Success in life

To get the most success out of life have no agenda other than to give whatever you can in the present moment. A smile, a laugh, a quarter, a helping hand, an introduction or just your listening ear is more powerful than you can imagine. Beneath every gift is the knowing that the Universe is abundant and that you lose nothing by giving away what you have. Others will feel comfortable in your presence and all good things will find you - WITHOUT seeking them."

NAUGHTY COVERSATIONS

I, the Penis, hereby request a raise in salary for the following reasons: I do physical labor. I work at great depths. I plunge headfirst into everything I do. I do not get weekends or public holidays off. I work in a damp environment. I work in a dark workplace that has poor ventilation. I work in high temperatures. My work exposes me to contagious diseases. Sincerely, P. Niss The Response Dear Penis: After assessing your request, and considering the arguments you have raised, the administration rejects your request for the following reasons: You do not work 8 hours straight. You fall asleep after brief work periods. You do not always follow the orders of the management team. You do not stay in your designated area and are often seen visiting other locations. You do not take initiative - you need to be pressured and stimulated in order to start working. You leave the workplace rather messy at the end of your shift. You don't always observe necessary safety regulations, such as wearing the Correct protective clothing. You will retire well before you are 65. You are unable to work double shifts. You sometimes leave your designated work area before you have completed the assigned task.. And if that were not all, you have been seen constantly entering and exiting the workplace carrying two suspicious-looking bags. Sincerely, V. Gina

GUEST HOUSE

The Guest House by Rumi This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they're a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight. The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in. Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.

BECOMING FRIENDS WITH YOUR HEROES.

Better Than Networking Networking can be a waste of time...or it can be the most profitable activity you ever do. But it all starts with your approach. Are you being RE-active or PRO-active? Today's guest essay shows you the right choice. Craig Ballantyne People respect people that are sure of themselves. Don't be wishy-washy. Be polite, confident, and clear. Treat others with respect, but don't be afraid to stand for what you believe in. "There is something deep within us that responds to those who level with us, who don't suggest or compromise for us." - Susan Scott, Fierce Leadership Becoming Friends with Your Heroes By Steve Sjuggerud "You're so lucky Steve... you've gotten to meet and work with all these famous guys..." When I hear that, I usually say something like, "Yeah, it's hard to believe... I have been pretty fortunate!" and I leave it at that. But the truth is much different... It's NOT luck. It's NOT good fortune. There's a secret to doing what I've done. And I will share it with you today... Maybe there is a bit of "luck" involved... But it didn't happen without me putting myself in luck's "line of fire." Let me give you an example of what I mean... A while back, I knew I was going to have the chance to shake hands with one of my heroes. When I met him, I could have just said, "Uh, gee, it's nice to meet you. I'm a big fan." But that would have been a missed opportunity. Instead, I spent a few days thinking before I met him... I came up with a plan to make an impact - to give him a chance to want to get to know me... I got out a 3x5 notecard. And I wrote out what I called "12 Ways to Take Over Your Industry." I included my name, phone number, and e-mail address. When I shook his hand, I smiled and I handed him the card. And that was that... He could have easily thrown the card away. He could have thought, "Who is this joker?" He could have taken my suggestions, but still never bothered contacting me. For any number of reasons, he could have ignored me. Instead, he reached out to me. In the end, he tried all of my dozen ideas, except one. Now, when he wants a second opinion on something (from outside of his corporate "yes" men), he sends me an e-mail or gives me a call. And he has included me in events around the world and in his decisions that I've been grateful and flattered to be a part of. The best part to me is that I can call a hero of mine a friend as well. That didn't happen because I'm "lucky." It happened because of this simple secret. There are two parts to it: Whenever there is any moment - any crack in the door to put your foot in to meet your hero - you must shove your foot in, and not let it out. You must find a way to give a big benefit to your hero without asking anything in return. Then you're off. At that point, you have done your best to kick off a potential legitimate friendship. I have often had to create these moments. Usually, they don't just happen. For example, this year, I ended up on the phone with another hero of mine. He said: "Next time you're in Nashville, give me a call and we can get together." Look, I'm NEVER in Nashville, but I went to Nashville that week. (I re-routed a flight to have a long layover there.) I made it happen when the opportunity was there. And it was a fantastic few hours. Another hero of mine is now a friend of mine, too. Most of the time, it doesn't work out this way. But it's 100% worth trying. Your downside risk is a little "wasted" effort. Your upside is a legitimate friendship with one of your heroes. That's worth it to me! You can do it. You have to get creative to create the opportunity. You have to offer something that benefits your hero. And you have to do it without asking anything in return. You have to create your "luck." It has worked for me. I have been able to get close to many of my heroes - both in business and in my hobbies. And I believe it can work for you, too. How cool is it to have your heroes as your friends? Ju

DIAMOND BUYING..A PROFITABLE STEP

The best advice I can give you if you want a great deal on a diamond jewelry piece is to wait till the summer. Sales are at their lowest of the year then and jewelers offer deeply discounted sales to move product. But since most people buy these gorgeous jewels this time of year I thought it important to tell you how you can still save money. I've got a lot to tell you, so let's get going! First off, remember the four C's to get a good deal on diamond jewelry. Carat, color, clarity and cut are four characteristics that determine a diamond's quality and price. Understanding these grades before you make a purchase will end up saving you money. 1) Carat Carat refers to the weight of the diamond. The more it weighs, the more it costs. And just like some other things, size does matter. Don't stress if you can't afford the very enviable one carat diamond ring. There is a little white lie I am going to tell you to save you big bucks and keep you from getting in trouble with sweetie. Actually you are going to tell the white lie, but don't worry no one will be able to catch you in it. The price of a diamond rises substantially at each carat mark. One carat costs a lot more than a 0.95 carat. Visually no one can tell the difference between the two. They will look like the same size to the naked eye. Look for rings that contain stones that are a tiny bit under the mark. For example buy a .45 carat diamond ring instead of a half carat one. Once the stone is mounted the difference will be negligible in terms of looks, but you will notice the savings in the price. 2) Color Although most diamonds appear colorless, jewelers refer to most diamonds as a shade of the color white. They rate them on a scale from D to Z, with D being the highest grade and Z being the lowest grade. Colorless diamonds are very rare and are rated on the high end of the scale. They reflect the most light and are therefore the most sparkly. The less color a diamond has, the more it costs. The farther down the scale you go, the more color the diamond will have. Color is an area where you can skimp to save a lot of money. Choose a ring with an H or lower grade. They will still look glittery and sparkly but the price will drop at least 30 percent from that of a D, E or F rated stone. Anything higher than an H or an I grade is for someone who has a lot of extra money. 3) Clarity A diamond's clarity refers to its blemishes or inclusions as jewelers say. If you want to save money, color and clarity are the two best characteristics to compromise quality on. Mostly because you won't be able to tell with the naked eye that they are any less brilliant than higher quality stones. Jewelers rate a diamond's clarity on an 11 grade scale. Grades range from F to I3, with F being the high end. F stands for Flawless; it is an extremely rare diamond that even most jewelers never see. Then it goes to IF which means internally flawless. The next two grades are VVS1 and VVS2, which stands for Very, Very Slightly Included (remember included means blemishes). Then you have VS1 and VS2 which means Very Slightly Included. Next you have SI1 and SI2 and on down the line to the lowest clarity grades of I1, I2 and I3. A jeweler will try to tell you otherwise but diamonds can still look luminous below the six highest grades. Stones graded SI1 and SI2 mean that there are inclusions visible under ten times magnification, but will appear unflawed to the naked eye. They will save you a bundle and no one will be any wiser. The point of a diamond piece of jewelry isn't to produce a return on investment, only to look fabulous. 4) Cut All the research I did on diamonds said this is the area where you don't want to cut corners. That's because the cut has a huge influence on the diamonds sparkle and brilliance. The more light a diamond reflects the higher it's perceived value is. Jewelers rate a diamonds cut on a 5 point scale. It goes from Excellent to Very Good to Good to Fair and ends with Poor. A diamond rated "very good" or "excellent" will cost about 10 percent more than a "good" stone. From the top to the bottom of the scale expect to see about a 50 percent difference in price. It's important to mention that cut is not the same as shape. Cut is how well the shape is cut, including proportions, finish and symmetry. The shape refers to the contour of the stone. It can be a round, pear, marquise, princess, emerald, square, oval or heart shaped diamond. A round shaped diamond is the most popular and perhaps not coincidentally the most expensive. To save money opt for an oval, marquise or pear cut, which carry more of the carat weight at the top, thereby appearing larger. Brand Name vs Generic The four C's are not the only characteristics that influence price. Where you buy your bauble makes a difference in price too. Just like at the grocery store, brand names cost more. Tiffany & Co. has its "Lucida" stones and Kay Jewelers advertises the "Leo Diamond." These brand names drive up the price 15-20 percent more than a generic diamond with the same attributes. Buying jewelry from brand name stores like Tiffany's can also affect the price. That little blue box will cost you thousands of dollars more for the same exact stone as opposed to a wholesale store like Costco. Buying Wholesale Another popular way to save money on diamond jewelry is to buy from a wholesaler. This cuts out the middle man (ie the stores that have to pay for employees, locations, utilities, equipment, etc) and can save you thousands of dollars. What's great is that the savings will more than make up for what you'd pay to have the stone put in a setting. You can find diamond wholesalers online. Try an internet search for "buy wholesale diamonds" or "buy loose diamonds." Each site should let you put in your search criteria based on the 4 C's. Once you've located a stone you want do a thorough search on the merchant. Look at their return policy, the fine print, online reviews. And only buy from merchants that offer GIA certified diamonds. If they don't you may not be getting what you paid for. Ask the merchant to send you the GIA certificate before you buy so you can verify the stones quality. Once you pay for and receive the stone, take it to a jeweler to have it appraised. Take the GIA certificate with you and have them verify that the stone matches the characteristics on it. From there you can take it to brick and mortar jewelry stores to pick out a setting for the stone. Be sure to visit several to make sure you are getting the best deal. Price on the Tag Did you know the average mark-up for a diamond ring is 300%? So even when jewelers advertise 50 percent off deals, they are still making 150% profit. That's why you should never be afraid to negotiate for a lower price. It doesn't matter if you are buying from a jewelry store at the mall or an independent store; all stores mark-up their wares outrageously. Sometimes independent jewelers have more leeway to offer discounts because they are not controlled by corporations and have less red tape. Ask for a discount if you agree to come back later to purchase wedding bands. The more business you promise them, the more likely they are to cut you a deal. And because credit card merchant fees are so high, some stores will give you a discount if you pay in cash. In the case of a diamond, knowledge can be the difference between over paying and getting a great deal. Putting a price tag on love is hard, and it often causes us to overspend. But paying more than you have to is crazy, maybe that's where the saying "crazy in love" comes from.

Too Many Toxic Chemicals Making Their Way into Food

Too Many Toxic Chemicals Making Their Way into Food Neil Wagner Arsenic. Mercury. Pesticide residues. These toxins make their way into food, but experts continue to disagree over how much of a health threat they pose. A new study from UC Davis and UCLA concludes that people — particularly preschool children — are being exposed to too many of these toxins at concentrations that have been determined to be unhealthy. The study also offers several ways for concerned people to lower their exposure to these toxins, ranging from the relatively simple strategy of eating less meat and dairy but more fruit and vegetables to buying organically grown milk and produce. The most disturbing finding was that pre-school children were the age group with the highest exposure to six of the 11 toxic compounds looked at in the study. Of the eleven toxic compounds studied, benchmarks (exposure levels considered safe) were exceeded by all children for arsenic, dieldrin, DDE and dioxin. And benchmarks were also exceeded by over 95% of preschool-age children for acrylamide and by 10% of preschool-age children for mercury. These compounds have been linked to cancer, developmental disabilities, birth defects and other adverse medical conditions. While there is some uncertainty about what constitutes a safe exposure level for these toxins, there is broad agreement that they're much more dangerous to children because of their lower body weight and developing brains and nervous systems. The study used data from a 2007 study called SUPERB, which surveyed households in California about their dietary habits, including 207 pre-school age children (2-4) and 157 school-age children (5-7). The researchers were able to tease out estimates of exposure levels to various toxins by concentrating on consumption of only 44 foods, those known to be extremely high in a particular toxin. For example, when it comes to mercury, you don't need to know dietary information on all mercury containing foods, just major sources such as tuna, to build a good estimate of a person's mercury exposure. It is notoriously difficult to pinpoint a safe level of exposure for many contaminants that end up in food. For one thing, the experiments that might establish safe levels are almost always unethical and cannot be conducted. The researchers looked at levels of eleven toxic compounds: three metals (arsenic, lead and mercury); three pesticides (chlorpyrifos, permethrin and endosulfan); four persistent organic pollutants (dioxin, DDE, dieldrin and chlordane); and the neurotoxin and suspected carcinogen acrylamide which is found in cigarette smoke and certain foods cooked at high temperatures, like potato chips. Perhaps the most disturbing finding was that pre-school children were the age group with the highest exposure to six of the 11 toxic compounds looked at in the study. It is notoriously difficult to pinpoint a safe level of exposure for many contaminants that end up in food. For one thing, the experiments that might establish safe levels are almost always unethical and cannot be conducted. This is one reason that there's so much bickering among scientists over whether foodborne toxins do or do not present a major health threat. Avoiding Exposure For people who are concerned about exposure to toxins in food, the researchers offer several strategies to lower exposure. About the simplest strategy is to eat a varied diet. This helps prevent accumulating too much toxin from a single food group. A much more proactive strategy is to buy organic produce. Even studies that question the usefulness of switching to organic produce agree that organic produce is much less likely to be contaminated with pesticides. The researchers found particularly high pesticide contamination in thirteen types of produce: tomatoes, peaches, apples, peppers, grapes, lettuce, broccoli, strawberries, spinach, dairy, pears, green beans and celery. Buying organic produce is one way to lower pesticide exposure in a single stroke. The researchers also suggest lowering meat consumption and switching to organic milk as ways to lower exposure to persistent organic pollutants like DDE, which tend to accumulate in animal fat. Probably the easiest way to lower acrylamide exposure is to avoid or minimize eating potato chips, tortilla chips and French fries. The researchers also think their study results should cause both industry and consumers to think long and hard about current food policy — how we grow our food and the approval process for chemicals of questionable toxicity. The persistent organic compound DDE comes from DDT that was sprayed as an insecticide decades ago. DDT use was banned in the U.S. 40 years ago, but we're still dealing today with the consequences of having sprayed so much of it. How many similar compounds are we introducing into the environment now that will continue to keep on giving in decades to come, even if their use were to cease today?

How to Be Indispensable

How to Be Indispensable By Jonathan Fields I was recently talking to a COO at a public company about our comparative experiences hiring people. Him, on a giant scale. Me, on a micro-scale. And, what became clear to both of us was... Scale aside... There is a single quality that is so rare, when you find someone who has it, you'll do pretty much anything to bring that person on board and keep them happy. And, the thing is, some people cultivate it naturally. But, others, once they realize its power, may be able to build it into who they are and how they operate. So, what do we look for? What is that single quality that makes someone precious and indispensable? Beyond intelligence, loyalty, kindness, respect, discipline, pride, passion and compassion, it's... ...the ability to create. Sounds so simple. But truth is, the vast majority of people spend their lives learning how to follow then execute other peoples' game plans. Fitting their skills, abilities and mindsets into the predefined responsibilities and tasks required by a predefined job. And, that's fine. We need people like that in the world. If that's you and you work with pride and add value and that makes you happy, rock on. But, know too that you regardless of how "hard" you work, you will very likely never be toward the top of the "gotta keep 'em" food chain. Not because you're bad at what you do, not because you don't add value. Not because those around you don't like or even love you. But because there will always be a sea of people lined up to take your job who can do what you do in a similar enough way to make your boss, partner, colleague or collaborator happy. For every creator, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of operators. Which is why, when you're a creator, everything changes. Rather than being the one people ask to carry out a plan, people look to you to create a plan. To solve a problem, to innovate a new idea, product, service or campaign, to see opportunities where everyone else sees barriers, to blaze a new trail rather than follow a well grooved one. And, the thing is, most often it's not about radical departures from the norm or Earth-shattering breakthroughs. What I'm talking about is the ability to create solutions on a daily basis. To understand we're at point A and we need to get to point B, then tap your creative/problem-solving juices to conjure the best possible way to get there. As someone who's steering the ship, that ability is immensely more valuable to me than someone who needs to be told every step from A to B (provided I also have skilled Operators in the pipeline). Because it frees up my own creative juices to focus on other projects, while trusting in another's ability to figure out how to get done what needs to get done. Truth be told, though, there's one person who's even more valuable than the pure creator/problem-solver. And, that's the Creator-Operator--the individual who can not only create anew, solve problems and map out innovative pathways, but also possesses the ability to execute, to bring those plans to life. People who can do both are extraordinarily rare finds, because creation and implementation are very different processes and almost always inhabit different brains and bodies, too. Most peoples' minds just don't function well on both levels. Which is why those folks tend to rise quickly up the ranks and often become entrepreneurs. And, that leaves us with two important questions: Are you a Creator, a Creator-Operator or an Operator? If you're an Operator and you'd like to become more of a Creator, is that "trainable?"

Do Something for Somebody

Do something for somebody, somewhere, while jogging along life's road. Help someone to carry his burden, and lighter will grow your load. Do something for somebody, gladly, it will sweeten your every care. In sharing the sorrows of others, your own are less hard to bear. Do something for somebody, striving to help where the way seems long. And the sorrowful hearts that languish, cheer up with a little song. Do something for somebody, always, whatever may be your creed. There's nothing on earth that can help you so much as a kindly deed.

TEACH YOUR CHILDREN

Teach Your Children Well: How to Develop Successful Kids - Part Two By Mark Morgan Ford Today, I'd like to talk about the most important skills we need to be successful in life. I've been thinking about this subject for several decades. I hope that what I'm about to say will be helpful to you. The Three Mega-skills: Thinking, Writing, and Speaking I've identified about a dozen skills I believe are important to a successful life. Of these, three are fundamental: thinking well, speaking well, and writing well. At some level, every human being can think. But some people, I'm sure you would agree, think better than others. Thinking Well Thinking well means having the capacity to reason. It means being able to assess, analyze, and solve problems. It means being able to create and follow a trend of thought. It means being able to recognize good ideas from bad ones. It means understanding logic. Having the ability to think well gives a person a great competitive advantage. It allows him to solve problems and accomplish objectives quickly and efficiently. It distinguishes him as a smart and capable person. Thinking well is the basis for all of the other important social skills as you will soon see. In thinking about thinking, we must remember that there is a difference between thinking well and intelligence. Thinking well is a skill. Intelligence is a natural capacity. Having a sizable intellect is an indisputable asset. It makes it so much easier to learn how to think well. But it does not guarantee it. The world is full of intelligent people who have never learned how to think well. They grow up to be adults who do not have the intellectual capacity to fend for themselves. They live out their lives dependent on the kindness of others. Thinking well, like any other skill, can be learned. If it can be learned, it can be taught. And that teaching will fall primarily on your shoulders. Government-run schools and many private schools, as well, have neither the interest nor ability to do this. The job is and should be up to you. There are at least three ways you can teach your children to think well. The most important is probably through thoughtful conversation. Taking the time to walk your children through problems and obstacles is invaluable. Asking them questions and questioning their answers is also important. And finally, it is important to encourage them to have their own ideas. Society wants to make us all think alike. You can't possibly be a good thinker unless you have the temerity to think for yourself. The second most important is probably through a good formal education. A good formal education, in my view, is one that emphasizes the liberal arts: literature, language, history, and the arts. Some knowledge of science and mathematics is helpful. But these are skills that are not likely to make you anything more than a successful or celebrated worker bee. The skills you learn in liberal arts teach you how to think. The third way you can teach your children to think well is by exacting a diligent control over their use of computers, video games, television, and access to the Internet, generally. My wife and I unplugged our televisions during the 25 years that our children lived at home. And we banned video games and encouraged our children to "play" games that were educational. Today, there are hundreds of games you can download for free or a few dollars from the Internet. These include fundamental thinking games about discrimination, recognition, sorting, pairing, etc., and more advanced games that focus on skills such as analysis and logic. Speaking Well Another thing I'm proud to say is that our children are reasonably proficient speakers. In my view, speaking well is the second most important social skill. As with thinking well, we need to make a distinction here. Speaking well involves grammar and diction, but these are not as important as the ability to express worthy thoughts concisely and clearly. However good your grammar and diction may be, you can't speak well if have trouble "saying" what you "mean." To become a good speaker, you must practice the skill of speaking concisely. And you must also develop the habit of saying things that are worth saying. It is amazing to me how many college-educated people I meet who can't speak well. They are the people who have good ideas but cannot express them. When trying to express even a modestly complicated thought, they hem and haw and pepper their phrases with expressions like "you know" and "it was like" and so on. Then there are the articulate people who never say anything that isn't shallow or trivial. Having the ability to speak well is such a rare quality that the possession of it will immediately separate you from most other people in the room. It will give you social power that they lack even if they are richer, taller, and better looking than you are. How do you teach your children to speak well? Again, the most important way is by speaking well yourself. A child's first and most frequent exposure to the skill of speaking is with his parents. Small children absorb the intricacies of language like sponges. If you want your children to have this second most valuable social skill, then speak thoughtfully when you speak to them and expect them to do the same with you. You can also encourage your children to speak well by insisting they take courses that involve speaking in school. These would be primarily the liberal arts courses but also any courses for which you can't get a grade simply by checking off boxes. And thirdly, there is the Internet. There are dozens and dozens of applications available that will improve one's vocabulary and grammar. As I said, these are not the most important elements of speaking well, but they help. Writing Well The third most important social skill is writing well. Writing may seem to have become less important in the age of instant messaging, but writing short communications is still writing. And as your child enters into the world of work, writing well will become an increasingly valuable skill. Having the ability to express him or herself well in memos, business letters, proposals, personal notes, and so on is a very powerful skill. Writing well is dependent on speaking well, and speaking well is dependent on thinking well. So if you educate your children to think and speak well, it will be quite easy to teach them to become good writers. Again, writing well is the skill of expressing worthy ideas concisely and clearly on paper. Writing well demands some additional facilities beyond those of speaking well, but for the most part, if you can speak well, you can also write well. The most important way you can teach your children to write well is to insist that they spend some amount of time writing every day. You might encourage your children to write letters to an out-of-town relative or find a pen pal through one of the supervised pen-pal sites on the Internet. Thinking, speaking, and writing well are the three most important social skills. If your children learn these, they will be set for life. They will have the ability to analyze problems, find solutions for them, and thus be seen as problem solvers. They will be able to stand out in any social group (at work or outside of work) by their abilities to express good ideas concisely and clearly. Plus, if they acquire good manners, they won't have to pay the cost of treating other people badly.

YOU CAN'T STOP THINKING

You Can't stop thinking about it You want to stop but you can't You want to let got but you can't You just keep thinking about it And every time you think about it You get upset. You get angry. You want to let go and move on but you can't. Your mind won't let you. The thoughts keep coming. They won't stop. You keep beating yourself up and you don't know why You think of the worst, you think of how things can't work out, why you won't succeed and then you think you'll never get ahead. You can't sleep. You toss and turn. You're constantly worrying A sense of panic takes over. You need to change things now. You need to succeed now. You want to do something but don't know what. You just keep hanging on to those memories. You keep thinking about what happened. The negative thoughts keep coming... You just can't let go... But you CAN let go. And you CAN move on. You CAN stop beating yourself up You CAN get rid of those negative thoughts.

SOLITARY WALKER

She walked as if she owned the world, Her head held high with, Pride written all over her face. She did not stumble nor falter in her gait, Lording over all that she gazed. In her you will find everything, From scars to unhealed wounds Her life's battles bring. She laughed and cried But lived,always ready to fight. Her life like a rollercoaster ride, Her pain often comes like a hurricane. She faced it all unafraid Even if she might fail. She knew what her life could have become, Regret tortured her mind Leaving her unstrung. But never early never late, God brought her out of her Otherwise doomed fate. Pride brought her to her knees, Heartbroken, she looked up to see. All that she had burned to ashes, Tears weld up wetting her eyelashes. Hopes and dreams dashed to the ground, She did not want to be around. Stark reality staring at her face She realised all she had been was just a waste. Shattered, she bowed down begging for mercy, From the One who always loved her so dearly. She had never given Him the time of day Lost for words she did'nt know what to say. But He knew, and looking at her face He lifted her up with His amazing grace. Hope bubbled again, in her heart reigned A knowledge that He will never allow, Her life to go in vain. She stood up with strength renewed Vowing to always give him his due. She will not leave, in her heart she knew Till His purpose in her life is fulfilled.

I LIKE TO BE

To all my friends far and near.. If I have lost many things in my life, I have friends who still make it bright. If my mood is bad, You are there to make me glad. If i'm depressed, You are there to lighten the stress. If i'm feeling low You are there to bring back the glow. When i'm feeling weak You are there to help me stand on my feet. When I feel like giving up You're there encouraging me lifting me up. When I face an obstacle You're there helping me climb over the hurdles. If i'm in need, you're there; My friends indeed. Thank you for all your good wishes and prayers, For being there in every stormy weather, For helping me in every strife, For opening my eyes when i'm not doing right; For just being there When my world is not bright. Thank you for caring and Bearing with me inspite of everything. You are indeed a blessing! May God be with you always His love shining through all your days. Blessings abundant His grace and mercy In your life constant. God bless you now and always.

I CONFESS

You brought me into this world 65 years ago, I crawled, stood, walked and ran, my face a glow, From that time to this day I've been around, Thank you Lord for strength to stand my ground. I have laughed and cried, Been happy and light, Depressed and low but, Always raring to go. Today is a new beginning, The year ahead the start Of a new innings. Lord to you is my thanksgiving For walking with me on roads, no silver tarring. Through pain and strife, Through storms and high tide I walked knowing you're always beside. Your love filled my empty heart, Your wisdom gave me a headstart. Your mercy flooded my life Your strength helped me overcome the strife. Your grace exceedingly great Overwhelms my soul, Faith and hope forever I hold.

I WANT

I don't go chasing my dreams, I just want to achieve my aims. I don't want to run after money lest it make me greedy. I don't want to be a saint, lest it make me vain. I don't want to preach but I want to lead. I don't want to be weak but I want to be meek. I don't like poverty but I can't pull it out like weed.i don't want to be filthy rich but comfortably live. I don't want to hate lest it consumes my faith. I don't want to steal lest my fate is sealed. I want to retain my identity but swim in a sea of humanity. I want to right a wrong but not by using brawn. I want to live kingsize but not tread on someone's rights. I want to be gentle but certainly not feeble. I want to be strong but not by doing wrong. I want to love and be loved but not to stray and betray. I want to remain true but not regret and rue. I want to be accepted not hated and rejected. I wish everyone good and me to be understood. I want to bless and not be a stress. I want to smile and make others delight. I want peace like a gentle blowing breeze to spread happiness amidst people depressed. These are my thoughts deep inside me wrought.

MY DREAMS

I don't go chasing my dreams, I just want to achieve my aims. I don't want to run after money lest it make me greedy. I don't want to be a saint, lest it make me vain. I don't want to preach but I want to lead. I don't want to be weak but I want to be meek. I don't like poverty but I can't pull it out like weed.i don't want to be filthy rich but comfortably live. I don't want to hate lest it consumes my faith. I don't want to steal lest my fate is sealed. I want to retain my identity but swim in a sea of humanity. I want to right a wrong but not by using brawn. I want to live kingsize but not tread on someone's rights. I want to be gentle but certainly not feeble. I want to be strong but not by doing wrong. I want to love and be loved but not to stray and betray. I want to remain true but not regret and rue. I want to be accepted not hated and rejected. I wish everyone good and me to be understood. I want to bless and not be a stress. I want to smile and make others delight. I want peace like a gentle blowing breeze to spread happiness amidst people depressed. These are my thoughts deep inside me wrought.

WALKING MEDITATION FOR HEALTHIER LIFE

Walking Meditation as a Modern Way to a Healthier Life Meditation has always been associated with solitude, tranquility, and physical inactivity. When one talks of meditation, you may usually come up with a scenario in which a person finds a secluded area, closes his eyes in silence, and rests his body while working his mind out. Does meditation always have to be like this? Meditation is an art. A method. A skill. A process. It is the art of keeping in touch with yourself, of discovering your entirety and the many facets of your being. It is also a skill that must be developed. It requires discipline and right mindset. You cannot simply think that you will meditate and expect to achieve a result right after. This requires the tuning of one's consciousness. Meditation typically involves a set of procedures and guidelines to be followed. Typically, the success of the activity will depend on the adherence to the given principles and rules. One interesting form of meditation that deviates from the old and traditional concept is walking meditation. Walking meditation is a lot different from other forms of meditation known to many. For one, you will not have to be physically inactive just to do it. In fact, you need to move and be active – you need to walk! You have to actively engage your mind and your body in this activity in order to experience a holistic positive result. This brings another benefit. Since walking is a daily activity, you can actually grow by meditation everyday! You also will not have to find a secluded place just so you can meditate. Anywhere will do. Actually, a noisy and crowded place is even encouraged. Here is where the challenge lies. Concentration is important and awareness must be focused. You must not allow the outer world to bind your mind into it – by the things that you see, hear, or whatever you perceive. You may be aware of them, but you must guard not to do anything about them. Do not cling to anything. The guiding principle behind walking meditation is achieving a balanced awareness, equilibrium, between your inner self and the outer world surrounding you. This meditation will invite you to feel your entire body, all the workings of the parts that make you up, being aware how each of your body parts operates. While doing this, you also have to notice your emotion and your mood. These are all done while you walk. The outside world need not be lost in your focus. There will always be stuffs that will catch your attention as you meditate, and you are not to resist. You are not to hang on to these, though. You have to let them pass by, observing them without doing anything at all. This is the real sense of awareness. The ideal result of walking meditation is the person's consciousness of the outside world while being completely aware of his inner self. When this is achieved, many of the puzzles and complexities of life will become clearer and simpler. By bridging the gap between what is within and what is out of yourself, you can take full control of your life and enjoy a healthier and a more satisfied lifestyle.

QUESTION TO ANSWER

WHY ???????????? It's not about me, it's not about you. It's about the place we stay in, the society we live in, the systems we have!! *I often wonder* when a mosquito bites us why do I think of a repellant, why a coil or hit why don't I have the courage to question my municipality? *Why do I buy* water in a bottle? Why do I purify water at my home? Does the water bill say that the tap water is only for washing clothes or having a bath? Why don't I get drinking water in my tap? *Why should I pay* a toll tax on every single black, nice looking road? Why a basic road is not my right? *Why do I buy* an inverter or dream of a generator? Why don't I get current in my wires? *Why do we call* the private schools as public schools.. I always thought schools run by the government should be called public schools!! *Why- the cricketer* who sold the ethics of game sits in parliaments or come as experts on channels? *Why someone known* for beating his wife and had charges of holding drugs is a celebrity to judge dance shows and all of us watch and clap too. *Why is it that the* so called high profile tainted journalists still run public shows and we all watch it.. *Why don't I know* the fine on jumping red light or for not wearing a helmet but am very well aware of power of 100 rupees, the cost of duty of most of the traffic guys across the country.. *Why is a girl raped* in a roaming car in the capital of the country almost every month and all that the government says is that girls should be careful.. *Why does the trial* and judgment of social activists just takes a few weeks but Raja, Raju, Reddy roams around !! *Why even after killing hundreds* of people on road the blue line buses remained on roads? Do you know any city apart from the capital of your country where the city buses crushed people on a daily basis? *Why didn't we come on the roads* when someone made elephants of stones for thousands of crores rupees in U.P. where people still dig pits to sleep or die of hunger? *Why a tainted, corrupt minister* is called to IIM and Academy for IAS and applauded – unstopped on his desi style ? Its so easy to call someone corrupt but have you ever thought; *The act of bribe starts by giving not by taking* ..it starts from me not from him or her.. so why don't I look at myself first ? I strongly believe that the *Logic is always for NOT doing something.. Doing does not need logic,* *doers don't believe in logics!!* Just a couple of years back some people came and played with us, killed our pride and people. We were angry.. some people thought that the attack in Mumbai was on rich people and therefore something would change.. Nothing happened.. we all go to gateway of India on every anniversary in November, burn some wax, sing some songs and come back. Nothing changes- the government is back, Z security is back and people are back at the Gateway of India… *It's time to come out, stand up*...move.. do something.. Sitting in drawing rooms or discussing over a mug of beer will not solve anything.. *Please remember this country does not need thinkers any more, enough of them.. what you need is action..*

THOUGHTS FOR LIFE

Lovely Thoughts About Life A short walk is so difficult, when no one walks with you. But a long journey is just like few steps when you walk with someone who loves and cares for you. We always look and care for the person whom we love the most. But we fail to look back at those who love us the most. Death’s not the greatest loss in life.. The greatest loss is when relationships die inside us while we are still alive... Life is not about the people who act true on your face.. Its about the people who remain true behind your back.. Time decides whom you meet in life… Your heart decides whom you want in life.. but your behavious decides who will stay in your life... You can win life by all means.. Yes.. If you simply avoid two things... 1. Comparing - with others 2. Expecting - from other Life will be more beautiful!!

GAIN CONFIDENCE

11 proven ways to gain unstoppable confidence #1 - KNOWLEDGE IS POWER Those who know are ultimately much more confident in any arena than those shrouded in ignorance. Use your spare time to read up on the things that interest you, on the things that you are curious about, and build up a solid base of knowledge and critical thinking. The more you know, the more sure of yourself you will be in any situation. #2 - EXPERIENCE Uncertainty is the biggest drain on your self-confidence. Succumbing to doubt ensures you will never believe in yourself. The more often you do something, the more certain you become. With certainty comes confidence. #3 - CARE-FREE ATTITUDE Try to walk through your day with as easy and care-free of an attitude as you can muster, because someone who is it ease with him or herself is someone who is confident. Build unstoppable confidence by not getting hung up on the petty issues and minor irritations that help wear you down. #4 - HONEST SELF-ASSESSMENT Take stock of yourself. Brainstorm for a bit and compose a list of your good qualities and bad, the things you excel at and the things you need to improve upon, and once you have a clear picture of yourself much of the uncertainty that breeds doubt will wash away. #5 - ANALYZE Take the time to properly think through every problem, and the confidence in your skills will grow. #6 - BE THOROUGH Try to be as complete and thorough at every task you attempt . Completing tasks builds confidence in your ability to always see projects through to their proper conclusion . #7 - IDENTIFY YOUR LIMITS, AND EXCEED THEM Once you have assessed yourself, make a list of goals you wish to accomplish, and get to work. You now know your true limits, so the only thing left to do is push beyond them and set your sights on new frontiers. #8 - BE OPEN TO HELPING OTHERS Don't close yourself off to friends, acquaintances and coworkers. The more you put yourself out there in business and social situations, the more quickly you will build confidence in your ability to navigate these sometimes tricky waters. #9 - COMPOSE YOURSELF Dress well, groom yourself, compose your identity as a person who is well put together, and you will feel confident when meeting new people and doing new things. #10 - BE DECISIVE While it is okay to take time to analyze and think situations through, the time comes when you must be decisive and act. Decisive people are confident; not confident people are decisive. #11 BE COMPLETE Know yourself fully, wash away your own doubts about yourself, your identity and your capabilities, and present every aspect of yourself in every situation and you will have no reason to doubt your confidence. Become your full, real self. A lot of confidence building techniques simply do not work. I've tried everything out there and studied confident people to see what makes them who they are. Continue reading this article for the top 11 traits you can develop to build strong self-confidence that attracts the people, job, and pleasures of life you want.