THE SECRET TO LIVING WELL AND LONGER!

“THE SECRET TO LIVING WELL AND LONGER IS: EAT HALF, WALK DOUBLE, LAUGH TRIPLE AND LOVE WITHOUT MEASURE.” (TIBETAN PROVERB)

Our lifestyles show that we have reversed this order in our lives. The outcome is humanity has lost the charm of a qualitative life! We make our lives miserable and also the lives of other creatures around!!

We eat without measure! There is saying in Malayalam: “oru neram bhakshikkunnavan yogi, randu neram bhakshikkunna-van rogi, moonu neram bhakshikkunnavan drohi” which means “one who eats once a day is an ascetic, twice a day is a sick person and thrice a day is a person who harms or oppresses”. More people die of over eating than of hunger!

We love our body triple! It seems that we spend most of our resources to keep ourselves ‘healthy’ and ‘charming’ - for food, for cosmetics, vitamin replacements etc., etc... We ignore our mind and soul in the pursuit of happiness! But all the above make us sicker.

We have forgotten to laugh! Smiling faces are becoming rare – even the smaller children are tensed and are not enjoying what is going around. The ultimate result is that we are sick – real as well as pseudo-sicknesses. Present day medical admits the fact that manifestations of many sicknesses are pseudo. They can be cured through modification of the pattern of living. Laughter has a miraculous power that can take away our tensions and depressive feelings! A rise of Laughter Clubs is a proof for this. What have taken away our laughs from us?

Above all, pure love has become the rarest! We are most miserly to love [We expect to be loved unconditionally, but very reluctant to love]. As many of us may know, there are different words in Greek to denote various kind of love: ‘eros’, ‘phileo’, ‘storge’ and ‘agape’. While ‘agape’ is ideal and is to be practiced, we have reversed and various ways of ‘eros’ has become the order of the day!  We read in the newspapers instances of parents throwing their children in the dustbins, parents being cruelly treated by their children or thrown out of their homes, siblings fighting for the heritance (to which they have not put even a single penny!). I am aware that there are many who do not come in the above category; but, I am also aware that these trends are increasing.

Let us enter and live through 2017 with full optimism and with the proverb as our goal!  We have to keep the rabbit and tortoise race in our minds. It is not the potential, but focus that matters.

Beware; it is not an easy path. But determination along with the appreciation of the result – though very minimal -shall take us there. Make small term and specific plans. By the end of 2017, we can be achievers!

MAY I WISH MY READERS

A FOCUSED AND BLESSED NEW YEAR!!!

SEARCH, EQUIP, UPDATE

There were two woodsmen living in a village. One day one woodsman challenged another to an all-day tree-chopping contest. The challenger worked very hard, stopping only for a brief lunch break. The other man had a leisurely lunch and took several breaks during the day. At the end of the day, the challenger was surprised and annoyed to find that the other fellow had chopped substantially more wood than he had.

“I don’t get it,” he said. “Every time I checked, you were taking a rest, yet you chopped more wood than I did.” “But you didn’t notice,” said the winning woodsman, “that I was sharpening my ax when I sat down to rest.”

Updating is needed in order to be effective. If a printer still uses the old typesetting tool today, who shall go to him/her - though honest and hard working?    

We may think ourselves to be effective but may not be so. We shall have strengths and weaknesses: fortify the strengths and get rid of the weaknesses.

Open your eyes to see the changes around, read the materials available, discuss with experts in the field, and mutually share with colleagues – search and use all avenues to be updated every day. Otherwise, we shall be like the woman who made cakes of very small size. When asked why a cake of that size, the reply was, “My grandmother used to make it this way and so also my mother. I am using the same oven they were using.”

What do you feel about her – justifying, pity about or critical? Where do we stand in our life – personal and professional? Search ourselves; equip ourselves and update ourselves!

WE NEED SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS US!

A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read "Puppies for Sale." Signs like that have a way of attracting small children, and sure enough, a little boy appeared under the store owner's sign. "How much are you going to sell the puppies for?" he asked.

The store owner replied, "Anywhere from $30 to $50."

The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change. "I have $2.37," he said.

"Can I please look at them?"

The store owner smiled and called "Lady", and then came a dog followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur.

One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said, "What's wrong with that little dog?"

The store owner explained that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy and had discovered it didn't have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame.

The little boy became excited. "That is the puppy that I want to buy."

The store owner said, "No, you don't want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I'll just give him to you."

The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the store owner's eyes, pointing his finger, and said, "I don't want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I'll pay full price. In fact, I'll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for."

The store owner countered, "You really don't want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like the other puppies."

To his surprise, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace. He looked up at the store owner and softly replied, "Well, I don't run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands!"

LIFE IS A GIFT – LEARN TO APPRECIATE IT!

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her.

She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see the world, I will marry you.'

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.

He asked her,’ Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?'

The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that.

The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.

Her boyfriend left her in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear; for before they were yours, they were mine.'

This is how the human brain often works when our status changes!

Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

Today before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out to Almighty God for a companion.

Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who died too young.

Before you complain about your children - Think of someone who desires children but they're barren.

Before you complain about your parents – Think of someone who is growing without knowing their parents. 

Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive - Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.

Most of all; before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another - Remember that not one of us is without sin.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and thank God you're alive and still around.

Life Is a Gift – Learn to appreciate it!

“YES, BUT I DECIDE THE COLORS OF MY LIFE”

A study was undertaken on the lives of 450 people who had lived happily and creatively to be over 90.  Certain of the characteristics they had in common were not at all surprising: they had been spared serious accident or disabling illnesses: they had all taken reasonable care of their nutrition and health; but three qualities stood out above all, they had all:

A PURPOSE TO LIVE FOR -  some significant activity which kept them busy;  it was not just that they had something to do; rather they had some task worth doing.

A SELF TO LIVE WITH - over the years, and in the course of their living, they had freed themselves from resentments, anger, bitterness, regret, unkindness and guilt – those great poisons.

A FAITH TO LIVE BY - A faith which gave meaning, principle, perspective and hope to their lives.

Though they had all experienced the gradual decline of their physical powers, they had gone on growing in the things of the spirit – courage, faith, hope, love, humor, patience and kindness – which is what matters.   For it is the things which are seen that are temporal but the things which are not seen- the inner things of the spirit – that are eternal.

Some years ago a clergyman was visiting the old people’s ward in one of those immeasurably depressing hospitals in South London.  As he moved from bed to bed he was greeted, as often as not, by silence and a blank stare.   Eventually he came upon an elderly lady who was permanently bedridden, all but disabled, but her bed was covered with books, magazines and knitting; her bedside table had photographs and letters and other signs of interest and caring and busyness.   After making conversation for some while, the clergyman tried to conclude with the remark, I am sure that having to live like this must color your outlook on life.”   To which that old bedridden lady replied, “Yes, but I decide the colors.”   She was not going to be defeated.  Even in hospital she has a purpose to live for, a self to live with and a faith to live by.

May I wish my readers a Blessed and Purposeful New Year!

WHAT IS CHRISTMAS FOR YOU: A HOLIDAY OR A HOLY DAY?

                             

We are in the threshold of Christmas and are busy preparing for the celebration. I wish all my friends a blessed and meaningful Christmas!

What is Christmas for you: a holiday or a holy day? It is a tragedy that humankind are cunning enough to make a holy day a holiday. Christmas is the most corrupt of all holidays!

As someone has said, “Every remembered history must create a new history.” Christians all over the world are in the celebration mood during Christmas season and the people of other faiths also join in the celebrations. But the pertinent question is: “What is the place of the ‘child in the manger’ in the celebrations?”

I don’t like to wish a merry Christmas because I feel that the word ‘merry’ and the ‘spirit’ involved taking away the spirit of Christmas. Hence I feel that the word ‘merry’ is ugly to denote Christmas experience.

Many of the festivals have become carnivals! This thought prompted me to look into the etymology of the words and following is the result: When we try to assess the word ‘carnival’, it is associated with eating drinking and merry making. Originally a carnival was the period before lent, a time of public merrymaking and festivities. The base elements of the Latin are caro, carn – ‘flesh’ and levare ‘to put away’ or ‘remove’. It is from the same root the word ‘carnivores’ comes and we know what it means! Whereas, the origin of the word 'festival' can be traced to the Latin 'festa' meaning ‘a religious holiday’. The adjective connected with 'festa' was 'festivalis', and that word came into English, via French, as the adjective 'festival' (‘relating to a religious feast’). Days that were celebrated as religious feasts were ‘festival days’. Eventually, the adjective became a noun, as people stopped talking about ‘festival days’ and shortened this to ‘festivals’.

To capture the spirit of Christmas, I share with you a legend:

The baby in the manger was visited by the shepherds and Maggie and it is narrated in the Gospel accounts.  It is said that a tiny insect also was watching this.  When it saw many coming and giving gifts and prostrating before a child, he thought this child must be someone special.  Then it thought, “Oh, I do not have anything to give it.” Then it came to its mind that it has kept a grain of rice to survive during the winter season.  It flew to its nest, took the grain and placed it in the tiny hand of the child.  No one else but the divine child noticed it. He, with a smiling face, took the other hand and touched the insect.  Suddenly, the grain it was carrying started to glow and it became part of his body.  The legend says, it is how glow worm got its powers to glow in the dark.
This may be a story.  But it points to a fact which history proves - whoever that has been touched has started to glow. 

I wish you all a Meaningful Christmas and a Purposeful New Year!

DON’T LET OTHER’S RUDENESS DICTATE YOUR BEHAVIOR

What kind of a person are we? Who determines our behavior? How do we react to the people who are rude to us? Many a time we blame the circumstances for our rude behavior and justify our reactions. Our tendency is to hurt the other person who hurt us. We should learn to control our temper and do not let any other person’s rude behavior influence us. An empathetic approach is the best way to be gentle to others.

What shall you do when a lunatic on the road call out abusive words at you – use the same language at him, avoid him or see him sympathetically? If we return in the same coin, I would suggest that you immediately go to a psychiatrist for an evaluation and further treatment, because you are as sick as him.  It is said that those who behave rudely have a reason for it – they find it as a ‘good’ way to attain something or avoid someone. As days go by, it becomes their behavior. We have to learn to overcome this (I am not saying it is easy, but practice makes a person perfect – in rudeness and gentleness!)

There was once a newspaper vendor who had a rude customer. Every morning, the Customer would walk by, refuse to return the greeting, grab the paper off the shelf and throw the money at the vendor. The vendor would pick up the money, smile politely and say, 'Thank you, Sir.' One day, the vendor's assistant asked him, "Why are you always so polite with him when he is so rude to you? Why don't you throw the newspaper at him when he comes back tomorrow?" The vendor smiled and replied, "He can't help being rude and I can't help being polite. Why should I let his rude behavior dictate my politeness?"

TREAT YOURSELF WELL; CHERISH OTHERS

These words of wisdom have been posted and shared by many people on Facebook, Whatsapp, and even email as the last words of Steve Jobs. More than whose words is this, but what is stated is pertinent, I re-post it here.

I reached the pinnacle of success in the business world. In others’ eyes, my life is an epitome of success. However, aside from work, I have little joy. In the end, wealth is only a fact of life that I am accustomed to.

At this moment, lying on the sick bed and recalling my whole life, I realize that all the recognition and wealth that I took so much pride in, have paled and become meaningless in the face of impending death.

In the darkness, I look at the green lights from the life supporting machines and hear the humming mechanical sounds; I can feel the breath of god of death drawing closer…

Now I know, when we have accumulated sufficient wealth to last our lifetime, we should pursue other matters that are unrelated to wealth…

Should be something that is more important: Perhaps relationships, perhaps art, perhaps a dream from younger days

Non-stop pursuing of wealth will only turn a person into a twisted being, just like me.

God gave us the senses to let us feel the love in everyone’s heart, not the illusions brought about by wealth.

The wealth I have won in my life I cannot bring with me. What I can bring is only the memories precipitated by love.

That’s the true riches which will follow you, accompany you, giving you strength and light to go on.

Love can travel a thousand miles. Life has no limit. Go where you want to go. Reach the height you want to reach. It is all in your heart and in your hands.

What is the most expensive bed in the world? Sickbed…
You can employ someone to drive the car for you, make money for you but you cannot have someone to bear the sickness for you.

Material things lost can be found. But there is one thing that can never be found when it is lost – Life.

When a person goes into the operating room, he will realize that there is one book that he has yet to finish reading – Book of Healthy Life.

Whichever stage in life we are at right now, with time, we will face the day when the curtain comes down.

Treasure Love for your family, love for your spouse and love for your friends.

Treat yourself well. Cherish others.