Thanksgiving

One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other
students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between
each name. Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could
say about each of their classmates and write it down. As the students
left the room, each one handed in the papers. That Saturday, the
teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of
paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual.
The students were happy with themselves and one another.
‘I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!’ and, ‘I didn’t know
others liked me so much,’ where most of the comments. The students
were happy with themselves and one another.
Several years later, one of the students was killed in a military activity
and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had
never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so
handsome, so mature. The ground was packed with his friends. One by
one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was
the last one to walk past.
As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up
to her. ‘Were you Karin’s math teacher?’ he asked.
She nodded: ‘yes.’ Then he said: ‘Karim talked about you a lot.’ After
the funeral, most of Karim’s former classmates went together to a
luncheon. Karim’s mother and father were there, obviously waiting to
speak with his teacher. ‘We want to show you something,’ his father
said, taking a wallet out of his pocket ‘They found this on Karim when
he was killed. We thought you might recognize it.’ Opening the billfold,
he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had
obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher
knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had
listed all the good things each of Karim’s classmates had said about
him. ‘Thank you so much for doing that,’ Karim’s mother said. ‘As you
can see, Karim treasured it.’ All of Karim’s former classmates started to
gather around. They said they all have that piece of paper as a
memento.
That’s when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Karim
and for all his friends who would never see him again.
The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will
end one day. And we don’t know when that one day will be. So please,
tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and
important. Tell them, before it is too late.

PREACH WHAT YOU PRACTICE

There was a young boy who had become addicted to eating sugar. His
mother decided to get help from Gandhi Ji and took the long and hot
journey with her son walking many miles and hours under the sun. She
finally reached Gandhi Ji ashram and asked him to tell her son to stop
eating sugar; it wasn’t good for his health. Gandhi Ji replied, “I cannot tell
him that. But you may bring him back in a few weeks and then I will talk
to him.” The mother was confused and upset and took the boy home.
Two weeks later she came back. This time Gandhi Ji looked directly at
the boy and said you should stop eating sugar. It is not good for your
health. The boy nodded his head and promised he wouldn’t.
The boy’s mother was puzzled. She asked “Why didn’t you tell him that
two weeks ago when I brought him here to see Gandhi Ji smiled and said
“Mother, two weeks ago I was eating a lot of sugar myself.”
Takeaway as a Leader- Leaders must model the behavior they ask of
their employees. If employees see their leaders stand up and lead by
example, they will feel more engaged and will be more willing to do their
best work.

Life

One day all the employees reached the office and they saw a big advice on the door on which it was written: “Yesterday the person who has been hindering your growth in this company passed away. We invite you to join the funeral in the room that has been prepared in the gym”.  In the beginning, they all got sad for the death of one of their colleagues, but after a while, they started getting curious to know who was that man who hindered the growth of his colleagues and the company itself.

The excitement in the gym was such that security agents were ordered to control the crowd within the room. The more people reached the coffin, the more the excitement heated up. Everyone thought: “Who is this guy who was hindering my progress? Well, at least he died!”  One by one the thrilled employees got closer to the coffin, and when they looked inside they suddenly became speechless.  They stood nearby the coffin, shocked and in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul. There was a mirror inside the coffin: everyone who looked inside it could see himself.

There was also a sign next to the mirror that said: “There is only one person who is capable of setting limits to your growth: it is YOU.” You are the only person who can revolutionize your life. You are the only person who can influence your happiness, your realization, and your success. You are the only person who can help yourself.  Your life does not change when your boss changes, when your friends change, when your partner changes when your company changes. Your life changes when YOU change, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs when you realize that you are the only one responsible for your life. “The most important relationship you can have is the one you have with yourself”.

Moral: The world is like a mirror: it gives back to anyone the reflection of the thoughts in which one has strongly believed. The world and your reality are like mirrors lying in a coffin, which show to any individual the death of his divine capability to imagine and create his happiness and his success. It’s the way you face Life that makes the difference.

 

Decision Making

There was a Watchman who always used to open and close the gates and then greet the house owner but the owner never responds to him. The Watchman thinks his owner is a little arrogant and doesn’t want to talk to some poor fellow.

Every day, after work, he searches the garbage for food. Whatsoever is left by the owners?

One day, when he was searching for the food he finds a bag full of eatables in a well-packed poly bag. He didn’t understand who put it and why someone does it.

This goes on for several years until his owner has died. After his owner’s death, he searches daily but never got that bag again.

Without that food, it was again difficult for him to feed himself with the little salary he gets. So, he went to the owner’s wife to ask for a salary raise.

When he asked for the salary raise, the owner’s wife questions him why didn’t he come early and had been working with such a little salary.

He tells her about the polybag he used to get every day and for this reason, his salary was enough for his family. But now it stopped.

The owner’s wife got tears in her eyes and said” you are the fifth one, Telling this story. My husband used to help everyone, he can. Don’t worry, you will have the raise.”

Again from the next day, he starts to get the polybag with eatables at the same place. This time he understands that it must be his owner’s son.

Every day, he greets the owner’s son and even he never replied to the Watchman. One day, nearly feed up with this, he shouted aloud to the owner’s son. ” Sir, thank you”.

The owner’s son turns and said” Sorry I didn’t hear you. I have a hearing problem just like my father.”

Moral of the Story:

Two sides to every story. Someone may seem arrogant, jealous, and egotistic. But it will be always better to first know the two sides to every story and then reach any final decision. You may be right but you may be wrong as well. We should never be judgmental and decide the character of a person just by his behaviour.

 

Be Positive

Never judge others by their NO.

Once a bird was searching for a home to lay her eggs and get shelter in the coming rainy season.

In her Search, she saw two trees and went to ask for shelter.

When she asked the first tree. He refused to give her shelter.

With disappointment, she went to the second.

And second, agreed

She made her home and lay her eggs and then the rainy season arrives.

The rain was so heavy that the first tree fell and was carried away by the flood.

The bird saw this and in a taunting way said:” See, this is your karma, you didn’t offer me shelter, and now God has given you the punishment.”

The tree smiled and said:” I knew I’m not going to survive this rainy season that’s why I refused you. I didn’t want to risk yours and your children’s lives. “

The bird got tears in her eyes. Now she knew the reason and felt respect for the tree.

Moral of the Story:

We should not always consider someone’s NO as their arrogance. You don’t know the full picture. Respect other’s decisions whether it is in your favour or not.

We get so much involved in the problems that we forget to view the other person’s point. Without even trying to understand the motive, the reason, we make our own judgments. We should never judge others by their No. because we don’t know their story.

You don’t know what good is hidden for you behind it.

 

KNOWLEDGE

A woman who had worked all her life to bring about good was granted one wish: “Before I die let me visit both hell and heaven.” Her wish was granted.

She was whisked off to a great marriage hall. The tables were piled high with delicious food and drink. Around the tables sat miserable, starving people as wretched as could be. “Why are they like this?” she
asked the angel who accompanied her. “Look at their arms,” the angel replied. She looked and saw that attached to the people’s arms were long chopsticks secured above the elbow. Unable to bend their elbows, the people aimed the chopsticks at the food, missed every time and sat hungry, frustrated and miserable. “Indeed this is hell! Take me away from here!”

She was then whisked off to heaven. Again she found herself in a great banqueting hall with tables piled high. Around the tables sat people laughing, contented, and joyful. “No chopsticks I suppose,” she said. “Oh yes there are. Look – just as in hell they are long and attached above the elbow but look… here people have learnt to feed one another

Control in Anger

A teacher teaching math in a class of 6-year-olds.
Asked a boy named Adi.

” Adi, if I give you two mangos and another two mangos. How many mangoes will you have?
He answered “5 mangoes”.

She was surprised by his reply but she tried again. Now this time she uses her fingers to make him count with her.
“Ok Adi, look if I give you One, Two. Two mangoes and another one-two. Two mangoes. How many mangoes will you have?”
He again answered” five mangoes”

This time she gets really annoyed by his answer but she controlled her anger and remembered that his mother once told her that he likes the strawberries. So, she tried this.
“Ok Adi, if I give you two strawberries and another two strawberries. Now, how many strawberries do you have?”
“Teacher, 4 strawberries”

She felt relieved that he is back on track. So, again she asked him.
“Now tell me, Adi, if I give you two mangoes and another two mangoes. How many mangoes do you have?”
He answered” teacher, five mangoes”
The teacher outburst in anger” how can you have five mangoes if I give you four mangoes?”
“Teacher, because One mango I have in my bag”
Complete silence. The teacher calms down and regrets at her anger.

Moral of the Story:

Two sides to every story. Never judge others. We should not make a decision for others without knowing their point of view. We make the decision on the basis of what is logic rightness i.e. what is the obvious answer and didn’t try to know the practical rightness i.e. what is the actual truth.

 

DECISION MAKING

One day, the wise King Solomon was approached by two women arguing over a baby. Each claimed the child was hers. Unable to judge, King Solomon thought up a plan – he offered to cut the baby in half, giving half to the one and half to the other.

The first women agreed with the King: “Let the baby be neither mine nor hers,
but divide it. If I can’t have the child”, she cried, “she can’t have it either”. The second women pleaded with Solomon not to hurt the child. “Give her the baby. I’d rather lose the child that see it slain”.

Solomon knew immediately that this was the rightful mother. He returned the baby to her.

Peace

A LONG TIME AGO, THERE WAS A HUGE APPLE TREE. A LITTLE BOY LOVED TO COME AND PLAY AROUND IT EVERYDAY. HE CLIMBED TO THE TREETOP, ATE THE APPLES, AND TOOK A NAP UNDER THE SHADOW.

HE LOVED THE TREE AND THE TREE LOVED TO PLAY WITH HIM. TIME WENT BY, THE LITTLE BOY HAD GROWN UP AND HE NO LONGER PLAYED AROUND THE TREE EVERY DAY.

ONE DAY, THE BOY CAME BACK TO THE TREE AND HE LOOKED SAD.

“COME AND PLAY WITH ME”, THE TREE ASKED THE BOY.

“I AM NO LONGER A KID, I DO NOT PLAY AROUND TREES ANY MORE” THE BOY REPLIED.

“I WANT TOYS. I NEED MONEY TO BUY THEM.”

“SORRY, BUT I DO NOT HAVE MONEY, BUT YOU CAN PICK ALL MY APPLES AND SELL THEM. SO, YOU WILL HAVE MONEY.”

 

THE BOY WAS SO EXCITED. HE GRABBED ALL THE APPLES ON THE TREE AND LEFT HAPPILY. THE BOY NEVER CAME BACK AFTER HE PICKED THE APPLES. THE TREE WAS SAD.

ONE DAY, THE BOY WHO NOW TURNED INTO A MAN RETURNED AND THE TREE Was EXCITED.

“COME AND PLAY WITH ME” THE TREE SAID.

“I DO NOT HAVE TIME TO PLAY. I HAVE TO WORK FOR MY FAMILY. WE NEED A HOUSE FOR SHELTER. CAN YOU HELP ME?”

“SORRY, BUT I DO NOT HAVE ANY HOUSE. BUT YOU CAN CHOP OFF MY BRANCHES TO BUILD YOUR HOUSE.” SO THE MAN CUT ALL THE BRANCHES OF THE TREE AND LEFT HAPPILY. THE TREE WAS GLAD TO SEE HIM HAPPY BUT THE MAN NEVER CAME BACK SINCE THEN. THE TREE WAS AGAIN LONELY AND SAD.

ONE HOT SUMMER DAY, THE MAN RETURNED AND THE TREE WAS DELIGHTED.

“COME AND PLAY WITH ME!” THE TREE SAID.

“I AM GETTING OLD. I WANT TO GO SAILING TO RELAX MYSELF. CAN YOU GIVE ME A BOAT?” SAID THE MAN.

“USE MY TRUNK TO BUILD YOUR BOAT. YOU CAN SAIL FAR AWAY AND BE HAPPY.”

SO THE MAN CUT THE TREE TRUNK TO MAKE A BOAT. HE WENT SAILING AND NEVER SHOWED UP FOR A LONG TIME.

FINALLY, THE MAN RETURNED AFTER MANY YEARS. “SORRY, MY BOY. BUT I DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING FOR YOU ANYMORE. NO MORE APPLES FOR YOU”, THE TREE SAID. “NO PROBLEM, I DO NOT HAVE ANY TEETH TO BITE” THE
MAN REPLIED.

“NO MORE TRUNK FOR YOU TO CLIMB ON.” “I AM TOO OLD FOR THAT NOW” THE MAN SAID. “I REALLY CANNOT GIVE YOU ANYTHING, THE ONLY THING LEFT IS MY DYING ROOTS,” THE TREE SAID WITH TEARS.

“I DO NOT NEED MUCH NOW, JUST A PLACE TO REST. I AM TIRED AFTER ALL THESE YEARS,” THE MAN REPLIED.

“GOOD! OLD TREE ROOTS ARE THE BEST PLACE TO LEAN ON AND REST, COME SIT DOWN WITH ME AND REST.” THE MAN SAT DOWN AND THE TREE WAS GLAD AND SMILED WITH TEARS.

THIS IS A STORY OF EVERYONE. THE TREE IS LIKE OUR PARENTS. WHEN WE WERE YOUNG, WE LOVED TO PLAY WITH OUR MUM AND DAD. WHEN WE GROW UP, WE LEAVE THEM; ONLY COME TO THEM WHEN WE NEED SOMETHING OR WHEN WE ARE IN TROUBLE. NO MATTER WHAT, PARENTS WILL ALWAYS BE THERE AND GIVE EVERYTHING THEY COULD JUST TO MAKE YOU HAPPY.

YOU MAY THINK THE BOY IS CRUEL TO THE TREE, BUT THAT IS HOW ALL OF US TREAT OUR PARENTS. WE TAKE THEM FOR GRANTED; WE DON’T APPRECIATE ALL THEY DO FOR US, UNTIL IT’S TOO LATE.

Moral ~ Treat your parents with loving care…. For you will know their value, when you see their empty chair…We never know the love of our parents for us; till we have become parents .

 

FOCUS AND CONCENTRATE

An ancient Indian sage was teaching his disciples the art of archery. He put a wooden bird as the target and asked them to aim at the eye of the bird. The first disciple was asked to describe what he saw. He said, “I see the trees, the branches, the leaves, the sky, the bird and its eye..” The sage asked this disciple to wait. Then he asked the second disciple the same question and he replied, “I only see the eye of the bird.” The sage said, “Very good, then shoot.” The arrow went straight and hit the eye of the bird.

What is the moral of the story?

Unless we focus, we cannot achieve our goal. It is hard to focus and concentrate, but it is a skill that can be learned.