acquaintance." Ignore the antiquity of these phrases; it often makes them more memorable.
Making a good impression will set any relationship off on a good foot. If you are in a situation where you need to be judged at face value-such as a job interview or date-then make sure to go through this list and make sure you are within bounds of reason and good taste on all of your decisions.
- Unknown
1. Dress: The absolute first impression you will make on someone will be through your clothing, because that is what is seen from a distance, and cannot change throughout your meeting. Make sure to dress according to the situation-don't over or under dress-and maintain within the limits of good taste. If you aren't sure if what you're wearing looks good, ask people for an honest opinion. One last thought: always, and I mean always, pull up your pants.
2. Hygiene: Take a shower! Shave! Brush your teeth! You must be fully bathed and groomed before you meet with someone for the first time, because scruffy looking people generally don't seem as neat and mature. Pay attention to the little elements like breath: keep a pack of mint gum with you wherever you go, and periodically check to make sure you aren't killing bugs every time you breathe out. If you sweat heavily, keep a small stick of deodorant/anti-perspirant close, and if you notice you're stinking you can freshen up. People notice the minutiae!
3. Manners: At the table and with other people be civilized, polite and respectful: keep your elbows off of the table, open doors for people and address everyone-initially, at least-by their formal title. This will make an especially good impression on senior citizens, because you will prove that you aren't one of those "new fangled punks."
4. Speech: Have clean, clear diction and speak sans "like" or "you know." It is important to be articulate because that inspires a feeling of intelligence and education in the person you are meeting with. Always leave out profanity, and whatever you do, make sure to speak loud enough for all to hear, because conversationalists are easily agitated if you force them say "excuse me?" more than a few times.
5. Discretion: Choose what to share about yourself: forget to tell everyone about that time you went camping and ruptured your appendix, then fell face first into a pile of bug infested leaves-it is rude and will alienate you from the group. Try to withhold from conversations on personal subjects like religion or more disgusting topics like personal medical care. Before you speak, think about the possible impact of what you might say, then imagine its implications in the long run.
6. Humor: Humor can be your most powerful tool or your doom, because everyone has a slightly different sense of humor. What might be hilarious to you might seem disgusting to another, or vice versa. Try to withhold from any jokes that aren't family or dinner table friendly; you can tell those later.
7. Start and End with a Bang: I am a classical musician, and in my orchestra, among other messages, the conductor tells us that the "audience remembers mostly the first and last notes of a symphony." This is the same in a personal encounter: whoever you are meeting with will remember how you greet them, and then in what manner you left them. If you feel you have trouble with this, practice a few different phrases in the mirror, and introduce elements like: "pleased to meet you," or "honored to make your acquaintance." Ignore the antiquity of these phrases; it often makes them more memorable.
Making a good impression will set any relationship off on a good foot. If you are in a situation where you need to be judged at face value-such as a job interview or date-then make sure to go through this list and make sure you are within bounds of reason and good taste on all of your decisions.
- Unknown
Monday, December 22, 2008
Look Around You
A very special teacher in high school many years ago had a husband who unexpectedly died suddenly of a heart attack. About a week after his death, she shared some of her insight with a classroom of students. As the late afternoon sunlight came streaming in through the classroom windows and the class was nearly over, she moved a few things aside on the edge of her desk and sat down there.
With a gentle look of reflection on her face, she paused and said, "Before class is over, I would like to share with all of you a thought that is unrelated to class, but which I feel is very important. Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves... and none of us knows when this fantastic experience will end. It can be taken away at any moment. Perhaps this is God's way of telling us that we must make the most out of every single day."
Her eyes beginning to water, she went on, "So I would like you all to make me a promise... from now on, on your way to school, or on your way home, find something beautiful to notice. It doesn't have to be something you see - it could be a scent - perhaps of freshly baked bread wafting out of someone's house, or it could be the sound of the breeze slightly rustling the leaves in the trees, or the way the morning light catches one autumn leaf as it falls gently to the ground. Please, look for these things, and cherish them.
For, although it may sound trite to some, these things are the "stuff" of life. The little things we are put here on earth to enjoy. The things we often take for granted. We must make it important to notice them, for at any time ... it can all be taken away."
The class was completely quiet. We all picked up our books and filed out of the room silently. That afternoon, I noticed more things on my way home from school than I had that whole semester. Every once in a while, I think of that teacher and remember what an impression she made on all of us, and I try to appreciate all of those things that sometimes we all overlook.
Take notice of something special you see on your lunch hour today. Go barefoot. Or walk on the beach at sunset. Stop off on the way home tonight to get a double dip ice cream cone. For as we get older, it is not the things we did that we often regret, but the things we didn't do.
- Author Unknown
With a gentle look of reflection on her face, she paused and said, "Before class is over, I would like to share with all of you a thought that is unrelated to class, but which I feel is very important. Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves... and none of us knows when this fantastic experience will end. It can be taken away at any moment. Perhaps this is God's way of telling us that we must make the most out of every single day."
Her eyes beginning to water, she went on, "So I would like you all to make me a promise... from now on, on your way to school, or on your way home, find something beautiful to notice. It doesn't have to be something you see - it could be a scent - perhaps of freshly baked bread wafting out of someone's house, or it could be the sound of the breeze slightly rustling the leaves in the trees, or the way the morning light catches one autumn leaf as it falls gently to the ground. Please, look for these things, and cherish them.
For, although it may sound trite to some, these things are the "stuff" of life. The little things we are put here on earth to enjoy. The things we often take for granted. We must make it important to notice them, for at any time ... it can all be taken away."
The class was completely quiet. We all picked up our books and filed out of the room silently. That afternoon, I noticed more things on my way home from school than I had that whole semester. Every once in a while, I think of that teacher and remember what an impression she made on all of us, and I try to appreciate all of those things that sometimes we all overlook.
Take notice of something special you see on your lunch hour today. Go barefoot. Or walk on the beach at sunset. Stop off on the way home tonight to get a double dip ice cream cone. For as we get older, it is not the things we did that we often regret, but the things we didn't do.
- Author Unknown
Friday, December 19, 2008
Make Your Life Beautiful.
1. Keep Smiles on your face.
2. Trust yourself & Do your work Accurate.
3. Don't give up Hopes.
4. Keep time to Dream.
5. Think about Sweet Things/Sweet Ones.
6. Allocate separate places for problems in your mind.
7. Keep a separate time to think about problems. ( not the whole day)
8. Have chat with people who you like.
9. Laugh with Friends.
10. Keep a little time to be Alone.
Have you ever feel the beauty of sunset on the horizon.
Have you ever feel the sweetness of a starry sky in a night.
Have you ever feel the beauty of the full moon.
Have you ever feel sweetness of a rainbow on cloudless sky.
Collect smiles from these to your life----------------------life is----------sweet.
- Unknown
2. Trust yourself & Do your work Accurate.
3. Don't give up Hopes.
4. Keep time to Dream.
5. Think about Sweet Things/Sweet Ones.
6. Allocate separate places for problems in your mind.
7. Keep a separate time to think about problems. ( not the whole day)
8. Have chat with people who you like.
9. Laugh with Friends.
10. Keep a little time to be Alone.
Have you ever feel the beauty of sunset on the horizon.
Have you ever feel the sweetness of a starry sky in a night.
Have you ever feel the beauty of the full moon.
Have you ever feel sweetness of a rainbow on cloudless sky.
Collect smiles from these to your life----------------------life is----------sweet.
- Unknown
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Never Under Estimate Anyone
A young boy enters a barber shop and the barber whispers to his Customer,
"This is the dumbest kid in the world. Watch while I prove it to you."
The barber puts a five rupee coin in one hand and two one rupee coins(1+1=2) in the other, then calls the boy over and asks, "Which do you want, son?"
The boy takes the two one rupee coins and leaves.
"What did I tell you?" said the barber. "That kid never learns!"
Later, when the customer leaves, he sees the same young boy coming out of the ice cream store.
"Hey, son! May I ask you a question? Why did you take two one rupee coins instead of five rupee coin?"
The boy licked his cone and replied, *"Because THE DAY I TAKE THE FIVE RUPEE COIN, THE GAME IS OVER *
Moral : When you think the other person is dumb, you are making a fool of yourself
- Author Unknown
"This is the dumbest kid in the world. Watch while I prove it to you."
The barber puts a five rupee coin in one hand and two one rupee coins(1+1=2) in the other, then calls the boy over and asks, "Which do you want, son?"
The boy takes the two one rupee coins and leaves.
"What did I tell you?" said the barber. "That kid never learns!"
Later, when the customer leaves, he sees the same young boy coming out of the ice cream store.
"Hey, son! May I ask you a question? Why did you take two one rupee coins instead of five rupee coin?"
The boy licked his cone and replied, *"Because THE DAY I TAKE THE FIVE RUPEE COIN, THE GAME IS OVER *
Moral : When you think the other person is dumb, you are making a fool of yourself
- Author Unknown
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
We are Born To Be Achievers......
Some of the best music was composed by
Beethoven.
He was deaf.....
Some of the best poetry about nature was
Written by Milton.
He was blind.......
One of the greatest leaders was
Franklin Roosevelt.
He served from a wheel chair.
No Stars without Scars!!!!!
We are born to be achievers.
- Aakash
Beethoven.
He was deaf.....
Some of the best poetry about nature was
Written by Milton.
He was blind.......
One of the greatest leaders was
Franklin Roosevelt.
He served from a wheel chair.
No Stars without Scars!!!!!
We are born to be achievers.
- Aakash
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Lessons Of Life
I feared being alone
until I learned to like
myself.
I feared failure
until I realized that I only
fail when I don't try.
I feared success
until I realized
that I had to try
in order to be happy
with myself.
I feared people's opinions
until I learned that
people would have opinions
about me anyway.
I feared rejection
until I learned to
have faith in myself.
I feared pain
until I learned that
it's necessary
for growth.
I feared the truth
until I saw the
ugliness in lies.
I feared life
until I experienced
its beauty.
I feared death
until I realized that it's
not an end, but a beginning.
I feared my destiny,
until I realized that
I had the power to change
my life.
I feared hate
until I saw that it
was nothing more than
ignorance.
I feared love
until it touched my heart,
making the darkness fade
into endless sunny days.
I feared ridicule
until I learned how
to laugh at myself.
I feared growing old
until I realized that
I gained wisdom every day.
I feared the future
until I realized that
life just kept getting
better.
I feared the past
until I realized that
it could no longer hurt me.
I feared the dark
until I saw the beauty
of the starlight.
I feared the light
until I learned that the
truth would give me
strength.
I feared change,
until I saw that
even the most beautiful butterfly
had to undergo a metamorphosis
before it could fly.
- Author Unknown
until I learned to like
myself.
I feared failure
until I realized that I only
fail when I don't try.
I feared success
until I realized
that I had to try
in order to be happy
with myself.
I feared people's opinions
until I learned that
people would have opinions
about me anyway.
I feared rejection
until I learned to
have faith in myself.
I feared pain
until I learned that
it's necessary
for growth.
I feared the truth
until I saw the
ugliness in lies.
I feared life
until I experienced
its beauty.
I feared death
until I realized that it's
not an end, but a beginning.
I feared my destiny,
until I realized that
I had the power to change
my life.
I feared hate
until I saw that it
was nothing more than
ignorance.
I feared love
until it touched my heart,
making the darkness fade
into endless sunny days.
I feared ridicule
until I learned how
to laugh at myself.
I feared growing old
until I realized that
I gained wisdom every day.
I feared the future
until I realized that
life just kept getting
better.
I feared the past
until I realized that
it could no longer hurt me.
I feared the dark
until I saw the beauty
of the starlight.
I feared the light
until I learned that the
truth would give me
strength.
I feared change,
until I saw that
even the most beautiful butterfly
had to undergo a metamorphosis
before it could fly.
- Author Unknown
Monday, December 15, 2008
Motivational Story - Little Candle
Once upon a time a little candle stood in a room filled with other candles, most of them much larger and much more beautiful than she was. Some were ornate and some were rather simple, like herself. Some were white, some were blue, some were pink, some were green. She had no idea why she was there, and the other candles made her feel rather small and insignificant.
When the sun went down and the room began to get dark, she noticed a large man walking toward her with a ball of fire on a stick. She suddenly realized that the man was going to set her on fire. "No, no!!" she cried, "Aaaaagghhh! Don't burn me, please!" But she knew that she could not be heard and prepared for the pain that would surely follow.
To her surprise, the room filled with light. She wondered where it came from since the man had extinguished his fire stick. To her delight, she realized that the light came from herself.
Then the man struck another fire stick and, one by one, lit the other candles in the room. Each one gave out the same light that she did.
During the next few hours, she noticed that, slowly, her wax began to flow. She became aware that she would soon die. With this realization came a sense of why she had been created. "Perhaps my purpose on earth is to give out light until I die." And that's exactly what she did. God created you and I to produce light in a dark world.
Like that little candle, we all can produce the same amount of light, no matter how small we are or what color we might be. But we can't produce light until we receive it from an outside source. That source is God, the light of the world.
- Author Unknown
When the sun went down and the room began to get dark, she noticed a large man walking toward her with a ball of fire on a stick. She suddenly realized that the man was going to set her on fire. "No, no!!" she cried, "Aaaaagghhh! Don't burn me, please!" But she knew that she could not be heard and prepared for the pain that would surely follow.
To her surprise, the room filled with light. She wondered where it came from since the man had extinguished his fire stick. To her delight, she realized that the light came from herself.
Then the man struck another fire stick and, one by one, lit the other candles in the room. Each one gave out the same light that she did.
During the next few hours, she noticed that, slowly, her wax began to flow. She became aware that she would soon die. With this realization came a sense of why she had been created. "Perhaps my purpose on earth is to give out light until I die." And that's exactly what she did. God created you and I to produce light in a dark world.
Like that little candle, we all can produce the same amount of light, no matter how small we are or what color we might be. But we can't produce light until we receive it from an outside source. That source is God, the light of the world.
- Author Unknown
Friday, December 12, 2008
The Integrity of True Beauty
Thought is an amazing thing:
It can be a mirror, a lens, a bridge, a wall, a window, a ladder or a house. There is nothing in the world that has the cutting edge of a new thought. It is fascinating to watch the clearance it can make and the new life it can bring. Often, without knowing it, we are waiting for a new idea to come and cut us free from our entanglement. When the idea is true and the space is ready for it, the idea overtakes everything. With grace-like swiftness, it descends and claims recognition; it cannot be returned or reversed. It becomes more forceful than any single action could be. Indeed, it becomes the mother of a whole sequence of new feeling, thinking and action. Though we live mostly in the visible world and our personalities, roles and work distinguish and identify us externally, we dwell more forcefully elsewhere. A person can dwell inside a thought.
Yet each individual who thinks is limited and confined within his own mind. The poignancy of thought is that it can never bridge the distance between the self and the world. The medieval mind filled that interim distance with the interesting presence of the five Transcendentals -- Being, The One, the Good, the True and the Beautiful. Being is the deepest reality, the substance of our world and all the things in it. The One claims that all things are somehow bound together in an all-embracing unity: despite all the differences in us, around us and between us, everything ultimately holds together as one; chaos does not have the final word. The True claims that reality is true and our experience is real and our actions endeavor to come into alignment with the truth. The Good suggests that in practicing goodness we participate in the soul of the world. The fifth is the Beautiful.
Every act of thinking, mostly without our realizing it, is secretly grounded in these presences.
Integrity is the adequacy of a thing to itself. There is here a sense of achieved proportion between a thing and what it is called to be. Creation is always in the heave of growth; the integrity of beauty is that inner straining towards goodness and completion. There is a wonderful urgency within things to realize the dream of their individual fulfillment. Nothing is neutral, everything is on its way. Aquinas insisted that goodness, truth and integrity belonged essentially to beauty. In light of this we can see that much of the current cultural breakdown can be understood as failure of vision with regard to beauty.
~ John O'Donohue,
Beauty : The Invisible Embrace
It can be a mirror, a lens, a bridge, a wall, a window, a ladder or a house. There is nothing in the world that has the cutting edge of a new thought. It is fascinating to watch the clearance it can make and the new life it can bring. Often, without knowing it, we are waiting for a new idea to come and cut us free from our entanglement. When the idea is true and the space is ready for it, the idea overtakes everything. With grace-like swiftness, it descends and claims recognition; it cannot be returned or reversed. It becomes more forceful than any single action could be. Indeed, it becomes the mother of a whole sequence of new feeling, thinking and action. Though we live mostly in the visible world and our personalities, roles and work distinguish and identify us externally, we dwell more forcefully elsewhere. A person can dwell inside a thought.
Yet each individual who thinks is limited and confined within his own mind. The poignancy of thought is that it can never bridge the distance between the self and the world. The medieval mind filled that interim distance with the interesting presence of the five Transcendentals -- Being, The One, the Good, the True and the Beautiful. Being is the deepest reality, the substance of our world and all the things in it. The One claims that all things are somehow bound together in an all-embracing unity: despite all the differences in us, around us and between us, everything ultimately holds together as one; chaos does not have the final word. The True claims that reality is true and our experience is real and our actions endeavor to come into alignment with the truth. The Good suggests that in practicing goodness we participate in the soul of the world. The fifth is the Beautiful.
Every act of thinking, mostly without our realizing it, is secretly grounded in these presences.
Integrity is the adequacy of a thing to itself. There is here a sense of achieved proportion between a thing and what it is called to be. Creation is always in the heave of growth; the integrity of beauty is that inner straining towards goodness and completion. There is a wonderful urgency within things to realize the dream of their individual fulfillment. Nothing is neutral, everything is on its way. Aquinas insisted that goodness, truth and integrity belonged essentially to beauty. In light of this we can see that much of the current cultural breakdown can be understood as failure of vision with regard to beauty.
~ John O'Donohue,
Beauty : The Invisible Embrace
Thursday, December 11, 2008
This Life Is Yours
*** Take the power to choose what you want to do and do it well.
*** Take the power to love what you want in life and love it honestly.
*** Take the power to walk in the forest and be a part of nature.
*** Take the power to control your own life. No one else can do it for you.
*** Take the power to make your life happy. This life is yours.
- Unknown
*** Take the power to love what you want in life and love it honestly.
*** Take the power to walk in the forest and be a part of nature.
*** Take the power to control your own life. No one else can do it for you.
*** Take the power to make your life happy. This life is yours.
- Unknown
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
The Practice of Desire
Someone once shared with me this very simple yet profound discovery, "If I practice desire, I suffer." What could be simpler? This essential teaching arose from his own direct experience. (...)
You may have very sophisticated justifications as to why it is is perfectly okay to act on a desire -- this time, one more time, for the last time -- and in the middle of these justifications, you can stop. If you don't give yourself an exit, a kind of crucifixion occurs where an inner resolve arises and says, "Even if it kills me, I am not going to move in this moment." Not moving offers the possibility of discovering the peace of surrender, resurrection, redemption. With that discovery, the bondage of desire or addictive habit is naturally weakened. It is possible in this moment to totally cut the addiction; at the very least the link is weakened. Then the next time the impulse arises, you know you have a choice.
Even though you may know intellectually that it will lead you down the same old path, you may never have fully and consciously acknowledged your attachment to it. There is energy in that infatuation. The pure force of your desire may subject you to cellular shaking. Be willing to experience the whole of that force and not go numb or disassociate.
Acting out a desire takes some effort. It take imagining and thinking about what you want or what you have lost. It takes comparing the present moment with some idealized moment of the past or the future. It takes attempting to either grasp at something or to avoid something. It is a practice. Is it your practice?
What are you spending your lifetime practicing? If you are practicing desire, you are suffering. If you are suffering, see for yourself if you are practicing desire.
- by Gangaji from "The Diamond in Your Pocket"
You may have very sophisticated justifications as to why it is is perfectly okay to act on a desire -- this time, one more time, for the last time -- and in the middle of these justifications, you can stop. If you don't give yourself an exit, a kind of crucifixion occurs where an inner resolve arises and says, "Even if it kills me, I am not going to move in this moment." Not moving offers the possibility of discovering the peace of surrender, resurrection, redemption. With that discovery, the bondage of desire or addictive habit is naturally weakened. It is possible in this moment to totally cut the addiction; at the very least the link is weakened. Then the next time the impulse arises, you know you have a choice.
Even though you may know intellectually that it will lead you down the same old path, you may never have fully and consciously acknowledged your attachment to it. There is energy in that infatuation. The pure force of your desire may subject you to cellular shaking. Be willing to experience the whole of that force and not go numb or disassociate.
Acting out a desire takes some effort. It take imagining and thinking about what you want or what you have lost. It takes comparing the present moment with some idealized moment of the past or the future. It takes attempting to either grasp at something or to avoid something. It is a practice. Is it your practice?
What are you spending your lifetime practicing? If you are practicing desire, you are suffering. If you are suffering, see for yourself if you are practicing desire.
- by Gangaji from "The Diamond in Your Pocket"
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Only Words
My father is a triathlete. That is, he has competed in several triathlons¯a kind of marathon that includes running as well as swimming and bike riding. He's been doing it for years, and he really enjoys all the sports, but his favorite is bike riding. Ever since I was little, I've always loved going biking with my dad. We would leave the city behind and follow the bike trails way up into the woods of Wisconsin. We had a favorite spot where we would picnic. It was always our special time, and it kept me in great physical shape.
But as I grew older and became a teenager, I was distracted by other things to do with my time. Suddenly, it was very important to go shopping with friends or to a movie with a boy. I saw my dad every evening at home. Why did I have to
devote my free Saturdays to all-day bike trips with him, too?
If my indifference hurt him, he never let on. He never asked me outright, but would always let me know when he was planning a bike trip in case I wanted to come.
I didn't, and as I approached my sixteenth birthday, I wanted to spend less and less time with my dad. Except for one thing I didn't mind being with him when he was giving me a driving lesson.
More than anything else, I wanted that driver's license. It meant freedom. It meant no more waiting for parents to pick me up. No more carpools. It meant looking cool behind the wheel of a car as I drove past my friends' houses. Of course, since I didn't have my own car, I would still be dependent on my parents, since they were allowing me to use theirs.
It was a Sunday morning, and I was in a terrible mood. Two of my friends had gone to the movies the night before and hadn't invited me. I was in my room thinking of ways to make them sorry when my father poked his head in. "Want to go for a ride, today, Beck? It's a beautiful day."
But I preferred to sit in my room and stew. I wasn't very polite when I said, "No! Please stop asking me!" It didn't matter that he hadn't asked me in months. Or that he was trying to cheer me up. It didn't even matter that he just wanted
to be with me, as I knew he did.
"Leave me alone!" That was what I said. Leave me alone. Those were the last words I said to him before he left the house that morning.
My friends called and invited me to go to the mall with them a few hours later. I forgot to be mad at them and went. I came home to find the note propped up against the mirror on the mail table. My mother put it where I would be sure to see it.
"Dad has had an accident. Please meet us at Highland Park Hospital. Don't hurry, just drive carefully. The keys are in the drawer."
I grabbed the keys and tried hard not to speed or cry as I drove.
When I reached the hospital, I went in through the emergency room. I remembered the way because I had been there once before when I broke my arm. I thought about that incident now. I had fallen out of the apple tree in our backyard. I started to scream, but before the scream was out of my mouth, there was my dad, scooping me up, holding me and my injured arm. He held me while my mother drove us to the emergency room. And he held me as they set my arm and put a pink cast on it. I do remember the pain, but I also remember how safe I felt in my dad's strong arms. And I remember the chocolate ice cream afterward.
I saw my sister Debbie first. She told me our mom was in with our dad and that he was going up to surgery soon. She said I had to wait to see him until after the surgery. Just then, my mother came out.
She looked very old. I burst into tears without saying a word, and she put her arms around me.
My father's injuries were extensive. He had been riding on the sidewalk and, as he approached a stoplight, it had turned green. He had the right of way, but the white delivery truck making the right-hand turn didn't think so. At least, the
sixteen-year-old driver didn't think so. Later, he admitted that he never saw my dad because he didn't look in his outside mirror.
The only reason my dad wasn't killed is that he ran into the van; the van did not run into him. He smashed head and face first into the side of the truck. His fiberglass helmet absorbed the blow, but he broke both shoulders and his left
clavicle. The doctors put him in a horrible metal brace that attached to his body with screws. It braced his head and neck and looked horribly painful. My mom forewarned me about this apparatus before she let me see my dad because she was afraid that the sight of him would freak me out. She was right.
Still, as my mom said, it could have been much worse. My dad never lost consciousness. This proved to be a very good thing because the shaken boy who drove the truck wanted to move my dad, to help him up. Even I know you don't move someone who has been injured like that.
"Your father was able to tell the kid to leave him alone and just call 911, thank God! If he had moved Daddy, there's no telling what might have happened. A broken rib might have pierced a lung...."
My mother may have said more, but I didn't hear. I didn't hear anything except those terrible words: Leave me alone.
My dad said them to save himself from being hurt more. How much had I hurt him when I hurled those words at him earlier in the day?
I had to wait until the next afternoon to see him. When I did, he was in terrible pain. I tried to tell him how sorry I was, but I couldn't tell if he heard me.
It was several days later that he was finally able to have a conversation. I held his hand gently, afraid of hurting him.
"Daddy... I am so sorry...."
"It's okay, sweetheart. I'll be okay."
"No," I said, "I mean about what I said to you that day. You know, that morning?"
My father could no more tell a lie than he could fly. He looked at me blankly and said, "Sweetheart, I don't remember anything about that day, not before, during or after the accident. I remember kissing you goodnight the night before,
though." He managed a weak smile.
I never wanted him to leave me alone. And to think it might have happened. If he had been killed, we all would have been left alone. It was too horrible to imagine. I felt incredible remorse for my thoughtless remark.
My English teacher, a very wise woman, once told me that words have immeasurable power. They can hurt or they can heal. And we all have the power to choose our words. I intend to do that very carefully from now on.
BY: Becky Steinberg
Only Words From Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Relationships
But as I grew older and became a teenager, I was distracted by other things to do with my time. Suddenly, it was very important to go shopping with friends or to a movie with a boy. I saw my dad every evening at home. Why did I have to
devote my free Saturdays to all-day bike trips with him, too?
If my indifference hurt him, he never let on. He never asked me outright, but would always let me know when he was planning a bike trip in case I wanted to come.
I didn't, and as I approached my sixteenth birthday, I wanted to spend less and less time with my dad. Except for one thing I didn't mind being with him when he was giving me a driving lesson.
More than anything else, I wanted that driver's license. It meant freedom. It meant no more waiting for parents to pick me up. No more carpools. It meant looking cool behind the wheel of a car as I drove past my friends' houses. Of course, since I didn't have my own car, I would still be dependent on my parents, since they were allowing me to use theirs.
It was a Sunday morning, and I was in a terrible mood. Two of my friends had gone to the movies the night before and hadn't invited me. I was in my room thinking of ways to make them sorry when my father poked his head in. "Want to go for a ride, today, Beck? It's a beautiful day."
But I preferred to sit in my room and stew. I wasn't very polite when I said, "No! Please stop asking me!" It didn't matter that he hadn't asked me in months. Or that he was trying to cheer me up. It didn't even matter that he just wanted
to be with me, as I knew he did.
"Leave me alone!" That was what I said. Leave me alone. Those were the last words I said to him before he left the house that morning.
My friends called and invited me to go to the mall with them a few hours later. I forgot to be mad at them and went. I came home to find the note propped up against the mirror on the mail table. My mother put it where I would be sure to see it.
"Dad has had an accident. Please meet us at Highland Park Hospital. Don't hurry, just drive carefully. The keys are in the drawer."
I grabbed the keys and tried hard not to speed or cry as I drove.
When I reached the hospital, I went in through the emergency room. I remembered the way because I had been there once before when I broke my arm. I thought about that incident now. I had fallen out of the apple tree in our backyard. I started to scream, but before the scream was out of my mouth, there was my dad, scooping me up, holding me and my injured arm. He held me while my mother drove us to the emergency room. And he held me as they set my arm and put a pink cast on it. I do remember the pain, but I also remember how safe I felt in my dad's strong arms. And I remember the chocolate ice cream afterward.
I saw my sister Debbie first. She told me our mom was in with our dad and that he was going up to surgery soon. She said I had to wait to see him until after the surgery. Just then, my mother came out.
She looked very old. I burst into tears without saying a word, and she put her arms around me.
My father's injuries were extensive. He had been riding on the sidewalk and, as he approached a stoplight, it had turned green. He had the right of way, but the white delivery truck making the right-hand turn didn't think so. At least, the
sixteen-year-old driver didn't think so. Later, he admitted that he never saw my dad because he didn't look in his outside mirror.
The only reason my dad wasn't killed is that he ran into the van; the van did not run into him. He smashed head and face first into the side of the truck. His fiberglass helmet absorbed the blow, but he broke both shoulders and his left
clavicle. The doctors put him in a horrible metal brace that attached to his body with screws. It braced his head and neck and looked horribly painful. My mom forewarned me about this apparatus before she let me see my dad because she was afraid that the sight of him would freak me out. She was right.
Still, as my mom said, it could have been much worse. My dad never lost consciousness. This proved to be a very good thing because the shaken boy who drove the truck wanted to move my dad, to help him up. Even I know you don't move someone who has been injured like that.
"Your father was able to tell the kid to leave him alone and just call 911, thank God! If he had moved Daddy, there's no telling what might have happened. A broken rib might have pierced a lung...."
My mother may have said more, but I didn't hear. I didn't hear anything except those terrible words: Leave me alone.
My dad said them to save himself from being hurt more. How much had I hurt him when I hurled those words at him earlier in the day?
I had to wait until the next afternoon to see him. When I did, he was in terrible pain. I tried to tell him how sorry I was, but I couldn't tell if he heard me.
It was several days later that he was finally able to have a conversation. I held his hand gently, afraid of hurting him.
"Daddy... I am so sorry...."
"It's okay, sweetheart. I'll be okay."
"No," I said, "I mean about what I said to you that day. You know, that morning?"
My father could no more tell a lie than he could fly. He looked at me blankly and said, "Sweetheart, I don't remember anything about that day, not before, during or after the accident. I remember kissing you goodnight the night before,
though." He managed a weak smile.
I never wanted him to leave me alone. And to think it might have happened. If he had been killed, we all would have been left alone. It was too horrible to imagine. I felt incredible remorse for my thoughtless remark.
My English teacher, a very wise woman, once told me that words have immeasurable power. They can hurt or they can heal. And we all have the power to choose our words. I intend to do that very carefully from now on.
BY: Becky Steinberg
Only Words From Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Relationships
Monday, December 08, 2008
Five Essential Success Steps
A life without direction, without ambition, dreams and aspirations, could be a life half lived. Establish direction in your life, achieve your dreams and be very happy.
How do you maximize your chances of goal success?
Step 1. Life Review
Complete a thorough life review list. Gain a better understanding of your life including values, strengths, weaknesses & more. Determine the things you like and those you dislike and make a list of ten items each. Refine the information into key elements, rank your list and focus on the top three. Set a vision from these three key likes and dislikes and create a picture of where you want to be, those parts of your life you want changed and those parts you do not want changed. Use repetition techniques (say your vision to yourself 20 times daily) to reinforce your vision. Look beyond you current situation and lock your vision into your future.
Step 2. Goals
Develop Goal/s, based on the Life Review to achieve the changes or desires reviewed. Each goal should be summed up in one sentence. Goals need to be achievable (with a stretch), not open to interpretation, and set with boundaries of time and clear definition of success. Do not set goals which are truly beyond reach. If you have large incredible goals, break the goal up into short and long term goals. Set key dates and have clear descriptions of what you will do to achieve the goal by the set date. Don't be lazy, write it all down. Cement the goals into your conscious and subconscious mind. Repeat the goal to your self constantly, when awake and when asleep. If possible, dream of your goal/s.
Step 3. Actions
Develop the actions which will result in the achievement of the Goal/s. Using proper 'goal action' building techniques to ensure effectiveness. Your Action plan must include descriptions, dates, steps, responsibilities, what, how and when. Develop a thorough & effective plan to take you from A to B. Remember 'actions create outcomes', activity will only keep you busy. An action is defined as a completed task which gets you one step closer to total goal achievement. It may not be perfect, it may come across hurdles, don't let that stop you. Get started, don't procrastinate. Stop making up excuses. Make a list of all the actions, cross them off when completed. Use a diary if beneficial.
Step 4. Thinking
Review the journey to success. Is it working? What needs to change? Is your thinking process optimized? Create 'Positive Thought Statements' (words which empower you) to keep you motivated and complete the set goals. Set benchmark dates. Read material which will help you better understand and achieve the goal in mind. Measure your progress, review all obstacles and create solutions to move around or over them. Seek support where required from friends, family or from professionals such as Life Coaches. Continue to reinforce the goal in your mind. Believe in yourself and the achievement of your goal.
Step 5. Successful completion
When the goal is met to your satisfaction, celebrate the achievement. Be flexible, if you set an incredible goal (i.e. one which most of the population could not achieve) and you achieve 80% of the goal, that is truly a remarkable achievement. Cement the accomplishment, reward the effort and build on the success. What have you learnt about yourself? Review the Goal Success inline with your vision. Are your true expectations met? Be proud of what you have accomplished, whether it is big or small. Move onto the next big item in your life. Learn everyday, about yourself and the world around you.
- by Life Coach Leo
How do you maximize your chances of goal success?
Step 1. Life Review
Complete a thorough life review list. Gain a better understanding of your life including values, strengths, weaknesses & more. Determine the things you like and those you dislike and make a list of ten items each. Refine the information into key elements, rank your list and focus on the top three. Set a vision from these three key likes and dislikes and create a picture of where you want to be, those parts of your life you want changed and those parts you do not want changed. Use repetition techniques (say your vision to yourself 20 times daily) to reinforce your vision. Look beyond you current situation and lock your vision into your future.
Step 2. Goals
Develop Goal/s, based on the Life Review to achieve the changes or desires reviewed. Each goal should be summed up in one sentence. Goals need to be achievable (with a stretch), not open to interpretation, and set with boundaries of time and clear definition of success. Do not set goals which are truly beyond reach. If you have large incredible goals, break the goal up into short and long term goals. Set key dates and have clear descriptions of what you will do to achieve the goal by the set date. Don't be lazy, write it all down. Cement the goals into your conscious and subconscious mind. Repeat the goal to your self constantly, when awake and when asleep. If possible, dream of your goal/s.
Step 3. Actions
Develop the actions which will result in the achievement of the Goal/s. Using proper 'goal action' building techniques to ensure effectiveness. Your Action plan must include descriptions, dates, steps, responsibilities, what, how and when. Develop a thorough & effective plan to take you from A to B. Remember 'actions create outcomes', activity will only keep you busy. An action is defined as a completed task which gets you one step closer to total goal achievement. It may not be perfect, it may come across hurdles, don't let that stop you. Get started, don't procrastinate. Stop making up excuses. Make a list of all the actions, cross them off when completed. Use a diary if beneficial.
Step 4. Thinking
Review the journey to success. Is it working? What needs to change? Is your thinking process optimized? Create 'Positive Thought Statements' (words which empower you) to keep you motivated and complete the set goals. Set benchmark dates. Read material which will help you better understand and achieve the goal in mind. Measure your progress, review all obstacles and create solutions to move around or over them. Seek support where required from friends, family or from professionals such as Life Coaches. Continue to reinforce the goal in your mind. Believe in yourself and the achievement of your goal.
Step 5. Successful completion
When the goal is met to your satisfaction, celebrate the achievement. Be flexible, if you set an incredible goal (i.e. one which most of the population could not achieve) and you achieve 80% of the goal, that is truly a remarkable achievement. Cement the accomplishment, reward the effort and build on the success. What have you learnt about yourself? Review the Goal Success inline with your vision. Are your true expectations met? Be proud of what you have accomplished, whether it is big or small. Move onto the next big item in your life. Learn everyday, about yourself and the world around you.
- by Life Coach Leo
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)