Listen & Understand Others !!!

A teacher teaching Maths to seven-year-old Arnav asked him, “If I give you one apple and one apple and one apple, how many apples will you have?”Within a few seconds Arnav replied confidently, “Four!” The dismayed teacher was expecting an effortless correct answer (three). She was disappointed. “Maybe the child did not listen properly,” she thought. She repeated, “Arnav, listen carefully. If I give you one apple and one apple and one apple, how many apples will you have?”

Arnav had seen the disappointment on his teacher’s face. He calculated again on his fingers. But within him he was also searching for the answer that will make the teacher happy. His search for the answer was not for the correct one, but the one that will make his teacher happy. This time hesitatingly he replied, “Four…” The disappointment stayed on the teacher’s face. She remembered that Arnav liked strawberries. She thought maybe he doesn’t like apples and that is making him loose focus. This time with an exaggerated excitement and twinkling in her eyes she asked, “If I give you one strawberry and one strawberry and one strawberry, then how many you will have?” Seeing the teacher happy, young Arnav calculated on his fingers again. There was no pressure on him, but a little on the teacher. She wanted her new approach to succeed. With a hesitating smile young Arnav enquired, “Three?” The teacher now had a victorious smile. Her approach had succeeded. She wanted to congratulate herself. But one last thing remained. Once again she asked him, “Now if I give you one apple and one apple and one more apple how many will you have?” Promptly Arnav answered, “Four!” The teacher was aghast. “How Arnav, how?” she demanded in a little stern and irritated voice. In a voice that was low and hesitating young Arnav replied, “Because I already have one apple in my bag.”

When someone gives you an answer that is different from what you expect, its not necessarily the wrong one. There maybe an angle that you have not understood at all. You will have to listen and understand, but without a predetermined notion. Look out for some gems of 'wrong' opinions, answers, solutions from people around you

- Author Unknown

Dedicate Your Time

Dedicate time to work:
It's the price of success.

Dedicate time to think:
It's the fountain of power.

Dedicate time to enjoy:
It's the secret of youth.
Dedicate time to love and be loved:
It's the source of joy and satisfaction.

Dedicate time to laugh:
it mitigates the stress

- Unknown -

Beautiful Inspiring Message!!

1. Character is the light which shines
When sun is down, and other light are out.
Character is that power,
with which we can win war even losing some battles.


2. 'Care' is the main ingredient that keeps true relatios alive,
despite separation, distance & time.
Since I cant see you, Let my Care be with YOU.


3. You Can live without the person who says 'You Are Mine',
But you can never live without someone who says ' I Am Yours'.
May you always be blessed with such persons in you life.


4. Life is not worth lliving until you have someone to die for......
and Life is not worth dying once you have someone to live for.


5. Rainbow is cute design, as they lovingly shine,
Have you seen an inverted rainbow? You never know that,
It is you smile. Let me see that rainbow forever.

- Unknown

Inspirational Story

Down Is The Best Place To Be
- By Bob Perks


"I've really hit bottom," the young woman said.

"You'll still find hope there," I told her.

"How could I? I'm down so low in life I can't see a thing."

"Down is really a great place to be. Everything is always looking up!" I told her and then went on to explain.

I had been so depressed at one point in my life that I prayed to God to take my life. Every morning when I woke up, I'd curse the day. I was unemployed and in great debt.

But it wasn't until I crashed, literally hitting the floor that my life would change.

My life became very predictable. I had been desperately looking for a job. Each morning I woke up I'd grab the local newspaper from my porch. Bypassing the news, which during that time was depressing enough, I immediately looked for the want ads. Running my finger slowly down the page, I'd carefully scan for something new. Anything that caught my attention would be circled. It was early in 1990. There was little to circle.

That day there was nothing at all.

By this point I had already sent out hundreds of resumes to every conceivable employer within a 100-mile radius of my home. Of course, because of the economy, so did thousands of other unemployed mid-lifers.

I remember that day as clearly as I can see today. Sadness and despair washed over me like sweat on a hot, humid day.

I stood up from the kitchen table and walked, no, dragged myself into the living room. The paper slipped from my hands as I lost all touch with reality. My heart, my mind, my soul, my spirit, suddenly just gave up on life.

I looked up at the ceiling and tears gushed from my eyes.

With every last bit of energy I screamed, "God help me!" and fell to the floor on my knees. I wept openly for a few minutes and rolled over on my side. I lay there crying still, now curled up in a fetal position.

I don't remember much of my time lying there on the floor, but I do remember waking up and finding my Old English Sheepdog next to me.

I, too, was as low as I could be.

You might think, "How sad!" or "How very depressing!"

It actually saved my life.

Jim Rohn, professional speaker and inspirational writer would call such an event, "The day that turned my life around."

Despair and anguish were like an infection running through my system.

Hopelessness and thoughts of being a failure were lies raging within my very soul.

That moment, my crashing to the floor was one of the greatest moments in my life.

I was down so low that "up" was the only option.

I believe, that my cry to God that day told Him that I was ready for Him to take over. Up until that very moment, although I may have prayed for help, I was never really willing to accept it at all.

There is a story about a man in search of an audience with a great Sage. The day they met the man began to tell his story, never ceasing, never yielding to the Sage's input. Finally the Wise Man raised his hand to stop the conversation.

"Would you like a cup of tea?" he asked the man.

"Yes, that would be fine," the man replied and continued speaking.

The Wise Man placed the small tea cup in front of the man and began to pour from the tea pot. He continued pouring until the cup was filled beyond capacity and now overflowing onto the table. "Stop!" the man shouted. "It is more than full!"

The Sage set the tea pot down on the table and said, "You came here for guidance but, like the cup before you, you are overflowing, unwilling and unable to add anything to your life."

Before I emptied myself by letting go of it all that day, I too, was much too full of myself to permit God to take over.

If you are struggling with life and find yourself face down on the floor, remember two things.

"Down is a great place to be, because everything is always looking up."
And..."You can't fall off the floor."

Those "Instant" Successes

Many times an unknown person does something spectacular and suddenly becomes a "hero," a public figure, an "overnight success," the object of much envy. Let's explore this "overnight success" syndrome.

Several years ago Gary Spiess from White Lake, Minnesota, did an incredible thing. He sailed his ten-foot boat across the Atlantic Ocean in just 54 days. Most of us can only imagine what he endured to complete his 54-day ordeal, but suddenly the whole world knew who he was.

What is the real story? Did he just have a good idea, implement it and "luck" into celebrity status? The reality is that Gary had worked, planned, sacrificed and studied for three years to build his boat. He committed not only his money but 100% of his spare time for three solid years. He had to chart his course and plan every detail, down to the minutia - including maximum use of his space and the proper food, clothing and water to carry. Once the trip began, so did the danger. The most dangerous and difficult part was fighting the violent seas of the Atlantic Ocean. The seas often combined with a driving, bitterly-cold rain, which chilled him to the bone. By the time he reached England, he was so brutally battered by the cruel sea that his entire body was black and blue. Yes, it's true he had his day in the sun, but it's safe to say that he had sacrificed and worked in order to receive his rewards.

Most of us are not interested in doing anything of that nature, but it is safe to say that if we're going to accomplish anything of significance, and particularly if we're going to maintain that significance, long hours of planning and even more of hard work are required. But it's also safe to say it's worth it because the effort is temporary but the satisfaction and rewards can be long-lasting. Message: Give it your best shot and I will SEE YOU AT THE TOP!

- By Zig Ziglar

Keep Moving!!!

Life gives answers in three ways.

It says yes and gives whatever you want.
It says no and gives you something better.
It says wait and gives you the best.

If you're committed to your dream,
you will win anyways.

Don't just dream, Live your dream.
Keep moving towards it.

- Unknown -

Inspiring Story - Trouble Tree

The carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farmhouse had just finished a rough first day on the job. A flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw quit, and now his ancient pickup truck refused to start. While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence.

On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. When opening the door he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.

Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.

"Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied." I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang them on the tree every night when I come home. Then in the morning I pick them up again."

He paused. "Funny thing is," he smiled, "when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there ain't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."

As the rains set in and our traffic troubles on our city roads lead to frustration and despair, lets each find that tree to hang our troubles and get on with our lives - wet, yet cheerful!

- Author Unknown