Nov 29, 2016

Peace !

Once a master was walking from one town to another town with a few of his followers. While they were traveling, they happened to pass a lake. They stopped there and the master told one of his disciples “I am thirsty. Do get me some water from that lake there.” 

The disciple walked up to the lake. When he reached it, he noticed that some people were washing clothes in the water and, right at that moment, a bullock cart started crossing through the lake. As a result, the water became very muddy, very turbid. The disciple thought, “How can I give this muddy water to my master to drink!” So he came back and told , “The water in there is very muddy. I don’t think it is fit to drink.”
After about half an hour, the Master asked the same disciple to go back to the lake and get him some water to drink. The disciple obediently went back to the lake. This time he found that the lake had absolutely clear water in it. The mud had settled down and the water above it looked fit to be had. So he collected some water in a pot and brought it to the Master. 

The Master looked at the water, and then he looked up at the disciple and said, “See what you did to make the water clean. You let it be ... and the mud settled down on its own, and you got clear water! 

Your mind is also like that. When it is disturbed, just let it be. Give it a little time. It will settle down on its own. You don’t have to put in any effort to calm it down. It will happen. It is effortless.”

Having 'peace of mind' is not a strenuous job; it is an effortless process. Just give your mind some time to settle down and there will be peace within soon. When there is peace inside you, it permeates to the outside.



Nov 18, 2016

Call for greater Strength

A young boy and his father were walking along a forest path. At some point, they came across a large tree branch on the ground in front of them.

The boy asked his father, “If I try, do you think I could move that branch?” His father replied, “I am sure you can, if you use all your strength.”

The boy tried his best to lift or push the branch, but he was not strong enough and he couldn’t move it.

He said, with disappointment, “You were wrong, dad. I can’t move it.”“Try again,” replied his father.

Again, the boy tried hard to push the branch. He struggled but it did not move. “Dad, I cannot do it,” said the boy.

Finally his father said, “Son, I advised you to use all your strength. You didn’t.“You didn’t ask for my help.”

Our real strength lies not in independence, but in interdependence. No individual person has all the strengths, all the resources and all the stamina required for the complete blossoming of their vision. That requires the inspired collaboration of many like-hearted beings. To ask for help and support when we need it is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of wisdom. It is a wise call for the greater strength that lives in our togetherness.

Nov 5, 2016

Acres of Diamonds!!

There was a farmer in Africa who was happy and content. One day a wise man came to him and told him about the glory of diamonds and the power that goes along with them. The wise man said, “If you had a diamond the size of your thumb, you could have your own city. If you had a diamond the size of your fist, you could probably own your own country.” And then he went away. That night the farmer couldn’t sleep. He was unhappy and he was discontent. 

The next morning he made arrangements to sell off his farm and went in search of diamonds. He looked all over Africa and couldn’t find any. He looked all through Europe and couldn’t find any. When he got to Spain, he was emotionally, physically and financially broke. He got so disheartened that he threw himself into the Barcelona River and committed suicide.

Back home, the person who had bought his farm was watering the camels at a stream that ran through the farm.
Across the stream, the rays of the morning sun hit a stone and made it sparkle like a rainbow. He thought it would look good on the mantle piece. He picked up the stone and put it in the living room. That afternoon the wise man came and saw the stone sparkling. He asked, “Is the farmer back?” The new owner said, “No, why do you ask?” The wise man said, “Because that is a diamond. I recognize one when I see one” .The man said, no, that’s just a stone I picked up from the stream. Come, I’ll show you. There are many more. They found that the farm was indeed covered with acres and acres of diamonds.

Each of us is, at this very moment is standing in the middle of our own acres of diamonds. If we had only had the wisdom and patience to intelligently and effectively explore the work in which we’re now engaged, to explore ourselves, we would most likely find the riches we seek. We fail to recognize the wealth in our own backyard and we end up walking over untold riches every day!!

Oct 27, 2016

Tomatoes !!!

A teacher asked her students to bring some tomatoes in a plastic bag to school. Each tomato was to be given the name of a person whom that child hates. So, the number of tomatoes would be equal to the number of persons they hate. 

On a pre-determined day, All the children brought their tomatoes well addressed. Some had two, some had three and some had five, some even had 20 tomatoes in accordance with the number of people they hated. 

The teacher then told them they had to carry the tomatoes with them everywhere they go for two weeks. 

As the days passed the children started to complain about the decay and smell of the tomatoes. The students who had many tomatoes complained it was very heavy to carry and the smell was too much.

After a week, the teacher asked the students “How did you feel this week?” The children complained of the awful smell and heavy weight of the tomatoes, especially those who carried several tomatoes. 

The teacher said, “This is very similar to what you carry in your heart when you don’t like some people. Hatred makes the heart unhealthy and you carry that hatred everywhere. If you can’t bear the smell of spoilt tomatoes for a week, imagine the impact of bitterness on your heart as you carry it daily.” 

The heart is a beautiful garden that needs regular cleaning of unwanted weeds.  Forgive those who have angered you. This makes room for storing good things.

Get Better, Not Bitter!!!

๐Ÿ…๐Ÿ…๐Ÿ…

Oct 24, 2016

Let's not Judge!

A 24 year old boy and his old aged father were travelling in a train. There was a newlywed couple travelling with him in their compartment. Ten minutes after the onset of journey , looking out from the train’s window the 24 year shouted…

“Dad, look the trees are going behind!”

Dad smiled and the young couple sitting nearby, looked at the 24 year Old’s childish behavior with pity, suddenly he again exclaimed…

“Dad, look the clouds are running with us!”

The Old man smiled at his son again and nodded in affirmation .

The couple couldn’t resist and whispered to the old man…“Why don’t you take your son to a good doctor?

”The old man smiled and said…“I did and we are just coming from the hospital, my son was blind from birth, he just got his eyes last week. For those beautiful things he missed in his childhood due to his blindness,  let him hold on to his views for a while “ 

Looks are always deceptive. Every single person on the planet has a story. Don’t judge people before you truly know them. The truth might surprise you !!!

Oct 14, 2016

The tale of Two Pebbles

Many years ago in a small Indian village, a farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender. The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer’s beautiful daughter. So he proposed a bargain. He said he would forgo the farmer’s debt if he could marry his daughter.

Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the proposal. So the cunning money-lender suggested that they let providence decide the matter. He told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag. Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag.

If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father’s debt would be forgiven. If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father’s debt would still be forgiven. If she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail.

They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer’s field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag.

The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.

“Oh, how clumsy of me!” she said. “But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked.”

The moneylender dared not admit his dishonesty and the girl walked with pride relieving her father off his debt. The girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one.

Most Problems have Solutions. We just need to Think differently. 

Oct 8, 2016

เฅ (OM) เค‰เคš्เคšाเคฐเคฃ เค•े 11 เคถाเคฐीเคฐिเค• เคฒाเคญ


เฅ : เค“เค‰เคฎ् เคคीเคจ เค…เค•्เคทเคฐों เคธे เคฌเคจा เคนै।
เค… เค‰ เคฎ् ।
"เค…" เค•ा เค…เคฐ्เคฅ เคนै เค‰เคค्เคชเคจ्เคจ เคนोเคจा,
"เค‰" เค•ा เคคाเคค्เคชเคฐ्เคฏ เคนै เค‰เค เคจा, เค‰เคก़เคจा เค…เคฐ्เคฅाเคค् เคตिเค•ाเคธ,
"เคฎ" เค•ा เคฎเคคเคฒเคฌ เคนै เคฎौเคจ เคนो เคœाเคจा เค…เคฐ्เคฅाเคค् "เคฌ्เคฐเคน्เคฎเคฒीเคจ" เคนो เคœाเคจा।
เฅ เคธเคฎ्เคชूเคฐ्เคฃ เคฌ्เคฐเคน्เคฎाเคฃ्เคก เค•ी เค‰เคค्เคชเคค्เคคि เค”เคฐ เคชूเคฐी เคธृเคท्เคŸि เค•ा เคฆ्เคฏोเคคเค• เคนै।
เฅ เค•ा เค‰เคš्เคšाเคฐเคฃ เคถाเคฐीเคฐिเค• เคฒाเคญ เคช्เคฐเคฆाเคจ เค•เคฐเคคा เคนै।
เคœाเคจीเค
เฅ เค•ैเคธे เคนै เคธ्เคตाเคธ्เคฅ्เคฏเคตเคฐ्เคฆ्เคงเค• เค”เคฐ เค…เคชเคจाเคं เค†เคฐोเค—्เคฏ เค•े เคฒिเค เฅ เค•े เค‰เคš्เคšाเคฐเคฃ เค•ा เคฎाเคฐ्เค—...

● เค‰เคš्เคšाเคฐเคฃ เค•ी เคตिเคงि

เคช्เคฐाเคคः เค‰เค เค•เคฐ เคชเคตिเคค्เคฐ เคนोเค•เคฐ เค“ंเค•ाเคฐ เคง्เคตเคจि เค•ा เค‰เคš्เคšाเคฐเคฃ เค•เคฐें। เฅ เค•ा เค‰เคš्เคšाเคฐเคฃ เคชเคฆ्เคฎाเคธเคจ, เค…เคฐ्เคงเคชเคฆ्เคฎाเคธเคจ, เคธुเค–ाเคธเคจ, เคตเคœ्เคฐाเคธเคจ เคฎें เคฌैเค เค•เคฐ เค•เคฐ เคธเค•เคคे เคนैं। เค‡เคธเค•ा เค‰เคš्เคšाเคฐเคฃ 5, 7, 10, 21 เคฌाเคฐ เค…เคชเคจे เคธเคฎเคฏाเคจुเคธाเคฐ เค•เคฐ เคธเค•เคคे เคนैं। เฅ เคœोเคฐ เคธे เคฌोเคฒ เคธเค•เคคे เคนैं, เคงीเคฐे-เคงीเคฐे เคฌोเคฒ เคธเค•เคคे เคนैं। เฅ เคœเคช เคฎाเคฒा เคธे เคญी เค•เคฐ เคธเค•เคคे เคนैं।

01)  เฅ เค”เคฐ เคฅाเคฏเคฐाॅเคฏเคกः

เฅ เค•ा เค‰เคš्เคšाเคฐเคฃ เค•เคฐเคจे เคธे เค—เคฒे เคฎें เค•ंเคชเคจ เคชैเคฆा เคนोเคคी เคนै เคœो เคฅाเคฏเคฐाเคฏเคก เค—्เคฐंเคฅि เคชเคฐ เคธเค•ाเคฐाเคค्เคฎเค• เคช्เคฐเคญाเคต เคกाเคฒเคคा เคนै।

02)  *เฅ เค”เคฐ เค˜เคฌเคฐाเคนเคŸः-
เค…เค—เคฐ เค†เคชเค•ो เค˜เคฌเคฐाเคนเคŸ เคฏा เค…เคงीเคฐเคคा เคนोเคคी เคนै เคคो เฅ เค•े เค‰เคš्เคšाเคฐเคฃ เคธे เค‰เคค्เคคเคฎ เค•ुเค› เคญी เคจเคนीं।

03) *..เฅ เค”เคฐ เคคเคจाเคตः-
เคฏเคน เคถเคฐीเคฐ เค•े เคตिเคทैเคฒे เคคเคค्เคค्เคตों เค•ो เคฆूเคฐ เค•เคฐเคคा เคนै, เค…เคฐ्เคฅाเคค เคคเคจाเคต เค•े เค•ाเคฐเคฃ เคชैเคฆा เคนोเคจे เคตाเคฒे เคฆ्เคฐเคต्เคฏों เคชเคฐ เคจिเคฏंเคค्เคฐเคฃ เค•เคฐเคคा เคนै।

04)  *เฅ เค”เคฐ เค–ूเคจ เค•ा เคช्เคฐเคตाเคนः-
เคฏเคน เคนृเคฆเคฏ เค”เคฐ เค–़ूเคจ เค•े เคช्เคฐเคตाเคน เค•ो เคธंเคคुเคฒिเคค เคฐเค–เคคा เคนै।

5)  เฅ เค”เคฐ เคชाเคšเคจः-

เฅ เค•े เค‰เคš्เคšाเคฐเคฃ เคธे เคชाเคšเคจ เคถเค•्เคคि เคคेเคœ़ เคนोเคคी เคนै।

06)  เฅ เคฒाเค เคธ्เคซूเคฐ्เคคिः-
เค‡เคธเคธे เคถเคฐीเคฐ เคฎें เคซिเคฐ เคธे เคฏुเคตाเคตเคธ्เคฅा เคตाเคฒी เคธ्เคซूเคฐ्เคคि เค•ा เคธंเคšाเคฐ เคนोเคคा เคนै।

07)  เฅ เค”เคฐ เคฅเค•ाเคจ:-
เคฅเค•ाเคจ เคธे เคฌเคšाเคจे เค•े เคฒिเค เค‡เคธเคธे เค‰เคค्เคคเคฎ เค‰เคชाเคฏ เค•ुเค› เค”เคฐ เคจเคนीं।

08) .เฅ เค”เคฐ เคจींเคฆः-
เคจींเคฆ เคจ เค†เคจे เค•ी เคธเคฎเคธ्เคฏा เค‡เคธเคธे เค•ुเค› เคนी เคธเคฎเคฏ เคฎें เคฆूเคฐ เคนो เคœाเคคी เคนै। เคฐाเคค เค•ो เคธोเคคे เคธเคฎเคฏ เคจींเคฆ เค†เคจे เคคเค• เคฎเคจ เคฎें เค‡เคธเค•ो เค•เคฐเคจे เคธे เคจिเคถ्เคšिंเคค เคจींเคฆ เค†เคเค—ी।

09) .เฅ เค”เคฐ เคซेเคซเคก़े:-
เค•ुเค› เคตिเคถेเคท เคช्เคฐाเคฃाเคฏाเคฎ เค•े เคธाเคฅ เค‡เคธे เค•เคฐเคจे เคธे เคซेเคซเคก़ों เคฎें เคฎเคœ़เคฌूเคคी เค†เคคी เคนै।

10)  เฅ เค”เคฐ เคฐीเคข़ เค•ी เคนเคก्เคกी:-
เฅ เค•े เคชเคนเคฒे เคถเคฌ्เคฆ เค•ा เค‰เคš्เคšाเคฐเคฃ เค•เคฐเคจे เคธे เค•ंเคชเคจ เคชैเคฆा เคนोเคคी เคนै। เค‡เคจ เค•ंเคชเคจ เคธे เคฐीเคข़ เค•ी เคนเคก्เคกी เคช्เคฐเคญाเคตिเคค เคนोเคคी เคนै เค”เคฐ เค‡เคธเค•ी เค•्เคทเคฎเคคा เคฌเคข़ เคœाเคคी เคนै।

11)  เฅ เคฆूเคฐ เค•เคฐे เคคเคจाเคตः-
เฅ เค•ा เค‰เคš्เคšाเคฐเคฃ เค•เคฐเคจे เคธे เคชूเคฐा เคถเคฐीเคฐ เคคเคจाเคต-เคฐเคนिเคค เคนो เคœाเคคा เคนै।

เค†เคถा เคนै เค†เคช เค…เคฌ เค•ुเค› เคธเคฎเคฏ เคœเคฐुเคฐ เฅ เค•ा เค‰เคš्เคšाเคฐเคฃ เค•เคฐेंเค—े । เคธाเคฅ เคนी เคธाเคฅ เค‡เคธे เค‰เคจ เคฒोเค—ों เคคเค• เคญी เคœเคฐूเคฐ เคชเคนुंเคšाเคฏेเค—े เคœिเคจเค•ी เค†เคชเค•ो เคซिเค•्เคฐ เคนै ।
เค…เคชเคจा เค–्เคฏाเคฒ เคฐเค–िเคฏे, เค–ुเคถ เคฐเคนें

Sep 30, 2016

Sharpening your Axe

Once upon a time, a very strong woodcutter asked for a job in a timber merchant and he got it. The pay was really good and so was the work condition. For those reasons, the woodcutter was determined to do his best.

His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he supposed to work.

The first day, the woodcutter brought 18 trees.

“Congratulations,” the boss said. “Go on that way!”

Very motivated by the boss words, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he could only bring 15 trees. The third day he tried even harder, but he could only bring 10 trees. Day after day he was bringing less and less trees.

“I must be losing my strength”, the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on.

“When was the last time you sharpened your axe?” the boss asked.

“Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut trees…”

We sometimes get so busy with our work that we don’t take time to sharpen the “axe”. In today’s world, it seems that everyone is busier than ever, but we should make time to sharpen ourselves , our skills so that our hard work and efforts become fruitful.

Sep 26, 2016

The right approach

It once happened, on a certain day, a bull and a pheasant were grazing on the field. The bull was grazing on the grass, the pheasant was picking ticks off the bull; they are partners, you know?

Then the pheasant looked at a huge tree which was at the edge of the field, and very nostalgically said, "Alas, there was a time when I could fly to the top most branch of the tree, but today I do not have the strength even to fly to the first branch of the tree"

The bull very nonchalantly said, "That's no problem! Eat a little bit of my dung every day, you will see, within a fortnight's time you will reach the top of the tree."

The pheasant said, "Oh, come off it! How is that possible?"

The bull replied, "Really, please try and see. The whole humanity is on it, you could try, too."

Very hesitantly, the pheasant started pecking at the dung, and on the very first day it reached the first branch of the tree. In a fortnight's time, it reached the topmost branch of the tree. After all it required just  the strength to make up his mind, to climb the tree and the bull did the trick. The Pheasant just went and sat on the topmost branch and just enjoyed the scenery. The old farmer saw a fat old pheasant on the top of the tree. He took out his shotgun and shot him off the tree. 

Any trick can get you to the top, but never lets you stay there. It requires unprecedented efforts to get to the top but clarity and the right approach alone can help you stay there.

Sep 19, 2016

Share what you have

One man bought a beautiful house with an orchard. Nearby an envious man lived in the old house. He was constantly trying to ruin the mood of his new neighbor: he threw garbage under his gates and made other nasty things.

One day the man woke up in a good mood, went out onto the porch and saw a bucket of slops there. The man took this bucket, poured out the slops, cleaned a bucket, put the most ripe and delicious apples there and went to his neighbor. The neighbor heard a knock at the door and gleefully thought: “Finally I got it!”

He opened the door expecting for a quarrel. However the man gave him a bucket of apples saying:

The one who is rich with something, shares it with others!!

Sep 11, 2016

Dining in the Dark

I was invited to one Friday evening event by one of a MNC Vendor organization who had organized the event to raise funds for the visually handicapped people in a center for blind people.

As usual, since it was a Friday evening, I first thought to skip the event considering it could be a bit boring and rather spend the evening relaxing by some other means.

But being alone and sometimes finding it difficult to kill time, I thought to accept the invitation and registered online for booking. Moreover it was free :) which was another motivation to go to the event. I was looking at the event to pass some time meet few people and nothing else.

When I went there, there were approx 40 people from various industries invited for that event. I found some Indians and naturally talked to them about how life is in Singapore etc etc.
Initially we were shown a video about the visually handicapped center. What are their activities, how are they helping blind people in Singapore to leave more fulfilling life, etc. It was a short 15 minute video and quite inspiring that how people from different walks of life spend time in helping these blind people without expecting anything in return. They shared the satisfaction and fulfillment they get by helping them.

After the video, we all were gathered in a hall and were briefed about next event. The theme of the next event was "Dining in the Dark". And this is the event which turned out to be inspiring and worth sharing.

What is meant was that we all 40+ people were going to have Dinner in a pitch Dark room !!!! The next 2 hours were completely planned, organized , directed and executed by three blind youths. One was a girl (Leader) and other two boys were assistant to her forming a team of three blind volunteers.

The blind leader first gave us tips for dining (These were actual standards the blind people follow in order to make their life easier)

1, When you sit at your table the things will be placed as follows : at 3 o clock of your dish : You will find a spoon. at 9 o clock : Fork;     12 o clock : spoon.      2 o clock : Empty Glass. Dish at the center with Paper napkin tucked at 6 o clock.

2. There will be two large Jugs circulated to you. The Jug with plain walls will have water and the Jug with curved wall will have orange juice.

3. When you get your Jug based on your choice you have to pour it in your glass. You have to dip your forefinger in the glass so that when you fill it and the liquid touches your finger, you have to stop pouring.

She asked whether everyone has understood. All said yes but everyone was confused and trying to remember what she said and confirming with each other. Next 1 1/2 hours we spent were full of fun and learning. In completely pitch dark room where we could not see ANYTHING we were enjoying various delicious food without seeing it.

We all 40 people were taken in groups in the dark hall. Each one was directed by blind person till he/she sits on a chair (We were finding it awkward because actually we are supposed to guide blind people to their destination and help them).

We were Served full five course dinner by this team of three blind people - welcome drinks, appetizers, starters, main course and desserts. The amazing thing was that the team of three blind people were serving exactly vegetarian dishes to vegetarian people who were sitting randomly in the room!

While registering online we were asked question to choose from "Vegetarian" or "Non vegetarian". I chose Vegetarian. We were so nicely hosted that we did not had to wait in between serves. As we were ending finishing one dish, we were served with the next without any delays.

After approx. 1and half hours of Dining in the dark, the leader asked whether everyone has finished eating. After confirmation she switched on the lights of the dining room. We left the Dining room with tears in our eyes.

We realized how lucky we are and how we have been gifted with beautiful eyes to see the beautiful world. We realized how difficult lives of blind people are (and other handicapped) without being able to see. We realized how uncomfortable we were for just two hours without being able to see anything and how they must be living their lives. We realized how unfortunate we are , that we do not value such simple things in life we have and cry (sometimes louder, sometimes within ourselves) and run after what we don't have for whole of our lives without having time to adore for the things we have.

Be cheerful. Adore whatever you have in life. You may try for whatever you don’t have but never feel sad about it.

Sep 6, 2016

How to become a better person

Do not wash your linen in public. It is a huge turn-off.

Do not cross line in any relationship. Your respect is in your hands.

Do not open up too much with anyone. You certainly lose your charm. Keep a certain mystery element that draws them to you.

Talk about good and positive things. Do not bitch. Your positivism and enthusiasm is certainly going to attract people to you.

Talk and walk confidently. Be engaging. Everyone would want to listen to you.

Be good at what you do, or at least be good in one thing that can help you start a great conversation. Be knowledgeable.

Do not crib or complain or give excuses. These are the things every other person will do. 

Try to stand out from the crowd.

Presence of mind and a great sense of humour is another feather on your cap.

Wear a smile! For the whole world stops and stares awhile.

Some inspiring words....

Don’t take rest after your first victory because if you fail in second, more lips are waiting to say that your first victory was just luck.

All Birds find shelter during a rain. But Eagle avoids rain by flying above the Clouds.

Failure will never overtake me if my definition to succeed is strong enough.

Man needs difficulties in life because they are necessary to enjoy the success.

If you want to shine like a sun. First burn like a sun.

It is very easy to defeat someone, but it is very hard to win someone.

All of us do not have equal talent. But , all of us have an equal opportunity to develop our talents.

Be more dedicated to making solid achievements than in running after swift but synthetic happiness.

Thinking should become your capital asset, no matter whatever ups and downs you come across in your life.

Without your involvement you can't succeed. With your involvement you can't fail.

60 things we should do

1. Exercise daily. 
2. Get serious about gratitude. 
3. See your work as a craft. 
4. Expect the best and prepare for the worst. 
5. Keep a journal. 
6. Read “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin”. 
7. Plan a schedule for your week. 
8. Know the 5 highest priorities of your life. 
9. Say no to distractions. 
10. Drink a lot of water. 
11. Improve your work every single day. 
12. Get a mentor. 
13. Hire a coach. 
14. Get up at 5 am each day. 
15. Eat less food. 
16. Find more heroes. 
17. Be a hero to someone. 
18. Smile at strangers. 
19. Be the most ethical person you know. 
20. Don’t settle for anything less than excellence. 
21. Savor life’s simplest pleasures. 
22. Save 10% of your income each month. 
23. Spend time at art galleries. 
24. Walk in the woods. 
25. Write thank you letters to those who’ve helped you. 
26. Forgive those who’ve wronged you. 
27. Remember that leadership is about influence and impact, not title and accolades. 
28. Create unforgettable moments with those you love. 
29. Have 5 great friends. 
30. Become stunningly polite. 
31. Unplug your TV. 
32. Sell your TV. 
33. Read daily.
34. Avoid the news. 
35. Be content with what you have. 
36. Pursue your dreams. 
37. Be authentic. 
38. Be passionate. 
39. Say sorry when you know you should. 
40. Never miss a moment to celebrate another. 
41. Have a vision for your life. 
42. Know your strengths. 
43. Focus your mind on the good versus the lack. 
44. Be patient. 
45. Don’t give up. 
46. Clean up your messes. 
47. Use impeccable words. 
48. Travel more. 
49. Read “As You Think”. 
50. Honor your parents. 
51. Tip taxi drivers well. 
52. Be a great teammate. 
53. Give no energy to critics. 
54. Spend time in the mountains.
55. Know your top 5 values. 
56. Shift from being busy to achieving results. 
57. Innovate and iterate. 
58. Speak less. Listen more. 
59. Be the best person you know. 
60. Make your life matter.

Sep 4, 2016

Our Value

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, “who would like this $20 bill?”.  Hands started going up.

He said, “I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this.” 
He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up. He then asked, “Who still wants it?” Still the hands were up in the air.

“Well” he replied, “what if we do this?” And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it on the floor with his shoe. He picked it up now, all crumpled and dirty, “now who still wants it?” Still the hands went into the air.

“My friends you all have learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.”

Many a times in our life, we are dropped, crumbled and grounded into the dirt by the decisions we make or the circumstances that come our way.

We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. You are special, don’t ever forget it!

Aug 27, 2016

Family

A man stopped at a flower shop to order some flowers to be wired to his mother who lived two hundred miles away. As he got out of his car he noticed a young girl sitting on the curb sobbing. He asked her what was wrong and she replied, “I wanted to buy a red rose for my mother. But I only have seventy-five cents, and a rose costs two dollars.”

The man smiled and said, “Come on in with me. I’ll buy you a rose.” He bought the little girl her rose and ordered his own mother’s flowers. As they were leaving he offered the girl a ride home. She said, “Yes, please! You can take me to my mother.” She directed him to a cemetery, where she placed the rose on a freshly dug grave.

The man returned to the flower shop, canceled the wire order, picked up a bouquet and drove the two hundred miles to his mother’s house.

Life is Short.  Spend much time as you can loving and caring people who love you. Enjoy each moment with them before it’s too late.  There is nothing important than family.

Aug 19, 2016

Conquering your fears

One cowardly person came to a master of martial arts and asked to teach him bravery. The master looked at him and said, I will teach you only with one condition: one month you will have to live in a big city and tell every person that you meet on your way that you are a coward. You will have to say it loudly, openly and looking straight into the person’s eyes.

The person got really sad, because this task seemed very scary to him. For a couple of days he was very sad and thoughtful, but to live with his cowardice was so unbearable that he travelled to the city to accomplish his mission.

At first, when meeting the passers, he quailed, lost his speech and couldn’t contact anyone. But he needed to finish the master’s task, so he began to overcome himself. When he came up to his first passer to tell about his cowardice, it seemed to him that he would die from fear. But his voice sounded louder and more confident with every passing day. Suddenly came a moment, when the man caught himself thinking that he’s not scared anymore, and the further he continued doing the master’s task, the more convinced he was that the fear was abandoning him. That way a month had passed. 

The person came back to the master, bowed to him and said: Thank you, teacher. I finished your task. Now I’m not afraid anymore. But how did you know that this strange task will help me?

The master replied”  The thing is that cowardice is only a habit. And by doing the things that scare us, we can destroy the stereotypes and come to a conclusion that you came to. And now you know that bravery – is also a habit. And if you want to make bravery a part of yourself- you need to move forward into the fear. Then the fear will go away, and bravery will take its place!!

Aug 12, 2016

Growing Deep and Strong

One day, my mother and I were working together in the garden where we were transplanting plants for the third time. Grown from seed in a small container, the plants had been transferred to a larger container; then transplanted into the garden. Now, because I was moving, we were transplanting them once again.

Inexperienced as a gardener, I turned to my green-thumbed mother. “Isn’t this bad for them?” I asked, as we dug them up and shook the dirt from the roots. “Won’t it hurt these plants, being uprooted and transplanted so many times?”

“Oh” my mother replied. “Transplanting doesn’t hurt them. In fact, it’s good for the ones that survive. That’s how their roots grow strong. Their roots will grow deep, and they will make strong plants”.

Often, I’ve felt like those small plants – uprooted and turned upside. Sometimes I’ve endured the change willingly, sometimes reluctantly, but usually my reaction has been a combination.

Won’t this be hard on me? I ask. Wouldn’t things be better if things remained the same? That’s when I remember my mother’s words: That’s how the roots grow deep and strong.

Aug 6, 2016

Attitude Matters!

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by. 

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. He worked in the most distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best of his actual capability… It was an unfortunate way to end his career. When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. 

“This is your house,” he said, “my gift to you.” 

Every day , we look at the situation we are in and don’t realize that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized that we would have done it differently.

Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today!!

Aug 1, 2016

Confidence & Hard work

There was an old mule. One day accidentally he fell into the farmer’s well. The farmer has evaluated the situation and thought to himself, that neither the well nor the old mule was worth the efforts to save them. Thus he decided to haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well.

So the farmer called his neighbors and together they started to shovel dirt into the well. The old mule was terrified and hysterical in the beginning. But soon one hopeful idea came to his mind – every time when a shovel of dirt landed on his back, he would shake it off and step up!

He repeated these words to himself again and again: “Shake it off and step up“. This way he could struggle the panic and encourage himself. After some time, the mule had stepped over the well‘s wall. Although terribly tired, he was the winner, he saved his own life. He decided to face his adversity positively and not to give up, and thus he won.

What seems to bury you, actually can save you , with confidence and restless efforts