College Ke Din
There is something for you.Memories of the past days.
Yeh Degree bhi lelo, Yeh Naukri bhi lelo,
Bhale mujhse lelo woh US ka Visa,
Magar mujhko lauta do college ka canteen,
Woh TeeKha Samosaa, Woh thanda saaa paani,
Woh College ki sabse - purani nishaanee,
Woh chai vaalaa jisko - saare kehte the... jaani,
Woh jaani ke hathon - ki 'cutting' chai meethi,
Woh chup-kese journal - mein jo bheji thi chitthi,
Woh padhte hi chitthi - tha uska bhadakna,
Woh chehre ki laali, woh aankhon kaa gussaa ...
Woh teekha samosa, woh thanda saaa paani...........
Kadi dhoop mein - apni room se nikalnaa,
Woh project ki Khatir - tha dar dar bhataknaa ,
Woh lecture mein doston - ki proxy lagaanaa,
Woh sir ko chidana, aeroplane udaanaa,
Woh submission ki raton - ko jagna jagaanaa,
Woh viva ! s ke kisse, woh pracs ki kahani....
Woh teekha samosa, woh thanda saaa paani..........
Woh dena Bimaari - ka har time bahana,
Woh doosron ka assignment - ko apnaa banana,
Woh seminar ke din - pairon ka chat-patanaa,
Woh workshop mein din bhar - pasinaa bahanaa,
Woh slogans banana - aur Gym me rakhadna,
Phir Exam ke din ko - tha bechain hona,
Woh teekha samosa, woh thanda saaa paani........
College ki thi - woh lambi si raatein,
Woh doston se tapre pe - pyaari si Baatein;
Woh gathering ke din ka - jo ladnaa Jhagadnaa;
Woh kudiyon ka yuhin - hamesha akadnaa;
Bhulaaye nahin bhool sakta hai koi -------
Woh college, woh baatein, woh guzara jamana...
Woh Teekha Samosa, Woh thanda saaa paani....
THE MAYONNAISE JAR AND COFFEE
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the coffee.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items 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 golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.
He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "
I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
"The golf balls are the important things-your spirituality, family,your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions-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, and 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 golf balls. The same goes for 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 time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner.
"Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.
The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups
of coffee with a friend."
A beautiful thought !!!!
A little girl and her father were crossing a flimsy bridge. The father was
Kind of scared so he asked his little daughter, "Sweetheart, please hold my
Hand so that you don't fall into the river."
The little girl said, "No, Dad. You hold my hand."
"What's the difference?" asked the puzzled father.
"There's a big difference," replied the little girl. "If I hold your hand
And something happens to me; chances are that I may let your hand go. But
If you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will
Never let my hand go."
Better give your hand to someone who will never let go of you rather than you holding a hand which is not open for you.
Fear -GOD of all things!
I came across the article about Physics, Work and God.
I can say only this:
What is God? I have only surmised that anything that drives
fear into the heart of Man gets termed as God only until its
consequence is unknown.
Fire – Prior to mastering fire Man prayed knew Fire was God.
Once it was discovered how it could be created and controlled, it lost
its godliness and then the “God men” used it as a tool to drive fear
into the common man’s mind.
Lightning – Before electricity was mastered, it was retribution
from God to be struck by lightning. Now it is easily explained and is
no longer God.
In fact, so many discoveries have been made that Man no longer
fears many of the things that have been termed as God in History. Now,
with genetics, Man is closer to the creation of Life. But, till Man
discovers what it is that gives life to every one and starts life in
those cells… he will still be in awe .
Till mathematicians stop depending on the imaginary (root of
negative one) branch of mathematics to explain some phenomenon, that
undefined root remains God to them. They turn to it to classify the
absurd , it is the Fear of being found to be ignorant of something
that drives them to seek refuge behind the Imaginary .
Fear is the one emotion that can lead to a real touch with
the “One” or the “Source” . J Krishnamurti also put a tremendous
emphasis on the conquest towards the comprehension and conquest of
Fear. Like all the enlightened , he knew that to conquer Fear was the
only way Man could emerge from hiding behind Imaginary explanations.
Man still Fears a lot of things. God lives on – outside Man.
Once evey Fear is confronted and conquered… Will there be no God? No.
For then God will be identified from the Self and will be within and
not outside and then…?
God Knows!
Attitude or Gratitude ?
How do you feel when someone says the magic words ‘thank you’, for something routine that you did? It definitely makes you feel good, it in fact it adds a glow to your face and you continue your work a shade happier than you were earlier. You may just have been doing the job that you are paid for e.g., counting and handing over cash at your desk. Still when someone says ‘thank you’ it makes you feel good. Why is this so? For one, the words acknowledge your presence and contribution to the other’s needs. And when your presence is acknowledged and in this instance a person is grateful for your presence and your actions, it is bound to make you feel good.
Now reflect upon yourself and how you go through your day. Are you thankful enough towards all those people who contribute to your life in several ways? On looking inwards you may to your horror realise that there are many instances that you just take for granted. Let us take a typical scenario at home - the morning rush hour at home when students and office goers leave for their respective organisations. Assuming that all are carrying lunch boxes - does anyone thank the mother who toiled in the kitchen to prepare them? Many a time the answer is - no.
It is true that such services within the family are performed without expecting anything in return. Still your expressing thanks acknowledges their presence and makes them feel needed. Is this not the least that you can do for your loved ones? The same goes for your father, siblings, grandparents and any extended family and friends you interact with on a daily basis.
It helps you too When you express a feeling of thanksgiving, a positive act is performed not just for others but for yourself too. It helps you keep things in perspective and acknowledge your many blessings. In today’s stressful life people easily fall prey to negative moods like dissatisfaction, irritability and worse depression. Such negative feelings can be kept at bay consciously when you interact with others and acknowledge the interaction.
Let us take an example. Are you feeling irritated because your train has been delayed? Do you want to snap out of that mood? Do it consciously by looking for something pleasant to focus your attention on. Look around, focus on the smiling face of an infant and feel the smile spread over your face too. Obviously you cannot walk across and thank the baby but you can acknowledge its contribution. When you take the focus away from the irritant in this manner, it ceases to hold the all-important place in your thoughts and automatically ceases to irritate you further with the same intensity.
If you weave an attitude that reflects gratitude towards all positive things that you see around yourself, you will undoubtedly have a fulfilling and happy day. The focus will shift towards what you have and what you have received rather than towards what you do not have. And a happier state of mind makes a person perform better, as a result of which with better productivity you will have more things and instances to be thankful about. So go ahead and spread the message of gratitude by example - express gratitude whenever possible; add a smile to someone’s face and to yours too.
The ‘what and how’ mantra
I remember a song that we learnt as kids: In every job we undertake there is a little bit of fun/We find the fun and snap the job again/Then every task we undertake/ Becomes a piece of cake. A lark, a spree/It’s very clear to see. These days, I frequently sing it.
Let’s learn to love what we are doing. Instead of wondering why we are stuck with it, let’s ask ourselves what it was that first got us going and how we overcame teething troubles to reach where we are. Generally, ‘what’ and ‘how’ are considered positive questions; whereas, ‘why’ is considered negative. If we have lost sight of the fun in the job, let’s find it again. And when we do, we’d have bounced back in love with the job, with the task on hand.
Enlightenment
Enligtenment is that state of being mature and unshakable in any circumstance,come what may,nothing can rob the smile from your heart." All that exists in this universe belongs to me,"is enlightenment.It is not identifying with limited boundaries and feelings.
Un-englightenment is easy to define.It is limiting you by saying,"I belong to this particular place,"or"I am from that culture."It is like children saying,"My dad is better than your dad" or "My toy is better than your toy."I think most people around the world are stuck in that mental age group-just the toys have changed.
So what is Enlightenment?? :" />
Englightenment is the very core of our Being;going to the core of our Self and living our life from them.
Touching Message
The story goes like this....... some time ago a mother punished her 5 year old daughter for wasting a roll of expensive gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and she became even more upset when the child used the gold paper to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree.
Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift box to her mother the next morning and said, "This is for you, Momma." The mother was embarrassed by her earlier over reaction, but her anger flared again when she opened the box and found it was empty.
She spoke to her daughter in a harsh manner. "Don't you know, young lady, when you give someone a resent there's supposed to be something inside the package?" She had tears in her eyes and said, "Oh, Mummy, it's not empty! I blew kisses into it until it was full." The mother was crushed. She fell on her knees and put her arms around her little girl, and she begged her forgiveness for her thoughtless anger.
An accident took the life of the child only short time later, and it is told that the mother kept that gold box by her bed for all the years of her life. Whenever she was discouraged or faced difficult problems she would open the box and take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the
child who had put it there.
In a very real sense, each of us, as human beings, have been given a Golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our family, friends and God.
Everything happens for a reason
Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there...to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be but you lock eyes with them, you know that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way.
And sometimes things happen to you at the time that may seem horrible, painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would never realize your potential, strength, will power or heart.
Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of luck. Illness, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test limits of your soul.
Without these small tests, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless.
The people you meet affect your life. The successes and downfalls that you experience can create whom you are, and the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact they are probably the most poignant and important ones. If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them because they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart.
Make every day count. Appreciate everything that you possibly can, for you may never experience it again.
Do You Prioritise & Keep Your Goal In Sight ??
Ahmed was seated in the lounge at the airport in London, waiting to take the midnight flight to Mumbai. He had reached the airport hours before schedule and was already tired of sitting idly. Oh, how many times he had mentally rehearsed his speech for the all-important meeting in Mumbai!
Tired of idling around, he decided to take a stroll - after all, he had checked in his baggage and there was still almost an hour left before he would be let inside the gate.
Ahmed went out for a stroll. After the crowd and the noise inside the airport, the cool air outside and the quiet of the night were a welcome change for Ahmed. He decided to venture a little further, after checking his watch.
Going further down, he noticed a lone machine on the sidewalk. He was drawn by curiosity to the machine. It turned to be a simple weighing machine. Acting on a childish impulse, Ahmed took out a coin and inserted it in the slot. A card popped out and Ahmed was stunned to read it. It said: "Good evening, Mr. Ahmed, you weigh ninety four kilos. Hope you enjoy your midnight flight to Mumbai." By God, how could a simple machine know his name, and his plans! Amazing.
Ahmed was tempted to try checking again, to see if it was all really happening. He went through the procedure of positioning himself correctly and inserting the coin in the slot. The card that came out read, "Good evening, Mr. Ahmed, you still weigh ninety four kilos. Hope you enjoy your midnight flight to Mumbai."
Now Ahmed was truly taken aback. He still couldn't figure out, how a simple machine could tell so much about him. He had to know. It was getting more and more curious. He stood wondering on the various theories and possibilities that could have gone into making the special machine. He mentally worked out many combinations. Nothing seemed convincing.
After a while, he decided to test the machine again . This time, he carefully removed his heavy shoes and jacket and placed them at a distance from the machine. He then stood on the machine and inserted one of his last coins. The card that came out read, "Good evening, with or without shoes and jacket, you are still Mr. Ahmed and you still weigh ninety four kilos. But, I'm Sorry to say that you just missed your midnight flight to Mumbai."
How many Ahmeds are there among us? Many of us. Distracted by happenings, real or imagined, we lose sight of our major and immediate goals in life. Distracted and led on a fantasy trip, Ahmed let go of his immediate goal - that of catching the flight out to Mumbai. There are ways out, no doubt. However, imagine the waste of time, money, effort, anxiety - for both Ahmed and his family members who would have been waiting for him, and a chain of other related upsets and disturbances. A meeting missed, having to answer people?
SO, Let's remember to prioritise our goals, get out our immediate goals in sight and more importantly keep them in sight, even as we pursue new ideas and concepts and newer challenges.
Learning To Let Go
This is mailed to me by one of my friends, an article from Hindu Paper.
Sooner or later, everyone you know will disappoint you in some way. They’ll say something or fail to say something that will hurt you. They'll do something or fail to do something that will anger you. It’s inevitable.
Unfortunately, you make things worse when you stew over someone's words and deeds. When you dwell on a rude remark or an intensive action made by another person, you’re headed for deeper problems.
IN fact, the more you dwell on these things, the more bitter you'll get.
You'll find your joy, peace and happiness slipping away. And you'll find your productivity slowing down as you spend more and more time thinking about the slight or telling others about it. Eventually, if you don’t stop doing it, you’ll even get sick.
So what should u do the next time someone betrays you? Take responsibility for your feelings. Even though the other person may be at fault, even though the other person wronged you, you are still responsible for your own feelings.
In other words, other people do not 'cause' your feelings. You choose them.
For example, two different people could be told that their suggestions made at the staff meeting were 'stupid and idiotic’. One person may 'choose' to feel so hurt that he never speaks up at any other meeting again. The other person may 'choose' to feel sorry for the critic, sorry that the critic couldn't see the wisdom and necessarily of her suggestions.
AS long as you blame other people for your feelings, as long as you believe other people caused your feelings, you’re stuck. You’re a helpless victim.
But if you recognize the fact that you choose your feelings and you r responsible for your feelings, there’s hope. You can take some time to think about your feelings. And you can decide what is the best thing to say or do.
Then, you've got to learn to walk away from disappointment .It's difficult to do, but it is possible. The famous 19th century scottish historian, Thomas caryle ,proved that .After working on his multi-volume set of books on the French revolution for 6 yrs ,he completed the manuscript and took volume to one of his friend John staurt Mill. He asked him to read it. Five days later, Mill’s maid accidentally threw the manuscript into the fire. In agony, Mill went to Caryle's houses to tell him that his work had been destroyed.
Caryle did not flinch. With a smile, he said, "That’s all right, these things happen. It is a part of life. I will start over .I can remember most of it, am sure .Don’t worry .It's all here in my mind. Go, my friend do not feel bad".
As Mill left, he watched him from the window and turned to his wife and said,” I did not want him to see how crushed iam by his misfortune”. And with heavy sigh he added,” well the manuscript is gone, so I had better start write again".
Nothing, nothing would have resurrected the manuscript. All Carlyle could do was to get bitter or get started. And what can u do about anything once it is over? Not much. You can try to correct it if is possible, or you can walk away from it if isn't. Those are your only 2 choices.
Sometimes you've just got to shake it off and step up. It’s like the framer who had an old mule who fell into a deep dry well. As he assessed the situation, he knew it could be difficult if not impossible to lift he heavy mule out of the deep well.
So the farmer decided to burry the mule in the well. After all, the mule was old and the well was dry, so he could solve two problems at once. He could put the old mule out of his misery and have his well filled.
The farmer asked his neighbors to help him with the shovelling.To work they went. As they threw shovel-full of dirt after shovel-full of dirt on the mule's back the mule became frightened.
Then all of a sudden an idea came to the mule. Each time they would throw he would shake the dirt on his back, he would it off and step up.
In not too long time the exhausted and dirty mule stepped over the top of the well and through the crowd.
That’s the same approach we all need to take. We need to shake it off and step up.
Finally, you need to forgive .Its difficult, especially when the other person doesn't deserve your forgiveness or doesn’t even seek it. Its diff when the other person is clearly in the wrong.
Part of the difficulty comes from a common misunderstanding of forgiveness. Forgiveness doesn’t mean that the other person’s behavior is okay. Forgiveness doesn’t mean that the other person is off the hook. He’s still responsible for his misbehavior.
Forgiveness is about letting yourself off the emotional hook. It’s about realizing your negative emotions, attitudes, and behaviours.Its' about letting go of the past so you can go forward to the future.
Everyone in your life, everyone on and off the job is going to disappoint you. If u know how to respond tot hose situations, I’ll be way ahead of most people. You'll be able to live above and beyond your circumstances.
Identify 2 people that have disappointed, hurt, or angered you. If possible, select 2 people towards whom u still have some bitterness.
Then ask yourself, how does my bitterness serve me?
Am I happier holding on to it? Do I sleep better?
Is my life richer, fuller and better coz of my bitterness?
If u find that your bitterness is hurting you, make decision.
Actually decide to let it go.
Walk away from the disappointment-which means you no longer dwell on it or talk about it. Period!!
Quarter-Life Crisis
Maybe we all r going through this "BeingTwenty-Something". They call it the "Quarter-life Crisis." It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are many
things about yourself that you didn't know and may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.
You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have ever met, and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you don't recognize is that they are realizing that too, and aren't really cold, catty, mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you.
You look at your job... and it is not even close to what you thought you would be doing, or maybe you are looking for a job and realizing that you are going to have to start at the bottom and that scares you.
Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and are constantly adding things to your list of what is acceptable and what isn't.
One minute, you are insecure and then the next, secure. You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly, change is the enemy and you try and cling on to the past with dear life, but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away, and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward. You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you. Or you lie in bed and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough that you want to get to know
better. Or maybe you love someone but love someone else too and cannot figure out why you are doing this because you know that you aren't a bad person. One night stands and random hook ups start to look cheap. Getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic.
You go through the same emotions and questions over and over, and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision. You worry about loans, money, the future and making a life for yourself... and while winning the race would be great,
right now you'd just like to be a contender!
What you may not realize is that everyone reading this relates to it. We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out. Send this to your
friends.... maybe it will help someone feel like they aren't alone in their state of confusion..... GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF US!!
Don't Change The World
Once upon a time, there was a king who ruled a prosperous country. One day, he went for a trip to some distant areas of his country. When he was back to his palace, he complained that his feet were very painful, because it was the first time that he went for such a long trip, and the road that he went through was very rough and stony. He then ordered his people to cover every road of the entire country with leather. Definitely, this would need thousands of cows' skin, and would cost a huge amount of money.
Then one of his wise servant dared himself to tell the king, "Why do you have to spend that unnecessary amount of money ? Why don't you just cut a little piece of leather to cover your feet ?"
The king was surprised, but he later agreed to his suggestion, to make a "shoe" for himself.
There is actually a valuable lesson of life in this story : to make this world a happy place to live, you better change yourself - your heart; and not the world.
Hatred
A teacher decided to let her class play a game. She told each child in the class to bring along a plastic bag containing a few potatoes. Each
potato will be given a name of a person that the child
hates.
So the number of potatoes that a child will put in his/her plastic bag will depend on the number of people he/she hates. So when
the day came, every child brought some potatoes with the name of the people he/she hated.
Some had two potatoes; some three while some upto five potatoes.
The teacher then told the children to carry with them the potatoes in the plastic bag wherever they go (even to the toilet)
for one week.
Days passed by, and the children started to complain due to the unpleasant smell let out by the rotten potatoes. Besides, those
having five potatoes also had to carry heavier bags.
After one week, the children were relieved because the game had finally ended. The
teacher asked:
"How did you feel while carrying the potatoes with you for one week?"
The children let out their frustrations and started complaining of the trouble that they had to go through having to carry
the heavy and smelly potatoes wherever they went.
The teacher then said: "This is exactly the situation when you carry your hatred for somebody inside your heart.The stench
of hatred will contaminate your heart and you will carry it with you herever you go.
If you cannot tolerate the smell of rotten potatoes for just one week, can you imagine what it is like to have the stench of
hatred in your heart for lifetime???"
so what do you say....
Reality of Modern Life
We drive too fast, get too anger, stay up too late and get up too tired,
We read too little, watch TV too much and pray too seldom,
We have multiplied our positions but reduced our value!
We talk too much, love too seldom and hate too often
We’ve learnt how to make a living but not a life
We added years to life but not life to years
We’ve done larger things but not bigger things
We’ve cleaned up the air but polluted the sole
We’ve conquered the atom but not our prejudices
We write more but learn less; we plan more but accomplish less.
We have learnt to rush but not to wait
We build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever
But we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast food and slow digestion, big men and small character
Remember to say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe
Because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side!
Remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you
Because that is the only pleasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a thing
Remember to say I love you to your partner and your loved one, but most of all ME!
A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment,
cause some day that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, time to think; give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
Rich With Empty Hands
Some times our hands are full
But we r not ready to share
Sometimes we have enough of patience
But we are not ready to bear
The pain what we see around
And how ignorantly we move our eyes
When we see an immortal soul crying
And tears in our eyes are dried
Drenched in the mud of hunger
Patched with the abuse around
Body bruised by the needs
And that's all that surrounds
Us is the missing word
Me and myself is present
What we care is the money
Yet not enough to spend
Why we make both ends meet
Just to live a simple life
We save to spend more
And for nothing else we strive
An aimless life with materialistic necessacities
We work towards the fulfillment
Did we ever checked our souls
For internal gratification or contentment
We are still starved with so much food
Still naked with the expensive cloths on
As we ignore the dying life beside
And rather choose to move on
Value of Time
To realize
The value of a sister
Ask someone
Who doesn't have one.
To realize
The value of ten years:
Ask a newly
Divorced couple.
To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.
To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who
Has failed a final exam.
To realize
The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a still born.
To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother
who has given birth to
A premature baby.
To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize
The value of one hour:
Ask the lovers who are waiting to Meet.
To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed the train, bus or plane.
To realize
The value of one-second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident...
To! realize
The value of one millisecond:
Ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics
Time waits for no one.
Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when
you can share it with someone special.
To realize the value of a friend:
Lose one.
Information Please...a touching anecdote
Guys it's too long, but worth reading.I came across this, and felt moved. Enjoy nostalgic sometime smile.gif
When I was quite young, my father had one of the first telephones in our neighborhood. I remember well the polished, old case fastened to the wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box.
I was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother used to talk to it. Then discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an amazing person - her name was "Information Please" and there was nothing she did not know.
"Information Please" could supply anybody's number and the correct time.
My first personal experience with this genie_in_the_bottle came one day while my mother was visiting a neighbor. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer. The pain was terrible, but there didn't seem to be any reason in crying because there was no one home to give sympathy. I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at the stairway.
The telephone! Quickly, I ran for the foot stool in the parlor and dragged it to the landing. Climbing up, I unhooked the receiver in the parlor and held it to my ear. "Information Please," I said into the mouthpiece just above my head. A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear.
"Information"
"I hurt my finger..." I wailed into the phone. The tears came readily enough now that I had an audience.
"Isn't your mother home?" came the question.
"Nobody's home but me," I blubbered.
"Are you bleeding?" the voice asked.
"No," I replied. "I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts."
"Can you open your icebox?" she asked. I said I could.
"Then chip off a little piece of ice and hold it to your finger," said the voice.
After that, I called "Information Please" for everything. I asked her for help with my geography and she told me where Philadelphia was. She helped me with my math. She told me my pet chipmunk, that I had caught in the park just the day before, would eat fruit and nuts.
Then, there was the time Petey, our pet canary died. I called "Information Please" and told her the sad story. She listened, then said the usual things grown ups say to soothe a child. But I was un-consoled. I asked her, "Why is it that birds should sing so beautiful and bring joy to all families, only to end up as a heap of feathers on the bottom of a cage?"
She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said quietly, "Paul, always remember that there are other worlds to sing in."
Somehow I felt better.
Another day I was on the telephone. "Information Please."
"Information," said the now familiar voice.
"How do you spell fix?" I asked.
All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. When I was nine years old, we moved across the country to Boston. I missed my friend very much. "Information Please" belonged in that old wooden box back home and I somehow never thought of trying the tall, shiny new phone that sat on the table in the hall. As I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood conversations never really left me. Often, In moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene sense of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient, understanding, and kind she was to have spent her time on a little boy.
A few years later, on my way west to college, my plane put down in Seattle I had about half_an_hour or so between planes. I spent 15 minutes or so on the phone with my sister, who lived there now. Then, without thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown operator and said, "Information, please."
Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well.
"Information."
I hadn't planned this, but I heard myself saying, "Could you please tell me how to spell fix?"
There was a long pause. Then came the soft spoken answer, "I guess your finger must have healed by now."
I laughed, "So it's really still you," I said. "I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during that time."
"I wonder," she said, "if you know how much your calls meant to me. I never had any children and I used to look forward to your calls."
I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and I asked if I could call her again when I came back to visit my sister.
"Please do," she said. "Just ask for Sally."
Three months later I was back in Seattle. A different voice answered, "Information."
I asked for Sally. "Are you a friend?" she said.
"Yes, a very old friend," I answered.
"I'm sorry to have to tell you this," she said. "Sally had been working part time the last few years because she was sick. She died five weeks ago." Before I could hang up she said, "Wait a minute. Did you say your name was Paul?"
"Yes."
"Well, Sally left a message for you. She wrote it down in case you called. Let me read it to you. The note said, "Tell him I still say there are other worlds to sing in. He'll know what I mean."
I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant.
QUOTE
Never underestimate the impression you may make on others.
Perfection
The Japanese have always loved fresh fish. But the waters close to Japan have not held many fish for decades.
So to feed the Japanese population, fishing boats got bigger and went farther than ever.The farther the fishermen went,
the longer it took to bring in the fish.
If the return trip took more than a few days, the fish were not fresh. The Japanese did not like the taste.To solve this problem, fishing companies installed freezers on their boats. They would catch
the fish and freeze them at sea. Freezers allowed the boats to go farther and stay longer. However, the Japanese could taste the difference
between fresh and frozen and they did not like frozen fish. The frozen fish brought a lower price. So fishing companies installed fish tanks. They
would catch the fish and stuff them in the tanks, fin to fin.
After a little thrashing around, the fish stopped moving. They were tired and dull, but alive. Unfortunately, the Japanese could still taste the difference.
Because the fish did not move for days, they lost their fresh- fish taste. The Japanese preferred the lively taste of fresh fish, not sluggish fish. So how did Japanese fishing
companies solve this problem?
How do they get fresh-tasting fish to Japan?
If you were consulting the fish industry, what would you recommend? As soon as you reach your goals, such as finding a wonderful mate, starting a successful company,
paying off your debts or whatever, you might lose your passion. You don't need to work so hard so you relax. You experience the same problem as lottery winners who waste
Their money, wealthy heirs who never grow up and bored homemakers who get addicted to prescription drugs. Like the Japanese fish problem, the best solution is simple.
It was observed by L. Ron Hubbard in the early 1950's. "Man thrives, oddly enough, only in the presence of a challenging environment."- L. RonHubbard
The Benefits of a Challenge:
The more intelligent, persistent and competent you are, the more you enjoy a good problem. If your challenges are the correct size, and if you are
steadily conquering those challenges, you are happy. You think of your challenges and get energized. You are excited to try new solutions.
You have fun. You are alive!
How Japanese Fish Stay Fresh:
To keep the fish tasting fresh, the Japanese fishing companies still put the fish in the tanks. But now they add a small shark to each tank. The shark eats a few fish, but most of the fish arrive in a very lively state.
The fish are challenged.
Recommendations:
Instead of avoiding challenges, jump into them. Beat the heck out of them. Enjoy the game. If your challenges are too large or
too numerous, do not give up. Failing makes you tired. Instead, reorganize. Find more determination, more knowledge, more help.
If you have met your goals, set some bigger goals. Once you meet your personal or family needs, move onto goals for your
group, the society, even mankind. Don't create success and lie in it.
You have resources, skills and abilities to make a difference. Put a shark in your tank and see how far you can really go!
THE WORLD IS MINE
Today, upon a bus, I saw a very beautiful woman.
And wished I were as beautiful.
When suddenly she rose to leave,
I saw her hobble down the aisle.
She had one leg and wore a crutch.
But as she passed, she passed a smile.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two legs; the world is mine.
I stopped to buy some candy.
The lad who sold it had such charm.
I talked with him, he seemed so glad.
If I were late, it'd do no harm.
And as I left, he said to me, "I thank you,
you've been so kind.
It's nice to talk with folks like you.
You see," he said, "I'm blind."
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two eyes; the world is mine.
Later while walking down the street,
I saw a child I knew.
He stood and watched the others play,
but he did not know what to do.
I stopped a moment and then I said,
"Why don't you join them dear?"
He looked ahead without a word.
I forgot, he couldn't hear.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two ears; the world is mine.
With feet to take me where I'd go.
With eyes to see the sunset's glow.
With ears to hear what I'd know.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I've been blessed indeed, the world is mine.
Chanakya quotes :Harsh truths for Everyone!
"A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and
Honest people are screwed first."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275
BC)
"Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275
BC)
"The biggest guru-mantra is: Never share your secrets with anybody. It
will destroy you."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275
BC)
"There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no
friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275
BC)
"Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions - Why
am I doing it, What the results might be and Will I be successful. Only
when
you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go
ahead."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275
BC)
"As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275
BC)
"The world's biggest power is the youth and beauty of a woman."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275
BC)
"Once you start a working on something, don't be afraid of failure and
don't abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275
BC)
"The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But
the goodness of a person spreads in all direction."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275
BC)
"A man is great by deeds, not by birth."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275
BC)
"Never make friends with people who are above or below you in status.
Such
friendships will never give you any happiness."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275
BC)
"Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years. For the next
five
years, scold them. By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a
friend.
Your grown up children are your best friends."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275
BC)
"Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind
person."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275
BC)
"Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected
everywhere.
Education beats the beauty and the youth."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275
BC)
