Life is a great gift, and as we reach years of discretion, most of us naturally ask ourselves what should be the main object of our existence.Life is not to live merely, but to live well. There are some who live without any design at all, and only pass in the world like straws on a river: they do not go; they are carried. Life indeed must be measured by thought and action, not by time.It certainly may be, and ought to be, bright, interesting and happy. If we do our best; if we do not magnify trifling troubles; if we look resolutely, I do not say at the bright side of things, but things as they really are; if we avail ourselves of the manifold blessings which surround us; we cannot but feel that life is indeed a glorious inheritance.
If a man is unhappy, remember that his unhappiness is his own fault; for God had made all men to be happy. I am always content with that which happens; for I think that what God chooses is better than what I choose and let us not seek not that things which happen as we wish; but wish the things which happen to be as they are, and we will have a tranquil flow of life.If we wish for anything which belongs to another, we may end up losing that which is our own. To avoid sympathy and wrap ourselves in a cold chain armour of selfishness, is to exclude ourselves from many of the greatest and purest joys of life. If we hope that life will only be filled with happiness, even events which look like misfortune, may often be turned good.
Think how much we have to be thankful for. Few of us appreciate the number of everyday blessings; we look on them as trifles, and yet "trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle".What would a blind man give to see the pleasant rivers and meadows and flowers and fountains ? So lets all be happy and thankful for what we are today!! Happiness, therefore is not a matter of choice but it is our duty!!
Prosperity and happiness do not by any means always go together. If a man has not got the elements of happiness in himself, he would not enjoy and appreciate the beauty and variety, the pleasures and interests of this world. To one man, the world is barren,dull,drab and superficial; to another rich, interesting, and full of meaning.Happiness is a thing to be practised, like a violin. If we take the right means it will come, but we must not seek it too curiously. Do not seek amusement, but be always ready to be amused. It is a great thing to make life a succession of pleasures, even if they be but little ones.
Happiness, therefore is a duty we owe to others. There are some people whose smile, the sound of whose voice, whose very presence seems like a ray of sunshine.Men never breakdown as long as they can keep themselves cheerful. Buxton says, "A merry heart is a continual feast".All wish, but few know, to enjoy themselves. They do not realise the dignity and delight of life.We cannot expect to avoid suffering and sorrow, but it rests with us whether we accept them cheerfully or submit gloomily. Wesley rightly said," I feel, but by God's grace I do not fret". Do not magnify small troubles into great trials. We take serious matters lightly, and light matters seriously.
We live in the world of flowers and trees and grass, rivers and lakes and seas, mountains and sunshine. Nature is bright to the bright, comforting to those who will accept comfort. Neither wealth or rank will ensure happiness. Without love, charity and peace of mind, we may be rich, great and powerful, but cannot be happy.
Notable Quotes
"The best man is he who tries to perfect himself, the happiest man is he who feels that he is perfecting himself" - Socrates
"I must die.But must I then die sorrowing?" - Seneca
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
The essence of Time!
Schiller said, " The moments we forego, Eternity itself cannot retrieve". Friends, it is the idle who complain they cannot find time to do that which they wish.In truth, people can generally make time for which they choose to do; it is not really the time but the will that is found wanting.
Lord Chesterfield once said, " Every moment you now lose, is so much character and advantage lost; as, on the other hand, every moment you now employ usefully, is so much time wisely laid out, at prodigious interest". There is a Turkish proverb which says that "The Devil tempts the busy man, but the idle man tempts the Devil"! The life of a healthy man is 70 years, but how little of this is actually our own?? We must deduct the time required for sleep, for meals, etc., and then how little remains really at our disposal !
The hours we live for other people, however, are not those which should be deducted, but rather those which benefit neither oneself nor any one else; and these, alas, are often very numerous. There are some hours which are taken from us, some which are stolen from us, and some which slip from us. But if we lose them, we can never get them back.
Therefore, time, indeed, is a sacred gift, and each day is a little life. Time is often said to fly ! but it is not so much the time that flies; as we waste it, and wasted time is worse than no time at all !! Time is often said to be money, but it is more - it is life; and yet many who would cling desperately to life, think nothing of wasting time.
"Are you in earnest ? Seize this very minute,
What you can do, or think you can, begin it. "
Lord Chesterfield once said, " Every moment you now lose, is so much character and advantage lost; as, on the other hand, every moment you now employ usefully, is so much time wisely laid out, at prodigious interest". There is a Turkish proverb which says that "The Devil tempts the busy man, but the idle man tempts the Devil"! The life of a healthy man is 70 years, but how little of this is actually our own?? We must deduct the time required for sleep, for meals, etc., and then how little remains really at our disposal !
The hours we live for other people, however, are not those which should be deducted, but rather those which benefit neither oneself nor any one else; and these, alas, are often very numerous. There are some hours which are taken from us, some which are stolen from us, and some which slip from us. But if we lose them, we can never get them back.
Therefore, time, indeed, is a sacred gift, and each day is a little life. Time is often said to fly ! but it is not so much the time that flies; as we waste it, and wasted time is worse than no time at all !! Time is often said to be money, but it is more - it is life; and yet many who would cling desperately to life, think nothing of wasting time.
"Are you in earnest ? Seize this very minute,
What you can do, or think you can, begin it. "
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
A Small Prayer!
"Thank You, God, for all Your gifts of love especially for those I often overlook.Thank You for the "ups and downs" of life that teach me how to live, for friends who share my joys and sorrows, and even for difficult people who give me opportunities to develop my patience and understanding.Help me to continue to grow,to learn, and to be grateful.Comfort me when I am disturbed, and disturb me when I become too comfortable.
Loving God,Grant me the serenity to accept things I cannot change,The courage to change the things I can, andThe wisdom to know the difference"
Loving God,Grant me the serenity to accept things I cannot change,The courage to change the things I can, andThe wisdom to know the difference"
Monday, February 18, 2008
Lead or Be Led!
Life is like a restaurant. You take your tray, select your food and pay at the other end. You can get anything as long as you are willing to pay the price. In a restaurant, if you wait for people to serve you, you will wait forever. Life is like that too. You make choices and pay the price. Choices have consequences. We are free to make our choice but after we have chosen, the choice controls us. The choice is ours. It is our decision which determines our destination. So if you have decided to put in your best in whatever you do, you will come out with the very best. The quality of work and the quality of the worker are inseparable. Ofcourse,we might have setbacks at times.They are inevitable. A setback can act as a driving force and also teach us humility. In grief you will find courage and faith to overcome the setback.we need to learn to be victors, not victims.Do you agree with me?
We cannot help ourselves without helping others.
We cannot enrich our lives without enriching others.
We cannot prosper without bringing prosperity to others
-- Janette Cole
A manager administers, a leader innovates
A manager maintains, a leader develops
A manager relies on systems, a leader relies on people
A manager counts on controls, a leader counts on trust
A manager does things right, a leader does the right thing.
Leaders in short, leave a legacy!! Leaders are to their followers what hope is to the hopeless.
True leaders not only love the truth for its own sake but also despise deceit. They understand that falsehood can be far more painful than the hardships that accompany honesty.One quality of a good leader is that while his pride is reflected in his work, he himself practises humility.
A good leader commands the highest respect because he is trustworthy, dependable and gives strength and courage to those around him.The success of a leader is determined not by how much wealth he accumulates but how many hearts he continues to live in after he is gone.A leader must have the right balance and combination of vision,values,competence,courage and character.One without the other will not work. A good leader is both a coach and a cheerleader.Honourable living requires leadership qualities regardless of our position or profession in life.
Many years ago at Chicago Railway Station, senior officials and reporters were awaiting the arrival of a Nobel Prize winner.As the big man got off the train, cameras were flashing furiously.City officials were stretching to shake hands and tell him how honoured they were to meet him.Having thanked them, he excused himself for a moment, walked briskly through the crowd and picked up the bags of an elderly woman who was struggling.He escorted her, carrying her bags to the bus and wished her a safe journey. He then came back to the crowd and said, "Sorry to have kept you waiting".The man was the world famous Albert Schweitzer.Having seen this, a member of the reception committee said to one of the reporters, "That's the first time I ever saw a sermon walking".Schweitzer was the one who remarked, "There is no higher religion than human service.To work for the common good is the greatest creed"
We cannot help ourselves without helping others.
We cannot enrich our lives without enriching others.
We cannot prosper without bringing prosperity to others
-- Janette Cole
A manager administers, a leader innovates
A manager maintains, a leader develops
A manager relies on systems, a leader relies on people
A manager counts on controls, a leader counts on trust
A manager does things right, a leader does the right thing.
Leaders in short, leave a legacy!! Leaders are to their followers what hope is to the hopeless.
True leaders not only love the truth for its own sake but also despise deceit. They understand that falsehood can be far more painful than the hardships that accompany honesty.One quality of a good leader is that while his pride is reflected in his work, he himself practises humility.
A good leader commands the highest respect because he is trustworthy, dependable and gives strength and courage to those around him.The success of a leader is determined not by how much wealth he accumulates but how many hearts he continues to live in after he is gone.A leader must have the right balance and combination of vision,values,competence,courage and character.One without the other will not work. A good leader is both a coach and a cheerleader.Honourable living requires leadership qualities regardless of our position or profession in life.
Many years ago at Chicago Railway Station, senior officials and reporters were awaiting the arrival of a Nobel Prize winner.As the big man got off the train, cameras were flashing furiously.City officials were stretching to shake hands and tell him how honoured they were to meet him.Having thanked them, he excused himself for a moment, walked briskly through the crowd and picked up the bags of an elderly woman who was struggling.He escorted her, carrying her bags to the bus and wished her a safe journey. He then came back to the crowd and said, "Sorry to have kept you waiting".The man was the world famous Albert Schweitzer.Having seen this, a member of the reception committee said to one of the reporters, "That's the first time I ever saw a sermon walking".Schweitzer was the one who remarked, "There is no higher religion than human service.To work for the common good is the greatest creed"
The Quote I love Most
" O' Why should the spirit of mortal be proud ?
Why haughty when our hearts are wicked and deceitful ?
Why arrogant when we are so easily inclined to error?
Why vainglorious when at our best we are what we are only by the grace of God? "
Why haughty when our hearts are wicked and deceitful ?
Why arrogant when we are so easily inclined to error?
Why vainglorious when at our best we are what we are only by the grace of God? "
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Value of Today!
"Can sand flow upward in the hour glass? Will the sun rise where it sets and set where it rises? Can I relive the errors of yesterday and right them? Can I call back yesterday's wounds and make them whole? Can I become younger than yesterday? Can I take back the evil that was spoken, the blows that were struck, the pain that was caused? NO. Yesterday is buried forever and I will think of it no more.This day is all I have and these hours are now my eternity.I greet this sunrise with cries of joy as a prisoner who is reprieved from death.I lift mine arms with thanks for this priceless gift of a new day.So too, I will beat upon my heart with gratitude as I consider all who greeted yesterday's sunrise who are no longer with the living, today.I have but one life and life is naught but a measurement of time.When I waste one, I destroy the other.If I waste today, I destroy the last page of my life.Therefore, each hour of this day will I cherish for it can never return.It cannot be banked today to be withdrawn on the morrow, for who can trap the wind?? Each minute of this day will I grasp with both hands and fondle with love for its value is beyond price.I am a man of love and today is my last chance to prove my love and greatness.And if it is my last, it will be my greatest monument. This day I will make the best day of my life.This day, I will drink every minute full.I will savor its taste and give thanks. I will make every hour count and each minute will I trade only for something of value. I will labour hard than ever before and push my muscles until they cry for relief, and then I will continue.I will make more calls than ever before.I will sell more goods than ever before.I will earn more gold than ever before.Each minute of today will be fruitful than hours of yesterday.My last must be my best.I will live this day as if it is my last.And if it is not, I shall fall to my knees and give thanks."
"The secret of success is constancy to purpose." Benjamin Disraeli
"Our aspirations are our possibilities". Robert Browning
India at 60
"Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in character. Where there is beauty in the character, there is harmony at home. When there is harmony at home, there is order in the nation"
"Sixty is a confusing age.You are obviously too old to be described as young, you are well past the customary middle age, but you are not ready to knock at the Pearly Gates. It is a nebulous moment. Nevertheless, for relatively young and still fresh democracy, any number is welcome if the looking back and looking ahead involves something more than sentimentality and nostalgia.
Sometimes we forget the path to Independence in the whirl of our lives. We forget that in remote corners of this country, quiet men stood up and called for freedom and poor women made great sacrifices for us - the future generations whom they wanted to gift a different life. If looking back 60 years before, Independence reveals anything, it is how the small actions of ordinary folk shape the destiny of nations.
No other country in this world embraces extraordinary mixture of ethnic groups, the profusion of mutually incomprehensible languages, the varieties of topography and climate, the diversity of religions and cultural practices, and the range of levels of economic development that India does.The singular thing is that you can speak of it only in plural. Everything exists in countless variants. There is no "single" standard, no fixed stereotype, no "one" way. India made a strength out of this seeming weakness.
Three years ago, India saw a Roman Catholic political leader (Sonia Gandhi) making way for a Sikh (Manmohan Singh) to be sworn in athe Prime Minister of India by a Muslim (President Kalam) - in a country where 81% are Hindus.
How will we define our success as a nation?? GDP growth is a vital sign of achievement, but is only a number. Personal wealth and national wealth enables and empowers, but money is only a means. Military might impresses and protects, but ultimately it only destroys.
Creating a new nation entails pursuing all the three things above, but achieving them will only mean nothing if we cannot use them to give all our people a simple yet elusive thing - DIGNITY! It is only when job creation also leads to dignity of labour, when surplus frees us from squabbling over basics, and accomplishments are pursued for the joy of achievement, that we will truly be free"
"Sixty is a confusing age.You are obviously too old to be described as young, you are well past the customary middle age, but you are not ready to knock at the Pearly Gates. It is a nebulous moment. Nevertheless, for relatively young and still fresh democracy, any number is welcome if the looking back and looking ahead involves something more than sentimentality and nostalgia.
Sometimes we forget the path to Independence in the whirl of our lives. We forget that in remote corners of this country, quiet men stood up and called for freedom and poor women made great sacrifices for us - the future generations whom they wanted to gift a different life. If looking back 60 years before, Independence reveals anything, it is how the small actions of ordinary folk shape the destiny of nations.
No other country in this world embraces extraordinary mixture of ethnic groups, the profusion of mutually incomprehensible languages, the varieties of topography and climate, the diversity of religions and cultural practices, and the range of levels of economic development that India does.The singular thing is that you can speak of it only in plural. Everything exists in countless variants. There is no "single" standard, no fixed stereotype, no "one" way. India made a strength out of this seeming weakness.
Three years ago, India saw a Roman Catholic political leader (Sonia Gandhi) making way for a Sikh (Manmohan Singh) to be sworn in athe Prime Minister of India by a Muslim (President Kalam) - in a country where 81% are Hindus.
How will we define our success as a nation?? GDP growth is a vital sign of achievement, but is only a number. Personal wealth and national wealth enables and empowers, but money is only a means. Military might impresses and protects, but ultimately it only destroys.
Creating a new nation entails pursuing all the three things above, but achieving them will only mean nothing if we cannot use them to give all our people a simple yet elusive thing - DIGNITY! It is only when job creation also leads to dignity of labour, when surplus frees us from squabbling over basics, and accomplishments are pursued for the joy of achievement, that we will truly be free"
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