Ripple

A man was sitting by a lake. He was throwing small pebbles into it from time to time. A young boy happened to cross by. He was intrigued to see that after every few minutes or so, the man would toss a pebble into the lake.

The boy went up to the man and said, "Good pastime, this stone throwing, he?" "Hmmm," said the man. He seemed to be deep in thought and obviously did not wish to be disturbed.

Sometime later, the man said softly, "Look at the water, it is absolutely still."

The boy said, "Yeah, it is."

The man tossed a pebble into the water and continued, "Only till I toss a pebble into it now do you see the ripples?"

"Yeah," said the boy, "they spread further and further."

"And soon, the water is still again," offered the man.

The boy said, "Sure, it becomes quiet, after a while."

The man continued, "What if we want to stop the ripples? The root cause of the ripples is the stone. Lets take the stone out. Go ahead and look for it." The boy put his hand into the water and tried to take the stone out.

But he only succeeded in making more ripples. He was able to take the stone out, but the number of ripples that were made in the process were a lot more than before.

The wise man said, "It is not possible to stop the movement of the water once a pebble has been thrown into it. But if we can stop ourselves from throwing the pebble in the first place, the ripples can be avoided altogether! So too, it is with our minds. If a thought enters into it, it creates ripples.

The only way to save the mind from getting disturbed is to block and ban the entry of every superfluous thought that could be a potential cause for disturbance. If a disturbance has entered into the mind, it will take its own time to die down. Too many conflicting thoughts just cause more and more disturbances. Once the disturbance has been caused it takes time to ebb out. Even trying to forcibly remove the thought may further increase the turmoil in the mind. Time surely is a great healer, but prevention is always better than cure."

Before you allow a thought or a piece of information to enter your mind, put it through the triple filter test of authenticity, goodness and value.

Pencil

A boy was watching his grandmother write a letter , at one point he asked:

‘Are you writing a story about what we’ve done or is it a story about me?’

His grandmother stopped writing her letter and said to her grandson:

‘I am writing about you actually, but more important than the words is the pencil am using. I hope you’ll be like this pencil when you grow up’.

Intrigued, the boy looked at the pencil . It did not seem very special.

‘But its just like any other pencil that I’ve ever seen!’

That depends on how you look at things. It has five qualities which , if you manage to hang on to them , will make you a person who is always at peace with the world.

‘First quality: You are capable of great things,but you must never forget that there’s a hand guiding your steps. We call that hand ‘GOD’ and he always guides us according to his will.

Second Quality: Now and then, i’ve to stop writing and use a sharpener. That makes the pencil suffer a little but afterwards , he’s much sharper. So you too, must learn to bear certain pains and sorrows, because they’ll make you a better person.

Third Quality: The pencil always allows us to use an eraser to rub out any mistakes. This means that correcting something we did, is not necessarily a bad thing; It helps to keep us on the road to justice.

Fourth quality: What really matters for the pencil is not its wooden exterior but its graphite inside. So always pay attention to what is happening inside you.

Finally, the pencils fifth quality: It always leave a mark. In just the same way, you should know that every thing you do in life will leave a mark, so try to be conscious of that in your every action.

Ducks

Early one morning this past week, Scooter and I went for our daily walk down by the town pool and lake. After Scooter fulfilled his daily "duty" we strolled in front of the pool so he could scoop out the scents of the bushes.

To my surprise, fenced inside the pool was a female mallard duck. It seems her landing was misjudged and she got herself into a pickle, and was now trapped inside the pool's fence, not able to figure out quite yet how to get out.

On the outside of the fence was her "mate." Totally frantic at the fact that he could not get to her. Around and around this poor male waddled around the fence. Making his mate so nervous. Distracting her from allowing her dignity in letting her solve her own problem. To figure out on her own....how to get out of this predicament.

Now my first instinct, being codependent, was to try to figure out "how to rescue" this female and bring her back to her mate so they could "swim happily ever after."

Maybe I'll call the wild life patrol. Should I call the police? Then it came to me............Gina? The good Lord put her there........he'll help her to figure out how to get out. Mind your OWN business.

So......I looked down, Scooter totally puzzled why we were there so long. Gave me a tug on the leash and we went home.

The next morning we returned. Of course I headed right to the pool. Scooter and I walked around and around....no ducks! :)

We strolled the path by the lake and what did I see but my 2 feathered friends happily swimming side by side!

I was overjoyed seeing them......Scooter really couldn't care less as he once again was fulfilling his morning "duty."

As we walked back home I thought about those mallards. How many times have we tried to interfere in someone's struggles? How many sleepless nights have we spent trying to figure out someone else's problems? How to get them out of it? Someone that we usually love?

I would like to believe that the male mallard finally exhausted himself and said to her" Listen! You got yourself into this mess! Figure out how to get out of it! I have got to take care of myself. I'm hungry! I'm going to the Mosquito Diner. Meet me there when you figure it out."

I would like to believe that the female sat down and said to herself "I have got to get myself out of this. I'm trapped inside this fence. I've got to figure it out how to get myself out." She did................. :)

Sometimes it so much easier to focus on another's problem than our own. Sometimes by focusing on others struggles it makes us not take a look at "our own" and what we can do to fix our OWN life and take care of our own problems that we need to solve.

The next time I even think about solving another's struggles that they can and should do on their own....I will think about what I can do to change a problem of my own.

Ducks

Early one morning this past week, Scooter and I went for our daily walk down by the town pool and lake. After Scooter fulfilled his daily "duty" we strolled in front of the pool so he could scoop out the scents of the bushes.

To my surprise, fenced inside the pool was a female mallard duck. It seems her landing was misjudged and she got herself into a pickle, and was now trapped inside the pool's fence, not able to figure out quite yet how to get out.

On the outside of the fence was her "mate." Totally frantic at the fact that he could not get to her. Around and around this poor male waddled around the fence. Making his mate so nervous. Distracting her from allowing her dignity in letting her solve her own problem. To figure out on her own....how to get out of this predicament.

Now my first instinct, being codependent, was to try to figure out "how to rescue" this female and bring her back to her mate so they could "swim happily ever after."

Maybe I'll call the wild life patrol. Should I call the police? Then it came to me............Gina? The good Lord put her there........he'll help her to figure out how to get out. Mind your OWN business.

So......I looked down, Scooter totally puzzled why we were there so long. Gave me a tug on the leash and we went home.

The next morning we returned. Of course I headed right to the pool. Scooter and I walked around and around....no ducks! :)

We strolled the path by the lake and what did I see but my 2 feathered friends happily swimming side by side!

I was overjoyed seeing them......Scooter really couldn't care less as he once again was fulfilling his morning "duty."

As we walked back home I thought about those mallards. How many times have we tried to interfere in someone's struggles? How many sleepless nights have we spent trying to figure out someone else's problems? How to get them out of it? Someone that we usually love?

I would like to believe that the male mallard finally exhausted himself and said to her" Listen! You got yourself into this mess! Figure out how to get out of it! I have got to take care of myself. I'm hungry! I'm going to the Mosquito Diner. Meet me there when you figure it out."

I would like to believe that the female sat down and said to herself "I have got to get myself out of this. I'm trapped inside this fence. I've got to figure it out how to get myself out." She did................. :)

Sometimes it so much easier to focus on another's problem than our own. Sometimes by focusing on others struggles it makes us not take a look at "our own" and what we can do to fix our OWN life and take care of our own problems that we need to solve.

The next time I even think about solving another's struggles that they can and should do on their own....I will think about what I can do to change a problem of my own.

Ur weakness wins ?

Do you have a weakness? Almost everyone that I know has a weakness of some sort or another. Some of these weaknesses do not interfere with their normal life. For example, one person may have a weakness in that they are terribly afraid of heights and so that no matter what needs to be done that requires even two steps up on a step ladder is not done. But, does this really cause them a great deal problems? Well, that may depend on what they do for a living, or what the situation is.

If this person is a house painter, then the inability to climb a ladder to paint high ceilings, or the outside of a house, would be a major drawback and unlikely that they would get many jobs.

For many others, being afraid of heights is only an inconvenience that requires the friendly assistance of a spouse to climb the ladder, or a neighborhood friend who can drop over on short notice.

In other situations, some people claim to have a weakness that prevents them from taking a risk to get ahead, or to find a new job, or to acquire a new skill. Is this a weakness or a fear of failure?

Most of us prefer to know what we face because the unknown is unmapped territory. This is somewhat like avoiding traveling to different countries because you are unsure of the customs, or the type of accommodations available, or a reluctance to attempt a few words in a foreign language. Is this a fear to leave your comfort zone; a zone where you know everything that is required from the customs, language, to the spots to avoid to stay away from hooligans.

For some, a weakness may be a phobia that is realistic for them but unrealistic to others. For example, a fear of going outside is a real fear for some, and this condition is called agoraphobia. Now, psychotherapy, and hypnosis, or drugs in other cases can treat this condition. But, what about when the fear of failure dominates your life? How is it treated, or what can be done so that this belief does not cause unrealized dreams to be a dominant partner throughout life?

The best-known cure for the fear of failure is action – that’s right, action. The aspect of taking action helps to quiet nerves and can lead to even minor accomplishments. Take for example the fear of failure if you have been asked to speak in front of a number of people. This speaking request can be as simple as speaking at a wedding as the best man or bridesmaid, or speaking to a group of fellow employees about a new project.

The first action in this case, is to prepare a written speech or comments. Once you are happy with what you have written, the next action is to practice your remarks out loud over and over again until you can recite your comments in your sleep. The next action is to deliver your comments in front of family members – this is a safe audience and gives you an opportunity to see if you make any mistakes. Action is the key. Take action as your own special mechanism to overcome fear. Do not let a weakness win – you can overcome and win.

Special Olympics

A few years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash.

At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but a relish to run the race to the
finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled
over a couple of times, and began to cry.

The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all
turned around and went back ... every one of them.

One girl with Down syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, "This will make it
better." Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in
the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes.

And they call some of these people "retarded"......

People who were there are still telling the story.

Why? Because deep down we know this one thing what matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course.

"A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle"

Chasing the rainbow

A few years back, after a long work week and a rain drenching storm, I found myself stuck in heavy traffic… going no where fast. Although there was a chance I would be late for an appointment, I realized that getting irritated wouldn't serve a purpose - or get me there sooner. It was in that frame of mind that I saw it. It was a beautiful rainbow, majestically stretching across the horizon. It was a magnificent gift from above which left me feeling extremely privileged and blessed… fortunate to be alive.

But I couldn't help wondering just how many of that afternoon's commuters even paused to witness the glorious display. My guess was the bulk of the motorists, especially those stuck with me in the traffic jam, missed it entirely. My guess was most were far too preoccupied with things like the traffic… the time… the rain… the job… dinner… the bills… the day to day - to be impacted by a simple gift from the Almighty. Because I was receptive however, that rainbow set the tone for the rest of my day. Today I don't remember what appointment I was trying to meet, but I do warmly remember the rainbow.

What about you… would you have noticed the rainbow?

There is beauty and magnificence around us everyday - but we often miss it. Every sunrise… every rustling tree… every soaring bird… every raindrop falling from the sky… every cool breeze… every cloud formation in the horizon… the scent of newly blooming flowers… each and every rainbow. To be happy, truly happy - we must surround ourselves with positive people and thoughts, and ensure we are not so preoccupied with living that life passes us by. Following are three steps that should help you to get on the right path.

Step 1: Adjust Your Filters
People typically complain about how much negativity there is in the world. But maybe it's not so much more negativity as it is our perspective. Which information we choose to (and not to) digest is paramount. Whether we realize it or not, countless times each day we consciously, and subconsciously, choose the input we are open to receive. It's only natural that because of the massive volume of data available we routinely establish subconscious filters to manage the flow.

Not sold on it? Following are a couple of quick examples to highlight both the existence and effect of these filters.

The Existence - Try to close your eyes and just listen. Attempt to locate a sound that you didn't notice before. Try the same with your sense of smell. See if you can locate a fragrance that would have otherwise gone unnoticed. While the presence of these sounds and scents are unmistakable once identified, prior to the exercise chances are, as far as your consciousness was concerned, some didn't exist.

The Effect - (To get the impact of this example complete Task 1 before reading Task 2.) Task 1: Take one minute, look around the room and make a mental note of twenty items with blue in them. (Stop reading and complete Task 1.) Task 2: Now without taking your eyes off this article, name twenty items in the room that have the color green in them.

The key isn't how many items you could identify - simply the recognition of the existence of these filters and understanding the importance of managing them. By setting filters to emphasize certain environmental elements we naturally de-emphasize others. As in the case of the rainbow, our filters must be adjusted to recognize, admire and celebrate those simple things - which are truly the essence of life.

Step 2: Start A Positive Thoughts Collection
Surround yourself with positive thoughts and words. Collect a few favorite passages and quotes that define the type of person you ideally aspire to be. Post them in the areas you frequent at home and work. Read them on a regular basis. Get in the habit of reading them when you wake up in the morning and quoting them as advice to friends. Amazingly enough the more you think about them, the more they will become a part of you.

Actively seek to enhance your collection of positive thoughts as often as you can. Be on the lookout for positive, inspiring messages from where ever they may come. With your filters adjusted, you'll find positive input can come from just about anywhere… a movie… a book… a song… a loved one… a stranger on the street… even a memory.

Watching 'The Last Castle' recently for example, (a terrific movie by the way), there is a defining scene when a military prison guard raises his arm to strike an inmate. The protagonist, a convicted three star general and relatively recent addition to the prisoner population, grabs his arm, looks him in the eyes and utters a simple, yet powerful phrase - "You're better than this." Those words would prove to be both empowering and self-fulfilling throughout the remainder of the movie.

And as the sentiment proved to be empowering and self-fulfilling for the characters in the story, I began to consider the potential impact those words could have on my own actions. As a result, when I find myself in a mode that is less than constructive, regardless of the preceding circumstances - my resolve is to remind myself… I'm better than that. This triggers an immediate mind state change - and the implied necessity for me to live up to the sentiment. Thus with minimal effort, even a simple movie phrase can become immensely uplifting in our lives.

Step 3: Consider Your Sources
Last but not least, surround yourself with positive people. Les Brown, a motivational speaker, effectively expresses it this way - "get the toxic people out of your life." Being around negative energy is both mentally and emotionally draining.

While inspiring people with provoking, constructive thoughts are often times difficult to locate, the rewards are well worth the effort. A timely nugget of insight from an interested, motivated confidant with a positive state of mind can provide perspective, clarity, direction and, most importantly, true inspiration.

With the elimination of most of the negative thoughts, occasional doses of positivity (I know… American Heritage and Microsoft both say it's not a word… but maybe it should be) from members of your newly formed network of positive influences will offer tremendous value. This coupled with the more inspired internal communication that will result within will translate into a much happier, healthier, more inspired and successful you.

What It All Means

In the end, it's important to note that typically life is merely a collection of self-fulfilling prophecies. When you wake up in the morning and think you are going to have either a good day or bad day - chances are you will be correct. My theory is that the way we feel is about 15 - 20% circumstance and 80 - 85% perspective. Thus, change your perspective and you can't help but change your life. Or as an incredibly inspiring motivational speech I purchased by W. Mitchell (highly recommended… his story will touch you) proclaims - 'It's Not

What Happens To You, It's What You Do About It."

In a recent conversation with a somewhat frustrated friend, I attempted to offer a little perspective. As much of the problem was work related, I suggested that only she was responsible for her perspective - that her coworkers couldn't impact her state of mind without her concurrence. She asked me how it was that I always seemed happy. As an example I offered that although we were beginning a long, typically less than productive mandatory meeting, which my recent late work hours suggested I didn't have time for - I'd maintain a positive perspective via occasional outward glances to take in the rustling trees and beautiful sky. I indicated that at those times, although I would be at the meeting… I wouldn't be. Instead I would be enjoying scenery that, without the meeting, I would never have seen. Her response - "that's too simple… as a concept it makes sense but it wouldn't work in real life." My response to her was if she wanted to keep getting what she was getting, she should keep doing what she was doing.

When it comes down to it being happier is simply a matter of putting yourself in the right state of mind and surrounding yourself with positive people and positive thoughts. Think about it… who are the happiest population of people we know? Little kids… And what are little kids surrounded by? Toys, laughter and friends interested in the same surround them. Little kids are not just happy because they are little kids. Like any adult their mood is reflective of whether they have a nurturing, positive environment. Permanently remove the toys, laughter and like-minded friends and odds are that little kid won't remain happy much longer.

In the final analysis, life doesn't change - we have to change it. It takes effort… but the dividends are well worth the investment. I'm reminded of a story of a young man passing a porch with an older man in a rocking chair and a moaning dog. The young man asks what is wrong with the dog. The older man responds that the dog is only moaning because he is lying on a nail. The young man further inquires why the dog doesn't just get up off the nail. To which the older man offers - "well, I guess it's not hurting him that much… is it?" What about you… Are you lying on any nails these days? If so, how much does yours hurt?

Make the investment in yourself… change your filters… collect all the positive input you can… and eliminate the negative influences in your life. It will do wonders for your perspective and your passion about life.

Catch you at the next rainbow...

Yellow paper clips

Georgia, a friend of my wife, was recently divorced and trying to raise her two sons when the Gulf War broke out. She heard about soldiers in the service who had no family and needed pen pals. Letters addressed to "Any Soldier" were distributed by commanding officers who noticed any soldiers getting little or no mail. Georgia wrote to 25 such soldiers almost daily, most of them men.

Keeping up with 25 pen pals on a daily basis almost consumed Georgia's time and talents. She sent poems, little stories, and words of hope and encouragement. When there were time constraints, she would write one letter and copy it for everyone. Greetings were sent whenever she knew about a special event, like a birthday.

One day, Georgia received a letter from a soldier that was depressed and discouraged. She pondered as to how she could help lift his spirits. It was then that she noticed that at work there were paper clips of various colors. Georgia took one of the yellow paper clips and photo copied it in the palm of her hand. She sent this picture with the paper clip with the following message: "This yellow paper clip that you see in my hand represents a hug that I am sending to you. You can carry this paper clip in a pocket or anywhere, and whenever you feel down, you can just touch and hold it and know that somebody cares about you, and would give you a hug if she were there." Georgia sent a copy of this picture along with a paper clip and the message to each of her other correspondents.

After the war ended, Georgia received one of the pictures of her hand holding the yellow paper clip, and on the back were over 150 signatures of people that had been given her "hug".

During the years, Georgia named other paper clips. Pink came to mean a kiss, green was for good luck, and so on.

Years later, Georgia was giving a class as part of a seminar for positive thinking. She shared with the members of the class her paper clip symbolism, and made a bracelet of multi-colored paper clips for each of them. One of the women exclaimed "So you're the one!" The class member told Georgia that she was visiting her brother and needed something to hold papers together. She had noticed a yellow paper clip on the refrigerator held there with a magnet. She borrowed the paper clip for her papers. When the brother saw it, he grabbed it and scolded her, and told her never to touch the yellow paper clip again. Now she knew why.

No one will never know how far her message has spread, nor how many lives have been touched by a simple yellow paper clip.

Achieving Perfection.

In Brooklyn, New York, Chush is a school that caters to learning-disabled children. Some children remain in Chush for their entire school career, while others can be main-streamed into conventional schools. At a Chush fund-raising dinner, the father of a Chush child delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended.

After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he cried out, "Where is the perfection in my son Shaya? Everything God does is done with perfection. But my child cannot understand things as other children do. My child cannot remember facts and figures as other children do. Where is God's perfection?"

The audience was shocked by the question, pained by the father's anguish and stilled by the piercing query.

"I believe," the father answered, "that when God brings a child like this into the world, the perfection that He seeks is in the way people react to this child." He then told the following story about his son Shaya.

One afternoon Shaya and his father walked past a park where some boys Shaya knew were playing baseball. Shaya asked, "Do you think they will let me play?" Shaya's father knew that his son was not at all athletic and that most boys would not want him on their team. But Shaya's father understood that if his son was chosen to play it would give him a comfortable sense of belonging.

Shaya's father approached one of the boys in the field and asked if Shaya could play. The boy looked around for guidance from his team-mates. Getting none, he took matters into his own hands and said, "We are losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him up to bat in the ninth inning."

Shaya's father was ecstatic as Shaya smiled broadly. Shaya was told to put on a glove and go out to play short center field. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shaya's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shaya's team scored again and now with two outs and the bases loaded with the potential winning run on base, Shaya was scheduled to be up. Would the team actually let Shaya bat at this juncture and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shaya was given the bat. Everyone knew that it was all but impossible because Shaya didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, let alone hit with it. However, as Shaya stepped up to the plate, the pitcher moved a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shaya should at least be able to make contact.

The first pitch came in and Shaya swung clumsily and missed. One of Shaya's team-mates came up to Shaya and together they held the bat and faced the pitcher waiting for the next pitch. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly toward Shaya.

As the pitch came in, Shaya and his team-mate swung the bat and together they hit a slow ground ball to the pitcher. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could easily have thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shaya would have been out and that would have ended the game.

Instead, the pitcher took the ball and threw it on a high arc to right field, far beyond reach of the first baseman. Everyone started yelling, "Shaya, run to first. Run to first!"

Never in his life had Shaya run to first. He scampered down the baseline wide eyed and startled. By the time he reached first base, the right fielder had the ball. He could have thrown the ball to the second baseman who would tag out Shaya, who was still running. But the right fielder understood what the pitcher's intentions were, so he threw the ball high and far over the third baseman's head.

Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second." Shaya ran towards secondbase as the runners ahead of him deliriously circled the bases towards home. As Shaya reached second base, the opposing short stop ran to him, turned him in the direction of third base and shouted, "Run to third."

As Shaya rounded third, the boys from both teams ran behind him screaming, "Shaya run home!" Shaya ran home, stepped on home plate and all 18 boys lifted him on their shoulders and made him the hero, as he had just hit a "grand slam" and won the game for his team.

That day," said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, "those 18 boys reached their level of God's perfection."

A quite voice.

This little story reminds us to listen to that small quiet voice from within -- you never know where it will lead you.

As a teacher of origami (the ancient Japanese art of paper folding) at the LaFarge Lifelong Learning Institute in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Art Beaudry was asked to represent the school at an exhibit at a large mall in Milwaukee. He decided to take along a couple hundred folded paper cranes to pass out to people who stopped at his booth.

Before that day, something strange happened -- a voice told him to find a piece of gold foil paper and make a gold origami crane. The voice was so insistent that Art actually found himself rummaging through his collection of origami papers at home until he found one flat, shiny piece of gold foil.

"Why am I doing this?" he asked himself. Art had never worked with the shiny gold paper; it didn't fold as easily or neatly as the crisp multicolored papers. But that little voice kept nudging. Art tried to ignore the voice. "Why gold foil anyway? Paper is much easier to work with," he grumbled.

The voice continued. "Do it! And give it to a special person." By now Art was getting a little cranky. "What special person?" he asked the voice. "You'll know which one," the voice said.

That evening Art carefully folded and shaped the unforgiving gold foil until it became as graceful and delicate as a real crane about to take flight. He packed the exquisite crane in the box along with about 200 other colorful paper cranes he'd made over the previous few weeks.

The next day at the mall, dozens upon dozens of people stopped by Art's booth to ask questions about origami. He demonstrated the art. He folded, unfolded and refolded. He explained the intricate details, the need for sharp creases.

Then, suddenly, there was a woman standing in front of Art. Was this that special person? Art had never seen her before, and she hadn't said a word as she watched him carefully fold a pink piece of paper into a crane with pointed, graceful wings.

Art glanced up at her face, and before he realized it, he found himself reaching for the "gold-foil crane" he'd labored over the night before. Carefully he picked up the gold crane, and gently placed it in the woman's hand.

Art said: "I don't know why, but a voice told me to give you that golden crane.

The crane is the ancient symbol of peace," Art said simply.

The woman didn't say a word as she slowly cupped her hand around the fragile bird as if it were alive. When Art looked at her face, he saw tears filling her eyes.

Finally, the woman took a deep breath and said, "My husband died three weeks ago. This is the first time I've been out. Today ...." She wiped her eyes with her free hand, still gently cradling the golden crane with the other. Then she said very quietly, as tears streamed down her face. "Today would have been our 'golden' wedding anniversary."

Then the lady said in a clear voice, "Thank you so much for this beautiful gift. Now I know that my husband is at peace.

Don't you see? The voice you heard, it was the voice of God, and this beautiful crane is a gift from Him. It's the most wonderful 50th wedding anniversary gift

I could have received. Thank you for listening to Holly Spirit within your heart."

And that's how Art learned to listen very carefully, when the Holy Spirit speaks to him within, and tells him to do things he may not understand -- now or even later.

Are you listening, my friend? God may be speaking to you.

Confidence level.

Story told by a man which is most frightening yet thought-provoking experiences of his life.

He had been on a long flight. The first warning of the approaching problems came when the sign on the airplane flashed on: "Fasten your seat belts."

Then, after a while, a calm voice said, "We shall not be serving the beverages at this time as we are expecting a little turbulence. Please be sure your seat belt is fastened."

As he looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many of the passengers were becoming apprehensive. Later, the voice of the announcer said, "We are so sorry that we are unable to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still ahead of us."

And then the storm broke. The ominous cracks of thunder could be heard even above the roar of the engines. Lightening lit up the darkening skies and within moments that great plane was like a cork tossed around on a celestial ocean. One moment the airplane was lifted on terrific currents of air; the next, it dropped as if it were about to crash.

The man confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those around him. He said, "As I looked around the plane, I could see that nearly all the passengers were upset and alarmed. Some were praying.

The future seemed ominous and many were wondering if they would make it through the storm. And then, I suddenly saw a girl to whom the storm meant nothing. She had tucked her feet beneath her as she sat on her seat and was reading a book.

Everything within her small world was calm and orderly. Sometimes she closed her eyes, then she would read again; then she would straighten her legs, but worry and fear were not in her world. When the plane was being buffeted by the terrible storm, when it lurched this way and that, as it rose and fell with frightening severity, when all the adults were scared half to death, that marvelous child was completely composed and unafraid."

The man could hardly believe his eyes. It was not surprising therefore, that when the plane finally reached its destination and all the passengers were hurrying to disembark, he lingered to speak to the girl whom he had watched for such a long time.

Having commented about the storm and behavior of the plane, he asked why she had not been afraid.

The sweet child replied,

"Sir, my Dad is the pilot and he is taking me home."

When you are sure of your self, your confident level is steady and you are never shaky you do the things calmly and successfully.

Grow great by dreams.

The question was once asked of a highly successful businessman: "How have you done so much in your lifetime?"

He replied, "I have dreamed. I have turned my mind loose to imagine what I wanted to do. Then I have gone to bed and thought about my dreams. In the night I dreamt about my dreams. And when I awoke in the morning, I saw the way to make my dreams real. While other people were saying, 'You can't do that, it isn't possible,' I was well on my way to achieving what I wanted." As Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the U.S., said: "We grow great by dreams. All big men are dreamers."

They see things in the soft haze of a spring day, or in the red fire on a long winter's evening. Some of us let these great dreams die, but others nourish and protect them; nourish them through bad days until they bring them to the sunshine and light which comes always to those who sincerely hope that their dreams will come true."

So please, don't let anyone steal your dreams, or try to tell you they are too impossible.

"Sing your song, dream your dreams, hope your hope and pray your prayer."

COIN

I walk my three housecats every morning for about a half a mile and then we go on to our porch and have a "snack" of kibbled cat food. In the spring of 2009 this activity attracted the attention of a lone starling. The most prominent feature of this bird was its brightly colored yellow beak.

I believe that nothing is an accident and that seemly random events have significance. With that in mind I researched some of my books and found that the color yellow represents "communication, optimism, and inspiration". I took the first letters of these words: "c" from communication, "o" from optimism, and "in" from inspiration to form the word "Coin". This became the bird's name.

Coin would wait until he noticed my cats had finished and had moved into the yard and then he would fly onto the eve of the porch posts. Coin would lean in to look at me and would chant with a loud raspy voice, "Raack! Raack!" The bird would then fly down and pick up the bits of dry food left by the cats and fly away. This is very unusual because starlings always feed together in groups. I guess Coin was a bit of a maverick among starlings!

Each morning the ritual would be repeated and this continued every morning into the midsummer. In the heat of that summer as suddenly as Coin appeared he disappeared. The fall came and went and we experienced the worst winter that we have had in fourteen years. Record snow falls blanketed the landscape with drifts of snow that were over fifteen feet high! Eventually the snow melted and it began to look more like spring. The migrating birds returned and I often wondered what had happened to Coin.

One day I was sitting in my porch chair after I had given the cats their "snack" and a starling flew up on the eve of our porch posts. I watched and waited. Could it really be? No, I remember thinking it was probably just a coincidence. Then suddenly I heard the familiar, "Raack! Raack!" Coin had returned and he flew down and helped himself to a snack and flew away!

Coin now has an aluminum tray where I place some food for him every morning. The cats have even grown to accept him as part of the routine and a member of our family.

I was thinking how this bird was cared for by the Creator through the terrible winter and how he migrated back to the same location and remembered his personal "snack bar". It is truly amazing.

Then I mused about the bird's name and how it came into being with the words communication, optimism, and inspiration. These traits and other positive aspects of life seem to also disappear from time to time and I find myself wondering what had happened to them and where they have gone. But like Coin my hopes and positive expectations reappear after the long hard winter of my soul and I am once again blessed in my experience by the Creator.

Dont' we all ?

I was parked in front of the mall wiping off my car. I had just come from the car wash and was waiting for my wife to get out of work. Coming my way from across the parking lot was what society would consider a bum. From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no money.
MAY I NEVER GET TOO BUSY IN MY OWN AFFAIRS!

There are times when you feel generous but there are other times that you
just don’t want to be bothered. This was one of those “don’t want to be
bothered times.”
“I hope he doesn’t ask me for any money,” I thought. He didn’t.
He came and sat on the curb in front of the bus stop but he didn’t look like he could have enough money to even ride the bus. After a few minutes he spoke. “That’s a very pretty car,” he said.
He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him. His scraggly blond beard keeps more than his face warm.
I said, “Thanks,” and continued wiping off my car.
He sat there quietly as I worked. The expected plea for money never came.
As the silence between us widened something inside said, “Ask him if he needs any help.”
I was sure that he would say “yes” but I held true to the inner voice.
“Do you need any help?” I asked.
He answered in three simple but profound words that I shall never forget. We often look for wisdom in great men and women. We expect it from those of higher learning and accomplishments.
I expected nothing but an outstretched grimy hand. He spoke the three words that shook me.
“Don’t we all?” he said.
I was feeling high and mighty, successful and important, above a bum in the street, until those three words hit me like a twelve gauge shotgun. Don’t we all?
I needed help. Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but I needed help. I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for bus fare, but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day.
Those three little words still ring true. No matter how much you have, no matter how much you have accomplished, you need help too. No matter how little you have, no matter how loaded you are with problems, even without money or a place to sleep, you can give help.
Even if it’s just a compliment, you can give that. You never know when you may see someone that appears to have it all. They are waiting on you to give them what they don’t have. A different perspective on life, a glimpse at something beautiful, a respite from daily chaos, that only you through a torn world can see.
Maybe the man was just a homeless stranger wandering the streets. Maybe he was more than that. maybe he was sent by a power that is great and wise, to messenger to a soul too comfortable in themselves. Maybe God looked down, called an Angel, dressed him like a bum, and then said, “Go messenger to that man cleaning the car, that man needs help.” Don’t we all?

cafeteria

A friend’s grandfather came to America from Eastern Europe. After being processed at Ellis Island, he went into a cafeteria in lower Manhattan to get something to eat. He sat down at an empty table and waited for someone to take his order. Of course nobody did. Finally, a woman with a tray full of food sat down opposite him and informed him how a cafeteria worked.

“Start out at that end,” she said. “Just go along the line and pick out what you want. At the other end they’ll tell you how much you have to pay.”

“I soon learned that’s how everything works in America,” the grandfather told a friend. “Life’s a cafeteria here. You can get anything you want as long as you are willing to pay the price. You can even get success, but you’ll never get it if you wait for someone to bring it to you. You have to get up and get it yourself.”

Girl scout cookies

The greatest saleswoman in the world today doesn't mind if you call her a girl. That's because Markita Andrews has generated more than eighty thousand dollars selling Girl Scout cookies since she was seven years old.

Going door-to-door after school, the painfully shy Markita transformed herself into a cookie-selling dynamo when she discovered, at age 13, the secret of selling.

It starts with desire. Burning, white-hot desire.

For Markita and her mother, who worked as a waitress in New York after her husband left them when Markita was eight years old, their dream was to travel the globe. "I'll work hard to make enough money to send you to college," her mother said one day. "You'll go to college and when you graduate, you'll make enough money to take you and me around the world. Okay?"

So at age 13 when Markita read in her Girl Scout magazine that the Scout who sold the most cookies would win an all- expenses-paid trip for two around the world, she decided to sell all the Girl Scout cookies she could - more Girl Scout cookies than anyone in the world, ever.

But desire alone is not enough. To make her dream come true, Markita knew she needed a plan.

"Always wear your right outfit, your professional garb," her aunt advised. "When you are doing business, dress like you are doing business. Wear your Girl Scout uniform. When you go up to people in their tenement buildings at 4:30 or 6:30 and especially on Friday night, ask for a big order. Always smile, whether they buy or not, always be nice. And don't ask them to buy your cookies; ask them to invest."

Lots of other Scouts may have wanted that trip around the world. Lots of other Scouts may have had a plan. But only Markita went off in her uniform each day after school, ready to ask - and keep asking - folks to invest in her dream. "Hi, I have a dream. I'm earning a trip around the world for me and my mom by merchandising Girl Scout cookies," she'd say at the door. "Would you like to invest in one dozen or two dozen boxes of cookies?"

Markita sold 3,526 boxes of Girl Scout cookies that year and won her trip around the world. Since then, she has sold more than 42,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies, spoken at sales conventions across the country, starred in a Disney movie about her adventure and has co-authored the best seller, How to Sell More Cookies, Condos, Cadillacs, Computers ... And Everything Else.

Markita is no smarter and no more extroverted than thousands of other people, young and old, with dreams of their own. The difference is Markita had discovered the secret of selling: As, Ask, Ask! Many people fail before they even begin because they fail to ask for what they want. The fear of rejection leads many of us to reject ourselves and our dreams long before anyone else ever has the chance - no matter what we're selling.

And everyone is selling something. "You're selling yourself everyday - in school, to your boss, to new people you meet," said Markita at 14. "My mother is a waitress: she sells the daily special. Mayors and presidents trying to get votes are selling ... I see selling everywhere I look. Selling is part of the whole world."

It takes courage to ask for what you want. Courage is not the absence of fear. It's doing what it takes despite one's fear. And, as Markita has discovered, the more you ask, the easier (and more fun) it gets.

Once, on live TV, the producer decided to give Markita her toughest selling challenge. Markita was asked to sell Girl Scout cookies to another guest on the show. "Would you like to invest in one dozen or two dozen boxes of Girl Scout cookies?" she asked.

"Girl Scout cookies? I don't buy any Girl Scout cookies!" he replied. "I'm a Federal Penitentiary warden. I put 2,000 rapists, robbers, criminals, muggers and child abusers to bed every night."

Unruffled, Markita quickly countered, "Mister, if you take some of these cookies. maybe you won't be so mean and angry and evil. And, Mister, I think it would be a good idea for you to take some of these cookies back for every one of your 2,000 prisoners, too."

Markita asked.

The Warden wrote a check.

Bird Feeder

Last fall I hung outside my window a bird feeder. Now not knowing the first thing about wild birds, I assumed that as soon as I hung this bird feeder outside, a multitude of beautiful birds would be swooping to my new addition. Days, weeks and months went by; NO BIRDS.

I asked so many people what to do? What was I doing wrong? "Nothing" most of them replied. "Just wait." So I waited and waited and waited trying everything possible, to attract these birds.

I cleaned off the deck, I changed the feed, I washed the feeders, I even made the cat go out the other door! But nothing seemed to work. So......I waited, "with patience and hope."

Two (2) months later, on a Saturday afternoon, I FROZE! What to my eyes had appeared on the bird feeder but the most beautiful bird I have ever seen in my life! All of a sudden HUNDREDS UPON HUNDREDS OF BIRDS WERE APPEARING FROM EVERYWHERE!

What a beautiful lesson I learned from this little creature. "Patience and hope" and "things" will attract the beautiful things in life. I never realized how much patience I really do have and how much I do rely upon "hope" to sort out the questions in my heart.

So I keep hoping and waiting, waiting and hoping. I will try to use this "little lesson" with so many other things in my life. I guess "patience is a virtue" after all.

The Race Horse

There was a horse. Good breed. Strong. Energetic. The horse was bought by a merchant who also traded donkeys as a part of his business. The merchant was very fond of his pastime activities. One of them was donkey race. One day he thought, ‘For a change let me run my horse in this race’. The result was obvious. The horse won by a huge margin.

The merchant kept doing this for a while. Initially the horse enjoyed the race not because of winning but because he enjoyed running. The horse would put extra effort to win by a bigger margin each time. Then the horse got tired of the silly race. Neither the merchant rewarded him, nor did the donkeys pose any challenge. (Donkeys!!!!!) So the horse started reducing his speed. He still won but by lesser margins (The horse could not even dream of losing from donkeys). But the merchant was very happy. He thought his donkeys improving in speed (what a fool!!!!).

One day a horse trader was passing by the merchant’s fields with a field of horses (race horses) to be sold in the market near the donkey-merchant’s house. He needed a place to rest his horses for the day. The horse-trader asked the donkey-merchant for his help and the donkey-merchant being a kind-hearted person, offered places for the horse-trader and his horses to rest. That night the horse-trader received news that the market will remain closed for next three days. So he requested the donkey-merchant to allow him to stay for that duration and the donkey-merchant did not refuse.

The next morning the donkey-merchant suggested "Let’s race some of your horses against mine". The horse-trader saw no harm in that. The donkey-merchant was confident that his horse runs very fast so he placed a huge bet on his horse. The race began. The donkey-merchant’s horse now competing against horses was very excited initially but then realized he had lost his speed, strength and confidence. Half-way through the race, he got scared of other horses and finally lost miserably. The horse was devastated at realizing his own value and his confidence was shattered. The merchant thought his horse is no longer good enough and is under-performing so thought to sell him off to the horse-trader to recover the money he lost in the bet. Due to the loss the donkey-merchant could not ask for a higher price for his horse. So he sold him to the horse-trader for a relatively small amount.

The horse-trader knew more about horses than the donkey-merchant. So he was happy to get a good horse for a small price. Three days later the horse-trader bid farewell to the donkey-merchant and left.

Few months later, the donkey-merchant received a parcel from the horse-trader. The parcel contained a letter, few photographs and a recent newspaper cutout and some cash. The letter read; "Hello my friend. I am very happy to let you know that the decision to buy that horse you few months back turned out to be one of my best decisions. With some training the horse turned into the ‘winning-beast on the track’ as they call it. It gives me immense pleasure to let you know that this horse has won at the grandest of all races. I have sent you some of his race-track photographs and a newspaper article on his latest success. I hope you would be as happy as I am.

Regards,
Your friend."

Having read the letter and the newspaper article the donkey-merchant realized what a fool he was. All the time he was comparing the horse with donkeys and making a donkey of himself in judging the horse. By the time he realized he had lost but it was very late by then.

Never judge anyone unfairly. With fair judgment you can bring out the best in someone.

 

All the time in the world

While at the park one day, a woman sat down next to a man on a bench near a playground. "That's my son over there," she said, pointing to a little boy in a red sweater who was gliding down the slide.

"He's a fine looking boy," the man said. "That's my son on the swing in the blue sweater." Then, looking at his watch, he called to his son. "What do you say we go, Todd?"

Todd pleaded, "Just five more minutes, Dad. Please? Just five more minutes."

The man nodded and Todd continued to swing to his heart's content.

Minutes passed and the father stood and called again to his son. "Time to go now?"

Again Todd pleaded, "Five more minutes, Dad. Just five more minutes." The man smiled and said, "Okay."

"My, you certainly are a patient father," the woman responded.

The man smiled and then said, "My older son Tommy was killed by a drunk driver last year while he was riding his bike near here. I never spent much time with Tommy and now I'd give anything for just five more minutes with him. I've vowed not to make the same mistake with Todd.

"He thinks he has five more minutes to swing. The truth is . . .

I get five more minutes to watch him play."

The understudy

"Angie, I know you like to sing," her father, a practical autoworker, told Angela Brown, "but you gotta have something to fall back on."

Brown took her father's advice. She got a degree in secretarial science before enrolling in Oakwood College, in Huntsville, Alabama. Her aim was to become a singing evangelist. But then the opera bug bit.

So after graduation she headed to Indiana University to study with legendary soprano Virginia Zeani.

Once, when Brown was plagued by self-doubt, Zeani challenged her: "If you want to be the next Aretha Franklin, go, you need no more lessons," Brown remembers her saying. "But if you want to be the best Verdian soprano this world has ever seen, you must work."

Work she did. Three times she competed in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Three times she failed to make the final round in New York. Then, in 1997 at age 33, the age limit for sopranos to audition, she gave it one more try. She signed up at the last minute and didn't even practice, figuring: "All they could do was tell me no, and that didn't hurt my feelings anymore."

She had the strength she needed to fall back on if she failed.

She won. But making it to New York was just the beginning. Singers don't spring into starring roles. It took her three more years to become a Met understudy. But waiting in the wings was fine with her. Finally, her time came. When the featured singer fell ill, Brown earned the chance to sing the lead role in Aida. And The New York Times proclaimed her debut a triumph. Angela Brown, soprano, who had prepared for 20 years, was an "overnight" sensation at age 40.

Am I happy ?

Yesterday, I was driving, and the FM radio went off for few seconds. I thought, I should have an iPod. Then suddenly I realized that I have not used my iPod in last 6 months. And then… more things, Handy cam in last 2 years, Digital Camera in last 2 months, DVD player in last 1 month and many more. Now I can say that I bought that Handy cam just out of impulse, I have used it twice only in last 4 years.

So, whats wrong and where? When I look at myself or my friends I can see it everywhere.We are not happy with what we have but all are stressed and not happy for the things we don’t have. You have a Santro, but you want City… You have a City, but you want Skoda. Just after buying a new phone, we need another one. Better laptop, bigger TV, faster car, bigger house, more money… .I mean, these examples are endless. The point is, does it actually worth? Do we ever think if we actually need those things before we want them?

After this, I was forced to think what I need and what I don’t. May be I didn’t need this Handy cam or the iPod or that DVD player. When I see my father back at home. He has a simple BPL color tv, he doesn’t need 32 ″  Sony LCD wall mount. He has a cellphone worth Rs 2,500. Whenever I ask him to change the phone, he always says… “Its a phone, I need this just for calls.” And believe me; he is much happier in life than me with those limited resources and simple gadgets.  The very basic reason why he is happy with so little is that he doesn’t want things in life to make it luxurious, but he wants only those things which are making his life easier.  It’s a very fine line between these two, but after looking my father’s life style closely, I got the point. He needs a cell phone but! not the iPhone. He needs a TV but not the 32 ″  plasma. He needs a car but not an expensive one.
Initially I had lot of questions.

I am earning good, still I am not happy…...why ?

I have all luxuries, still I am stressed.... ....... why ?

I had a great weekend, still I am feeling tired...... why?

I met lot of people, I thought over it again and again, I still don’t know if I got the answers, but certainly figured out few things. I realize that one thing which is keeping me stressed is the “stay connected” syndrome. I realized that, at home also I am logged in on messengers, checking mails, using social networks, and on the top of that, the windows mobile is not letting me disconnected. On the weekend itself, trying to avoid unwanted calls… and that is keeping my mind always full of stress. I realized that I am spending far lesser money than what I earn, even then I am always worried about money and more money. I realized that I am saving enough money I would ever need, whenever needed. Still I am stressed about job and salary and spends.
May be, many people will call this approach “not progressive attitude“ , but I want my life back.   Ultimately it’s a single life, a day gone is a day gone.  I believe if I am not happy tonight, I’ll never be happy tomorrow morning. I finally realized that meeting friends, spending quality time with your loved one’s; spending time with yourself is the most important thing. If on Sunday you are alone and you don’t have anybody to talk with, then all that luxuries life, all that money is wasted. May be cutting down your requirements, re-calculating your future goal in the light of today’s happiness is a worthwhile thing to do. May be selling off your Santro and buying Honda City on EMIs is not a good idea. I believe putting your happiness ahead of money is the choice we need to make.

I think, a lot can be said and done but what we need the most is re-evaluation of the value of happiness and time we are giving to our life and people associate with it.

Am I happy ?

Yesterday, I was driving, and the FM radio went off for few seconds. I thought, I should have an iPod. Then suddenly I realized that I have not used my iPod in last 6 months. And then… more things, Handy cam in last 2 years, Digital Camera in last 2 months, DVD player in last 1 month and many more. Now I can say that I bought that Handy cam just out of impulse, I have used it twice only in last 4 years.

So, whats wrong and where? When I look at myself or my friends I can see it everywhere.We are not happy with what we have but all are stressed and not happy for the things we don’t have. You have a Santro, but you want City… You have a City, but you want Skoda. Just after buying a new phone, we need another one. Better laptop, bigger TV, faster car, bigger house, more money… .I mean, these examples are endless. The point is, does it actually worth? Do we ever think if we actually need those things before we want them?

After this, I was forced to think what I need and what I don’t. May be I didn’t need this Handy cam or the iPod or that DVD player. When I see my father back at home. He has a simple BPL color tv, he doesn’t need 32 ″  Sony LCD wall mount. He has a cellphone worth Rs 2,500. Whenever I ask him to change the phone, he always says… “Its a phone, I need this just for calls.” And believe me; he is much happier in life than me with those limited resources and simple gadgets.  The very basic reason why he is happy with so little is that he doesn’t want things in life to make it luxurious, but he wants only those things which are making his life easier.  It’s a very fine line between these two, but after looking my father’s life style closely, I got the point. He needs a cell phone but! not the iPhone. He needs a TV but not the 32 ″  plasma. He needs a car but not an expensive one.
Initially I had lot of questions.

I am earning good, still I am not happy…...why ?

I have all luxuries, still I am stressed.... ....... why ?

I had a great weekend, still I am feeling tired...... why?

I met lot of people, I thought over it again and again, I still don’t know if I got the answers, but certainly figured out few things. I realize that one thing which is keeping me stressed is the “stay connected” syndrome. I realized that, at home also I am logged in on messengers, checking mails, using social networks, and on the top of that, the windows mobile is not letting me disconnected. On the weekend itself, trying to avoid unwanted calls… and that is keeping my mind always full of stress. I realized that I am spending far lesser money than what I earn, even then I am always worried about money and more money. I realized that I am saving enough money I would ever need, whenever needed. Still I am stressed about job and salary and spends.
May be, many people will call this approach “not progressive attitude“ , but I want my life back.   Ultimately it’s a single life, a day gone is a day gone.  I believe if I am not happy tonight, I’ll never be happy tomorrow morning. I finally realized that meeting friends, spending quality time with your loved one’s; spending time with yourself is the most important thing. If on Sunday you are alone and you don’t have anybody to talk with, then all that luxuries life, all that money is wasted. May be cutting down your requirements, re-calculating your future goal in the light of today’s happiness is a worthwhile thing to do. May be selling off your Santro and buying Honda City on EMIs is not a good idea. I believe putting your happiness ahead of money is the choice we need to make.

I think, a lot can be said and done but what we need the most is re-evaluation of the value of happiness and time we are giving to our life and people associate with it.