Inspirational living

Whenever we look back at history, it reveals something and whenever we look forward to future, we find that something is waiting to be unveiled. Its miracle of life that we have choices aplenty and we also have free will to choose the path, though the destination is simply one. Sages said, “What you think you are, you are. Dare to be what you think you want to be”. This thought came across while reading this inspirational story which I would like to share with everyone.

The Emperor’s Seed

An emperor in the Far East was growing old and knew it was time to choose his successor. Instead of choosing one of his assistants or his children, he decided something different.

He called young people in the kingdom together one day. He said, “It is time for me to step down and choose the next emperor. I have decided to choose one of you.”

The kids were shocked! But the emperor continued. “I am going to give each one of you a seed today, one very special seed. I want you to plant the seed, water it and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from this one seed. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next emperor!”

One boy named Ling was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly told his mother the story. She helped him get a pot and planting soil, and he planted the seed and watered it carefully.

Every day he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about 3 weeks, some of the other youths began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Ling kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks went by. Still nothing.

By now, others were talking about their plants but Ling didn’t have a plant, and he felt like a failure. 6 months went by; still nothing in Ling’s pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing.

Ling didn’t say anything to his friends. He just kept waiting for his seed to grow. A year finally went by and all the youths of the kingdom brought their plants to the emperor for inspection.

Ling told his mother that he wasn’t going to take an empty pot but his Mother said he must be honest about what happened. Ling felt sick to his stomach, but he knew his Mother was right.

He took his empty pot to the palace. When Ling arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other youths. They were beautiful, in all shapes and sizes. Ling put his empty pot on the floor and many of the other kinds laughed at him. A few felt sorry for him and just said, “Hey nice try.”

When the emperor arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted the young people. Ling just tried to hide in the back. “My, what great plants, trees and flowers you have grown,” said the emperor. “Today, one of you will be appointed the next emperor!”

All of a sudden, the emperor spotted Ling at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered his guards to bring him to the front. Ling was terrified. “The emperor knows I’m a failure! Maybe he will have me killed!”

When Ling got to the front, the Emperor asked his name. “My name is Ling,” he replied. All the kids were laughing and making fun of him. The emperor asked everyone to quiet down.

He looked at Ling, and then announced to the crowd, “Behold your new emperor! His name is Ling!” Ling couldn’t believe it. Ling couldn’t even grow his seed. How could he be the new emperor?

Then the emperor said, “One year ago today, I gave everyone here a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds, which would not grow. All of you, except Ling, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you.

Ling was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new emperor!”

If you plant honesty, you will reap trust.

If you plant goodness, you will reap friends.

If you plant humility, you will reap greatness.

If you plant perseverance, you will reap victory.

If you plant consideration, you will reap harmony.

If you plant hard work, you will reap success.

If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation.

If you plant openness, you will reap intimacy.

If you plant patience, you will reap improvements.

If you plant faith, you will reap miracles.

But:

If you plant dishonesty, you will reap distrust.

If you plant selfishness, you will reap loneliness.

If you plant pride, you will reap destruction.

If you plant envy, you will reap trouble.

If you plant laziness, you will reap stagnation.

If you plant bitterness, you will reap isolation.

If you plant greed, you will reap loss.

If you plant gossip, you will reap enemies.

If you plant worries, you will reap wrinkles.

If you plant sin, you will reap guilt.

- Author Unknown -

Fear is one of the worst enemies of human kind. Fear is more of instinctive and reactive phenomenon. Fear makes us forget our inherent strengths. But once our will decides to take it on, we realize that we have within our right now, everything we need to deal with and whatever the world can throw at us. They say that, an arrow can be shot by dragging the bow back; similarly, if life is dragging back with elements of fear, be aggressive. Handle it with aplomb. Because life is getting ready to launch us to greater heights. When we fail, we should not take two steps back, because we may just be one step behind success.

Let’s share a poem which diminishes the myth of fear.

There’s nothing to fear — you’re as good as the best,

As strong as the mightiest, too.

You can win in every battle or test;

For there’s no one just like you.

There’s only one you in the world today;

So nobody else, you see,

Can do your work in as fine a way:

You’re the only you there’ll be !

So face the world, and all life is yours

To conquer and love and live:

And you’ll find the happiness that endures

In just the measure you give;

There’s nothing too good for you to possess,

Nor heights where you cannot go:

Your power is more than belief or guess —

It is something you have to know.

There is nothing to fear — you can and you will.

For you are the invincible you.

Set your foot on the highest hill —

There’s nothing you cannot do.

– Author Unknown

Today I can feel sad that I don’t have more money or I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste.

Today I can grumble about my health or I can rejoice that I am alive.

Today I can lament over all that my parents didn’t give me when I was growing up or I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.

Today I can cry because roses have thorns or I can celebrate that thorns have roses.

Today I can mourn my lack of friend or I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new relationships.

Today I can whine because I have to go to work or I can shout for joy because I have a job to do.

Today I can complain because I have to go to school or eagerly open my mind and fill it with rich new tidbits of knowledge.

Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework or I can feel honored because the Lord has provide shelter for my mind, body and soul.

Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped. And here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping.

What today will be like is up to me. I get to choose what kind of day I will have!

Have a GREAT DAY……unless you have other plans.

By: - Author Unknown

World is still divided about existence of God. It has been a constant tussle between Science, Arts, Scriptures, Theology on the subject of God. But we all agree there is a superpower. Call it destiny or luck or anything as you like but we all realize not everything is in our hand. We do pray in the time of distress. We seek blessings from mother earth.

Today, I am sharing a famous story depicting God’s help in the time of crisis.

Footprints

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scene from his life. He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him he noticed that many times there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it was at the very lowest times in his life.

He questioned the LORD about it. “LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.”

The LORD replied, “My precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

By: - Margaret Powers

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

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.

Life is an interesting concept. In fact this is an interesting concept. It has given inspiration to many philosophies, poems, thesis and what not! Life resembles to a multifaceted prism, which gives diverse colored images, when viewed from different angles. Though, life is same but it appears different to different people. Today, I would be sharing its one color, seen by one person but it will hold true and similar to many of us.

a. Life is a struggle, face it.

b. Life is a lesson, learn it.

c. Life is a brief intermission, between birth and death, enjoy it.

d. Life is work, work is life.

e. Life is not a joke, take it seriously.

f. Life, without a wife, is no life

g. Life is a dream, to be realized.

h. Life is an ocean, fathom it

i. Life is to be lived, enjoy it.

j. Life is not a bed of roses.

k. Life is what you make it.

l. Life is an opportunity, don’t miss it.

m. Life without love is desolate.

n. Life is a goldmine, exploit it.

o. Life lies in optimism. Be a positive thinker.

p. Life is like a game of snakes and ladders; one faces many pitfalls before one reaches the top.

q. Life will be a pleasure, if you love your work.

r. Life without goals, is groping in darkness.

s. Life without trust is a life in turmoil.

t. Life is a journey; make it as pleasant as possible.

u. Life doesn’t mean bread alone.

v. Life is meaningful, only if there is a mission.

w. Life is enriched by good friendship.

x. Life doesn’t mean years alone: “IT IS THE LIFE IN THOSE YEARS”

y. Life is useful, if you contribute something, which will outlive it.

z. Life lies in diversity, not in monotony.

  : - Courtesy M. K. Soni

Success is always an achievable element depending upon our determination. We can always determine what we want. We can decide on our major objectives, targets, aims, and destination. We can not control our surroundings but we can definitely decide how to get the best out of our surroundings. This decision itself will influence our ability to choose our own direction in life and where our paths will lead. Our will to succeed is a powerful force and with it, you can accomplish anything. But foremost, we need to awaken our soul; our inner being and determination will come to us.

Awakening…

Awakening, dawn’s chorus

Welcoming,

The day new, untouched

Waiting to be filled….

And will we paint a rainbow

With all its promise

Or dull the canvas

Sadly seen?

Each day brings its own colors

To be chosen mixed,

Pigments of joy,

Happy moments,

Smiles and laughter….

And which will you choose?

For ‘Life’ is choice,

We are all painters

In our own way,

All needing to create

Something of worth,

Of lasting beauty,

Marking our journey….

Footprints in the sand….

The sky today is azure,

The sun warm and golden

A filigree of light and shadow-play

Through the gently swaying trees.

I clean my brushes,

Choose my palette

Of vibrant, living colors,

And begin to fill

Today’s blank canvas