Beauty

“When you reach the heart of life you shall find beauty in all things, even in the eyes that are blind to beauty.” Kahlil Gibran

Meaningful Walks

Walking which began with a necessity in my life, over a period of time has become great pleasure for me. I remember walking to school, walking to college and walking to work, walking to church, walking to a friend’s house as most of the time I did not have a choice but walk, which started as something I have to, later on I got comfortable walking all by myself.

I began to look for opportunity to walk early mornings – feel the cool breeze, look around to see the lovely trees around me, admire the flowers, touch the grass and watch the sun rise and experience the joy of being by myself.

When I look back, I am so happy for all those moments I have walked, as the years grew by, I started enjoying the walk, and walking has now become a hobby – it’s the time I am with myself, a time for me to understand myself, explore who am I in a deeper way, and I recall Bob the founder of Care Foundation for Children and Ageing – who walks for the cause of children, he says, if every step I take is going to make a difference to a child, then I will surely walk.

He continues to say that when he walks, he shares with the farmer who rises up in the early hours to work in the field, he associates with the women who walk to find water in some remotest parts of our country, and most importantly his walk makes a difference to millions of children who are sponsored for education.

Today when I walk, I know that I am part of all those people who walk for a cause, not only my walk becomes meaningful, but it has also benefited me in so many ways, I have started losing weight, my stress level has come down, I feel healthier, happier and grateful to live a Life of Gratitude.

May You Be Happy!

A Short Story

Nipun had gone to his grandparent’s village along with his parents. They had gone to bring grandpa and grandma to their home in the city. While Nipun and his parents were preparing to leave, Nipun saw his grandfather, planting a sapling in the garden. This surprised him. He went to his grandfather and asked, Grandpa, you are going to stay in the city. What is the use of planting a mango sapling now? you will not be here to enjoy its fruit.”

Grandpa smiled and said, “Nipun, you have been eating the delicious fruits from the mango and guava trees in my garden. Did you know these trees were not planted by me? These trees were planted by my grandfather and now we are enjoying their fruits. In the same way, other people will enjoy the fruits of this sapling when it grows up and becomes a tall tree.”

My Thoughts

We have been blessed with a beautiful world to live in, which was created by our forefathers let us learn to enjoy the beauty of nature and also take care of it for the next generation to enjoy it.

We all have positive debts, and the best way we can pay back is to give without expecting anything in return.

When I perform acts of kindness, so that others benefit, it makes you feel differently about who you are. And from those kinds of feelings YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE IN AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE.

Life's Inventory

Here is an inspiration by William Lambert who shares his experience of how to take Life’s Inventory, and how taking an inward journey, reflecting upon his life, he was able to bring in changes and achieve what he wanted.

I read this article, and was inclined to write it on my blog, as I have already begun the process of relooking at my life and what I have achieved. I have taken some action steps, and am happy to share this with everyone who comes into my life.

May you be happy!

LIFE'S INVENTORY

So you have been living for 40 or 50 or 60 years. What do you have to show for it? What comes to your mind first? Your children? Your house? your car? Were your children an accomplishment or an accident? Should a spouse who loves you be listed in your inventory?

I did this inventory 10 years after I have been teaching school. I personally felt my inventory was not what it should be. I had a car and an apartment. I wanted a family and a house. I changed my behavior in an attempt to get those things.

Ten years later I felt that this was not enough. A wife and kids for me was not enough for my inventory. A new direction had to be derived. I spent much time in determining what truly makes me happy. I discovered that what really made me happy was helping other people.

My inventory includes letters from three people whose life I saved using my CPR skills. A distinguished teacher award. College Degrees, Letters from students that say without my influence they would never have attended college.

Action Steps.

• Do your life's Inventory. Try to add things that cannot be taken away from you. Certificates, Degrees, and Marketable Skills that you enjoy. Do not focus on material things.
• Discover the joy of helping others. Share your skills, your knowledge, your understandings with others. Do this without seeking credit or anything in return.
• Look at your resume. Rewrite it as if you have accomplished more. Then work on making it happen. Never think the thought that "I am too old." There exists a list of people that were over 60 before they achieved their major accomplishments. The greatest joy in my life is when I received an E Mail stating that I helped someone change their behavior.

Please note that you don't necessarily help someone if you give them material things. You really help when you teach them how to get their own and/or when you cause them to change behavior.

Inspiring Quote

Never mistake knowledge for wisdom.
One helps you make a living, the other helps you make a life.
~ Sandra Carey

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

and that has made all the difference.

-- Robert Frost

My Thoughts
Thanks to my friend who shared this poem, and thanks to the person who shared this beautiful photograph, I felt every word was meant for me, it touched me deeply, and made me feel happy for the road I took which is making all the difference in my life.

Remember The Small Things

Mother Teresa's words:

Some of my sisters work in Australia. On a reservation, among the Aborigines, there was an elderly man. I can assure you that you have never seen a situation as difficult as that poor old man's. He was completely ignored by everyone. His home was disordered and dirty. I told him, "Please, let me clean your house, wash your clothes, and make your bed." He answered, "I'm okay like this. Let it be."

I said again, "You will be still better if you allow me to do it." He finally agreed. So I was able to clean his house and wash his clothes. I discovered a beautiful lamp, covered with dust. Only God knows how many years had passed since he last lit it. I said to him, "Don't you light your lamp? Don't you ever use it?" He answered, "No. No one comes to see me. I have no need to light it. Who would I light it for?" I asked, "Would you light it every night if the sisters came?" He replied, "Of course."

From that day on the sisters committed themselves to visiting him every evening. We cleaned the lamp, and the sisters would light it every evening. Two years passed. I had completely forgotten that man. He sent this message: "Tell my friend that the light she lit in my life continues to shine still." I thought it was a very small thing. We often neglect small things.

My Thoughts
When I was reading this story of Mother Teresa, I was looking at my life to see how much difference people have made in my life, by doing small things, to enable me to reach where I am today. When I remember all those little things, I am overwhelmed with gratitude to God and to all those lovely persons around me – I owe it all to them.

Today I have learnt in my life that it is small things that matters and makes a world of difference.