Sunday, December 13, 2009

There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you its going to be a butterfly




There's nothing in a caterpillar that tells you that its going to be a butterfly.
- Buckminister Fuller
I had recently attended a workshop for children, in which they stressed the need for 'Value education'. While the academic education we pursue, fill our minds with knowledge, value education helps mould the inner personality of a person. While the outward dress does create the first impression, to 'hold' the attention it requires the strength of character.
A nice story was narrated, as to in a school, there was a class of very naughty and rowdy children. A person visited the class and observing the behaviour of the children said that the kids are going to grow up to be gangsters and wastrels. A few years later, as the person inquired he was surprised to see the same class students had turned out to be doctors, lawyers, accountants etc. He approached many of them to know the reason for their transformation and they attributed it to one particular teacher. He located the teacher, who by that time had grown quite old, and asked her 'what did you teach the students that there was so much of a transformation in them'. The teacher had difficulty remembering the class, and finally recollected and said, 'that class students... Oh I loved them'.
During the first 5-7 years the children are very impressionable and it is possible to mould them into good human beings. Like during the making of a chappati/ bread, it is possible to mould and make changes in the dough; if we add more water the chappati/bread will be soggy and if we add less water it will dry. It is only through experience that we know how much water is to be added; but once the chappati/bread is made/ baked we cannot change it. It is only during the dough stage that moulding and changing is possible. So this stage is very important. The basic idea of good habit forming must be done in this age. Old habits are hard to break and the further personality of the person is built on the values imbibed during child hood; not just by the parents, but also by the teachers and students in whose company the child is. Also the values taught by the teacher in the school must be compatible with the values taught at home. For eg if in the school the teacher tells a student that you must not tell lies, don't ignore his harmless lies at home.
If you take a container and fill it with marbles, you will see that it is 'full'. There is not any space for more. Try adding some semolina, it will slip into the gaps of the marbles and fit in smugly. Now the container is really full, or is it? Try adding some water. And yes, it will seep in it too. The marbles are the 'duties', the semolina is the daily 'routine tasks' that have to be done with and the water is 'play and fun activities'. So the most essential thing in life is to prioritize your important activities. If you fill the container with semolina first, there will be no space for marbles. So encourage your child to fit in all activities in a day, by prioritizing the important and the not so important ones.
And finally,
What you hear...... you forget
What you see....... you can recollect
What you do........ you never forget.
It is better to teach a children showing pictures and giving real life examples where possible, where it is imprinted in the memory of the child. If you can make your child do something himself, there's nothing like it. As the brain can recollect better in pictures, than simply giving a dry lecture which is easily forgotten. And remember value education begins from birth. So start now..

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Why do people love me so much...


Why do people love me so much; that they get so obssessive and possessive about me, wondered I...

Maybe I am sounding a bit pompous and self centered, but many a times in our lives we are surrounded with people who love us so much, that we are overwhelmed. Our parents, spouse, kids and close friends and relatives. Sometimes, the love may be a bit too possessive, especially when it comes to your child who'd love to be around you 24*7 and hates the thought of anyone else talking to you and taking you away from him.
I guess the protective love from our parents is the most purest form of Love. Its simply giving without expecting anything back in return. Sometimes looking back I feel guilty for taking their Love for granted. Today, having matured with age, I have learnt to give back love to them. I look at my son and I see history repeating itself.
To my thinking, the love in friendship is the most easy going one. Most of the time its mutual among close friends and they are the people we always confide in the thoughts and feelings that we cannot tell anyone else. They say blood is thicker than water, but down the walk of life I have forged some really close relationships with some non- blood relatives, so much that I consider them my soulmates. They are my life line and I lean back on them as they can give me some unbiased advice when I need it.
Finally, I guess if you are lucky enough (I am, touchwood!!) the love of a spouse is what completes the circle of your Love. Here's a nice poem summing the love (by Laura Veronica Merodio)

A stranger you were once.
Then, with a gentle look you took my hand.
As our lives engaged,
you lit my life and I held both your hands.
Now that decades have passed,
ours souls have indeed become one.
How fortunate we are
that we have found the love so true
that everyone dreams about.

Finally summing up, as F.P Jones has said, 'Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.'

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Beautiful thoughts

1) Don't aim for success if you want it;
just do what you love and believe in,
and it will come naturally

2) You may get delayed to reach your targets.
But every step you take towards your targets is equal to victory.

3) "An aim in life is the only fortune worth finding,
and it is not to be found in
foreign lands, but in the heart itself."- Robert Louis

4 Today well lived makes every
yesterday - a dream of happiness
and tomorrow - a vision of hope

5) The summit of happiness is reached
when a person is ready to be what he is.

6) In between goals is a thing called life,
that has to be lived and enjoyed.

7)"People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking
that they can do things.
When they belive in themselves they have the first secret of success."

8)If you find stumbling blocks in your path,
use them as stepping stones to move close to the good in life.

9) All changes are difficult and sometimes costly,
but if they're good changes,
in the long run they pay off.

10) Life Consists not in Holding Good Cards
but in Playing Well Those You Hold.

11)Every king was once a helpless baby,
every oak once an corn,
every mighty ocean swell once a ripple,
and every great structure once a blueprint.
It's not where you are today,
but where you are going that counts.

12) Without your involvement you can't succeed.
With your involvement you can't fail.

13) Happiness is a perfume
you cannot spread on others without getting a few drops on you yourself.
so always be happy to make other happy!

14) 'Challenges'
are what makes life interesting
'Overcoming'
them is what makes life meaningful.

15) The toughest part of getting to the top of the ladder,
is getting through the ground at the bottom.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

MEANING OF LIFE...

On the first day, God created the dog and said:

'Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.'

The dog said: 'That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?'

So God agreed.

On the second day, God created the monkey and said:

'Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span.'

The monkey said: 'Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the Dog did?'

And God agreed.

On the third day, God created the cow and said:

'You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years.'

The cow said: 'That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years.. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?'

And God agreed again.

On the fourth day, God created humans and said:

'Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years.'

But the human said: 'Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?'

'Okay,' said God, 'You asked for it.'

So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family.. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren.. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Thoughts to ponder on..

1)"When you face choices, just toss a coin ….. Not becoz the it settles the question, but while the coin is in the air, you’ll know exactly what your heart is hoping for !!!"

2)The first rule for happiness is, avoid too lengthy mediation's on the past.

3)The more enthusiastic you are about life, the more joy you will find in it.

4)A Man with outward courage dares to die, a man with inward courage dares to live.

5)Until you value your self you will not value your time.
Until you value your time you will not do anything with it.

6)The biggest failures are those who have failed to win friends,
but even bigger failure are those who lose what friends they have made.

7)Don't sit back and take what comes....Go after what you want.

8)Efficiency without God's sufficiency is a deficiency.

9)The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious.

10)It's better to look for a solution than a scapegoat.

11)Take time to be quiet, it is the opportunity to see yourself.

12)A Hero is no Braver than an Ordinary Man,
but he is braver five minute longer --Ralph Waldo

13)Don't allow yourself to become consumed by life's problems;
become consumed with life's joys.

14)A positive attitude helps bridge the gap between ability and expectations.

15)"Successful leaders see the opportunities in every difficulty
rather than the difficulty in every opportunity. - Reed Markham

16)God asks no man whether he will accept life. You must take it.
The only question is how.

17)"If you can imagine it, you can create it.
If you can dream it, you can become it."

18)The Successful person is the individual who forms
the habit of doing what the failing person doesn't like to do.

19)Be like water adjust to the object and you will
find a way around or through it." -Bruce Lee

20)The only limit to our realization of tomorrow
will be our doubts of today

Thursday, September 3, 2009

I BELIEVE

A Birth Certificate shows that we were born,
A Death Certificate shows that we died.
Pictures show that we lived!
Have a seat . . . Relax . .. . And read this slowly.

I Believe...
Opportunities lost are lost forever as the same opportunities almost never come again
I Believe...
That just because two people argue, doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue, doesn't mean they do love each other.
I Believe...
That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.
I Believe...
That we don't have to change friends if
we understand that friends change.
I Believe...
That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
I Believe...
That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.
I Believe...
That you can do something in an instant
that will give you heartache for life.
I Believe...
That it's taking me a long time
to become the person I want to be.
I Believe...
That you should always leave loved ones with
loving words It may be the last time you see them.
I Believe...
That you can keep going long after you think you can't.
I Believe...
That we are responsible for what
we do, no matter how we feel.
I Believe...
That either you control your attitude or it controls you.
I Believe...
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.
I Believe...
That money is a lousy way of keeping score.
I Believe...
That my best friend and I can do anything, or nothing, and have the best time.
I Believe...
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.
I Believe...
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had, and what you've learned from them....and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.
I Believe...
That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.
I Believe...
That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.
I Believe...
That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are,
but we are responsible for who we become.
I Believe...
That you shouldn't be so eager to find
out a secret. It could change your life Forever.
I Believe..
Two people can look at the exact same
thing and see something totally different.
I Believe..
That your life can be changed in a matter of
hours by people who don't even know you.
I Believe...
That even when you think you have no more to give, if
a friend cries out to you... you will find the strength to help.
I Believe...
That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.
I Believe...
That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.
I Believe...
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
They just make the most of everything..
Thank you God for all the wonderful people who help us throughout the journey of life..
Forgive quickly, love slowly, and live free.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

A MESSAGE BY GEORGE CARLIN

GEORGE CARLIN (His wife recently died...)

Isn't it amazing that George Carlin - comedian of the 70's and 80's - could write something so very eloquent...and so very appropriate.

A Message by George Carlin:
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind..
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

George Carlin

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

MONSOONS

It was in the air,
They smelt it - the birds, the trees, the animals,
A mysterious scent engulfing us,
Strong winds blowing, the trees bowing,
The dark podgy warriors marching on..
Darkness crept - conquering every inch
Soothing cool breeze massaging every muscle
A ray of light, the drummers began,
Midst nature applauding, chins titled,
Eyes skywards witnessing the annual rendezvous,
The wait was over, it came -
Softly orchestrated at first, till rock took over,
A shiver in the spine, but as hearts opened,
It went on and on and on...
The Monsoons at last took over.

(Pallavi S)

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

POTATOES

A Kindergarten teacher decided to let her class play a game. The teacher told each child in the class to bring along a plastic bag containing a few potatoes. Each potato will be given a name of a person that the child hates, so the number of potatoes that the child will put in his/ her plastic bag will depend on the number of people he/she hates.
So when the day came, every child brought some potatoes with the name of the people he/ she hated. Some had two potatoes; some 3, while some had upto 5 potatoes.
The teacher then told the children to carry with them the potatoes in the plastic bag wherever they go for 1 week. Day after day passed by, and the children started to complain due to the displeasing smell let out by the rotten potatoes they were carrying.
Those children having 5 potatoes really began to feel the weight of the heavier bags. After 1 week, the children were relieved to hear that the teacher had finally ended the game. The teacher asked, "How did you feel while carrying your potatoes with you for a week?" The children let out their frustrations and started complaining of the trouble that they had to go through having to carry the heavy and smelly potatoes wherever they go.
Then the teacher told them the hidden meaning behind the game. The teacher said, "This is exactly the situation when you carry your hatred for somebody inside your heart. The stench of hatred will contaminate your heart and you will end up carrying an unnecessary burden with you wherever you go".
If you cannot tolerate the smell of rotten potatoes for just 1 week, can you imagine what burden it would be to have the stench of hatred in your heart for your lifetime??

MORAL OF THE STORY
Get rid of any hatred you might have for others in your heart, so that you won't have to carry around unnecessary burden during your lifetime. Forgiving others is the best attitude to take! Love others, even if you don't like them..

Monday, June 22, 2009

THE BRICK

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down car passed, no children appeared.
Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door!

He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, 'What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money Why did you do it?' The young boy was apologetic. 'Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do,' He pleaded. 'I threw the brick because no one else would stop...' With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. 'It's my brother, 'he said 'He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up.'

Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, 'Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me.'

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. 'Thank you and may God bless you,' the grateful child told the stranger. Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home.

It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: 'Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!' God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.

Thought for the Day:
If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.

If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.

He sends you flowers every spring.

He sends you a sunrise every morning Face it, friend - He is crazy about you!

God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.

Read this line very slowly and let it sink in...

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

Deepak Patil Dist Secr TRF

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

God determines who walks into your life...

While I was sufing the net, I found a good article on a blog, faith2liftu, excerpts of which I have reproduced below...
GOD determines who walks into your life.... YOU decide who you let walk away, who you let stay and who you refuse to let go...
Observe the relationships around you. Pay attention to; which ones lift and which ones lean? Which ones encourage and which ones discourage? Which ones are on a path of growth uphill and which ones are going downhill? When you leave certain people, do you feel better or feel worse? Which ones always have drama or don't really understand, know and appreciate you and the gift that lies within you.
Life is like a theatre - so invite your audience carefully. Not everyone is holy enough and healthy enough to have a front row seat in our lives. There are some people in your life that need to be loved from a distance.
It's amazing what you can accomplish when you let go...; or atleast minimise your time with draining, negative, incompatible, not-going-anywhere relationships, friendships and fellowships! You cannot change the people around you.. but you can change the people you are around! Ask God for wisdom and discernment and choose wisely the people who is in the front row of your life.
GOD determines who walks into your life.. YOU decide who you let walk away, who you let stay and who you refuse to let go..

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Thank you, God!!

Below is one of the nicest mails I have seen and is so true .Please read it slowly :
Mr X, dreamt that he went for a visit to Heaven . An angel began showing him around... They walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels. His angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said, "This is the Receiving Section ".
Here, all petitions to God said in prayer are received." He looked around the area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on Voluminous paper sheets and scraps from people all over the world. Then they moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section. The angel then said to him, "This is the " Packaging and Delivery Section ". Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them." He noticed again how busy it was there. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth..
Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor they stopped at the door of a very small station. To his great surprise, only one angel was seated there, idly doing nothing. This is the " Acknowledgment Section," the angel quietly admitted to him embarrassed. "How is it that there's no work going on here?" Mr X asked.
"So sad," the angel sighed. "After people receive what they have asked for, very few send back acknowledgments.
"How does one acknowledge God's blessings?" he asked. "Simple," the angel answered. "Just say, "Thank you, God."
"What blessings should they acknowledge?" Mr X asked.
1) "If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your body, a roof over your head And a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.
2) "If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy."
3) "And if you get this email on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity."
4) "If you woke up this morning with more health than illness ..... You are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day. "
5) "If you have never experienced the fear of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation ... You are ahead of 700 million people in the world.."
6) "If you can attend a church/temple without the fear of harassment,arrest, torture or death, you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world."
7) "If your parents are still alive and still married ... You are very rare."
8) "If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all those in doubt and despair."
"If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing, that someone was thinking of you as very special and you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all." So I once again wish you all a great day, lets all count our blessings, and you may pass this to your friends and family to remind them too, how Blessed we all are.
Attn: Acknowledgment Dept
"Thank you God, for giving me the ability to share this message with so many wonderful People, I.e... ( My family and friends ) .. ".

Monday, May 4, 2009

Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low, and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit!

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learn,
And many a failure has turned about,
When they might have won had they stuck it out.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow!

Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint to the clouds of doubt.
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far.
So stick to the task when you are hardest hit,
It’s when things seem the worst, that you must not quit!

Monday, April 20, 2009

Know your value...!

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a Rupee 500 note.
In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this Rupee 500 note?"
Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this note to one of you but first let me do this."
He proceeded to crumple the note 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 Rupee 500/-.
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! Never let yesterday's disappointments overshadow tomorrow's dreams.

" VALUE HAS A VALUE ONLY IF ITS VALUE IS VALUED"

Saturday, April 18, 2009

The Man of my dreams

I have always wondered,
About the man of my dreams,
What kind of a person is he,
Exteriorly handsome or a beautiful person within,
Far and wide, I did look,
Then did I get an answer,
Burnt my fingers, sometimes, never mind..
The man of my dreams is a person,
Who is simple, easy and comfortable,
With a clean mind & a clear conscience,
He may not be a looker or a talker,
But down the walk of life,
He'd touch my heart deep inside.


He may not sweep me off my feet the first time,
Yet will be there by my side at all times,
May not have charming manners; yet,
Deep inside, his heart will be moulded in gold,
Someone who'd love to fly and yet,
Have his feet planted firmly on the ground,
Someone honest, straightforward and kind,
Who'd love, respect and fear the almighty,
Some one who'd laugh at my jokes,
Who'd pamper and yet admonish me - the right times,
Someone who'd be a 'Man' - A real one.

As I looked at the deep dark sky at night,
The stars twinkled at me and said,
Somewhere, somehow, you'd meet,
The man of your dreams Someday.

(Pallavi S - This one's for the Man of my dreams in my life - My Hubby)

Dedicated to my best friend 'Dina'

A sweet, innocent flower was she
Sprinkling love & joy around me,

Soft brown eyes shining in the light
It was 'love' at the very first sight.

No bad words she ever would speak
Her sweet language would make others meek,
She was helpful, honest, nice & kind
And do what I, she never would mind.

She was my best friend to the very core
And i thought friends like her existed no more,
A source of inexhaustible energy was she
Ever ready anytime to help me in need,
Always praising, encouraging & supporting me
To do things I never dreamt would be,
The lovely movements we have shared from the start
To the very end I will treasure in my heart,
Hatred, jealousy, we survived it all
From strength to strength our friendship grew tall.

I love her from all my heart very much
A friend like her is never found as such,
Simply a thought of 'Dina' gives my gloomy spirits a lift...
....To me, she's God's most precious Gift.

(Pallavi S)

Friday, April 17, 2009

Seasons of Life

There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.
The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in the summer and the youngest in the fall.
When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.
The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent and twisted.
The second son said it was covered with green buds and full of promise.
The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.
The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment
The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree's life.
He said you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by just one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.
If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer and the fulfillment of your fall.

Moral Lessons
Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.
Don't judge life by one difficult season.
Presevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to come some time or later.