40 GOLDEN RULES OF LIVING :

40 GOLDEN RULES OF LIVING :
Just loved this beautiful list.A wonderful reminder of some of the core truths that we should be living by.Not sure where this list originated, but these are very good rules to live by. As we live day-to-day we tend to forget some important essentials.May be its good to check at times.

1.Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

... 2.Memorize your favourite poem.

3.Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

4.When you say, "I love you," mean it.

5.When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.

6.Never laugh at anyone's dreams.

7.Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

8.Don't judge people by their relatives.

9.Talk slow but think quick.

10.When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"

11.Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

12.Call your mom.

13.Say "Bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.

14.When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

15.Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility for all your actions.

16.Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

17.When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

18.Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

19.Marry someone you love to talk to. As you get older, conversational skills will be as important as any other.

20.Spend some time alone.

21.Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

22.Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

23.Read more books and watch less TV.

24.Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll get to enjoy it a second time.

25.Trust in God but lock your car.

26.A loving atmosphere in your home is so important. Do all you can to create a tranquil harmonious home.

27.In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.

28.Read between the lines.

29.Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.

30.Be gentle with the earth.

31.Pray -- there's immeasurable power in it.

32.Never interrupt when you are being flattered.

33.Mind your own business.

34.Don't trust a lover who doesn't close his/her eyes when you kiss them.

35.Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.

36.If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living. That is wealth's greatest satisfaction.

37.Learn the rules then break some.

38.Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other.

39.Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

40.Remember that your character is your destiny.

THE MEANING OF LIFE

THE MEANING OF LIFE :-
A story is told by Robert Fulghum, a Unitarian minister, about a seminar he once attended in Greece. On the last day of the conference, the discussion leader walked over to the bright light of an open window and looked out. Th...en he asked if there were any questions. Fulghum laughingly asked him what was the meaning of life. Everyone in attendance laughed and stirred to leave. However, the leader held up his hand to ask for silence and then responded "I will answer your question." He took his wallet out of his pocket and removed a small round mirror about the size of a quarter. Then he explained "When I was a small child during World War II, we were very poor and we lived in a remote village. One day on the road, I found the broken pieces of a mirror. A German motorcycle had been wrecked in that place. I tried to find all the pieces and put them together, but it was not possible, so I kept the largest piece. This one. And by scratching it on a stone, I made it round. I began to play with it as a toy and became fascinated by the fact that I could reflect light into dark places where the sun could never shine. It became a game for me to get light into the most inaccessible places that I could find. I kept the little mirror, and as I grew up, I would take it out at idle moments and continue the challenge of the game.

As I became a man, I grew to understand that this was not just a child's game, but a metaphor of what I could do with my life. I came to understand that I am not the light or the source of the light. But light - be it truth or understanding or knowledge - is there, and it will only shine in many dark places if I reflect it. I am a fragment of a mirror whose whole design and shape I do not know. Nevertheless, with what I have, I can reflect light into the dark places of this world - into the dark places of human hearts - and change some things in some people. Perhaps others seeing it happen will do likewise. This is what I am about. This is the meaning of my life."

Do we reflect the light of God into the darkness of other people's lives? Will the world be a better place for our having been in it?
From It Was On Fire When I Lay Down On It, by Robert Fulghum. Ivy Books, 988.

Don't be Serious, Be Sincere....

Don't be Serious, Be Sincere....
A good read.....This is part of a speech by Chetan Bhagat, an author of several books, at the Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune. He was a student of Mechanical Engineering at IIT Delhi, and also an alumni of the renowned IIM Ahmadabad – where he was named ‘The Best Outgoing Student’. In 2010, Time magazine placed Chetan Bhagat in the Time 100 list of ‘World’s Most Influential people’.

Puppy Size :

Puppy Size :

Very very beautiful and breath taking story.Every time i read, it warms my heart.I absolutely loved it.Read till the end and only then you will get it.[:)]

"Danielle keeps repeating it over and over again. We've been back to this animal shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now since we started all of this," the mother told the volunteer.

... "What is it she keeps asking for?" the volunteer asked.
"Puppy size!" replied the mother.

"Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that's what she's looking for."

"I know..... We have seen most of them", the mom said in frustration.

Just then Danielle came walking into the office.

"Well, did you find one?" asked her mom.

"No, not this time," Danielle said with sadness in her voice. "Can we come back on the weekend?"

The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed.
"You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there's always a supply," the volunteer said. Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed to the door. "Don't worry, I'll find one this weekend," she said.

Over the next few days both Mom and Dad had long conversations with her. They both felt she was being too particular. "It's this weekend or we're not looking any more," Dad finally said in frustration. "We don't want to hear anything more about puppy size, either," Mom added. Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday morning. By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for the section that housed the smaller dogs.

Tired of the routine, mom sat in the small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages. There was an observation window so you could see the animals during times when Visitors weren't permitted. Danielle walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look. One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one. One by one she said, "Sorry, but you're not the one." It was the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect puppy. The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer.

"Mom, that's it! I found the right puppy! He's the one! I know it!" She screamed with joy. "It's the puppy sighs!"

"But it's the same size as all the other puppies you held over the last few weeks," Mom said.

"No, NOT size... the sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed," she said. "Don't you remember? When I asked you one day what love is, you told me love depends on the sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger the sigh!"

The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn't know whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did a little of both.

"Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms," she said. Then, holding the puppy up close to her face, she said, "Mom, he loves me. I heard the sighs of his heart!"

Close your eyes for a moment and think about the love that makes you sigh. I not only find it in the arms of my loved ones, but in the caress of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight and the gentle brush of cool air on a hot day. They are the sighs of God. Take the time to stop and listen; you will be surprised at what you hear.

"Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.".I hope your life is filled with Sighs!!

Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!Life is too short and friends are too few.Life is too short to wake up with regrets.
Love the people who treat you right and forget about the ones who don't!
~ Author Unknown

A teenage girl and an angel

A teenage girl about 17 had gone to visit some friends one evening and time passed quickly as each shared their various experiences of the past year. She ended up staying longer than planned, and had to walk home alone. She wasn't afraid because it was a small town and she lived only a few blocks away. As she walked ...along under the tall elm trees, Diane asked God to keep her safe from harm and danger. When she reached the alley, which was a short cut to her house, she decided to take it. However, halfway down the alley she noticed a man standing at the end as though he was waiting for her. She became uneasy and began to pray, asking for God's protection. Instantly a comforting feeling of quietness and security wrapped round her, she felt as though someone was walking with her. When she reached the end of the alley, she walked right past the man and arrived home safely. The following day, she read in the newspaper that a young girl had been raped in the same alley just twenty minutes after she had been there. Feeling overwhelmed by this tragedy and the fact that it could have been her, she began to weep. Thanking the Lord for her safety and to help this young woman, she decided to go to the police station. She felt she could recognize the man, so she told them her story. The police asked her if she would be willing to look at a lineup to see if she could identify him. She agreed and immediately pointed out the man she had seen in the alley the night before. When the man was told he had been identified, he immediately broke down and confessed. The officer thanked Diane for her bravery and asked if there was anything they could do for her. She asked if they would ask the man one question. Diane was curious as to why he had not attacked her. When the policeman asked him, he answered, "Because she wasn't alone. She had two tall men walking on either side of her." Amazingly, whether you believe or not, you're never alone.
God is always there in your heart and loves you no matter what and
if you stand up 4 him he will stand up for you..

Proverbs 6:22
When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.

WORDS OF WISDOM

WORDS OF WISDOM - Excellent Quotes from Warren Buffet, the world's richest investor.Read this simple 6 point list, will definitely help in the long run.

1) ON EARNINGS: Never depend on single income. Make investment to create a second source.
2) ON SPENDING: If U buy things U don't need, soon u'll have to sell things U need.
3) ON SAVINGS: Don't save what is left after spending but spend what is... left after savings.
4) ON TAKING RISK: Never test the depth of river with both the feet.
5) ON INVESTMENT: Don't put all your eggs in a single basket.
6) ON EXPECTATIONS: Honesty is a very expensive gift.Don't expect it from cheap people.

STORY : STOP AND HEAR THE MUSIC

This is a true Story, before reading further Guess the person.

STORY : STOP AND HEAR THE MUSIC

PERCEPTION : What do we miss as we rush through life?
...
Location: Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007.

A man with a violin played 6 Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately 2000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

After 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:

The violinist received his first dollar; a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:

A 3 yr old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:

The musician played continuously. Only six people stopped and listened for a short while. About twenty gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth Thirty Five million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post in 2007 as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities.

The questions raised:

In a commonplace environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
Do we stop to appreciate it?
Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made…

How many other things are we missing?

It’s an important reminder about the power of our attention - it’s not about the beauty of the music, it’s about our willingness to hear it and appreciate it.

NOTE : This is a true story and this picture is of Joshua Bell with his violin.The Washington Post won a Pulitzer in the feature writing category for Gene Weingarten's April 2007 Story about this experiment.

A Friend

A Friend -
If I could catch a rainbow, I would do it, just for you,
And, share with you, its beauty, on the days you're feeling blue.

... If I could, I would build a mountain, you could call your very own.
A place to find serenity, a place just to be alone.

If I could, I would take your troubles, and toss them into the sea.
But, all these things, I'm finding, are impossible for me.

I cannot build a mountain, or catch a rainbow fair;
but, let me be, what I know best,
A Friend, who's always there.

I promise to defend you, should the occasion ever rise,
And, I promise to wipe away the tears,
which might stream from your weeping eyes.

Let me be the trusted Friend, the one that you know best.
I will never leave you, on that, you can surely rest.

- Author unknown.
I just love this picture too,just found on the net and source is unknown too.

The 9 Timeless Secrets of Being Happy :

The 9 Timeless Secrets of Being Happy :
1) Embrace New Experiences.
Most people suffer from merely existing versus really living. Don’t get caught in a rut; get out of it if you are. Explore. Play. Go beyond your comfort zone. Don’t lean on the excuse “I don’t have time to try new things.” It is as tragic and ridiculous as saying “I don’t have time to breat...he.” New experiences are life. Live deeply.

2) Be Who You Are.
Recognize and clear through what others expect of you, including society’s expectations, your parents’ expectations, the opposite genders’ expectations, and anyone’s expectations. Recognize and clear through the guilt, anger, fear and other emotions that are sabotaging you. What are your dreams? Your goals? Your loves? Who are you? Be that person.

3) Let Go of the Past.
The past is good for two things: the happy memories, and the lessons it provides. Clinging to resentment and sadness for past events hurts one person the most: you. Don’t let the past suck the gift of the present out of you. Forgive. Let go. Be here now, and go forward.

4) Be Kind.
It is easy to act kindly to those who have been kind to you. Do so, but also remember that is not where kindness is needed most. Recall those many times where you made mistakes, where you reacted out of negative emotions instead of responding from who you really are. Recall how you felt, or how you would have felt, if others responded to your mistakes with kindness instead of harsh criticism or a cold shoulder. Negativity only breeds more negativity. Empathize, and choose to be kind. It spreads rapidly.

5) Be Responsible for Yourself.
Whatever happens, however promising or tragic, only one person is responsible for how you respond to it: You. There are no greater wastes of energy and potential than blame, envy, a desire for revenge, and wallowing in self-pity. You and only you are responsible for how you respond to anything and how you act. You wish others were a certain way? You wish the world were a certain way? Be the example.

6) Nurture Relationships.
Think of your most joyful moments. Think of all you have learned. Think of what has helped you grow. Chances are great these all involve other people, and other relations such as pets and nature too. There are over six billion people on this earth. There are infinite relationships to be had. Everyone has something to understand and to learn from. There is infinite love to be had, and to give. You can choose to be lonely, but you are never alone.

7) Recognize All You Have, and Be Grateful for It.
If you are alive, you are fortunate. If you can read this, you are fortunate. If you can walk, talk, see, smell, taste, or feel, or all of these, you are fortunate. You are what you focus on, so if you focus on what you lack, you become that lack. Focus on all that you do have, on the gifts inside and all around you. Be grateful to be great.

8) Do What Inspires You.
Painting, singing, writing, biking, swimming, gardening, reading, dancing, walking, woodcarving … what is your flame? What ignites you, inspires you, enlightens you, restores your life? Do it, and do it often. Do not believe your excuse of having too much work to do and too little time for what inspires you. Doing what inspires you is the very fuel that will give you the strength and motivation to do the other things you need to do, and do them well.

9) Remember that Happiness is a State, Not a Circumstance
Happiness is a state of being, not merely a moment of pleasure or joy. By committing to your happiness you acknowledge and accept that there will be times of challenge and suffering, but by staying true to who you are you will not just endure but thrive. Happiness is not just the bird floating serenely on the water, and happiness is not made unhappy by the rock that falls and temporarily disturbs the water. Happiness is the water itself, always being exactly what it is.

Written by Brian Vaszily.

Take Time To Create and Be Proud of your Creations.

Take Time To Create and Be Proud of your Creations.

We all have creativity inside us. Being creative is not all about creating Master Pieces. Some of the most creative people are those who create Peace amongst turmoil, Happiness where there is sadness, Love where there tends to be hatred, kindness when no one else is willing, a smile that turns a frown around on. Being creative comes from the heart. Open up to the creativity in your life and the Universe will come alive to you. If you get stuck, ask God and He will guide you.

What would you like to create in your life today?