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 !!*