My wife and I spent a month holidaying in Southern France.
I don't remember ever being as happy as I was during the short time we spent there.
I was truly happy to be alive.
On hot days, we spent out time inside our cool room reading or chatting. Towards the evenings, we often went for walks. During our walks we'd stop to look at the bowers along the road. The road, which was made of red sand, ran along the mountain; lavenders grew on one side of it and olive trees grew on the other.
We enjoyed the scenery as we walked through the village. The beauty around us added to our joy.
The local people all said they were very happy to see us walking hand-in-hand, smiling, serene, poised and open to strangers. I only realized how much our happiness affected them when the farmers gave us a special gift which they usually reserved for a big occasion or some unexpected pleasant surprise: dry sausage and a bottle of anisette.
On each of our walks we made new friends who cemented our friendship with lovely gifts.
We finally returned home. After spending a month in sunny, friendly Provence, our city seemed cold; the days and nights appeared longer than usual, and even clients seemed uninterested in my work.
One evening, as I sat in a cafe, with my head on my hand, thinking of our time in Provence and the lavish welcome of it's people, it hit me. I realized why the villagers back in France treated us as they did: they were giving us back what they had received from us - the gift of joy.
Don't expect anything from others which you don't give yourself: give a smile when you're sad, a warm handshake when your heart is cold, a positive thought when you see nothing but dark things in your life....
...............................................................
When your happiness radiates out and touches those around you, including strangers, you communicate something to them. Something which makes them want to respond in a positive way to you.
Give joy without expecting anything in return and you will put people in the best possible disposition to give and be open with you.
...............................................................
"What is good about giving on your part is that you always receive more than you give; the reaction is always stronger than the action."
Orison S. Marden
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
The story of the black balloons
A young black boy saw a balloon seller on a street corner. His eyes sparkled as he gazed at all the different colored balloons - red, blue, white, black, yellow...
The old man selling the balloons saw the boy hesitate, than gather his courage and approach.
"Tell me mister," said the boy, "do the black balloons fly as high as the others?"
The old man felt a tear forming in his eye. He picked the boy up, sat him on his knee and said, "Look."
He let go of all the balloons. They drifted up in a cluster, higher and higher into the blue sky until they were so high they disappeared.
"Did you see that?" the balloon seller asked.
"Yes," said the boy.
"Did the black balloons fly as high as the others?"
"Yes Mister, they did."
"You see my boy, the balloons are like people. The important thing isn't their color, or what they look like on the outside. No, the important thing is WHAT'S INSIDE. And what's inside you makes all the difference in life."
The old man selling the balloons saw the boy hesitate, than gather his courage and approach.
"Tell me mister," said the boy, "do the black balloons fly as high as the others?"
The old man felt a tear forming in his eye. He picked the boy up, sat him on his knee and said, "Look."
He let go of all the balloons. They drifted up in a cluster, higher and higher into the blue sky until they were so high they disappeared.
"Did you see that?" the balloon seller asked.
"Yes," said the boy.
"Did the black balloons fly as high as the others?"
"Yes Mister, they did."
"You see my boy, the balloons are like people. The important thing isn't their color, or what they look like on the outside. No, the important thing is WHAT'S INSIDE. And what's inside you makes all the difference in life."
Saturday, December 20, 2008
The Miracle of a Brother's Song
Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her 3-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling. They found out that the new baby was going be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael sang to his sister in Mommy's tummy. He was building a bond of love with his little sister before he even met her.
The pregnancy progressed normally for Karen. In time, the labor pains came. Soon it was every five minutes, every three, every minute .But serious complications arose during delivery and Karen found herself in hours of labor. Would a C-section be required? Finally, after a long struggle, Michael's little sister was born. But she was in very serious condition. With a siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushed the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at Mary's Hospital, Knoxville, Tennessee.
The days inched by. The little girl got worse. The pediatrician had to tell the parents there is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst. Karen and her husband contacted a local cemetery about a burial plot. They had fixed up a special room in their house for their new baby but now they found themselves having to plan for a funeral. Michael, however, kept begging his parents to let him see his sister. "I want to sing to her", he kept saying. Week two in intensive care looked as if a funeral would come before the week was over.
Michael kept nagging about singing to his sister, but kids are never allowed in Intensive Care. Karen decided to take Michael whether they liked it or not. If he didn't see his sister right then, he may never see her alive. She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into ICU. He looked like a walking laundry basket. The head nurse recognized him as a child and bellowed, "Get that kid out of here now. No children are allowed." The mother rose up strong in Karen, and
the usually mild-mannered lady glared steel-eyed right into the head nurse's face, her lips a firm line, "He is not leaving until he sings to his sister" she stated. Then Karen towed Michael to his sister's bedside.
He gazed at the tiny infant losing the battle to live. After a moment, he began to sing. In the pure-hearted voice of a 3-year-old, Michael sang: "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray." Instantly the baby girl seemed to respond. The pulses rate began to calm down and become steady. "Keep on singing, Michael," encouraged Karen with tears in her eyes. "You never know, dear, how much I love you, please don't take my sunshine away."
As Michael sang to his sister, the baby's ragged, strained breathing became as smooth as a kitten's purr. "Keep on singing, sweetheart." "The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms". Michael's little sister began to relax as rest, healing rest, seemed to sweep over her. "Keep on singing, Michael." Tears had now conquered the face of the bossy head nurse. Karen glowed. "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. Please don't take my sunshine away..."
The next, day...the very next day...the little girl was well enough to go home. Woman's Day Magazine called it The Miracle of a Brother's Song. The medical staff just called it a miracle. Karen called it a miracle of God's love.
NEVER GIVE UP ON THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE. LOVE IS SO INCREDIBLY POWERFUL. Life is good. Have a Wonderful Day!
The pregnancy progressed normally for Karen. In time, the labor pains came. Soon it was every five minutes, every three, every minute .But serious complications arose during delivery and Karen found herself in hours of labor. Would a C-section be required? Finally, after a long struggle, Michael's little sister was born. But she was in very serious condition. With a siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushed the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at Mary's Hospital, Knoxville, Tennessee.
The days inched by. The little girl got worse. The pediatrician had to tell the parents there is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst. Karen and her husband contacted a local cemetery about a burial plot. They had fixed up a special room in their house for their new baby but now they found themselves having to plan for a funeral. Michael, however, kept begging his parents to let him see his sister. "I want to sing to her", he kept saying. Week two in intensive care looked as if a funeral would come before the week was over.
Michael kept nagging about singing to his sister, but kids are never allowed in Intensive Care. Karen decided to take Michael whether they liked it or not. If he didn't see his sister right then, he may never see her alive. She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into ICU. He looked like a walking laundry basket. The head nurse recognized him as a child and bellowed, "Get that kid out of here now. No children are allowed." The mother rose up strong in Karen, and
the usually mild-mannered lady glared steel-eyed right into the head nurse's face, her lips a firm line, "He is not leaving until he sings to his sister" she stated. Then Karen towed Michael to his sister's bedside.
He gazed at the tiny infant losing the battle to live. After a moment, he began to sing. In the pure-hearted voice of a 3-year-old, Michael sang: "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray." Instantly the baby girl seemed to respond. The pulses rate began to calm down and become steady. "Keep on singing, Michael," encouraged Karen with tears in her eyes. "You never know, dear, how much I love you, please don't take my sunshine away."
As Michael sang to his sister, the baby's ragged, strained breathing became as smooth as a kitten's purr. "Keep on singing, sweetheart." "The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms". Michael's little sister began to relax as rest, healing rest, seemed to sweep over her. "Keep on singing, Michael." Tears had now conquered the face of the bossy head nurse. Karen glowed. "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. Please don't take my sunshine away..."
The next, day...the very next day...the little girl was well enough to go home. Woman's Day Magazine called it The Miracle of a Brother's Song. The medical staff just called it a miracle. Karen called it a miracle of God's love.
NEVER GIVE UP ON THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE. LOVE IS SO INCREDIBLY POWERFUL. Life is good. Have a Wonderful Day!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
The Window View
Got this email from my friend and it has given me a new perspective in life, as I began to see things differently. I hope that this will do the same for you. Be Happy Always!!!
=========================
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.
Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.
The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't hear the band -- he could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days and weeks passed. One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall.
The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."
--------------------
Epilogue: There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.
If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.
"Today is a gift, that's why it is called the present."
The origin of this letter is unknown, but it brings good luck to everyone who passes it on.
Do not keep this letter. Do not send money. Just forward it to your friends to whom you wish good luck. You will see that something good happens to you four days from today. People will forget what you said... People will forget what you did... But people will never forget how you made them feel...
Make someone happy, share a kind word today.
==================================================
The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet.
-- James Oppenheim
=========================
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.
Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.
The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't hear the band -- he could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days and weeks passed. One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall.
The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."
--------------------
Epilogue: There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.
If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.
"Today is a gift, that's why it is called the present."
The origin of this letter is unknown, but it brings good luck to everyone who passes it on.
Do not keep this letter. Do not send money. Just forward it to your friends to whom you wish good luck. You will see that something good happens to you four days from today. People will forget what you said... People will forget what you did... But people will never forget how you made them feel...
Make someone happy, share a kind word today.
==================================================
The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet.
-- James Oppenheim
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
The Success' Secret
During a meeting of top salespeople from around the country, the 'big cheese' himself, a man who'd consistently had the highest sales figures for the last 20 years, and who earned more money than even the owner of his company, got up to speak.
"I am now going to reveal the secret of my success," he said. "I wrote it down on a piece of paper and I put it in this envelope. But success must be earned. So I'm going to sell the envelope to the highest bidder. You have my word that it contains what I said - the Secret of my Success, not only as a salesman, but also in life."
The bidding started slowly... $5, then $10, then $50, $100, $130, $150, $200. Finally one of his colleagues bought the envelope for $1000. The happy buyer took the envelope and kept it to himself until he got home that night. Only then did he open it to learn THE SECRET OF SUCCESS.
What do you think was written on the piece of paper?
Think about it. Make a mental note of whatever comes to mind before reading the answer. Because I am going to tell you what it was later in this e-mail. And in my opinion what was written on that piece of paper is worth much more than $1000.
"I am now going to reveal the secret of my success," he said. "I wrote it down on a piece of paper and I put it in this envelope. But success must be earned. So I'm going to sell the envelope to the highest bidder. You have my word that it contains what I said - the Secret of my Success, not only as a salesman, but also in life."
The bidding started slowly... $5, then $10, then $50, $100, $130, $150, $200. Finally one of his colleagues bought the envelope for $1000. The happy buyer took the envelope and kept it to himself until he got home that night. Only then did he open it to learn THE SECRET OF SUCCESS.
What do you think was written on the piece of paper?
Think about it. Make a mental note of whatever comes to mind before reading the answer. Because I am going to tell you what it was later in this e-mail. And in my opinion what was written on that piece of paper is worth much more than $1000.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Learn to accept
Be grateful to the person that love us that much!! No one is perfect!!
Meaningful ~ Learn 2 accepts him/her way he/she is!!!
A man and his girlfriend were married. It was a large celebration. All of their friends and family came to see the lovely ceremony and to partake of the activities and celebrations. A wonderful time was had by all. The bride was gorgeous in her white wedding gown and the groom was very dashing in his black tuxedo. Everyone could tell that the love they had for each other was true.
A few months later, the wife comes to the husband with a proposal: I read in a magazine, a while ago, about how we can strengthen our marriage." she offered. "Each of us will write a list of the things that we find a bit annoying with the other person. Then, we can talk about how we can fix them together and make our lives happier together." The husband agreed. So each of them went to a separate room in the house and thought of the things that annoyed them about the other. They thought about this question for the rest of the day and wrote down what they came up with.
The next morning, at the breakfast table, they decided that they would go over their lists. "I'll start," offered the wife. She took out her list. It had many items on it. Enough to fill 3 pages, in fact. As she started reading the list of the little annoyances, she noticed that tears were starting to appear in her husband's eyes.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing" the husband replied, "keeps reading your list." The wife continued to read until she had read all three pages to her husband. She neatly placed her list on the table and folded her hands over top of it. "Now, you read your list and then we'll talk about the things on both of our lists." She said happily.
Quietly the husband stated, "I don't have anything on my list. I think that you are perfect the way that you are. I don't want you to change anything for me. You are lovely and wonderful and I wouldn't want to try and change anything about you."
The wife, touched by his honesty and the depth of his love for her and his acceptance of her, turned her head and wept.
In life, there are enough times when we are disappointed, depressed and annoyed. We don't really have to go looking for them. We have a wonderful world that is full of beauty, light and promise. Why waste time in this world looking for the bad, disappointing or annoying when we can look around us, and see the wondrous things before us? I believe that we are happiest when we see and praise the good and try our best to forget the bad.
It's true that we should accept the other party for who they are. Cause isn't who they are in the 1st place that makes us fall in love with them?
Even if u want to change. Change it for yourself, dun feel that you're changing for others cause one day u would feel annoyed n wonder why are u doing all this n this will strain your relationship.
Meaningful ~ Learn 2 accepts him/her way he/she is!!!
A man and his girlfriend were married. It was a large celebration. All of their friends and family came to see the lovely ceremony and to partake of the activities and celebrations. A wonderful time was had by all. The bride was gorgeous in her white wedding gown and the groom was very dashing in his black tuxedo. Everyone could tell that the love they had for each other was true.
A few months later, the wife comes to the husband with a proposal: I read in a magazine, a while ago, about how we can strengthen our marriage." she offered. "Each of us will write a list of the things that we find a bit annoying with the other person. Then, we can talk about how we can fix them together and make our lives happier together." The husband agreed. So each of them went to a separate room in the house and thought of the things that annoyed them about the other. They thought about this question for the rest of the day and wrote down what they came up with.
The next morning, at the breakfast table, they decided that they would go over their lists. "I'll start," offered the wife. She took out her list. It had many items on it. Enough to fill 3 pages, in fact. As she started reading the list of the little annoyances, she noticed that tears were starting to appear in her husband's eyes.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing" the husband replied, "keeps reading your list." The wife continued to read until she had read all three pages to her husband. She neatly placed her list on the table and folded her hands over top of it. "Now, you read your list and then we'll talk about the things on both of our lists." She said happily.
Quietly the husband stated, "I don't have anything on my list. I think that you are perfect the way that you are. I don't want you to change anything for me. You are lovely and wonderful and I wouldn't want to try and change anything about you."
The wife, touched by his honesty and the depth of his love for her and his acceptance of her, turned her head and wept.
In life, there are enough times when we are disappointed, depressed and annoyed. We don't really have to go looking for them. We have a wonderful world that is full of beauty, light and promise. Why waste time in this world looking for the bad, disappointing or annoying when we can look around us, and see the wondrous things before us? I believe that we are happiest when we see and praise the good and try our best to forget the bad.
It's true that we should accept the other party for who they are. Cause isn't who they are in the 1st place that makes us fall in love with them?
Even if u want to change. Change it for yourself, dun feel that you're changing for others cause one day u would feel annoyed n wonder why are u doing all this n this will strain your relationship.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
The Parable of the Hare and the Hedgehog
One day the hedgehog challenged the hare to have race with him.
The hare, being sure of his victory, accepted the challenge without hesitation.
The race started at the entrance to the vineyard. After they started, the hare ran fast, while the hedgehog, snouting in the air, took his time and loitered along the boundaries.
Surprise!When the hare, totally exhausted, appeared at the end of the vineyard, the hedgehog was already there. "I was waiting for you. You have taken lot of time."
The hare, too proud to concede victory, proposed a return match. Again, when he crossed the finish line at the end of the field, the hedgehog, not at all breathless, waited.
The score never changed. The hedgehog was always at the finish line before the hare.
The hare, exhausted by these races, couldn't understood why his competitor did not seem to be affected by the races. The solution to the mystery was obvious; the hedgehog had a twin who waited at the other end of the vineyard.
The hare, however, was not a fool. He asked the tricky hedgehog whether, during the race, he had seen the vine stocks heavy with fruits, the shining dews on the leaves, the rays of evening light across the rows, the warm smell coming out of the perspiring earth, the patient climbing of the snell on the vine plant.
The hedgehog, a little embarrassed, replied, "What really matters is that I reached the finish line before you. Is that not true?"
The hare retorted, "What matters to me is having made a fine journey, full of discoveries and benefiting from the experience. You cheated, and you deprived yourself of the scenery of nature.
I am not convinced whether, in the end, you really won."
.................................................................
This small tale could be nothing but a joke, but every parable has its moral: it is not the question of becoming first and knowing everything in advance.
It is also necessary to be actually on the route. The theoretical knowledge is not always the best; one should also face the reality, pass through the fire of the things.
Nothing can replace personal experience.
.................................................................
"One of the finest experiences of life is walking with somebody in nature, participating in everything and at the same time in nothing".
- Christian Bobin.
The hare, being sure of his victory, accepted the challenge without hesitation.
The race started at the entrance to the vineyard. After they started, the hare ran fast, while the hedgehog, snouting in the air, took his time and loitered along the boundaries.
Surprise!When the hare, totally exhausted, appeared at the end of the vineyard, the hedgehog was already there. "I was waiting for you. You have taken lot of time."
The hare, too proud to concede victory, proposed a return match. Again, when he crossed the finish line at the end of the field, the hedgehog, not at all breathless, waited.
The score never changed. The hedgehog was always at the finish line before the hare.
The hare, exhausted by these races, couldn't understood why his competitor did not seem to be affected by the races. The solution to the mystery was obvious; the hedgehog had a twin who waited at the other end of the vineyard.
The hare, however, was not a fool. He asked the tricky hedgehog whether, during the race, he had seen the vine stocks heavy with fruits, the shining dews on the leaves, the rays of evening light across the rows, the warm smell coming out of the perspiring earth, the patient climbing of the snell on the vine plant.
The hedgehog, a little embarrassed, replied, "What really matters is that I reached the finish line before you. Is that not true?"
The hare retorted, "What matters to me is having made a fine journey, full of discoveries and benefiting from the experience. You cheated, and you deprived yourself of the scenery of nature.
I am not convinced whether, in the end, you really won."
.................................................................
This small tale could be nothing but a joke, but every parable has its moral: it is not the question of becoming first and knowing everything in advance.
It is also necessary to be actually on the route. The theoretical knowledge is not always the best; one should also face the reality, pass through the fire of the things.
Nothing can replace personal experience.
.................................................................
"One of the finest experiences of life is walking with somebody in nature, participating in everything and at the same time in nothing".
- Christian Bobin.
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