The Harmony Hollow: A Lesson in Unity from Whispering Woods

 Ollie, the wise old owl, once lived in the enchanted Whispering Woods. Ollie was well-known for his wise counsel and sound judgment.

One day, a fight broke out among the forest animals. The rabbits and squirrels were arguing about how much space they had in their shared burrow. Tensions rose, and the creatures sought Ollie's advice.

Ollie, perched high in his tree, patiently listened to both sides. He proposed a solution that would benefit everyone after careful consideration. Instead of fighting over the burrow, Ollie suggested they collaborate to expand it, making it a more spacious home for everyone.

The animals, initially doubtful, hesitantly agreed to Ollie's idea. Soon, the forest was filled with the sounds of collaboration. Squirrels collected twigs, rabbits dug tunnels, and even birds helped by gathering soft bedding materials.

The animals' sense of unity grew as the burrow expanded. They realized that working together not only solved their immediate problem but also helped to build a stronger community. With a twinkle in his wise eyes, Ollie taught a timeless lesson: "In unity, there is strength."

The Whispering Woods became a haven of peace, where animals of all kinds coexisted peacefully, forever grateful to Ollie, the owl who taught them the enduring power of teamwork.

The Wealth of Contentment: A Tale of the Sadhu and the Merchant

A modest sadhu by the name of Raman lived in a peaceful village at the base of the Himalayas. He was well known for leading an ascetic lifestyle and being content with the bare minimum that life had to offer. Raman held to the profound wisdom that the hunger of the soul surpassed the hunger of the body.

One day, a prosperous trader by the name of Arjun walked through the community. Despite having a large fortune, Arjun's hunger for more money was insatiable. Raman's wisdom was known to him, so he sought his advice.

Arjun begged the wise sadhu, "Teach me the way to real contentment." Despite my infinite wealth, my heart is still unfulfilled.

Raman noticed Arjun's wealth and the hunger that consumed his soul. "Beware, Arjun, for the desire for wealth is insatiable," he warned. One who constantly wants more is never truly satisfied. True wealth, as opposed to material abundance, is found in the richness of the heart.

But Arjun ignored the sage's advice because he was consumed by his desire for wealth. He insisted on accumulating more wealth because he thought it would satisfy his inner need for fulfilment.

Over the years, Arjun accumulated a large fortune. But strangely, his dissatisfaction increased. He wanted more the more he accumulated. He eventually went back to the village, weighed down by his possessions, and asked Raman for advice once more.

Raman said with a sympathetic look, "The hunger you feel is not for food, but for fulfilment. Understanding that material possessions are transient but inner peace is eternal is true wealth.

Arjun finally grasped the sage's teachings after becoming humbled and enlightened. He gave away his wealth to those in need, finding comfort in giving. When the once-rich merchant realised that his desire for material wealth was a road away from true fulfilment, he realised the richness of a contented heart.

The lesson of the tale is that those who are obsessed with acquiring material wealth may end up being spiritually impoverished. True wealth is found not in our material possessions but rather in our inner peace and compassion for others.

Dream to Sucess - The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams - Eleanor Roosevelt

 A young girl named Asha once lived in a small village in India. Asha had always been an idealist. Her eyes sparkled with hope and determination as she looked out at the endless possibilities that stretched out before her.

Asha's family was poor and had few resources. But Asha was undeterred. She had faith in the beauty of her dreams. Her dream was simple but profound: she wanted to bring clean drinking water to her village, which had been impacted by water scarcity for generations.

Asha became more focused on her studies as she grew older. She knew that education was the key to realizing her dream. Despite numerous obstacles, she persisted, excelling in her studies and learning about water management and engineering.

While researching sustainable water solutions, Asha came across a government program that provides funding for community projects. She saw this as a chance to make her dream a reality. She applied for the grant with unwavering determination.

The journey had not been easy. Asha had to overcome bureaucratic obstacles, enlist the help of her village elders, and rally her fellow villagers to her cause. She faced skepticism and doubt, but she never lost faith in her dream's beauty.

Months passed, and Asha's efforts were rewarded. She received the grant and started building a water purification system for her village. It was a difficult task, but Asha's faith in her dream kept her going. She worked nonstop, day and night, supervising every aspect of the project.

The project was finally completed after months of hard work and dedication. For the first time in generations, clean drinking water flowed from the taps in Asha's village. The joy and gratitude in her fellow villagers' eyes were immeasurable. Asha's wish had been granted, and her village had been transformed.

The moral of the story 

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Dreams, large or small, have the power to inspire change and make the world a better place. Even the most difficult dreams can be realized with determination, hard work, and unwavering faith. Asha's dream of bringing clean water to her village exemplifies the indomitable human spirit and the incredible impact that one person can have on their community and beyond when they believe in their dreams.

The River of Life and the Wise Saint

    Once upon a time, near the peaceful banks of a river, stood a small hut where a revered saint lived. This saint was well-known for his wisdom and had a sizable following of devotees.

    A devout follower approached the saint with a heavy heart one fine day. "Oh, great saint," he begged for advice, "when can I start living for myself?" My life is overburdened with responsibilities, and I have no time for my own interests."

"I shall provide you with an answer," the saint replied calmly, "but first, let us journey to the other side of the river."

They made their way to the riverbank with eager anticipation. The saint sat on a large rock overlooking the flowing waters.

"Dear saint," the follower begged impatiently, "let us cross this river quickly so that I may receive your guidance."

Looking at the river's current, the saint replied, "I am waiting for the river to dry up, and only then shall we proceed."

The perceptive and quick-witted follower recognised the profound wisdom hidden within the saint's words. He realized there would never be a 'perfect' time to live life fully, to seek happiness, to embark on new ventures, or to seize the initiative.

Moral: Waiting for the 'right' time to live our lives, pursue our dreams, or find happiness is futile. Life's opportunities should not be put off indefinitely. Life moves forward in the same way that the river never stops flowing. As a result, it is up to us to seize the moment and make the most of every opportunity that presents itself.

----- THE END -----

The In-Flight Adventure of the Truly Unbeatable Boxer

Once upon a time, there was a boxer who was convinced he was unbeatable. He'd never lost a single match in his life, and his ego had grown to Superman proportions as a result.

This arrogant boxer found himself on a plane, soaring through the skies one day. However, just as he sat down, the pilot's voice crackled over the intercom, saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, we regret to inform you that we are experiencing some turbulence due to bad weather." Please wear your seat belts for your own safety."

In his unwavering confidence, the boxer reasoned, "Why should I, the unbeatable Superman, bother with a mere seat belt?"

As the plane continued to sway and jolt, a lovely air hostess approached him and asked, "Sir, could you please fasten your seat belt for safety reasons?"

"Superman doesn't need a seat belt," the boxer retorted with a smug grin. "I'm unbeatable!"

This back-and-forth continued, with the persistent air hostess attempting to persuade the boxer of the importance of wearing his seat belt. Every time, the boxer insisted, "Superman doesn't need a seat belt."

Finally, the flight attendant had had enough. "Well, sir, just to let you know, Superman doesn't need a plane to fly either!" she replied, frustrated and with a twinkle in her eye.

The entire plane burst out laughing, and even the boxer couldn't stop himself from laughing at the witty response. From then on, he realized that even unbeatable boxers must follow the laws of gravity, turbulence, and seat belts when flying in friendly skies.

The shelter of Kindness

 A little bird and her chattering children once lived in a green forest during the rainy season. The raindrops danced through the leaves, creating a calming melody as the forest was alive with activity. The small bird was aware that a relentless and unforgiving downpour might come. She therefore made the decision to find her children shelter.

She noticed two tall trees standing side by side on a nearby hill. She fluttered up to the first tree and asked it kindly, "Dear tree, may I and my children take refuge beneath your branches until the rain subsides?" with hope in her heart.

The first tree, with its strong trunk and thick canopy, cast a downward glance at the tiny bird and her young. I'm sorry, little bird, but I'm unable to provide you with shelter. Please go elsewhere for shelter.

The bird was discouraged by the first tree's unkindness, but she did not give up. She hopped over to the second tree, which was small and modest, and addressed it in the same way: "Dear tree, may I and my children take refuge beneath your branches until the rain subsides?"

The second tree, who was friendly and welcoming, smiled and replied, "Of course, little bird! It would be an honour for me to house you and your kids. Please, come and find refuge here.

The little bird and her chicks were grateful and relieved as they were sheltered by the second tree's protective branches from the relentless rain.

A violent storm raged through the forest as the downpour continued. Every living thing was put to the test as a result of the lightning and howling wind. The first tree, which had turned away the bird and her young ones, was powerless against the fury of the storm. The tree fell with a thunderous roar as a result of its roots, which were not strong.

Now protected from the branches of the second tree, the small bird said to the downed tree, "You see, my dear friend, you are bearing the consequences of your actions. When I needed shelter, you refused to give it to me; as a result, the storm has now destroyed you.

The fallen tree apologised to the bird in a humble reply. I did not provide shelter for you and your family because I knew that my roots would not be able to withstand this heavy rain.

Now the bird is aware of the first tree's motivation—his desire to protect her and her family. 

The moral of the story is: "It's important not to assume the worst when someone declines your request because a refusal sometimes hides a hidden favour in disguise."

Burnt Toast

After a long day of work, my mother prepared dinner one evening. My father was given a dish with eggs, salad, and burned toast.

Even my father and I saw the burned bread right away. I was watching to see if he would protest, but instead, my father began to eat them with a smile on his face and inquired about my day at school. I was really surprised, but I remained mute because my father made no comment.

Mom expressed regret to my dad for the burned toast.

I'll never forget my dad's response to My mum, "Honey, I love burnt toast!"

Do you really enjoy the burnt toast? I questioned my dad as he came to kiss me goodbye after I had gone to bed.

"Your mother has had a difficult day and she is really tired," he remarked as he gave me a hug. She went above and above to make this supper for us, so why should we hold her accountable and harm her?

Words might be incredibly terrible, but burned toast never injured anyone.

Because no one is flawless and because everyone has the best of intentions, we must learn to appreciate what others do for us, even if it isn't perfect.

Relationship & Trust

Little girl and her father were crossing a bridge.

The father was kind of scared so he asked his little daughter, "Sweetheart,please hold my hand so that you don't fall into the river."

The little girl said,"No, Dad. You hold my hand."

"What's the difference? Asked the puzzled father.

"There's a big difference," replied the little girl.

"If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go.

But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go."

Moral of the story :-

In any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its bind, but in its bond. So hold the hand of the person whom you love rather than expecting them to hold yours...

Peace of Mind

While traveling with a group of his loyal disciples, Buddha came across a peaceful lake. His journey had made him thirsty, so he turned to one of his followers and said, "I need water." Please go to the lake and get some."

The chosen disciple quickly approached the lake, but just as he arrived, a bullock cart began to traverse the water, making it murky and turbid.

When the disciple saw the state of the water, he hesitated, thinking, "How can I offer this muddy water to Buddha for him to drink?" With this in mind, he returned to Buddha and respectfully stated, "The water in the lake has become muddy." I believe it is inappropriate for your consumption."

After about a half-hour, Buddha asked the same disciple to retrieve water from the lake once more. The disciple dutifully retraced his steps and discovered that the water was still in the same state as before. He informed Buddha of his findings.

Buddha later made the same request to the disciple a third time. When the disciple arrived at the lake this time, he was pleasantly surprised to see that the mud had settled, leaving the water clear and pristine. He quickly filled a pot with the now crystal-clear water and returned it to Buddha.

After closely inspecting the water, Buddha turned his gaze to the disciple and imparted his wisdom, saying, "Observe what you have learned from this lake." You let it be, and eventually, the mud settled on its own, leaving you with clear water. This lake represents your mind. Allow it to be when it is disturbed. Give it some time, and it will eventually settle. You don't have to use any force to calm it down. This procedure is simple."

Finding 'Peace of Mind' is not a difficult task; it unfolds naturally with time and patience, much like the lake's waters.

You are UNIQ

Think about the amazing and unique truth of being you! There has never been anyone quite like you throughout time, dating back to the beginning of recorded history, and there never will be.

Your unique blend of abilities, skills, physical attributes, interpersonal interactions, hardships, and possibilities is unmatched. Your fingerprints are unique, your hair develops in a certain way, and the unique ties you have with your loved ones are just yours.

Some people might laugh at you, but they won't sneeze like you do. Your prayers address your own distinct worries. There is nothing comparable to the affection you experience from certain people.

You are the only one in the present or the future. You are a wholly unique individual.

Take note of this uniqueness. You don't have to act like everyone else to fit in. You weren't made to be anybody else's copy. There is no need to conceal features of yourself that are different from what you see in others.

Your uniqueness is deliberate. No other person's ideas, feelings, or spirit will ever in history be exactly like yours right now.

History would be missing, and humanity's path would be absent without you.

Embrace your individuality. It was given to you specifically. Enjoy it and spread it around.

You are the only one who can choose how to help. Your sentences are all one. You explain your intentions in a distinctive way. Your reassuring manner is unsurpassed. Your comprehension is a gift you provide to others.

Your pleasure, laughing, and general upbeat demeanour stand out. Your grin is uniquely yours. Your complete influence cannot be duplicated.

So express your uniqueness. Let it spread among your loved ones, your friends, and everyone you come into contact with during life's whirlwind. You are giving yourself as a gift to be enjoyed and shared. Be unreserved in your self-gift.

Acknowledge it. Embrace it. Let it make you happy. Let it lead you, motivate you, and inspire you. Remember: You are Unique

KRACK-TRACK-KRACK-TRACK

In a village there was a well, where the water was drawn by a bull that was tied to a huge iron wheel. As the bull would run on a circular path around the well, the wheel would move and water would be drawn up. Throughout the period when the bull was at work and the water was flowing out, there was a krack-track- krack-track noise coming from the rickety old wheel.

Some women filled water in pots to carry home for kitchen use. There were others who sat nearby, washing clothes. Everything seemed to be going on in perfect harmony to the music of Krack-track-krack-track playing in the background. A king came galloping by that way. His horse was thirsty. He called out to a villager who was sitting close by. "My horse is thirsty. I need some water." The peasant nudged the bull and as the bull started moving on its circular track, the water started flowing along with the sound of krack-track- krack-track. The peasant said, "The water is flowing now, come bring your horse this way and let it quench its thirst." The king led the horse to the stream of water, but the horse shied away due to the cracking sound. The king tried a couple of times, but it seemed that the horse was scared of the sound. The king said, "Stop that noise, my horse is scared of it." The peasant said, "If I have to stop that noise, I will have to stop the bull, the noise shall stop but so shall the flow of water. If the horse wants to have the water, it shall have to have it along with the noise. There is nothing I can do to give you water without the noise!"

So, the horse after much coaxing had to brave the situation and have the water along with the tune of krack-track-krack-track.

Are we also behaving like the horse? Are we also offering excuses for not doing this or that? Are we waiting for a phase of life to get over before we start doing certain things? Are we waiting for our children to get married, before we start helping out in society? Are we waiting for the children's exams to get over before we start going for a walk? Are we waiting to earn a certain amount, before we start donating for the lesser fortunate?

Time and tide waits for no one. If you really want to do something, start doing it now. Do it while you can, for who knows whether you may be able to do it later or not.
 
Source : Ashwini - Blog Reader

Story of 4 Dolls

A sage presented a prince with a set of three small dolls. The prince was not amused.
"Am I a girl that you give me dolls?" he asked.

"This is a gift for a future king," said the man. "If you look carefully, you'll see a hole in the ear of each doll."

"So?"

The sage handed him a piece of string.

"Pass it through each doll," he said.

Intrigued, the prince picked up the first doll and put the string into the ear.
It came out from the other ear.

"This is one type of person," said the man. "Whatever you tell him, comes out from the other ear. He doesn't retain anything."

The prince put the string into the second doll. It came out from the mouth.

"This is the second type of person," said the man. "Whatever you tell him, he tells everybody else."

The prince picked up the third doll and repeated the process. The string did not reappear from anywhere else.

"This is the third type of person," said the man. "Whatever you tell him is locked up within him. It never comes out."

"What is the best type of person?" asked the prince.

The man handed him a fourth doll, in answer.

When the prince put the string into the doll, it came out from the other ear.

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

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

Law of seed

Let us take the example of an apple tree to understand the law of seed, have a look at an apple tree. There might be 500 apples on the tree, each with 10 seeds. That's a lot of seeds. We might ask why would you need so many seeds to grow just a few more trees? Nature has something to teach us here. It is telling us "most seeds never grow " so if you really want to make something happen, you had better try more than once.

This might mean -
-You will attaned 20 interviews to get the job.
-You will interview 40 people to find one good employee.
-You will talk to some 50 people to sell one house, car, vaccume cleaner, insurance policy or idea.
-You might meet a 100 aquainatances to find one special friend.
-When we understand the "law of a seed " We don't get so dissappointed.
-We stop feeling like victims. Laws of nature are not things to take personally.
-We most need to understand them and work with them.
-In a nutshell - successful people fail more often. They plant more trees.

Source : Vinita Bhandari - Blog Reader

OH GOD, Please ! Make Me Women

A man was sick and tired of going to work every day while his wife stayed home. He wanted her to see what he went through so he prayed: " Dear Lord: I go to work every day and put in 8 hours while my wife merely stays at home.I want her to know what I go through, so please allow her body to switch with mine for a day. A men. God, in his infinite wisdom, granted the man's wish.

The next morning, sure enough, the man awoke as a woman. He arose, cooked breakfast for his mate, awakened the kids,Set out their school clothes, fed them breakfast, packed their lunches, Drove them to school, came home and picked up the dry cleaning, took it to the cleaners And stopped at the bank to make a deposit, went grocery shopping, Then drove home to put away the groceries,Paid the bills and balanced the checkbook. He cleaned the cat's litter box and bathed the dog. Then it was already 1 P.M.and he hurried to make he beds,do the laundry, vacuum, dust, and sweep and mop the kitchen floor. Ran to the school to pick up the kids and got into an argument with them on the way home.Set out milk and cookies and got the kids organized to do their homework, Then set up the ironing board and watched TV while he did the ironing.

At 4:30 he began peeling potatoes and washing vegetables for salad, breaded the pork chops and snapped fresh beans for supper.After supper, he cleaned the kitchen, ran the dishwasher, folded laundry, bathed the kids, and put them to bed. At 9 P.M. He was exhausted And, though his daily chores weren't finished, he went to bed where he was expected to make love, which he managed to get through without complaint. The next morning, he awoke and immediately knelt by the bed and said, Lord, I don't know what I was thinking. I was so wrong to envy my wife's being able to stay home all day. Please, oh please, let us trade back."The Lord, in his infinite wisdom, replied:-

"My son, I feel you have learned Your lesson and I will be happy to change things back to the way they were. You'll just have to wait nine months,though. You got pregnant last night."

ACRES OF DAIMONDS

There was a farmer in Africa who was happy and content. He was happy because he was content. He was content because he was happy. One day a wise man came to him and told him about the glory of diamonds and the power that goes along with them. The wise man said, "If you had a diamond the size of your thumb, you could have your own city.

If you had a diamond the size of your fist, you could probably own your own country." And then he went away. That night the farmer couldn't sleep. He was unhappy and he was discontent. He was unhappy because he was discontent and discontent because he was unhappy.

 The next morning he made arrangements to sell off his farm, took care of his family and went in search of diamonds. He looked all over Africa and couldn't find any. He looked all through Europe and couldn't find any.  When he got to Spain, he was emotionally, physically and financially broke. He got so disheartened that he threw himself into the Barcelona River and committed suicide. 

Back home, the person who had bought his farm was watering the camels at a stream that ran through the farm. Across the stream, the rays of the morning sun hit a stone and made it sparkle like a rainbow. He thought it would look good on the mantle piece. He picked up the stone and put it in the living room.

That afternoon the wise man came and saw the stone sparkling. He asked, "Is Hafiz back?" The new owner said, "No, why do you ask?" The wise man said, "Because that is a diamond. I recognize one when I see one." The man said, no, that's just a stone I picked up from the stream. Come, I'll show you.

There are many more." They went and picked some samples and sent them for analysis. Sure enough, the stones were diamonds. They found that the farm was indeed covered with acres and acres of diamonds.*  

Moral of the Story:

What is the moral of this story? There are five morals:

 1. When our attitude is right, we realize that we are a ll walking on acres and acres of diamonds. Opportunity is always under our feet. We don't have to go anywhere. All we need to do is recognize it. 

2. The grass on the other side always looks greener. 

3. While we are dyeing the grass on the other side, there are others who are dyeing the grass on our side. They would be happy to trade places with us.  

4. When people don't know how to recognize opportunity, they complain of noise when it knocks. 

5. The same opportunity never knocks twice. The next one may be better or worse, but it is never the same one.

The Empty Soap Box

One of the most memorable case studies on Japanese management was the case of the empty soap box, which happened in one of Japan's biggest cosmetics companies. The company received a complaint that a consumer had bought a soap box that was empty.

Immediately the authorities isolated the problem to the assembly line, which transported all the packaged boxes of soap to the delivery department. For some reason, one soap box went through the assembly line empty. Management asked its engineers to solve the problem. Post-haste, the engineers worked hard to devise an X-ray machine with high- resolution monitors manned by two people to watch all the soap boxes that passed through the line to make sure they were not empty.

No doubt, they worked hard and they worked fast but they spent whoopee amount to do so. But when a workman was posed with the same problem, did not get into complications of X-rays, etc but instead came out with another solution.

He bought a strong industrial electric fan and pointed it at the assembly line. He switched the fan on, and as each soap box passed the fan, it simply blew the empty boxes out of the line.

Moral of the story: Always look for simple solutions. Devise the simplest possible solution that solves the problem. So, learn to focus on solutions not on problems. "If you look at what you do not have in life, you don't have anything; if you look at what you have in life, you have everything.

Pencil and Eraser

Pencil: I'm sorry....

Eraser: For what? You didn't do anything wrong.

Pencil: I'm sorry because you get hurt because of me. Whenever I made a mistake, you're always there to erase it. But as you make my mistakes vanish, you lose a part of yourself. You get smaller and smaller each time.

Eraser: That's true. But I don't really mind. You see, I was made to do this. I was Made to help you whenever you do something wrong. Even though one day, I know I'll be gone and you'll replace me with a new one, I'm actually happy with my job. So please, stop worrying. I hate seeing you sad. :)

I found this conversation between the pencil and the eraser very inspirational. Parents are like the eraser whereas their children are the pencil. They're always there for their children, cleaning up their mistakes. Sometimes along the way... they get hurt, and become smaller (older, and eventually pass on). Though their children will eventually find someone new (spouse), but parents are still happy with what they do for their children, and will always hate seeing their precious ones worrying, or sad.

This is for all parents out there.....

A Story on Friendship

Once upon a time, there was a brave soldier who served his country. He decided to return home to his parents after serving in the military. As he called them from his city, his voice was filled with excitement.

"Mom and Dad, I'm on my way home, but I have a question for you." During my service, I made a dear friend, and I want to bring him home with me."

"Of course, dear," his parents replied warmly. "We'd love to meet your friend."

"There's something important you should know about my friend," the soldier said after a brief pause. During the war, he was severely injured. He stepped on a landmine and lost both his arms and legs as a result. He doesn't have anywhere else to go, and I'd like him to come live with us."

"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that, my son," his mother expressed concern. Perhaps we can assist him in finding suitable nearby accommodations."

"No, Mom and Dad," the soldier insisted, "I want him to live with us."

"Son, what you're asking for is a significant responsibility," his father cautioned. Taking care of someone with such difficulties may cause disruption in our lives. We must consider our own plans and routines. Perhaps we can find another way to help him. You should return home so that we can discuss this further. He'll undoubtedly find assistance elsewhere."

Disappointed, the son quietly hung up the phone. His parents never heard from him again. A few days later, they received a harrowing phone call from city police. Their son had tragically died after falling from a building. The police suspected it was a suicide attempt.

The parents, overcome with grief, ran to the city police. They were taken to the city mortuary to identify the body of their son. They did recognize him, but to their surprise, they also discovered that their son had only one arm and one leg.

In this touching story, the parents' initial reaction mirrors that of many of us. It's easy to love and care for those who are attractive or who bring us joy. When confronted with people who may annoy or challenge our comfort, our natural instinct may be to keep our distance. We may prefer to avoid those who do not conform to our standards of health, beauty, or intelligence.

Fortunately, there is someone who does not pass such judgment on us. Regardless of our flaws and differences, there is a love that embraces us unconditionally and welcomes us into a forever family.

Friends are like rare jewels; they make you smile, inspire you to succeed, listen when you need to be heard, and offer encouraging words. They welcome us with open arms. Show your friends how much you appreciate them, and treasure the invaluable gift of friendship in your life.

45 life lessons and 5 to grow on

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.

17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will.
Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

45. The best is yet to come.

46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

48. If you don't ask, you don't get.

49. Yield.

50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

If you like it, please share your feelings. I'm open to it.

Chance favors the prepared mind

A traveler was stumbling through the desert; desperate for water, then he
saw something, far off in the distance. Hoping to find water, he walked
towards the image, only to find a little old peddler sitting at a card table
with a bunch of neckties laid out.

The parched wanderer asked, "Please, I'm dying of thirst, can I have some
water?" The man replied "I don't have any water, but why don't you buy a
tie? Here's one that goes nicely with your clothes. "The desperate man
shouted, "I don't want a tie, you idiot, I need water!"

"OK, don't buy a tie. But to show you what a nice guy I am, I'll tell you
that over that hill there, about 5 miles, is a nice restaurant.Walk that
way, they'll give you all the water you want."

The man thanked the peddler and walked away towards the hill and eventually
disappeared out of sight.

Three hours later he returned. The man at the card table asked, "I told you,
about 5 miles over that hill. Couldn't you find it?"

"I found it all right. They wouldn't let me in without a tie."