Story: Cracked Pots

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."

"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"

"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

“I wish you enough”

Written by Bob Perks

Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport as the daughter’s departure had been announced. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said: “I wish you enough.”The daughter replied, “Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom.” They kissed and the daughter left.The mother walked over to the window where I sat. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry.I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking, “Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?” “Yes, I have,” I replied. “Forgive me for asking but why is this a forever good-bye?”"I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is the next trip back will be for my funeral,” she said.

When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, “I wish you enough.” May I ask what that means?”

She began to smile. “That’s a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone.” She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she smiled even more.

“When we said ‘I wish you enough’ we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them”. Then turning toward me, she shared the following, reciting it from memory,

“I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.”

She then began to cry and walked away.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person. An hour to appreciate them. A day to love them. And an entire life to forget them.

Written by Bob Perks

I'VE LEARNED....

Please Read all the way to the bottom:
 
They're written by Andy Rooney, a man who had the gift of saying so much with so few words. Enjoy.......
   
I've learned.... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.   
I've learned.... That when you're in love, it shows.
   
I've learned.... That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.
   
I've learned.... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.
   
I've learned.... That being kind is more important than being right.  
 
I've learned.... That you should never say no to a gift from a child.
   
I've learned.... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.
   
I've learned.... That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.
   
I've learned.... That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.  
 
I've learned.... That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.
   
I've learned.... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.
   
I've learned.... That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.
   
I've learned.... That money doesn't buy class.
   
I've learned.... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.  
 
I've learned... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.
   
I've learned.... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.
   
I've learned.... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.
   
I've learned.... That love, not time, heals all wounds.
   
I've learned.... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.  
 
I've learned.... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.
   
I've learned.... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.
   
I've learned... That life is tough, but I'm tougher.
   
I've learned.... That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.
   
I've learned.... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.  
 
I've learned.... That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.
   
I've learned.... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.
   
I've learned.... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
   
I've learned.... That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.
 
I've learned.... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.  
 
I've learned.... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

Story: The Three Dolls

A sage presented a prince with a set of three small dolls. The prince was not amused.

 

“Am I a girl that you give me dolls?” – He asked.

“This is a gift for a future king,” Said the sage. “If you look carefully, you’ll see a hole in the ear of each doll.”

 

The sage handed him a piece of string. “Pass it through each doll.” – He said.

 

Intrigued, the prince picked up the first doll and put the string into the ear. It came out from the other ear. “This is one type of person,” said the sage, “whatever you tell him, comes out from the other ear. He doesn’t retain anything.”

 

The prince put the string into the second doll. It came out from the mouth. “This is the second type of person,” said the sage, “whatever you tell him, he tells everybody else.”

 

The prince picked up the third doll and repeated the process. The string did not come out. “This is the third type of person,” said the sage, “whatever you tell him is locked up within him. It never comes out.”

 

“What is the best type of person?” – Asked the prince.

 

The sage handed him a fourth doll, in answer. When the prince put the string into the doll, it came out from the other ear.

 

 “Do it again.” – Said the sage.

 

The prince repeated the process. This time the string came out from the mouth. When he put the string in a third time, it did not come out at all.

 

“This is the best type of person,” said the sage. “To be trustworthy, a man must know when not to listen, when to remain silent and when to speak out.”

Worth a read! - Thinking “Out of the Box”

Worth a read! -"Thinking -Out of the Box"

Many hundreds of years ago in a small Italian town, a merchant had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to the moneylender. The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the merchant's beautiful daughter so he proposed a bargain. He said he would forgo the merchant's debt if he could marry the daughter. Both the merchant and his daughter were horrified by the proposal.

The moneylender told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty bag. The girl would then have to pick one pebble from the bag.If she picked the black pebble, she would become the moneylender's wife and her father's debt would be forgiven. If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven. But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail.

They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the merchant's garden. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick her pebble from the bag.

What would you have done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you have told her? Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:

1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.

2. The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the moneylender as a cheat.

3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father from his debt and imprisonment.

The above story is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral and logical thinking.

The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.

"Oh, how clumsy of me," she said."But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked." Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one. And since the moneylender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an advantageous one.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Most complex problems do have a solution, sometimes we have to think about them in a different way.

QUEEN

 OK, I have broken one of my records or I should say made a new one, coz never did something like this before. Scene was, we 4 friends decided to watch Queen on Sunday Morning-11.15am show, but one of my friends got stuck in some urgent work and came in the theater at 12.30pm. She missed half the movie and in interval she asked me to accompany her for the next show of the movie.  Hence we watched the 2pm show of Queen again! Now come on, would I have watched it again if I did not like the movie? But I LOVED it. How could have said no?

The story which starts with a sad note, takes hilarious turns. I mean some scenes are so side-splitting that I literary wished “Rolling On the Floor, Laughing”. This movie gives lots of msgs, especially it shows no matter where you go, or which caste, religion, and country you come from, each and every individuals in this world are same by one or other things! And wherever you go it is not difficult to make friends. The theme is exactly like English-Vinglish –Finding your own self- but story is completely different. I’ll say only common thing in EV and Queen is Music by Amit Trivedi. And also it is official that Rani Mehra is my second favorite character after Shashi Godbole!

What a delightful story with pleasant direction by Vikas Bahl, combined with charming acting by Kangana Ranaut. I wish from bottom of my heart that this year maximum Filmfare awards should be taken away by Queen. They, the cast and crew members of Queen, deserve it.

I honestly believe the movie should have named as Queen of Hearts, because it does still your heart and you cannot just have enough of QUEEN in its 146minutes’ journey. You would really wish movie to go on a little longer after it ends. Truly a splendid experience (Twice) ;)  And I am sure it will be marvelous 3^rd time, taking my parents to watch it on this weekend. I just hope I don’t go on breaking my, watching English-Vinglish 10 times in theater, record with Queen. And even if I did, I won’t regret it!

WAYS TO FEEL POSITIVE

10 Ways to Feel Positive and Confident

Positive thinking is essential to self-confidence and overall health. According to the Mayo Clinic,positive thinking has been scientifically linked to longer lives, lower rates of depression, increased immunity, and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. We have been conditioned to think negatively, compare ourselves to others, and get stuck in self-deprecating cycles of worry. It’s all around us, in the news, on your Facebook feed, even in your home.

So how do you make the shift to feeling more positive and confident? Start small, with positive and intentional actions every day. The more you practice positive thoughts and behaviors, the more confident and self-assured you will feel. 

10 Positive Habits to Practice

 

1. Make a decision. Don’t consult with a friend about what to order at dinner or call your  spouse when shopping for groceries. Make a decision based on what your gut is telling you.      
2.  It will make you feel stronger and allows you to practice trusting your inner voice.
3. Try something new. Confidence doesn’t come from perfection, it comes from effort.
4. Gently exercise. Exercise is the most important treatment for anxiety, depression, and  insomnia. Just moving your body will break-up negative thoughts and boost serotonin. 
5. Move your body every day, just be mindful of your energy and never overdo it. 
6. A seven minute workout or yoga in your living room will all work!
7. Clean up your news feed. Social media that is full of triggers, images, and updates can push you into a bad mood. Start following inspirational or “happy” accounts.
8. HealthyPlace on Facebook or my Guidance Girl page always inspires. Happsters on Instagram, and Mind Body Green for healthy living tips are also good choices. 
9. The more positive images you view the better you will feel.
10. Think back over the past week and write down every nice thing others said to you.

 Review the complements or comments when you’re feeling insecure.
Make a happy playlist. Music can physiologically changes your brain and body. It can make  you breathe faster, increase your pulse, and make you smile. Songs with a quick tempo and uplifting lyrics have been shown to be more effective at bringing out happy emotions. One of my favourites is Happy by Parrel What are a few on your playlist?

 

Say no. Don’t say yes when you want to say no. You’re letting yourself down if you do favours you don’t want to do. Next time someone asks for something that will make you feel funky, and you feel the urge to say “yes,” remind yourself they are asking, not ordering. You will respect yourself more later on.
Practice posture. Hunching over at your desk can make you less confident and more insecure according to research from Ohio State University. Pull your belly button in towards your spine and pull your shoulders back when sitting or standing.
Give yourself credit for small, daily accomplishments, even if you are not done.

Did you work on cleaning up your closet but still have stacks of clothes to fold?

Great, take a moment to focus on what you have done, don’t just wait until a project is finished.
Get grateful. Write a thank-you note, or call someone to say thanks for meeting with you for lunch last week. People who are mindful of the positives in their life, create more positive energy. Comment on a post you like, email a friend, or even write down what you are grateful for in the moment (try and think of 5 new ones each time).
 

Remember, small shifts can produce remarkable results.  The intention of building more

 positive thoughts and experiences will undoubtedly increase your self-confidence and self-esteem. 

One of my favourite affirmations that may help is:

“I am perfectly imperfect. I strive for better while loving all that I am today. In loving myself today, I am better equipped to improve myself tomorrow.”