Inspirational living

Recently I came across a wonderful story. Call it folktale but it included an important message. The story signifies our worth in the eyes of our beloved ones. It also tells us, no matter what, we will always remain priceless. What is gone, is gone. Nobody gets to live life backward so its prudent to look ahead, because that is where our future lies Life is like a taxi.

Story:

Well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20.00 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 $20 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 crumpled and dirty. “Now who still wants it?” Still the hands went into the air. “My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson”, he said, “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. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless…. and especially to those who love you.

The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or whom we know, but by WHO WE ARE. We should never ever forget that we are special.

Worry? The word reminded something? An inexplicable part of our life. How many times we people have found ourselves worrying about things that never existed? Did it ever help? I am sure it did not. Still, we worry. Worry is kind of interest paid on trouble before it is due. Do we really realize that it is not work that kills, but worry? It has been said that “Worry a little bit every day and in a lifetime you will lose a couple of years. If something is wrong, fix it if you can. But train yourself not to worry: Worry never fixes anything.”

Let me share a poem formed in the shape of philosophy.

“Why Worry?

 - 40% will never happen, for anxiety is the result of a tired mind,

- 30% concerns old decisions which cannot be altered,

- 12% centers in criticism, mostly untrue, made by people who feel inferior,

- 10% is related to my health which worsens while I worry,

and only

- 8% is “legitimate,” showing that life does have real problems which may be met head-on when I have eliminated senseless worries.

By: - Author Unknown

So stop worrying, start living. Don’t worry be happy.

Sometimes it becomes a hard grind to survive in the game of life. When ambitions grow, we humans tend to ignore little precious things. The things which used to give us unbridled happiness earlier turns into insignificant little things. And when that time comes, the need of the hour is to go back to the basics. The poem I would be sharing today is called daily survival kit which acts as a healthy reminder of our basics.

Daily Survival Kit

Toothpick, Rubber band, Band aid, Pencil, Eraser, Chewing gum, Mint, Candy kiss, Tea bag

Why?

1. Toothpick -

to remind you to pick out the good qualities in others

2. Rubber band -

to remind you to be flexible: things might not always work out the way you want, but it will work out.

3. Band aid -

to remind you to heal hurt feelings,

yours and someone else’s

4. Pencil -

to remind you to list your blessings everyday

5. Eraser -

to remind you that everyone makes mistakes,

and it’s OK

6. Chewing gum -

to remind you to stick with it and

you can accomplish anything

7. Mint -

to remind you that you are worth a mint!

8. Candy kiss -

to remind you that everyone needs a

kiss or a hug every day

9. Tea bag -

to remind you to relax daily and

go over your list of blessings

: - Author Unknown

The famous motivator Dale Carnegie in one of his book said,

“Did you ever see an unhappy horse?

Did you ever see a bird that had the blues?

One reason why birds and horses are not unhappy is because they are not trying to impress other birds and horses.” True words of wisdom. It gives us a subtle message. It implies that many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. Happiness is not something that is attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose. Let’s play the game of life with the aim of being happy and spreading happiness.

Playing The Game

Life is a game with a glorious prize,

If we can only play it right.

It is give and take, build and break,

And often it ends in a fight;

But he surely wins who honestly tries

(Regardless of wealth or fame),

He can never despair who plays it fair -

How are you playing the game?

Do you wilt and whine, if you fail to win

In the manner you think your due?

Do you sneer at the man in case that he can

And does, do better than you?

Do you take your rebuffs with a knowing grin?

Do you laugh tho’ you pull up lame?

Does your faith hold true when the whole world’s blue?

How are you playing the game?

Get into the thick of it - wade in, boys!

Whatever your cherished goal;

Brace up your will till your pulses thrill,

And you dare - to your very soul!

Do something more than make a noise;

Let your purpose leap into flame

As you plunge with a cry, “I shall do or die,”

Then you will be playing the game.

Happiness is one of the most precious virtues in humans. Happiness is as contagious as gloom. As Aristotle had stated, “Happiness depends upon ourselves”. At the same time, it is our duty to let others know of our gladness when we are happy. Each and every human makes his own happiness and is responsible for his own problems. We humans have the ability to determine our happiness hour by hour and day by day, through our thoughts and actions. We make that choice every morning when we get out of bed. Lets share a wonderful poem depicting the importance of happiness.

Everybody Knows,

You can’t be all things to all people.

You can’t do all things at once.

You can’t do all things equally well.

You can’t do all things better than everyone else.

Your humanity is showing just like everyone else’s.

So,

You have to find out who you are, and be that.

You have to decide what comes first, and do that.

You have to discover your strengths, and use them.

You have to learn not to compete with others, because no one else is in the contest of “being you”.

Then,

You will have learned to accept your own uniqueness.

You will have learned to set priorities and make decisions.

You will have learned to live with your limitations.

You will have learned to give yourself the respect that is due.

And you’ll be a most vital mortal.

Believe,

That you are a wonderful, unique person.

That you are a once-in all history event.

That it’s more than a right, it’s your duty, to be who you are.

That life is not a problem to solve, but a gift to cherish.

And you’ll be able to stay one up on what used to get you down.

What is simplicity? A great attribute yet relatively undervalued quality. Hans Hofmann said, “The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.” But in these days, simplicity is hard to find. In other words, simple is no more appealing. In fact the attitude towards simplicity is changed. We all know, our attitudes control our lives. Because Attitudes are a secret power working 24 hours a day, for good or bad. So it is of paramount importance that we know how to harness and control our attitude towards simplicity. Because simplicity is a great strength. It sits lightly on our shoulders. It is a quality which is as vital to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. Simplicity manages to overcome almost everything, even nature.

Simplicity…

Simplicity

Is removing the

Masks of Life that

Puzzle and

Limit our progress

In the journey towards

Contentment

Inner peace and the

Tranquility all

Yearn for.

Simplicity

Is

More,

Perhaps, than simply

Letters on a page.

It holds a message

Clear, no

Incongruity to confuse

The senses now or

Yesterday…..

: - John McLeod

For the last one month, we have shared many wonderful poems. These poems manage to affect us in a positive way. Isn’t it surprising to find few well structured words managing to affect us in such a major way? Most of the times, these poems convey our innermost feelings of love, affection, strength, fear, longing ness amongst others. We almost, always, relate to a poem. It touches few chords here and there. Today I would be sharing a poem which is about “poem” itself.

Poems Are The Friends…

Poems are the Friends we make them

Expressing in words a thought

Of happiness, sadness, caring,

Experience dearly bought.

Poems have their own sweet language

That buds and comes to bloom,

Showing their many colours…

Light in a darkened room.

Poems let us say: “I love you…”

Poems let us say: “Goodbye…”

Poems can be strong, or gentle,

Raising a smile or sigh…

For poems are about our living

The road that we, daily, take,

Of Love and of selfless giving…

Poems are the Friends we make!

It’s so important to live in the present moment. We need to remind ourselves that this very moment is the only one we know we have for sure.

Breathe. Let go. Do not dwell in the past; do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. What we need to know about the past is that no matter what has happened, it has all worked together to bring us to this very moment. And this is the moment we can choose to make everything new. Right now.

Let’s relish a poem which emphasizes the need of enjoying the present moment.

A Motivational Poem - Moments in Life

There are moments in life when you miss someone

So much that you just want to pick them from

Your dreams and hug them for real!

When the door of happiness closes, another opens; but often times we look so long at the closed door that we don’t see the one, which has been opened for us.

Don’t go for looks; they can deceive.

Don’t go for wealth; even that fades away.

Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to

Make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.

Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go;

Be what you want to be, because you have only one life

And one chance to do all the things you want to do.

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet,

Enough trials to make you strong,

Enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything;

They just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past;

you can’t go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.

Live your life so at the end, you’re the one who is smiling and everyone

Around you are crying.

Don’t count the years-count the memories………..

: - By Author Unknown