Happiness is a State of Mind

Happiness is a State of Mind. All of us should try to develop such attitude

 

A man of 92 years, short, very well-presented, who takes great care in his appearance, is moving into an old people's home today.

After waiting several hours in the retirement home lobby, he gently smiles as he is told that his room is ready. 

His wife of 80 has recently died, and he is obliged to leave his home.

As he slowly walks to the elevator, using his cane, I describe his small room to him, including the sheet hung at the window which serves as a curtain.

 "I like it very much", he says, with the enthusiasm of an 8 year old boy who has just been given a new puppy.

" You haven't even seen the room yet, hang on a moment, we are almost there. "

" That has nothing to do with it ", he replies.

" It is already decided in my mind that I like my room. It is a decision I take every morning when I wake up. " 

" Happiness is something I choose in advance. Whether or not I like the room does not depend on the furniture, or the decor rather it depends on how I decide to see it. "

"I can choose. I can spend my day in bed enumerating all the difficulties that I have with the parts of my body that no longer work very well, or I can get up and give thanks to heaven for those parts that are still in working order. "

"Every day is a gift, and as long as I can open my eyes, I will focus on the new day, and all the happy memories that I have built up during my life. "

"Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw in later life what you have deposited along the way. "

So, my advice to you is to deposit all the happiness you can in your bank account of memories. 

Thank you for your part in filling my account with happy memories, which I am still continuing to fill.

Remember these simple guidelines for happiness.      

1. Free your heart from hatred.

2. Free your mind from worry.

3. Live simple.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less.

If you have been blessed by this message, send it to your loved ones and your friends. It is the way we touch each other with simple truths that spread goodness in the world. Who knows, a miracle may happen as a result.

Have a Blessed time. Every day is a Bonus.

Connected.

A Monk of the Ramakrishna Mission was being interviewed by a journalist from NY.
The journalist started interviewing the Monk as planned earlier.

 

Journalist - "Sir, in your last lecture, you told us about "Contact" and  "Connection." It's really confusing. Can you explain?"

The Monk smiled and apparently deviating from the question asked the journalist: 

"Are you from New York?"

Journalist: "Yeah..."         

Monk: "Who are there at home?"

The Journalist felt that the Monk was trying to avoid answering his question since this was a very personal and unwarranted question. Yet the  journalist said: "Mother had expired. Father is there. Three brothers and one sister. All married..."

The Monk, with a smile on his face, asked again: "Do you talk to your father?"

The  journalist looked visibly annoyed...

The Monk: "When did you talk to him last?" 

The journalist, suppressing his annoyance said: "May be a month ago."

The Monk: "Do you brothers and sisters meet often? When did you meet last as a family gathering?"

At this point, sweat appeared on the forehead of the journalist. 

It seemed that the Monk was interviewing the Journalist.

With a sigh, the Journalist said: "We met last at Christmas two  years ago."

The Monk: "How many days did you all stay together?"

The Journalist (wiping the sweat on his brow) said: "Three days..."

Monk: "How much time did you spend with your Father, sitting right beside him?"

The journalist looking  perplexed and embarrassed and started scribbling something on a paper...

The Monk: "Did you have breakfast, lunch or dinner together? Did you ask how he was? Did you ask how his days are passing after your mother's death?"

Drops of tears started to flow from the eyes of the journalist.

The Monk held the hand of the journalist and said: "Don't be embarrassed, upset or sad. I am sorry if I have hurt you unknowingly... But this is basically the answer to your question about "Contact and Connection ." You have 'Contact' with your father but you don't have 'Connection' with him. You are not connected to him. Connection is between heart and heart... 

Sitting together, sharing meals and caring for each other, touching, shaking hands, having eye contact, spending some time together... All your  brothers and sisters have 'Contact' but no  'Connection' with each other..."

The journalist wiped his eyes and said : "Thanks for teaching me a fine and unforgettable lesson."

This is the reality today. 

Whether at home or in the society everybody has lots of contacts but there is no connection. Everybody is busy in his or her own world. ...

Let us not maintain just "Contacts" but let us remain "Connected." 
Caring, Sharing and Spending time with all our dear ones.

                    

Time is Not Going......

It is a mistake to think time is going. Time is not going. Time is here until the world ends. It is you that is going. You don’t waste time. Time is infinite. You waste yourself. You are finite. It is you that grow old and die. Time doesn’t. So make better use of yourself before you expire. And one of the worst things to do with time is comparing yourself with others. A cow eats grass and gets fat but if dog eats grass, it will probably die. Never compare yourself with others. Run your own race. What works for one person may be that which will kill you. Focus on the gifts and talents God gave you and don’t be envious of the blessings He gave others.

Both Lion and Shark are professional hunters, BUT   

A Lion cannot hunt in the Ocean and a Shark cannot hunt in the jungle

That a Lion cannot hunt in the ocean doesn't make it useless and that a Shark cannot hunt in the jungle doesn't also make it useless - both have their own territories where they can do well

If a rose smells better than tomatoes, It doesn't mean the rose can make a better stew. Don't try to compare yourself with others.

You also have your own strength, look for it and build on it.* *All animals that exist, were in Noah's ark. A snail is one of those animals. If God could wait long enough for snails to enter Noah's ark; His door of grace won't close till you reach your expected position in life. Never look down on yourself, keep looking up.

 Remember that Broken crayons still colour.

Keep on pushing, you never can tell how close you are to your goal...!

Let us respect the Invisible Labels

A car ahead was moving like a turtle and not giving me way inspite of my continuous honking! 
I was on brink of losing my cool when I noticed the small sticker on the car’s rear!

“Physically challenged; Please be patient.”

And that changed everything!! 

I immediately went calm & slowed down!! 

In fact,  I got a little protective of the car & the driver!!! 

I reached home a few minutes late, but it was ok!

And then it struck me.  

Would I have been patient if there was no sticker?

Why do we need stickers to be patient with people!?

Will we be more patient & kind with others if people had labels pasted on their foreheads?

Labels like ——

“ Lost my job” , 

“Fighting cancer”, 

“Going through a bad divorce”,

“Suffering Emotional abuse “, "Lost a loved one”, 

“Feeling worthless”,

“Financially broken”

....and more like these!!

Everyone is fighting a battle we know nothing about. 

The least we can do is to be patient ,kind & compassionate

*Let us respect the Invisible Labels !!*

“Why do we have brakes in a car ?”

Once in a physics class, the teacher asked the students, “Why do we have brakes in a car?”

Varied answers were received: 

“To stop”

“To reduce speed”

“To avoid collision” etc.,

But the best answer was,

“To enable you to drive faster”

Give it a thought.

For a moment assume you have no brakes in your car then how fast will you drive your car?

It’s because of brakes that we can dare to accelerate, dare to go fast and reach destinations we desire.

At various points in life, we find our parents, teachers, mentors & friends etc. questioning our progress, direction or decision. We consider them as irritants or consider such inquiries as “brakes” to our ongoing work.

But, remember, it’s because of such questions (periodical brakes) that you have managed to reach where you are today. Without brakes, you could have skid, lost direction or met with an unfortunate accident.

I am deeply and sincerely grateful to all my priceless BRAKES.

Appreciate the “brakes” in your life. Without them, we wouldn't be  where we are today.

Yes, I am changing

"A friend of mine crossed 60 and is heading to 65.

I asked him what's changing? He sent me following lines."

Yes, I am changing. 

*After loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, my children, my friends, now I have started loving myself.*

Yes, I am changing. 

*I just realised that I am not “Atlas”. The world does not rest on my shoulders.*

Yes, I am changing. 

*I now stopped bargaining with vegetables & fruits vendors. After all, a few dollars more is not going to burn a hole in my pocket but it might help the poor fellow save for his daughter’s school fees.*

Yes, I am changing. 

*I pay the taxi driver without waiting for the change. The extra money might bring a smile on his face. After all he is toiling much harder for a living than me*

Yes, I am changing. 

*I stopped telling the elderly that they've already narrated that story many times. After all, the story makes them walk down the memory lane & relive the past.*

Yes, I am changing. 

*I've learnt not to correct people even when I know they are wrong. After all, the onus of making everyone perfect is not on me. Peace is more precious than perfection.*

Yes, I am changing.  

*I give compliments freely & generously. After all it's a mood enhancer not only for the recipient, but also for me*.

Yes, I am changing. 

*I've learnt not to bother about a crease or a spot on my shirt. After all, personality speaks louder than appearances*.

Yes, I am changing. 

*I walk away from people who don't value me. After all, they might not know my worth, but I do*.

Yes, I am changing. 

*I remain cool when someone plays dirty politics to outrun me in the rat race. After all, I am not a rat & neither am I in any race*.

Yes, I am changing. 

*I am learning not to be embarrassed by my emotions. After all, it's my emotions that make me human.*

Yes, I am changing. 

*I have learnt that its better to drop the ego than to break a relationship. After all, my ego will keep me aloof whereas with relationships I will never be alone*.

Yes, I am changing. 

*I've learnt to live each day as if it's the last. After all, it might be the last* .

Yes, I am changing. 

*I am doing what makes me happy. After all, I am responsible for my happiness, and I owe it to me.*

Time passes On

" When I got enough confidence, the stage was gone….. When I was sure of Losing, I won……. When I needed People the most, they Left me……. When I learnt to dry my Tears, I found a shoulder to Cry on…… When I mastered the Skill of Hating, Someone started Loving me from the core of the Heart…… And, while waiting for Light for Hours when I fell asleep, the Sun came out….. That’s LIFE!! No matter what you Plan, you never know what Life has Planned for you…… Success introduces you to the World……. But Failure introduces the World to you……. ……Always be Happy!! Often when we lose Hope and think this is the end… God smiles from above and says, “Relax Sweetheart; It’s just a Bend, not the End..!".....Sophia Loren

Die Empty

One of the most beautiful  book to read is "Die Empty" by Todd Henry.

The author was inspired and got this idea of writing ​​this book while attending a business meeting. 

When the director asked the audience: "Where is the richest land in the world?"

One of the audience answered: "Oil-rich Gulf states." 

Another added: "Diamond mines in Africa."

Then the director said: "No it is the cemetery. Yes, it is the richest land in the world, because millions of people have departed, "they have died" and they carried many valuable ideas that did not come to light and benefited others. It is all in the cemetery where they are buried."

Inspired by this answer, Todd Henry wrote his book "Die empty." Where he did his best to motivate people to pour out their ideas and potential energies in their communities and turn them into something useful before it is too late.

The most beautiful of what he said in his book is: "Do not go to your grave and carry inside you the best that you have.  *always choose to die empty*

The TRUE meaning of this  expression, is to die empty of all the goodness that is within you. Deliver it to the world, before you leave

If you have an idea perform it.

If you have a knowledge give it out.

If you have a goal achieve it.

Love, share and distribute, do not keep it inside.

 Prophet Mohammad said (pbu): "If the Final Hour comes upon one of you while he has in his hand a sapling, then let him plant it."

Shall we begin to give and remove and spread every atom of goodness inside us.

 Start the race.... *Die Empty*

A Long Time Ago

 

As I was walking Down life's highway Many years ago

I came upon a Sign that read

Heavens Grocery Store..

When I got a Little closer

The doors swung Open wide

And when I came To myself

I was standing Inside..

I saw a host of Angels

They were Standing everywhere

One handed me a Basket

And said 'My Child shop with care..'

Everything a Human needed, Was in that Grocery store

And what you Could not carry You could come Back for more

First I got some Patience.

Love was in that Same row.

Further down was Understanding,

You need that Everywhere you go..

I got a box or Two of Wisdom 

And Faith a bag Or two.

And Charity of Course

I would need some Of that too..

I couldn't miss The Holy Ghost

It was all over The place.

And then some Strength

And Courage to Help me run this race.

My basket was Getting full

But I remembered I needed Grace,

And then I chose Salvation for

Salvation was for Free

I tried to get Enough of that to do

For you and me..

Then I started to The counter

To pay my grocery Bill,

For I thought I Had everything

To do the Masters Will.

As I went up the Aisle

I saw Prayer and Put that in , 

For I knew when I Stepped outside

I would run into Sin.

Peace and Joy Were plentiful,

The last things On the shelf.

Song and Praise Were hanging near

So I just helped Myself. 

Then I said to The angel

'Now how much do I owe?'

He smiled and Said

'Just take them Everywhere you go.'

Again I asked 'Really now,

How much do I Owe?'

'My child' he Said , 'God paid your bill

A long long time Ago.'