Tuesday, 27. February 2007, 14:19:07
Determination
DETERMINATON
In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It had never been done before.
Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built.
Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.
The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move.
"We told them so."
"Crazy men and their crazy dreams."
"It`s foolish to chase wild visions."
Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap Washington was never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever.
He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some of his friends, but they were too daunted by the task. As he lay on his bed in his hospital room, with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew the flimsy white curtains apart and he was able to see the sky and the tops of the trees outside for just a moment.
It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife.
He touched his wife's arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again.
For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife's arm, until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man's indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a tangible monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages of her husband and told the engineers what to do.
Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal.
Often when we face obstacles in our day-to-day life, our hurdles seem very small in comparison to what many others have to face. The Brooklyn Bridge shows us that dreams that seem impossible can be realised with determination and persistence, no matter what the odds are.
Even the most distant dream can be realized with determination and persistence.
Tuesday, 27. February 2007, 12:28:41
Value
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 I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into 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 have all 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 times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and 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!
Tuesday, 27. February 2007, 12:22:49
DON'T 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. 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 keep 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 minister to a soul too comfortable in themselves.
Maybe God looked down, called an Angel, dressed him like a bum, then said, "go minister to that man cleaning the car, that man needs help."
Don't we all?
Tuesday, 27. February 2007, 12:07:57
Struggles
BUTTERFLY
A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further.
So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon.
The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.
The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.
Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.
What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.
Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us.
We would not be as strong as what we could have been. We could never fly!
I asked for Strength.........
And God gave me Difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for Wisdom.........
And God gave me Problems to solve.
I asked for Prosperity.........
And God gave me Brain and Brawn to work.
I asked for Courage.........
And God gave me Danger to overcome.
I asked for Love.........
And God gave me Troubled people to help.
I asked for Favors.........
And God gave me Opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted ........
I received everything I needed!
Trust in God. Always !
Tuesday, 27. February 2007, 10:40:37
Friend
To my friends, I was touched by this story
.... maybe you will be too.
Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed the boy ahead of him had tripped and dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with two sweaters, a baseball bat, a glove and a small tape recorder. Mark knelt down and helped the boy pick up the scattered articles. Since they were going the same way, he helped to carry part of the burden. As they walked, Mark discovered the boy's name was Bill, that he loved video games, baseball and history, and that he was having lots of trouble with his other subjects and that he had just broken up with his girlfriend.
They arrived at Bill's home first and Mark was invited in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed pleasantly with a few laughs and some shared small talk, then Mark went home. They continued to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, then both graduated from junior high school. They ended up in the same high school where they had brief contacts over the years.
Finally the long-awaited senior year came and three weeks before graduation, Bill asked Mark if they could talk. Bill reminded him of the day years ago when they had first met. "Did you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?" asked Bill. "You see, cleaned out my locker because I didn't want to leave a mess for anyone else. I had stored away some of my mother's sleeping pills and I was going home to commit suicide. But after we spent some time together talking and laughing, I realized that if I had killed myself, I would have missed that time and so many others that might follow. So you see, Mark, when you picked up those books that day, you did a lot more, you saved my life!"
This is a true story. Every little hello, every little smile, every helping hand saves a hurting heart. There's a miracle called "friendship" that dwells in the heart. You don't know how it happens or when it gets started, but you know the special lift It always brings, and you realize that friendship is God's most precious gift! It's National Friendship Week.
Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their heart to us.
Tuesday, 27. February 2007, 10:04:30
War Veteran
A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco.
"Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me."
"Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him."
"There's something you should know the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us."
"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live."
"No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us."
"Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own."
At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg.
The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. Thankfully, there's someone who won't treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.
Tuesday, 27. February 2007, 09:50:39
Achievers
Extraordinary achievers.
by Emmanuel Segui
You can be a master achiever by developing the same qualities of those who seem to achieve more than others. Here are 5 qualities you need to master in order to become
a successful person in your chosen field and in your life.
Achievers are creative.
Creativity is a fundamental quality of a visionary leader. Creativity is also essential for problem-solving, conflict resolution, crisis and change management.
As they are extensively goal and result oriented, achievers need to come up with many solutions to reach their goals, therefore they need to be more creative than others.
An effective method for you to be more creative in problem resolution is:
first, sit down in a comfortable chair and think about all the ways to resolve the problem, even if it may be absurd. This is not the time to be critical, but the time to think without any judgment. Come up with at least 20 solutions.
The first eight solutions will be obvious, the second eight solutions will require some effort and therefore creativity. You will see that the last two solutions will be the hardest to find, but the most creative. And they will surely be the ones that you will stick to.
Second, act out in your head the movie of how you would implement each solution. And third, be critical as far as each solution is concerned. This is an effective way to
resolve problems used by effective leaders and managers.
Develop the Habit of Courage.
They have developed the habit of courage. Courage to wake up earlier and go to bed later. They've developed self-discipline. Self-discipline is astering yourself, your
actions, thinking and emotions. They know that in order to become leaders for others, they need to become a leader for themslves first.
It takes courage to have self-discipline but it is learnable. They take action even if it is uncomfortable. They go out of their comfort zone, and go for opportunities.
Talk about courage! An effective method to develop the habit of courage is to see opportunities to grow and evolve in every challenge you face. Face your fears and learn from them. There is always a positive intention behind every fear you feel.
Top People are Committed to contribute.
Finally, they take action. High achievers are result and action-oriented. They are committed to action. As they make precise plan for what they really want, they go for it and are committed to reach the goal. An effective way for you to be committed to action is to set goals. Work every day on these plans and evaluate very week where you are.
Continuous Learning.
High achievers are lifelong learners who subscribe to the process of continuous improvement. They view mistakes as learning opportunities. "There is no failure, only
feedback" is always their motto. They know they need to improve, take risks, make mistakes and view these mistakes as opportunities to bounce back.
An effective way for you to develop this habit is to first, read each day a book in your chosen field. Second, listen to educational audiotapes in your car and go to seminars given by experts in your field. By doing that, you will be ahead of your competitors and you will become more educated, therefore, you will earn more in your life.
They are Responsible.
High achievers know that they are 100% responsible for what's happening to them. They don't blame anybody else. They look themselves in the mirror and say "You can do it, it's only up to you dude!" You have the ability to respond in every situation you find yourself. Your response is up to you.
Creativity, courage, commitment, learning and responsibility are at the heart of every great achievement. Success is not always easy. People may be in your way. You
may face discouragement. Problems may appear. But by learning how to be responsible, you will find solutions that others won't think of. You will find the courage to change your life and commit to excellence.
Monday, 26. February 2007, 13:33:21
A Lesson From History
by Joseph Morris
Everything's easy after it's done;
Every battle's a 'cinch' that's won;
Every problem is clear that's solved--
The earth was round when it revolved!
But Washington stood amid grave doubt
With enemy forces camped about;
He could not know how he would fare
Till after he'd crossed the Delaware.
Though the river was full of ice
He did not think about it twice,
But started across in the dead of night,
The enemy waiting to open the fight.
Likely feeling pretty blue,
Being human, same as you,
But he was brave amid despair,
And Washington crossed the Delaware!
So when you're with trouble beset,
And your spirits are soaking wet,
When all the sky with clouds is black,
Don't lie down upon your back
And look at them. Just do the thing;
Though you are choked, still try to sing.
If times are dark, believe them fair,
And you will cross the Delaware!
A State of Mind
Author Unknown
If you think you are beaten, your are
If you think you dare not, you won't,
If you like to win, but don't think you can
It's almost a cinch you won't
If you think you'll lose, you're lost
For out in the world you find,
Success begins with a fellow's will
It's all in a state of mind
For many a game is lost
Ere even a play is run,
And many a coward fails
Ere even his work is begun
Think big and your deeds will grow
Think small and you'll fall behind
Think that you can and you will
It's all a state of mind
If you think you are out-classed, your are
You've got to think high to rise
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize
Life battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man
But sooner or later, the man who wins
Is the fellow who thinks he can
Be Yourself
by Ellen Bailey
Why would you want to be someone else
When you could be better by being yourself
Why pretend to be someone you are not
When you have something they haven't got
Cheating yourself of the life you have to live
Deprives others of that only which you can give
You have much more to offer by being just you
Than walking around in someone else's shoes
Trying to live the life of another is a mistake
It is a masquerade; nothing more than a fake
Be yourself and let your qualities show through
Others will love you more for being just you
Remember that God loves you just as you are
To Him you are already a bright shining star
Family and friends will love you more too
If you spent time practicing just being you
Friendly Obstacles
Author Unknown
For every hill I've tried to climb,
For every stone that bruised my feet,
For all the blood and sweat and grime,
For blinding storms and burning heat,
My heart sings but a grateful song
These are the things that made me strong!
For all the heartache and the tears,
For all the anguish and the pain,
For gloomy days and fruitless years,
And for the hopes that lived in vain,
I do give thanks, for now I know
These were the things that helped me grow!
'Tis not the softer things in life
Which stimulate man's will to strive;
But bleak adversity and strife
Do most to keep man's will alive.
O'er rose-strewn paths the weaklings creep,
But brave hearts dare to climb the steep
Little Things in Life
by Regina Riggs
Too often we don't realize
what we have until it is gone;
Too often we wait too late to say
"I'm sorry - I was wrong"
Sometimes it seems we hurt the ones
we hold dearest to our hearts;
And we allow foolish things
to tear our lives apart
Far too many times we let
unimportant things into our minds;
And then it's usually too late
to see what made us blind
So be sure that you let people know
how much they mean to you;
Take that time to say the words
before your time is through
Be sure that you appreciate
everything you've got
And be thankful for the little things
in life that mean a lot
People Liked Him
by Edgar A. Guest
People liked him, not because
He was rich or known to fame;
He had never won applause
As a star in any game
His was not a brilliant style,
His was not a forceful way,
But he had a gentle smile
And a kindly word to say
Never arrogant or proud,
On he went with manner mild;
Never quarrelsome or loud,
Just as simple as a child
Honest, patient, brave and true:
Thus he lived from day to day,
Doing what he found to do
In a cheerful sort of way
Wasn't one to boast of gold
Or belittle it with sneers,
Didn't change from hot to cold,
Kept his friends throughout the years
Sort of man you like to meet
Any time or any place
There was always something sweet
And refreshing in his face
Sort of man you'd like to be:
Balanced well and truly square;
Patient in adversity,
Generous when his skies were fair
Never lied to friend or foe,
Never rash in word or deed,
Quick to come and slow to go
In a neighbor's time of need
Never rose to wealth or fame,
Simply lived, and simply died,
But the passing of his name
Left a sorrow, far and wide
Not for glory he'd attained,
Nor for what he had of pelf,
Were the friends that he had gained,
But for what he was himself
Rise Above The Crowd
Author Unknown
The world is full of people,
content to be what they are
Who never know the joy of success;
they lack the will to go that far.
Yet in this world there is a need,
for some to lead the rest
To rise above the average life,
by giving of their best.
Are you the one who dares,
to try when challenged by the task
To rise to heights you've never dreamed,
Or is that too much to ask?
This can be your year,
for great purpose to achieve
If you accept the challenge,
and in yourself believe.
The Challenge
Author Unknown
Blessed is the man, indeed,
Who in this life can find;
A purpose that can fill his days,
And goals to fill his mind!
The world is filled with little men
Content with where they are;
Not knowing joys success can bring,
No will to go that far!
Yet, in this world there is a need,
For men to lead the rest
To rise above the "average" life,
By giving of their best!
Would you be one, who dares to try,
When challenged by the task;
To rise to heights you've never seen,
Or is that too much to ask?
This is your day--a world to win
Great purpose to achieve;
Accept the challenge of your goals
And in yourself, believe!
You will be proud of what you've done,
When at the close of day;
You look back on your battles won,
Content, you came this way!
The Fire Inside
Author Unknown
When all is lost and hope has fled
When fear is strong and strength is dead
When love and joy abandon you
When mental anguish grows in you
When the last of efforts fail to save
When your fate is ill, your mind enslaved
And when your head hangs low in misery
This is when you'll find the key
A single ember from deep within
Burns hotter and hotter, as flames begin
The fire of truth will light the way
And help you fight, this lonely day
The battle is long, the struggle is rough
Never regret not giving enough
For when we offer our very best,
Our very soul is put to the test
Stand tall and true and you'll prevail
Just hold on tight and never bail
You will survive if you don't quit
Victory is there, if you reach for it
One day in the future, you will look to the past,
And know you had what it takes to last
So never give up and good things will come,
Not just honor and pride, but a job well done.
The Ship That Sails
Author Unknown
I'd rather be the ship that sails
and rides the billows wild and free;
Than be the ship that always fails
to leave its port and go to sea.
I’d rather feel the sting of strife,
where gales are born and tempests roar;
Than settle down to a useless life
and rot in dry dock on the shore.
I’d rather fight some mighty wave
with honour in supreme command;
And fill a last well earned grave,
than die at ease upon the sand.
I’d rather drive where storm winds blow
and be the ship that always failed
To make the ports where it would go,
than be the ship that never sails.
The World is Against Me
by Edgar A. Guest
'The world is against me,' he said with a sigh.
'Somebody stops every scheme that I try.
The world has me down and it's keeping me there;
I don't get a chance. Oh, the world is unfair!
When a fellow is poor then he can't get a show;
The world is determined to keep him down low.'
'What of Abe Lincoln?' I asked. 'Would you say
That he was much richer than you are to-day?
He hadn't your chance of making his mark,
And his outlook was often exceedingly dark;
Yet he clung to his purpose with courage most grim
And he got to the top. Was the world against him?
'What of Ben Franklin? I've oft heard it said
That many a time he went hungry to bed.
He started with nothing but courage to climb,
But patiently struggled and waited his time.
He dangled awhile from real poverty's limb,
Yet he got to the top. Was the world against him?
'I could name you a dozen, yes, hundreds, I guess,
Of poor boys who've patiently climbed to success;
All boys who were down and who struggled alone,
Who'd have thought themselves rich if your fortune they'd known;
Yet they rose in the world you're so quick to condemn,
And I'm asking you now, was the world against them?'
Things Not Done Before
(THE THINGS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN DONE BEFORE)
by Edgar A. Guest
The things that haven't been done before,
Those are the things to try;
Columbus dreamed of an unknown shore
At the rim of the far-flung sky,
And his heart was bold and his faith was strong
As he ventured in dangers new,
And he paid no heed to the jeering throng
Or the fears of the doubting crew.
The many will follow the beaten track
With guideposts on the way,
They live and have lived for ages back
With a chart for every day.
Someone has told them it's safe to go
On the road he has traveled o'er,
And all that they ever strive to know
Are the things that were known before.
A few strike out, without map or chart,
Where never a man has been,
From the beaten paths they draw apart
To see what no man has seen.
There are deeds they hunger alone to do;
Though battered and bruised and sore,
They blaze the path for the many,
Who do nothing not done before.
The things that haven't been done before
Are the tasks worth while to-day;
Are you one of the flock that follows,
Or are you one that shall lead the way?
Are you one of the timid souls that quail
At the jeers of a doubting crew,
Or dare you, whether you win or fail,
Strike out for a goal that's new
Victorious Attitude
by James Kisner
You cannot win the race,
unless you follow through.
You cannot blame the others,
for it all depends on you.
You cannot win the battle,
if you do not raise your sword.
You cannot claim a victory,
if there is no reward.
You cannot shape the future,
if you wait until it's here.
The future has no purpose,
if you live today in fear.
Your future lies within your hand,
to do with what you may.
For tomorrow brings results,
of what you've done today.
The choices that you make today,
reflect the life you seek.
But first of all, the seeds are sown,
before the gardener reaps.
The future's like a lump of clay,
you hold within your hand.
As time goes by, the clay gets hard,
so mould it while you can.
Failure is an attitude,
that haunts the mind of man.
But, results will be successful,
for the one who knows HE CAN!
Walk With God
by Ellen Bailey
When you walk with God, you can do anything
It doesn't matter what problems life may bring
You may have your days of ups and downs
But if you call out, He'll be around
When you walk with God, your heart will sing
From the love and joy His presence brings
Your path will be clear, for He is the light
But you must walk with faith and not by sight
When you walk with God, you join a Holy Team
The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost is what I mean
They will shower you with an abiding faith
And fill your heart with love and not with hate
When No One Is There to See
Author Unknown
Pocket a piece of litter
and straighten a crooked fence
Remove a dirty smudge
and save a favorite toy from dents
Take off your shoes or boots
to preserve a polished floor
Take only what's been offered
and don't take any more
Don't go cutting corners
Do well what you've agreed
And don't take all the credit if
the pair of you succeed
Do all this with pride,
compassion and respect
Never think "I did it...
...what more do you expect?"
For when you leave this planet
Your greatest strength will be
The character to have done all this
When no-one's there to see
You Are Loved
by Roger Pinches
When the road seems too long
When darkness sets in
When everything turns out wrong
And you can't find a friend
Remember ~ you are loved
When smiles are hard to come by
And you're feeling down
When you spread your wings to fly
And can't get off the ground
Remember ~ you are loved.
When time runs out before you're through
And it's over before you begin
When little things get to you
And you just can't win
Remember ~ you are loved.
When your loved ones are far away
And you are on your own
When you don't know what to say
When you're afraid of being alone
Remember ~ you are loved.
When your sadness comes to an end
And everything is going right
May you think of your family and friends
And keep their love in sight
A thank-you for being loved.
May you see the love around you
In everything you do
And when troubles seem to surround you
May all the love shine through
You are blessed ~ you are loved.
The Set of the Sails
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
One ship drives east, and another west
With the self-same winds that blow;
'Tis the set of the sails
And not the gales
That decides the way to go.
Like the winds of the sea are the ways of fate,
As they voyage along through life;
'Tis the will of the soul
That decides its goal,
And not the calm or the strife.
Saturday, 12. August 2006, 07:16:50
KG1: Friends
THE CHOICE IS ALL YOURS!!!
It is better to be Alone than in the Wrong company,
Tell me who your best friends are, and I will tell you who you are’
If you run with the wolves, you will learn how to howl,
But if you associate with eagles, you will learn how to soar to great heights,
A mirror reflects a man’s face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses,
The simple but true fact of life is that you become like those with whom you closely associate—for the good and the bad,
The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve,
Anytime you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity,
An important attribute in successful people is their impatience with negative thinking and negative acting people,
They will want you to stay where they are. Friends that don’t help you climb will want you to crawl,
Your friends will stretch your vision or choke your dreams,
Those that don’t increase you will eventually decrease you,
Never discuss your problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution,
Because those who never succeed themselves are always first to tell you how,
Not everyone has a right to speak into your life,
You are certain to get the worst of the bargain when you exchange ideas with the wrong person,
With some people you spend an evening: with others you invest it,
Be careful where you stop to inquire for directions along the road of life,
This is dedicated to people all around the world who dared to step out of their comfort zones,
To be successful in this life, you need: enthusiasm, discipline, willingness, determination, appreciation of others,
It is often said there are three kinds of people in this world: those who make things happen; those who watch things happen; and those who wonder what happened,
It’s your birthright to have anything you want in this life
THE CHOICE IS ALL YOURS!!!
Tuesday, 11. July 2006, 10:18:19
ESSAY 6--SPIRITUALITY
THE SCIENCE OF SPIRITUALITY
PART – I : PERSONAL
If you were to bring up the subject of spirituality with the successful metropolitan crowd, you would most likely be subjected to a queer look or a snide comment. For some of these people in their twenties and thirties whose life revolves around their home, office and the social circuit, a good paying job, car, good bank balance, and for whom fancy home gadgets epitomize the trappings of success, and when you are materially successful then what relevance do abstract concepts like God, spirituality have in their life, they ask. For them, spirituality conjures up the image of a religious saint in the temple, church, mosque or gurudwara who spends his productive time in the pursuit of apparently meaningless goals.
However, if you do withdraw from the sensual world into a jungle cave or the Himalayan mountains to practice spirituality, you could probably avoid being affected by the consequences of blind materialism plaguing our metro cities and your search for a simple life could well be within reach. The other part of the issue is that if a person chooses to live in a city, he needs to undertake productive work to sustain his requirements and meet family responsibilities. But more than ever before, it is in the cities that people need to bring in the concept of spirituality in their lives. For, it is an appreciation of spirituality that helps a person answer some fundamental questions about himself and achieve a balance in his life.
Spirituality to me means to have respect for the basic good values enshrined in the various religious scriptures and the positive qualities depicted in the lives of virtuous men and women. It helps you to understand that the core teachings of all religions focus on good values: Christianity for love, sacrifice; Islam for equality and justice; Hinduism for tolerance and simplicity; Jainism for non-violence; Sikhism for hard work and so on. Spirituality helps you to know and understand yourself which in turn enables you to develop compassion for others. It can help you to focus on the essentials: What is your purpose in life? What do you want to contribute? What is your true self? It helps you to understand that the world is but an extended family and that a person needs to look beyond his self-interest to doing service for the welfare of others.
The culture in our metropolitan cities is one characterized by the blind pursuit of material comforts. The person who has a palatial house, a financially successful business, a premium car and household appliances, membership of prestigious clubs and can take a holiday in exotic locations is considered a role model and the herd follows him and tries to ape his lifestyle. As a result, what suffers is the individual’s personal life, a rejection of the good values which are overpowered by feelings of competition, jealously, envy, anger and hatred. And this is an unending quest. No matter how much you earn you want more. But materialism is a misunderstood western concept where charity, philanthropy and service are equally important. Spirituality helps you to focus on the basics: that you can travel equally comfortably in a chartered bus as in a Mercedes car.
It is for this reason that a common grouse of successful people is that despite their money, position and power they are unhappy, dissatisfied and discontented. Recreation means wild night parties, social drinking, snooker and bowling games, and expensive shopping. But this pleasure is only temporary for the novelty wears off after a few weeks or months and the hunt begins for more avenues for satisfaction. This over indulgence leads to extreme swings in emotional states, which results in psychological and physical deterioration. It also makes a person extremely self centered and he becomes vulnerable to abuse. Spirituality helps one to realize that satisfaction and happiness are not found outside in the material world, but inside within the self.
The immediate requirement of most people is to satisfy their personal needs and that of their immediate family. In the city, the life of an individual revolves around his family. He is least interested in what happens next door and the explanation is that he minds his business. The result is that he doesn’t know who his next door neighbour is. It is this excessive focus on the self which exaggerates the sense of alienation, isolation and loneliness. Spiritually helps you to realize that a person must rise beyond his self interest to taking interest in and serving the neighbourhood, community, and country. It tells you the joys of giving and serving are infinitely larger than receiving.
Perhaps the greatest tragedy of humankind is the unusually large and bloody wars fought in the name of religion. History tells us that mighty armies have moved across continents, unleashing bloodshed and wanton suffering on those professing another faith. The desire of one religion to subjugate another is the result of the false understanding of its followers who consider their faith as final, ultimate and all binding. They miss the basic point that all religions have a common message for people, which is, to pursue goodness. But you can have respect for and tolerance for another religion only if you have an open mind which is willing to go beyond personal bias and prejudice. To realise that there could be others who also advocate good values and qualities is to take that extremely difficult step of shaking off your pre-conceived notions. Spirituality helps one to achieve this.
Unfortunately, religion has often been used to divide and create animosity between two groups of people. The overemphasis on the differences creates unnecessary tension and friction between tow or more religious communities. It is for this reason that Paramahansa Yogananda said that God created spirituality but the devil created religion. The line dividing the practice of religion as a noble deed to one where it becomes oppressive and damaging is indeed very thin. One should not lose sight of the fact that all religions pursue the same ultimate goal although by modified routes and means. When you start focusing on the common points and the essentially positive messages of different religions, you have taken the steps towards creating social harmony and bonding.
Few of us try to go beyond the apparent causes of our restlessness, anxiety, depression, and anguish. It is either because we don’t have something, or that the other person has something more than us or it could be the loss of a loved one. We continue to remain in situations which are detrimental to our well being. The practice is to rush to the doctor who will advise you to pop a pill. But the relief is not permanent. The cure to these problems lie in changing your faulty perceptions, thinking and emotions. Spirituality helps you to tread the path of right thinking and correct understanding, and together with meditation, it brings a radical difference in you life.
Most of the problems and evils of individuals and societies is due to the neglect and decadence in values and morals. Because you want to earn more money, you will break rules, double cross your friend, work against your conscience and indulge in unfair practices. You end up gathering a lot of wealth but your soul becomes crippled in the process. Many people do believe that the pursuit of virtue and values only impoverishes a person. Their belief is that it is more prestigious to be seen driving a fancy car than walking on foot. But wealth earned through unfair means doesn’t last long. You end up having little respect for the money and indulge in misusing it. Societies which build their economic enterprise at the cost of social values and virtues do so at the gravest risk of encouraging corruption and malpractices, which ultimately results in the collapse of the economic enterprise.
The issue of ethical behaviour is also open to debate. Does having a ethical public image but indulging in immoral private practice acceptable? Can a person whose private behaviour is unethical lay claim to preaching morality to others in public? Undoubtedly the efforts to reduce the mismatch between a person’s private and public practices are quite formidable. The universe works on the orderly conduct of the celestial bodies. Imagine the chaos that would result if they moved around in a disorderly way. It is for this reason that proper human conduct is essential to maintaining order and stability in society. Spirituality helps you to appreciate good values and ethics.
Our schools and colleges overload students with all kinds of subjects and fancy ideas and goals. The kind of education in top schools is geared to enabling an individual land a plum job with a fat salary and liberal perks. Being well off, he then becomes indifferent to the problems of his underprivileged fellow countrymen. It also leads to practice of unhealthy lifestyles. Putting a premium on values and ethics helps an individual conduct himself in a good way, which enables social harmony. And that is why the teaching of moral and spiritual science is desirable in schools.
KG/LEARNING/ESSAY-6-SPIRITUALITY/ SEPT 17, 1999
Monday, 10. July 2006, 16:22:46
ESSAY 4--CIRCUIT
HOW TO SURVIVE THE SOCIAL CIRCUIT
PART – I : PERSONAL
Learning is a process which goes beyond text books. Participation and experience in an activity are other means by which a person can enrich one’s life. In this context, the cultural activity revolving around an institution or a city, offers several avenues for widening one’s horizon. The performing and visual arts, seminars and lectures, fairs and exhibitions, sports and festivals are events which are mutually beneficial to both the audience and spectators on the one hand and the participants and performers on the other hand. It is not merely a case of giving joy and pleasure to those who are observing and listening but it also involves receiving appreciation and applause for a good performance. This mutual exchange and give and take of goodwill benefit both the sides.
An artist or painter is one who captures the images and pictures in his mind on a canvas. Through deft strokes of his brush, the combination and choice of colours and the myriad shapes and forms of his subject, he is able to bring out different moods and expressions. Going to an art gallery is a personally exhilarating experience with the artist’s interpretation of the world through his own eyes. Cartoons and caricatures bring out the unusual in an unusually humorous manner and helps a person look at the lighter side of a situation. To be able to laugh at youself and see the bizarre in yourself from a distance is a great lesson in self discovery.
Sculptors, potters and porcelain artists experiment with matter and mould and give shape to a variety of expressions. Apart from stone and metal which are the traditional materials used, I have also seen some fascinating sculptures in glass, wood, and plastic. A sculptor is able to freeze an action or form permanently. Very often a sculpture involves intricate work and attention to minute details but the end result captures the essence of a personality or an activity. Exquisitely crafted pottery ware and porcelain with bright and attractive colours are a visual treat and helps one to appreciate the dexterity with which nimble fingers worked laboriously over hours of painstaking effort. Sculpture is three dimensional, gives a sense of space and time and the form helps create a appreciation of aesthetics in the eyes of the beholder.
To experience the rhythmic and coordinated movements, perfect coordination of body and limbs, statuesque poses, expressive eyes and faces is the essence of dance. This is truly a great manifestation of balance and control brought about by exemplary artistic finesse on the part of the dancers. A truly great performance can have the audience’s attention transfixed on the dancers. In the Indian dance forms like bharatnatyam, odissi, kuchipudi, manipuri, kathak there is more emphasis on the movement of the upper torso, arms and facial expressions. In contrast, western dance has more to do with co-ordinated movements of the legs. Dance is a true coordination of mind and body. With modern lighting arrangements and stage props, the special effects are simply amazing and greatly enhance the interest in the performance.
It is true that some people are endowed with a good voice, but to be able to sing well requires great dedication and practice. It requires hours of practice over many years to be able to pay a musical instrument well. It is indeed a pleasure to hear a singer who sings with gay abandon and puts all his heart into a performance. A great musician gets lost in the world of sound and music which he creates with great joy and concentration. To appreciate music is to be able to enjoy one of the greatest experience in this world. You can also choose the music which suits your temperament, taste and mood. Listening to music can greatly boost productivity and provide therapeutic assistance.
To see the enactment of a story on stage or screen is the contribution of theatre and films. The world is a stage and every person has to perform his role. There are differences in performing on stage and in real life because in the former the conditions and environment are controlled. I have found that truly great actors are those who can get under the skin of their character and play the role from that person’s perspective. Because a theatre is a live performance there is a greater bonding between the actors and the audience. To see a play is to experience at close quarter the action which took place at a distant time and place with unknown people.
An exhibition is a display of products and services of a particular industry or association in a planned and systematic manner and is an excellent means to update one’s awareness of the latest trends in a given field. With the growth in the economy, exhibitions by different professional associations and companies are held with increased frequency. On a visit to an exhibition, the focus should be on understanding the trends and direction in which a given industry is moving, a study of the latest products and services on offer, enquiries on the features and advantages which a product offers and interaction with people in charge of the exhibit area. This is one place where you can get to know under one roof and with little expenditure of time and money about the developments and advances in a given field.
Trade and social fairs provide a platform where buyers and sellers interact, showcase their wares, offer discounts and bargains and provide entertainment. A fair is a great place for a family outing, where you can simply go through the stalls, examine the products on display at leisure and decide on the kind of purchase you want to make. Very often cultural and entertainment events are held along side. Large fairs in major cities have a sizeable international presence of companies and countries. It is a great place to familiarize yourself with the people and products which would otherwise not be available locally. Rural fairs have a completely different ambience of their own. Here you get to appreciate rural life, customs, people from different states.
College and school festivals are a forum for students to express their talents, skills and abilities. The sense of participation, competition and the camaraderie that you build with other students create a feeling of confidence and self assurance. It also helps build in the students qualities of initiative, organization, planning, and leadership. Religious festivals on the other hands reaffirm the values and codes of conduct that are essential for a healthy society. This is a time when you relive the celebration of an event in history or mythology. It is a time to remember the life and teachings of the great souls who descended on the earth to serve humanity.
Seminars bring together experts and knowledgeable people on a subject from different institutions and organizations. The discussions, reflection and the exchange of ideas and information, the presentation of papers are a great source for getting to know different views and opinions on a topic. Open house seminars allow you to interact and mix around with people engaged in an area of interest which appeals to you. Here you can ask questions and get responses from different people. The slide presentations and the talk shows that invariably accompany a seminar convey in a crisp and concise manner the findings of the speaker. The atmosphere in a seminar is more learning oriented. Open house seminars are held form time to time in various metros and genuinely interested person could always find his way into one without much difficulty.
Lectures and book readings are also events which offer a person to listen to the discourses of eminent people in their respective fields. Often these are people who may not be easily accessible and to hear them talk can be a good learning experience. All you need to do is scan through the daily newspaper in the engagement column and identify the area, which interests you. A lecture is often followed by a question and answer session. This is an excellent time where you can get answers to questions from an expert, which you could not have done so otherwise. Book readings allow you to listen to selected passages of authors, which are of particular relevance and interest. The discussion on the author and his writings give you an indication of whether his work would interest you.
Finally, I consider participation in sports a great way of learning about team spirit, self-control, sacrifice. In team sports particularly, it is more important to tap the strengths of individual players for the good of the team and to avoid being too individualistic which might adversely affect team morale. In the sporting arena too, you learn to play by the rules, honour the referee’s judgement and for breaking the rules or playing rough, you get disqualified or are penalized. These are lessons learnt which help you in real life in the long run.
KG/LEARNING/ESSAY-4-CIRCUIT/SEPT 12, 1999
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Monday, 10. July 2006, 08:02:55
ESSAY 2--THINKING
THE RIGOURS OF THINKING
PART – I : PERSONAL
Thinking is one activity which doesn’t come naturally to most of us. When confronted with a problem, most of us are overcome by our emotions. In fact, our feelings get the better of us and come in the way of true understanding and objectivity. The negative emotions like ego, pride, arrogance, greed, lust, desire, fear, hatred, jealously prevents a person from seeing a person or a situation in the true light from a detached perspective. The result is wrong assumptions, distorted reality, faulty assessment of the self, and prejudiced opinions which create a sort of impasse or deadlock in seeing things in perspective. This inability to see things in the right perspective is at the root of our sorrows and grief.
We often mistake worrying and brooding with thinking. The difference between thinking and worrying is that while thinking is constructive, worrying is not. Worrying is associated more with the consequences, backlash of an action, a dreadful fear of the unknown and the future and an inability of the mind to prevail over circumstances. Worrying actually paralyses the mind, it creates a sense of utter hopelessness and prevents us from undertaking action. Brooding is the continuous reflection over a problem in despair, where you repeatedly go over what happened, blaming one and all except yourself for the soup you have got yourself into, without once asking why.
It is the willingness to undertake the hard mental effort required to answer questions like why, how, what, where, when, which, who with regard to a particular problem which constitute steps towards thinking. The key lies in not taking things at face value but going beyond the apparent and striking at the root cause. Once you can identify what caused a particular action, it becomes easier to understand the response or the effect. To do this, you need to see things in the wider perspective, linking seemingly unconnected insignificant events, the words and behaviour of people, known and unknown to each other. You need to have a burning desire to find answers to the riddle and solve the puzzle in hand.
Thinking cannot be undertake by the lazy or slothful. You need to shake off your mental lethargy and not let a situation or event to pass by, shrugging it off as mundane. Thinking requires considerable mental alertness, curiosity and daring. Unless you are endowed with considerable intellectual abilities where in a flash you can get to the solution, it requires considerable patience and time. And you can invest that time and effort only if you are genuinely committed to finding the right answers to a problem. The single-minded determination and endurance for enquiry comes only if the problem is dear to your heart. This ability to discern a particularly interesting problem which requires a solution through thinking, is what differentiates a thinker from a non-thinker.
As in all other activities, for thinking to be truly productive, it requires considerable amount of discipline and order. You have to control your thinking and not be controlled by it. A disorderly and indisciplined mind will soon digress from the real issues at stake and will start dwelling on unnecessary or non-essential points. And when you divert from the real problem at hand, you start attributing wrong motives and doubtful intentions on the part of others. This leads to suspicion and mistrust, leading to fear, hatred and anger, with the cycle continuing till you end up considerably harming yourself and the other person.
How soon you arrive at a solution depends on how focused and concentrated you are on solving the puzzle. When you focus with single-minded attention, you are able to see clearly the essential issues at stake and can then start framing the crucial and key questions. With the questions clearly defined, you can then rearrange them in order of importance and then start answering them methodically and diligently one by one. Here it is important not to skip to the next question, till you have answered the first question to your complete satisfaction. Again, the answers must be crisp and concise, capturing the essence and should not be vague and diffused. You will then marvel how one answer leads to another till the solution to the problem appears well in sight.
The quality of one’s thinking is directly proportional to the quality and size of one’s goals. Having a clear idea of what you want to do, what you want to become and where you want to go is what gets your mind ticking and thinking in that direction. When your objectives and goals are clearly articulated, you can then initiate steps to bridging the knowledge gap, undertaking behavioural and attitudinal changes, development of required skills and moving across a spectrum of people. Goals help you to answer questions like what is required of a particular person and how do you go about doing a job. In fact, it helps you to develop on what qualities are required of a person, what is he expected to do, what steps you should take to reach there.
Developing the power of observation is critical to honing the thinking faculty. Innumerable things are happening around us all the time, many of which are relevant and significant. Even with eyes wide open, you could be blind to activity around you simply because you have either switched off your mind or are disinterested. It’s important to train your eyes to see what is happening around and why it is happening. Acutely observing the expressions, gestures, mannerisms, behaviour, posture, gait, actions of people can reveal a great deal about their internal state of mind and what they think of themselves.
One crucial activity which is grossly underestimated is that of listening. Careful listening to seemingly innocuous remarks by people can offer valuable insights into ourselves and others through a process of analysis and inference. Most of us are preoccupied by getting across our point of view or simply holding court to get attention. Getting to know the other persons point of view and seeing things from his perspective as well helps your thinking to become balanced and meaningful. Thinking can be greatly abetted by listening when you consider the context in which words are spoken, the timing of a message, the tone of the speaker and the underlying or hidden meaning behind a sentence.
A wrong line of thinking, better known as negative thinking can prove extremely disastrous for the self and others and is at the root of all personal and social evils. In essence, negative thinking implies wrongly and inaccurately assessing reality, charging others with inimical motives and intentions which very often leads to irresponsible and anti-social behaviour, faulty judgement and violent acts. In fact, many physical and mental aberrations like blood pressure, headaches, asthma, paralysis, gastro-intestinal ulcers, hysteria, neurosis, psychosis, hypertension are a result of the preponderance of negative thinking and negative emotions. If left unchecked, a continuous line of negative thinking can severely cripple a person psychologically. Medication can only offer temporary relief, but the cure to psychological illness lies in ensuring a right line of thinking which helps one arrive at correct understanding.
The ability to think on your feet requires presence of mind and solid contact with reality. It requires a correct assessment of available options, ability to see things from different angles and viewpoints, being creative though not necessarily conventional and being able to modify and adapt resources and ideas to arrive at solutions which work. Having a bird’s eye view as well as the ant’s eye for detail on issues is what helps you to arrive at the right conclusion.
What kind of an environment is conductive to creative thinking? I suspect that rigid organizational structures, the need to confirm with conventions, bureaucratic and hierarchical set-ups stifle and strangulate the thinking process. You can think freely only when you are not limited by conventions or norms and when you are not inhibited by the environment. To arrive at original ideas, it is better to think freely in privacy and then air your thoughts rather than indulge in group brainstorming where the loudest, most aggressive and most powerful is able to supplant his line of thinking on others. Again, it is always judicious to carefully decide as to whom you confide your thoughts in. It requires a person of immense maturity, confidence and intelligence to appreciate and understand original and creative thoughts.
KG/LEARNING/ESSAY2-THINKING/SEPT 8, 1999
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