I Have Learned That...

I’ve Learned…That
the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I’ve Learned…That
when you’re in love, it shows.

I’ve Learned…That
just one person saying to me, “You’ve made my day!” makes my day.

I’ve Learned…That
having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I’ve Learned…That
being kind is more important than being right.

I’ve Learned…That
you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I’ve Learned…That
I can always pray for someone when I don’t have the strength to help him in some other way.

I’ve Learned…That
no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I’ve Learned…That
sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

I’ve Learned…That
simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I’ve Learned…That
life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I’ve Learned…That
we should be glad God doesn’t give us everything we ask for.

I’ve Learned…That
money doesn’t buy class.

I’ve Learned…That
it’s those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I’ve Learned…That
under everyone’s hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I’ve Learned…That
the Lord didn’t do it all in one day. What makes me think I can?

I’ve Learned…That
to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I’ve Learned…That
when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I’ve Learned…That
love, not time, heals all wounds.

I’ve Learned…That
the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I’ve Learned…That
everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I’ve Learned…That
there’s nothing sweeter than sleeping with your babies and feeling their breath on your cheeks.

I’ve Learned…That
no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I’ve Learned…That
life is tough, but I’m tougher.

I’ve Learned…That
opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

I’ve Learned…That
when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I’ve Learned…That
I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her, one more time, before she passed away.

I’ve Learned…That
one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I’ve Learned…That
a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I’ve Learned…That
I can’t choose how I feel, but I can choose what I do about it.

I’ve Learned…That
when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you’re hooked for life.

I’ve Learned…That
everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.

I’ve Learned…That
it is best to give advice in only two circumstances; when it is requested and when it is a life-threatening situation.

I’ve Learned…That
the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

24 Things To Always Remember

1. Your presence is a present to the world.
2. You are unique and one of a kind.
3. Your life can be what you want it to be.
4. Take the days just one at a time.
5. Count your blessings, not your troubles.
6. You will make it through whatever comes along.
7. Within you are so many answers. Understand, have courage, be strong.
8. Do not put limits on yourself.
9. So many dreams are waiting to be realized.
10. Decisions are too important to leave to chance.
11. Reach for your peak, your goal and you prize.
12. Nothing wastes more energy than worrying.
13. The longer one carries a problem the heavier it gets.
14. Do not take things too seriously.
15. Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.
16. Remember that a little love goes a long way.
17. Remember that a lot goes forever.
18 Remember that friendship is a wise investment.
19. Life’s treasure are people together.
20. Realize that it is never too late.
21. Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way.
22. Have hearth and hope and happiness.
23. Take the time to wish upon a start.

24. AND DO NOT EVER FORGET., FOR EVEN A DAY HOW VERY SPECIAL YOU ARE!

Other Side of Problem...

A Father was reading a magazine and his little daughter every now and then distracted him. To keep her busy, he tore one page on which was printed the map of the world. He tore it into pieces
and asked her to go to her room and put them together to make the map again.

He was sure she would take the whole day to get it done. But the little one came back within minutes with perfect map.

When he asked how she could do it so quickly, she said, "Oh... Dad, there is a man's face on the other side of the paper. I made the face perfect to get the map right." she ran outside to play leaving the father surprised.

Moral: There is always the other side to whatever we experience in this world. Whenever we come across a challenge or a puzzling situation, look at the other side. We will be surprised to see an easy way to tackle the problem..!!

Failure Is Part Of Learning

Once a man was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not.

He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. “Well,” trainer said, “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”

The man was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where they were.

Moral:
Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before?

Failure is part of learning; we should never give up the struggle in life.

Instructions For Life

1. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
2. Memorize your favorite poem.
3. Don’t believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
4. When you say, “I love you”, mean it.
5. When you say, “I’m sorry”, look the person in the eye.
6. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
7. Believe in love at first sight.
8. Never laugh at anyone’s dreams.
9. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it’s the only way to live life completely.
10. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
11. Don’t judge people by their relatives.
12. Talk slowly but think quickly.
13. When someone asks you a question you don’t want to answer, smile and ask, “Why do you want to know?”
14. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
15. Call your mom.
16. Say “bless you” when you hear someone sneeze.
17. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
18. Remember the three R’s:
1. Respect for self;
2. Respect for others;
3. Responsibility for all your actions.
19. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
20. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
21. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
22. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
23. Spend some time alone.
24. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.
25. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
26. Read more books and watch less TV.
27. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll get to enjoy it a second time.
28. Trust in God but lock your car.
29. A loving atmosphere in your home is so important. Do all you can to create a tranquil harmonious home.
30. In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.
31. Read between the lines.
32. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.
33. Be gentle with the earth.
34. Pray. There’s immeasurable power in it.
35. Never interrupt when you are being flattered.
36. Mind your own business.
37. Don’t trust a man/woman who doesn’t close his/her eyes when you kiss.
38. At least once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.
39. If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living. That is wealth’s greatest satisfaction.
40. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of luck.
41. Learn the rules then break some.
42. Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other.
43. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
44. Remember that your character is your destiny.
45. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

Why We Shout In Anger!

Once a saint with his disciples was visiting a village and found some people shouting in anger at each other.

He turned to his disciples smiled and asked.
'Why do people shout in anger shout at each other?'

Disciples thought for a while, one of them said,
'Because we lose our calm, we shout.'

'But, why should you shout when the other person is just next to you? You can as well tell him what you have to say in a soft manner.' asked the saint

Disciples gave some other answers but none satisfied the other disciples.

Finally the saint explained:
'When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other to cover that great distance.

What happens when two people fall in love? They don't shout at each other but talk softly, Because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is either nonexistent or very small...'

The saint continued, 'When they love each other even more, what happens? They do not speak, only whisper and they get even closer to each other in their love. Finally they even need not whisper, they only look at each other and that's all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.'

He looked at his disciples and said.
'So when you argue do not let your hearts get distant, Do not say words that distance each other more, Or else there will come a day when the distance is so great that you will not find the path to return.'

Balance Your Life

Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some 5 balls in the air.
You name them - work, family, health, friends and spirit.

And you are keeping all of these in the air.
You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. 

But the other four balls - family, friends, health and spirit are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed or damaged or even shattered.
They will never be the same.

You must understand that and strive for balance in your life.

10 Principles for Peace of Mind.

1. Do Not Interfere In Others' Business Unless Asked:
Most of us create our own problems by interfering too often in others' affairs. We do so because somehow we have convinced ourselves that our way is the best way, our logic is the perfect logic and those who do not conform to our thinking must be criticized and steered to the right direction, our direction. This thinking denies the existence of individuality and consequently the existence of God.. God has created each one of us in a unique way. No two human beings can think or act in exactly the same way. All men or women act the way they do because God within them prompts them that way. Mind your own business and you will keep your peace.


2. Forgive And Forget:
This is the most powerful aid to peace of mind. We often develop ill feelings inside our heart for the person who insults us or harms us. We nurture grievances. This in turn results in loss of sleep, development of stomach ulcers, and high blood pressure. This insult or injury was done once, but nourishing of grievance goes on forever by constantly remembering it. Get over this bad habit. Life is too short to waste in such trifles. Forgive,20Forget, and march on. Love flourishes in giving and forgiving.


3. Do Not Crave For Recognition:
This world is full of selfish people. They seldom praise anybody without selfish motives. They may praise you today because you are in power, but no sooner than you are powerless, they will forget your achievement and will start finding faults in you. Why do you wish to kill yours if in striving for their recognition? Their recognition is not worth the aggravation. Do your duties ethically and sincerely.


4. Do Not Be Jealous:
We all have experienced how jealousy can disturb our peace of mind. You know that you work harder than your colleagues in the office, but sometimes they get promotions; you do not. You started a business several years ago, but you are not as successful as your neighbor whose business is only one year old. There are several examples like these in everyday life. Should you be jealous? No. Remember everybody's life is shaped by his/her destiny, which has now become his/her reality. If you are destined to be rich, nothing in the world can stop you. If you are not so destined, no one can help you either. Nothing will be gained by blaming others for your misfortune. Jealousy will not get you anywhere; it will only take away your peace of mind.


5. Change Yourself According To The Environment:
If you try to change the environment single-handedly, the chances are you will fail. Instead, change yourself to suit your environment. As you do this, even the environment, which has been unfriendly to you, will mysteriously change and seem congenial and harmonious.


6. Endure What Cannot Be Cured:
This is the best way to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. Every day we face numerous inconveniences, ailments, irritations, and accidents that are beyond our control. If we cannot control them or change them, we must learn to put up with these things. We must learn to endure them cheerfully. Believe in yourself and you will gain in terms of patience, inner strength and will power.


7. Do Not Bite Off More Than You Can Chew:
This maxim needs to be remembered constantly. We often tend to take more responsibilities than we are capable of carrying out. This is done to satisfy our ego. Know your limitations. . Why take on additional loads that may create more worries? You cannot gain peace of mind by expanding your external activities. Reduce your material engagements and spend time in prayer, introspection and meditation. This will reduce those thoughts in your mind that make you restless. Uncluttered mind will produce greater peace of mind.


8. Meditate Regularly:
Meditation calms the mind and gets rid of disturbing thoughts. This is the highest state of peace of mind. Try and experience it yourself. If you meditate earnestly for half an hour everyday, your mind will tend to become peaceful during the remaining twenty-three and half-hours. Your mind will not be easily disturbed as it was before. You would benefit by gradually increasing the period of daily meditation. You may think that this will interfere with your daily work. On the contrary, this will increase your efficiency and you will be able to produce better results in less time.


9. Never Leave The Mind Vacant:
An empty mind is the devil's workshop. All evil actions start in the vacant mind. Keep your mind occupied in something positive, something worthwhile. Actively follow a hobby. Do something that holds your interest. You must decide what you value more: money or peace of mind. Your hobby, like social work or religious work, may not always earn you more money, but you will have a sense of fulfillment and achievement. Even when you are resting physically, occupy yourself in healthy reading or mental chanting of God's name.


10. Do Not Procrastinate And Never Regret:
Do not waste time in protracted wondering " Should I or shouldn't I?" Days, weeks, months, and years may be wasted in that futile mental debating. You can never plan enough because you can never anticipate all future happenings. Value your time and do the things that need to be done. It does not matter if you fail the first time. You can learn from your mistakes and succeed the next time. Sitting back and worrying will lead to nothing. Learn from your mistakes, but do not brood over the past. DO NOT REGRET. Whatever happened was destined to happen only that way. Why cry over split milk?

Sometimes we just need to be reminded!

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by: holding up a $20.00 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, “Who would like this $20 bill? “

Hands started going up.

He said, I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this. He proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill.

He then asked, “Who still wants it?”

Still the hands were up in the air.

Well, he replied, What if I do this? And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.

He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. “Now, who still wants it?”

Still the hands went into the air.

My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way.

We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value.

Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who DO LOVE you.

The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE and WHOSE WE ARE.

You are SPECIAL.

Don't EVER forget it'.

If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it.

MOTHER, there is no OTHER

~ M O T H E R ~

A word that means a WORLD to me,
The WORLD which is out of my reach now...

M is for Memories which is the only wealth I have now.
O is for Opportunity lost to do something for you.
T is for Tears shaded what no one see.
H is for Heart which is left with scars.
E is for Everlasting space what is left behind.
R is for Regret that I did not do anything for you.

I wish I could go back in time and steal
Not years, days, weeks, hours nor minutes
Just few moments.
The moments when I felt
Your Love like there is no Love,
Your Care like no one else can care,
Your Touch the best healer of all pains,
Your Laughter, echo of which I can still hear,
The space behind you is wide open like Universe.

I wish I could go back in time and tell you that
The sweetest thing I own
Forever called my own
Begins and Ends with you
How I Love you.
I wish, just few moments…

By: Habib Ur Rehman

Three Words That Make Relationships Betters

Three-Word Phrases, can be tools to help develop every relationship.

There are many things that you can do to strengthen your relationships. Often the most effective thing you can do involves saying just three words. When spoken sincerely, these statements often have the power to develop new friendships, deepen old ones and even bring healing to relationships that have soured.

The following three-word phrases can be tools to help develop every relationship.

~ Let Me Help: Good friends see a need and then try to fill it. When they see a hurt they do what they can to heal it. Without being asked, they jump in and help out.

~ I Understand You: People become closer and enjoy each other more when the other person accepts and understands them. Letting your spouse know - in so many little ways - that you understand them, is one of the most powerful tools for healing your relationship. And this can apply to any relationship.

~ I Respect You: Respect is another way of showing love. Respect demonstrates that another person is a true equal. If you talk to your children as if they were adults you will strengthen the bonds and become closer friends. This applies to all interpersonal relationships.

~ I Miss You: Perhaps more marriages could be saved and strengthened if couples simply and sincerely said to each other “I miss you.” This powerful affirmation tells partners they are wanted, needed, desired and loved. Consider how important you would feel, if you received an unexpected phone call from your spouse in the middle of your workday, just to say “I miss you.”

~ Maybe You’re Right: This phrase is very effective in diffusing an argument. The implication when you say “maybe you’re right” is the humility of admitting, “maybe I’m wrong”. Let’s face it. When you have an argument with someone, all you normally do is solidify the other person’s point of view. They, or you, will not likely change their position and you run the risk of seriously damaging the relationship between you. Saying “maybe you’re right” can open the door to explore the subject more. You may then have the opportunity to express your view in a way that is understandable to the other person.

~ Please Forgive Me: Many broken relationships could be restored and healed if people would admit their mistakes and ask for forgiveness. All of us are vulnerable to faults, foibles and failures. A man should never be ashamed to own up that he has been in the wrong, which is saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.

~ I Thank You: Gratitude is an exquisite form of courtesy. People who enjoy the companionship of good, close friends are those who don’t take daily courtesies for granted. They are quick to thank their friends for their many expressions of kindness. On the other hand, people whose circle of friends is severely constricted often do not have the attitude of gratitude.

~ Count On Me: A friend is one who walks in when others walk out. Loyalty is an essential ingredient for true friendship. It is the emotional glue that bonds people. Those that are rich in their relationships tend to be steady and true friends. When troubles come, a good friend is there indicating “you can count on me.”

~ I’ll Be There: If you have ever had to call a friend in the middle of the night, to take a sick child to hospital, or when your car has broken down some miles from home, you will know how good it feels to hear the phrase “I’ll be there.” Being there for another person is the greatest gift we can give. When we are truly present for other people, important things happen to them and us. We are renewed in love and friendship. We are restored emotionally and spiritually. Being there is at the very core of civility.

~ Go For It: We are all unique individuals. Don’t try to get your friends to conform to your ideals. Support them in pursuing their interests, no matter how far out they seem to you. God has given everyone dreams, dreams that are unique to that person only. Support and encourage your friends to follow their dreams. Tell them to “go for it.”

~ I Love You: Perhaps the most important three words that you can say. Telling someone that you truly love them satisfies a person’s deepest emotional needs. The need to belong, to feel appreciated and to be wanted. Your spouse, your children, your friends and you, all need to hear those three little words: “I love you.” Love is a choice. You can love even when the feeling is gone.