Do you know?

This was a man who,
failed in business at the age of 21,
was defeated in a legislative race at age 22,
failed again in business at age of 24,
overcome the death of his sweetheart at age 26,
had a nervous break down at the age of 27,
lost a congressional race at the age of 34,
lost a senatorial race at age 45,
failed in an effort to become vice-president at
the age of 47,
again lost a senatorial race at the age of 49, and
was elected as the President of United States at age 52
This man was Abraham Lincoln

Success...!

To laugh often and love much;
To win the respect of intelligent person
and the affection of children;
To earn the approval of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To give off one's self without the
slighest thought of return;
To have accomplised a task, whether
by a healthy child, a rescued soul,
a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
To have played and laughed with
Enthusiasm and sung with exaltation;
To know that even one life has breathed
easier because you have lived;
This is to have succeeded...
Author unknown

Inspiring Words

"You can make more friends in two months bybecoming really interested in other people, than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you." - Dale Carnegie

"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily." - Zig Ziglar

The New Car

A man was washing his new car when his neighbor asked him, "when did you get the car?" He replied, "My brother gave it to me". The neighbor's response was, "I wish I had a car like that". The man replied, "You should wish to have a brother like that". The neighbor's wife was listening to the conversation and she interrupted, "I wish I was a brother like that". What a way go! It all depends on what we think and what's our attitude is!

Attitude

Someone once approached Blaise Pascal, the famous French Philosopher and said, "If I had your brains, I would be a better person". Pascal replied, "Be a better person and you will have my brains".

The Calgary Tower stands at 190.8 meters. The total weight of the tower is 10,884 tons, of which 6,349 tons is below ground (approx. 60%). This shows that some of the greatest buildings have the strongest foundations. Just like a great building stands on a strong foundation, so does success. And the foundation of success is attitude.

- extract from Shiv Khera's book "You can win"

Note

Sweet things are easy to buy,

but sweet people are difficult to find.

Life ends when you stop dreaming,

Hope ends when you stop believing,

Love ends when you stop caring,

Relationship ends when you stop sharing.

Direction

Close your eyes to see where you are going...! Visualise

Celebrations - a positive refreshment

I was little busy with Navratri Celebrations so was not able to blog for few days. However, this time its a wonderful experience I had in this festival season in Mumbai.

In India Navaratri celebrated across the country in different ways. In Mumbai, Navaratri is celebrated colourfully. The traditional dances of garba and dandiya raas (which is played with decorated sticks called dandiyas), are performed with group of people (neighbours or residents of the society) dressed up in colourful clothes. Even in our housing society we celebrate Navratri. Its very good to see people gathering together, they enjoy, dance and celebrate. They may even belong to various religion and region, from different parts of the country, but still this festival unite them.

I personally feel such celebrations can bring people closer and help us to understand them and forget few difference of opinions we might have had before. For me the important aspect is that its a wonderful social get together which gives me a positive vibration since I am able to meet people from various cultural and traditional background and able understand them. I am very excited since six more Dandiya/Garba nights to celebrate.

Quote for you

All men have a sweetness in their life. That is what help them go on.
It is towards that they turn when they feel too worn out.
- Albert Camus

Nice story - repeated again

THE OBSTACLE IN OUR PATH

In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it.
Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the big stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. On approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many others never understand.
Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one's condition.

Beautiful quotes of Mother Teresa

Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.

Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.

I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.

Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person

Human Relations..!

Ten Commandments of Human Relations By Author Unknown
1. Speak to People. There is nothing as nice as a cheerful word of greeting.
2. Smile at People. It takes 72 muscles to frown, but only 14 to smile!
3. Call People by Name.The sweetest music to anyone's ear is the sound of his or her own name.
4. Be Friendly and Helpful. If you would have friends, be friendly.
5. Be Cordial. Speak and act as if everything you do were a real pleasure.
6. Be Genuinely Interested in People. You can like everyone if you try.
7. Be Generous with Praise, Cautious with Criticism. Praise will win out when it comes to gaining friends.
8. Be Considerate of the Feelings of Others. It will be appreciated.
9. Be Thoughtful of the Opinions of Others. People love their opinions as they do their own children, calling them ugly won't get you anything but anger.
10. Be Alert to Give Service. What counts most in life is what we do for others!

Picture Message

" Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life -

think of it, dream of it, live on that idea.

Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body,

be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone.

This is the way to success, that is the way great spiritual gaints are produced."

- Swami Vivekananda

Dedication...!

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

Today's thought

Every day in our life is a special occasion.

Spend more time with your family, and less at work.

Understand that life should be a source of experience to be lived upto, not survived through.

If it's worth seeing, listening or doing, just see, listen or doit now.....

Each day, each hour, each minute, is special.

Live for today, for tomorrow is promised to no-one.

Book - I wish to read

Predictive Parenting: What to Say When You Talk to You Kids
Shad Helmstetter
Editorial Review
Complete with actual scripts for dealing with real-life situations, FPredictive Parenting will show parents how to motivate and protect their children from forces beyond their control, to convey self-esteem, and to provide vital and positive influences on their children's lives.

-- extract from Shelfari. I am trying hard to get this book. If anyone knows where in India its available please let me know.

An Inspiring story - This too will pass...!

Once a King called upon all of his wise men and asked them,“Is there a mantra or suggestion which works in every situation, in every circumstance, in every place and in every time, something which can help me when none of you is available to advise me? Tell me is there any mantra?”

All wise men got puzzled by King’s question. He wanted one answer for all questions?Something that works everywhere, in every situation, in every joy, every sorrow, every defeat and every victory? They thought and thought.

After a lengthy discussion, an old man suggested something which appealed to all of them. They went to the king and gave him something written on paper. But the condition was that king was not to see it out of curiosity. Only in extreme danger, when the King finds himself alone and there seems to be no way, only then he’ll have to see it. The King put the papers under his Diamond ring.

After a few days, the neighbors attacked the Kingdom. It was a collective surprise attack of the King’s enemies. King and his army fought bravely but lost the battle. King had to flee on his horse. The enemies were following him. His horse took him far away in the Jungle. He could hear many troops of horses following him and the noise was coming closer and closer. Suddenly the King found himself standing at the end of the road – that road was not going anywhere. Underneath there was a rocky valley thousand feet deep.

If he jumped into it, he would be finished and he could not return because it was a small road. The sound of enemy’s horses was approaching fast. King became restless. There seemed to be no way.

Then suddenly he saw the Diamond in his ring shining in the sun, and he remembered the message hidden in the ring. He opened the diamond and read the message. The message was very small but very great.The message was – “This too will pass.”The King read it. Again read it.

Suddenly something struck him- Yes! It too will pass. Only a few days ago, I was enjoying my kingdom. I was the mightiest of all the Kings. Yet today, the Kingdom and all his pleasure have gone. I am here trying to escape from enemies. However when those days of luxuries have gone, this day of danger too will pass. Calm come on his face.He kept standing there. The place where he was standing was full of natural beauty. He had never known that such a beautiful place was also a part of his Kingdom. The revelation of the message had a great effect on him. He relaxed and forgot about those following him.

After a few minutes he realized that the noise of the horses and the enemy coming was receding. They moved into some other part of the mountains and were not on that path.The King was very brave. He reorganized his army and fought again. He defeated the enemy and regained his lost empire. When he returned to his empire after victory, he was received with much fan fare at the door. The whole capital was rejoicing in the victory. Everyone was in a festive mood. Flowers were being thrown on the King from every house, from every corner. People were dancing and singing. For a moment King said to himself,” I am one of the bravest and greatest King. It is not easy to defeat Me.: With all the reception and celebration he saw an ego emerging in him.

Suddenly the Diamond of his ring flashed in the sunlight and reminded him of the message. He opened it and read it again: “This too will pass”

He became silent. His face went through a total change -from the egoist he moved to a state of utter humbleness. If this too is going to pass, it is not yours. The defeat was not yours, the victory is not yours. You are just a watcher. Everything passes by

We are witness of all this. We are the perceiver. Life comes and goes.

Happiness comes and goes. Sorrow comes and goes.

Now as you have read this story, just sit silently and evaluate your own life.. Think of the moments of joy and victory in your life. Think of the moment of Sorrow and defeat. Are they permanent? They all come and pass away. Life just passes away. There is nothing permanent in this world. Every thing changes except the law of change.

Think over it from your own perspective. You have seen all the changes. You have survived all setbacks, all defeats and all sorrows. All have passed away. If there are problems in the present, they too will pass away. Nothing remains forever. Joy and sorrow are the two faces of the same coin. They both will pass away. Who are you in reality? Know your real face. Your face is not your true face. It will change with the time.

However, there is something in you, which will not change. It will remain unchanged. What is that unchangeable? It is nothing but your true self. You are just a witness of change.

Experience it; understand the spiritual dimension behind this.

Speak with your child - II

How to speak to your kid... continues

• Don't ask a question which may lead to an negative answer. "Will you please place your book back to your shelf?" Just say, "Place your book back to your shelf, please."
• Even if the child yells louder, be clam and respond softly. With a time they will start talking softly.
• Provide them with alternatives. "You cannot go out with your friend to the park, but you can invite them home and play at home". Never reject their request straight away.
• Make child to speak with you more. Keep asking them what all happened that day. Interact and learn more about their preferences and thoughts.
• Do not respond to all that they demand. Reserve certain things to yourself.

Speak with your child - I

Discipline is learning and child learn from his/her parents. So the way you talk to your child teaches him how to talk to others. So few tips here...

• Call/address your child like, "Anu, will you please... listen...". Get their attention and start speaking.
• Use short sentences with one-syllable words. Listen to how kids communicate with each other and take note.
• Ask your child to repeat what you have requested. If the kid not saying it then you are no longer understood.
• Can make an offer that is to the child's advantage so that they will obey to us, like "If you get ready soon, we will take you for a walk".
• Instead of saying no, replace it with a positive word. Instead of saying "its too dark to go out", say "will go in the morning when it is bright outside".
• Instead of ordering, "Turn off the TV, it's time for dinner!" walk into the room where your child is watching TV, join in with your child's interests for a few minutes, and then, have your child turn off the TV. Going to your child conveys you're serious about your request; otherwise children interpret this as a mere preference
• Give them choices. Ask them whether they like to wear blue dress or red dress.. If we give them choices, they feel that their choices are important to us.
• Even a two-year-old can learn "please and other pleasing terms" Speak to your children the way you want them to speak to you

Poem - Be The Best Whatever You Are

If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill

Be a scrub in the valley--but be

The best little scrub by the side of the rill;

Be a bush if you can't be a tree.

If you can't be a bush be a bit of the grass,

And some highway some happier make;

If you can't be a muskie then just be a bass--

But the liveliest bass in the lake!

We can't all be captains, we've got to be crew,

There's something for all of us here.

There's big work to do and there's lesser to do,

And the task we must do is the near.

If you can't be a highway then just be a trail,

If you can't be the sun be a star;

It isn't by size that you win or you fail--

Be the best of whatever you are!

by Douglas Malloch

Book Review

Speaking your Mind in 101 Difficult Situations by Don Gabor

Book Review - Everyone faces painful conversations - those awkward times when speaking your mind could hurt, insult, or infuriate s0meone else. But you don't have to be left groping for the right words to say. In his latest guide, speaking Your Mind in 101 Difficult Situations, Don Gabor, the best selling author offers advice on how to get your thought across effectively, yet tactfully.

- extract from a web page

Lets relax a while... just for fun

Wrong E-Mail
It's wise to remember how easily email -- this wonderful technology -- can be misused, sometimes unintentionally, with serious consequences. Read this short funny story
An Illinois man who left the snow-filled streets of Chicago for a vacation in Florida. His wife was on a business trip and was planning to meet him there the next day. When he reached his hotel, he decided to send his wife a quick email.Unfortunately, when typing her address, he missed one letter, and his note was directed instead to an elderly preacher's wife whose husband had passed away only the day before. When the grieving widow checked her email, she took one look at the monitor, let out a piercing scream, and fell to the floor in a dead faint.At the sound, her family rushed into the room and saw this note on the screen:

Dearest Wife,

Just got checked in. Everything prepared for your arrival tomorrow.
P.S. Sure is hot down here.

However, I got this "story" from my friend by "Email".

Attitude

Before trying anything new say to your self

" If I Cant Win, Then Who Else Can"

After winning say to everyone

" If I Can Win, Who Else Cant"

Its Just the attitude, which makes the difference

Quotable Quote

The most important thing in life is to learn

how to give out love, and to let it come in.

- Morrie Schwartz

Check these out...!

Anyone who trades liberty for security

deserves neither liberty nor security

- Benjamin Franklin

Do not spoil what you have by desiring

what you have not;

what you now have was once among

the things you only hoped for.

-Epicurus

The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure

- Sven Goran Eriksson

How to stop Procrastinating... few steps to help you

• Check out how long you waste your time sitting in front of a television or just lying down. You will be surprised to note that most of the time you might be doing that.
• Set some goals for completing things and also give some time for unexpected things.
• Divide a task over a week, month or several hours.
• Get started. Doing something is always good than doing nothing.
• The reward that lies ahead may not be enough to motivate you now. Reward yourself with a break, a movie or some kind of treat as you progress.
• Stay focused on what you do. Be confident that you can do it.
• The most important thing, now stop reading this article and just get on with it.