Boy and Apple Tree

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.

https://www.facebook.com/Love.Is.Like.Life/posts/553805047963904

Parent's Love

One day an 11 year old girl asked her daddy, “what are you going to get me for my 15th birthday?”

Her father replied,” Please wait, there is much time left.”

When the girl was 14 years old, she fainted and was rushed to the hospital. The doctor came out and told her dad that she had a bad heart and that she was probably going to die.

When she was lying in the hospital bed, she said softly, “daddy… have they told you that I am going to die?” The father replied; “no, you are going to live” as he left her room weeping.

She asked, “how can you be so sure daddy?” He turned around from the door and said” because…I know.”

A short time later she turned 15. After she was released from the hospital and recovering she came home to find a letter on her bed which read…”My dearest daughter, if you are reading this letter it means that everything went well, just as I told you it would. A little while ago you asked me what I was going to give you for your 15th birthday. I didn’t know then, but my present to you was MY HEART.”

Her father donated his heart.. !

‘BLESSED INDEED IS THE MAN WHO HEARS MANY GENTLE VOICES CALL HIM FATHER’

He makes Many silent Sacrifice for us ~ Love u Daddy;)

Moral:
Love your parents… they sacrifice a lot to make us happy, without letting children realize….Many a times we are so busy growing up that we forget that they are also growing old….Spend Quality time with them, treat your parents with loving care, for you will know their value, when you see their empty chair….

http://www.captiveofthoughts.com/2012/10/lets-redefine-love.html

Don’t be Judgemental - A Heart Touching Story about Doctors

A doctor entered the hospital in hurry after being called in for an urgent surgery. He answered the call asap, changed his clothes & went directly to the surgery block. 

He found the boy’s father pacing in the hall waiting for the doctor. 

On seeing him, the dad yelled: “Why did U take all this time to come? Don’t U know that my son’s life is in danger? Don’t U have any sense of responsibility?”

The doctor smiled & said: “I am sorry, I wasn’t in the hospital & I came as fast as I could after receiving the call……

And now, I wish you’d calm down so that I can do my work”

“Calm down?! What if your son was in this room right now, would you calm down? If your own son dies now what will you do??” said the father angrily

The doctor smiled again & replied: “I will say what Job said in the Holy Book “From dust we came & to dust we return, blessed be the name of God”. Doctors cannot prolong lives. Go & intercede for your son, we will do our best by God’s grace”

“Giving advises when we’re not concerned is so easy” Murmured the father.

The surgery took some hours after which the doctor went out happy, “Thank goodness!, your son is saved!” And without waiting for the father’s reply he carried on his way running. “If you have any question, ask the nurse!!”

“Why is he so arrogant? He couldn’t wait some minutes so that I ask about my son’s state” Commented the father when seeing the nurse minutes after the doctor left.

The nurse answered, tears coming down her face: “His son died yesterday in a road accident, he was in the burial when we called him for your son’s surgery. And now that he saved your son’s life, he left running to finish his son’s burial.”

MORAL : Never judge anyone….. because you never know how their life is & what they’re going through”

Hit SHARE if this story touched your heart…..Share And Inspire Others.

http://dontgiveupworld.com/dont-be-judgemental-a-heart-touching-story-about-doctors/

Keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

When  I was a kid, my Mom liked to cook food and every now & then I remember she used to cook for us.

One night in particular when she had made dinner after a long hard day at work, Mom placed a plate of bread jam and extremely burned toast in front of my dad. I was waiting to see if anyone noticed the burnt toast.

But Dad just ate his toast and asked me how was my day at school. I don’t remember what I told him that night, but I do remember I heard Mom apologizing to dad for burning the toast. And I’ll never forget what he said: “Honey, I love burned toast.” Later that night,

I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his toast burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, “Your mamma put in a long hard day at work today and she was really tired. And besides, A burnt toast never hurts anyone but harsh words do!”

You know, life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people I’m not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else.

What I’ve learned over the years, is that learning to accept each others faults and choosing to celebrate each other’s differences, is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

Life is not a Sharp Knife  to Cut all those Bad Memories. But Life is a Needle  to  Weave Golden  Thread of Sweet Memories … Love your Life … Live your Life:-)… It’s the only one you have…. ….ENJOY LIFE NOW.

http://inspirationalquotestory.in/inspirational-life-story-keys-to-creating-a-healthy-growing-and-lasting-relationship/

Valuing Relationships

It was their anniversary, and Aisha was waiting for her husband Rajiv to show up.

Things had changed since their marriage, the once cute couple couldn't-live-without-each-other had turned bitter.Fighting over every little things, both didn't like the way things had changed.

Aisha was waiting to see if Rajiv remembered it was their anniversary!

Just as the door bell rang she ran to find her husband wet and smiling with a bunch of flowers in his hand.

The two started re-living the old days. Making up for fights, then was the plan for champagne, light music and it was raining outside! It was PERFECT....

But the moment paused when the phone in the bedroom rang....Aisha went to pick it up and it was a man.

"Hello ma'am I'm calling from the police station. Is this Mr Rajiv Mehra's number?""Yes it is!"

"I'm sorry ma'am; but there was an accident and a man died. We got this number from his wallet; we need you to come and identify his body."

Aisha's heart sank.!!! She was shocked! But my husband is here with me?"

"Sorry ma'am, but the incident took place at 2pm, when he was boarding the train."Aisha was about to lose her conscience. How could this happen?!

She had heard about the SOUL of the person coming to meet a loved one before it leaves!

She ran into the other room. He was not there. It was true! He had left her for good!!

Oh God she would have died for another chance to mend every little fight! She rolled on the floor in pain.

She lost her chance! Forever!

Suddenly there was a noise from the bathroom,the door opened and Rajiv came out and said "Darling, I FORGOT TO TELL YOU MY WALLET GOT STOLEN TODAY".

LIFE MIGHT NOT GIVE YOU A SECOND CHANCE.SO NEVER WASTE A MOMENT WHEN YOU CAN STILL MAKE UP FOR YOUR WRONGS!!!

Its the end of the year so let's start making amends.

To PARENTS
To SIBLINGS
To FRIENDS
And many more.!!!!!
No one is PROMISED TOMORROW....
Have a wonderful LIFE with no regrets!

https://www.facebook.com/notes/proud-to-be-an-indian/an-eye-opener/448476105209229

How to improve difficult relationships

A long time ago in China, a girl named Li-Li got married and went to live with her husband and mother-in-law.

In a very short time, Li-Li found that she couldn’t get along with her mother-in-law at all. Their personalities were very different, and Li-Li was angered by many of her mother-in-law’s habits. In addition, she criticized Li-Li constantly.

Days passed days, and weeks passed weeks. Li-Li and her mother-in-law never stopped arguing and fighting. But what made the situation even worse was that, according to ancient Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow to her mother-in-law and obey her every wish. All the anger and unhappiness in the house was causing the poor husband great distress.

Finally, Li-Li could not stand her mother-in-law’s bad temper and dictatorship any longer, and she decided to do something about it.

Li-Li went to see her father’s good friend, Mr. Huang, who sold herbs. She told him the situation and asked if he would give her some poison so that she could solve the problem once and for all. Mr. Huang thought for a while, and finally said, “Li-Li, I will help you solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I tell you.”

Li-Li said, “Yes, Mr. Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to do.” Mr. Huang went into the back room, and returned in a few minutes with a package of herbs.

He told Li-Li, “You can’t use a quick-acting poison to get rid of your mother-in-law, because that would cause people to become suspicious. Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly build up poison in her body. Every other day prepare some delicious meal and put a little of these herbs in her serving. Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspects you when she dies, you must be very careful to act very friendly towards her. Don’t argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat her like a queen.”

Li-Li was so happy. She thanked Mr. Huang and hurried home to start her plot of murdering her mother-in-law.

Weeks went by, months went by, and every other day, Li-Li served the specially treated food to her mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr. Huang had said about avoiding suspicion, so she controlled her temper, obeyed her mother-in-law, and treated her like her own mother. After six months had passed, the whole household had changed.

Li-Li had practiced controlling her temper so much that she found that she almost never got mad or upset. She hadn’t had an argument in six months with her mother-in-law, who now seemed much kinder and easier to get along with.

The mother-in-law’s attitude toward Li-Li changed, and she began to love Li-Li like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and relatives that Li-Li was the best daughter-in-law one could ever find. Li-Li and her mother-in-law were now treating each other like a real mother and daughter.

Li-Li’s husband was very happy to see what was happening.

One day, Li-Li came to see Mr. Huang and asked for his help again. She said, “Mr. Huang, please help me to stop the poison from killing my mother-in-law! She’s changed into such a nice woman, and I love her like my own mother. I do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her.”

Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head. “Li-Li, there’s nothing to worry about. I never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave you were vitamins to improve her health. The only poison was in your mind and your attitude toward her, but that has been all washed away by the love which you gave to her.”

Moral : Make a conscious choice to see the good qualities of the person in relationships , act it out, if necessary  and gradually and surely let time heal relationships…

Let’s start making amends.

To parents
To siblings
To friends
And many more.

No one has a promised tomorrow. Have a wonderful Life with no regrets!

Please do not forget to share with you loved ones

If you liked this story… please share with friends and family and children… You might spark a thought, inspire and possibly change a life forever !!!!

http://academictips.org/blogs/poisoning-mother-in-law/

Be the change you wish to see in the World

A woman once came to Gandhi ji and asked him to please tell her son to give up eating sugar. 

Gandhi ji asked the woman to bring the boy back in a week. 

Exactly one week later the woman returned, and Gandhi said to the boy, “Please give up eating sugar.” 

The woman thanked the Mahatma, and, as she turned to go, asked him why he had not said those words a week ago.” Gandhi ji replied, “Because a week ago, I had not given up eating sugar.”

"Be the change you wish to see in the World" - Mahatma Gandhi

http://divineblossoms.blogspot.in/2014/03/sweet-change.html

King and his four wives

Once upon a time there was a rich King who had four wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best. He also loved the 3rd wife very much and was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another. He also loved his 2nd wife. She was his confidant, and was always kind, considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in her, and she would help him get through the difficult times.

The King’s 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love the first wife. Although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her! One day, the King fell ill and he knew his time was short. He thought of his luxurious life and wondered, “I ! now have four wives with me, but when I die, I’ll be all alone.

“Thus, he asked the 4th wife, “I have loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?”

“No way!”, replied the 4th wife, and she walked away without another word. Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.

The sad King then asked the 3rd wife, “I have loved you all my life. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?” “No!”, replied the 3rd wife. “Life is too good! When you die, I’m going to remarry!” His heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife, “I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?” “I’m sorry, I can’t help you out this time!”, replied the 2nd wife. “At the very most, I can only send you to your grave.” Her answer came like a bolt of lightning, and the King was devastated.

Then a voice called out: “I’ll leave with you and follow you no matter where you go.” The King looked up, and there was his first wife. She was so skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the King said, “I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!”

In truth, we all have 4 wives in our lives: Our 4th wife is our… body.No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die.

Our 3rd wife is our… possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.

Our 2nd wife is our… family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

And our 1st wife is our…Soul. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world. However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go.

https://sites.tufts.edu/bhaktiyoga/entry/tag/soul
http://rishikajain.com/tag/inspirational-story/

Greeting Morals

Juan worked at a meat distribution factory. One day, when he finished with his work schedule, he went into the meat cold room to inspect something, but in a moment of bad luck, the door closed and he was locked inside with no help in sight. 
Although he screamed and knocked with all his might, his cries went unheard as no one could hear him. Most of the workers had already gone, and outside the cold room it’s impossible to hear what was going on inside.

Five hours later, whilst Juan was on the verge of death, the security guard of the factory, eventually opened the door and saved Juan’s life.

Juan then asked the security guard how he got to open the door, as it wasn’t part of his work routine, and he explained thus: "I’ve been working in this factory for 35 years, hundreds of workers come in and out every day, but you’re one of the few who greets me in the morning and says goodbye to me every night when leaving after working hours. Many treat me as if I am invisible.

Today, like every other day, you greeted me in your simple manner ’ Hello ’ at the entrance when resuming for work. But curiously, after working hours today, I observed I’ve not heard your ’ bye! see you tomorrow ’. Hence I decided to check around the factory. I look forward to your ’ Hi ’ and ’ bye ’ every day. To you, I am someone. By not hearing your farewell, I knew something had happened.

Then I Sought and found you!

“Moral Lesson to reflect upon”:
Be humble, love and respect those around you. As life is too short! Try to have an impact on people in ways we can’t even imagine, especially the people that cross our path every day. Someone seemingly so insignificant and irrelevant today could be the only help you can get tomorrow.

http://www.desidime.com/forums/dost-and-dimes/topics/75-relationship-quotes-to-live-by?page=24

Tasting Life

Before the young man began his studies, he wanted assurance from the Master.

“Can you teach me the goal of human life?”

“I cannot,” replied the Master.

“Or at least its meaning?”

“I cannot.”

“Can you indicate to me the nature of death and of life beyond the grave?”

“I cannot.”

The young man walked away in scorn. The disciples were dismayed that their Master had been shown up in 
a poor light.

Said the Master soothingly, “Of what is it to comprehend life’s nature and life’s meaning if you have never tasted it? I’d rather you ate your pudding than speculated on it.”

http://www.inspirationpeak.com/cgi-bin/stories.cgi
http://www.thestoreofinspiration.com/tasting-life-by-anthony-de-mello-2

Who I Am Makes a Difference - Blue Ribbons

Who You Are Makes A Difference

A teacher in New York decided to honor each of her seniors in high school by telling them the difference they each made.

Using a process developed by Helice Bridges of Del Mar, California, she called each student to the front of the class, one at a time.

First she told them how the student made a difference to her and the class. Then she presented each of them with a blue ribbon imprinted with gold letters which read, "Who I Am Makes a Difference."

Afterwards the teacher decided to do a class project to see what kind of impact recognition would have on a community.

She gave each of the students three more ribbons and instructed them to go out and spread this acknowledgment ceremony.

Then they were to follow up on the results, see who honored whom and report back to the class in about a week.

One of the boys in the class went to a junior executive in a nearby company and honored him for helping him with his career planning. He gave him a blue ribbon and put it on his shirt.

Then he gave him two extra ribbons, and said, "We're doing a class project on recognition, and we'd like you to go out, find somebody to honor, give them a blue ribbon, then give them the extra blue ribbon so they can acknowledge a third person to keep this acknowledgment ceremony going. Then please report back to me and tell me what happened."

Later that day the junior executive went in to see his boss, who had been noted, by the way, as being kind of a grouchy fellow. He sat his boss down and he told him that he deeply admired him for being a creative genius. The boss seemed very surprised. The junior executive asked him if he would accept the gift of the blue ribbon and would he give him permission to put it on him. His surprised boss said,"Well, sure."

The junior executive took the blue ribbon and placed it right on his boss's jacket above his heart. As he gave him the last extra ribbon, he said,

"Would you do me a favor? Would you take this extra ribbon and pass it on by honoring somebody else? The young boy who first gave me the ribbons is doing a project in school and we want to keep this recognition ceremony going and find out how it affects people."

That night the boss came home to his 14-year-old son and sat him down. He said, "The most incredible thing happened to me today. I was in my office and one of the junior executives came in and told me he admired me and gave me a blue ribbon for being a creative genius. Imagine. He thinks I'm a creative genius."

Then he put this blue ribbon that says "Who I Am Makes A Difference" on my jacket above my heart. He gave me an extra ribbon and asked me to find somebody else to honor.

As I was driving home tonight, I started thinking about whom I would honor with this ribbon and I thought about you. I want to honor you.

"My days are really hectic and when I come home I don't pay a lot of attention to you. Sometimes I scream at you for not getting good enough grades in school and for your bedroom being a mess, but somehow tonight, I just wanted to sit here and, well, just let you know that you do make a difference to me.

Besides your mother, you are the most important person in my life. You're a great kid and I love you!"

The startled boy started to sob and sob, and he couldn't stop crying. His whole body shook.

He looked up at his father and said through his tears, "I was planning on committing suicide tomorrow, Dad, because I didn't think you loved me. Now I don't need to." 

http://www.motivateus.com/stories/whoyou.htm

http://youareadifferencemaker.com/BlueRibbonStory

Bank Account - Value of Time

Imagine there is a bank which credits your account each morning with Rs. 86,400 carries over no balance from day to day, allows you to keep no cash balance, and every evening cancels whatever part of the amount you had failed to use during the day.

What would you do?
Draw out each paisa, of course!

Well, everyone has such a bank. It's name is TIME.
Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds.
Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose.
It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft.
Each day it opens a new account for you.
Each night it burns the records of the day.
If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours.
There is no going back. There is no drawing against the tomorrow.

Therefore, there is never not enough time or too much time.
Time management is decided by us alone and nobody else.
It is never the case of us not having enough time to do things, but the case of whether we want to do it.

You must live in the present on today's deposits.
Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success!

The clock is running. Make the most of today.

To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade.
To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby.
To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.
To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train.
To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an accident.
To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the person who won a silver medal in the Olympics.

Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time.

And remember, time waits for no one.

Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift.

That's why it's called the Present.

So live in the Present moment, as it is gifted to you by God and
Spend your each second to earn the cheerful and joyful life.

http://narendraalianionline.blogspot.in/2011/08/most-precious-and-valuable-thing-on.html

How To Get What I Want

How to get what I want? You've heard the expression, "What you see is what you get." My grandfather used to say: "If you look at a tree long enough, it will move." We see what you want to see.

Psychologists tell us that nothing controls our live more than our self-image. We live like the person we see in the mirror. We are what we think we are. If you don't think you'll see be successful, you won't. You can't be it if you can't see it. Your life is limited to your vision. If you want to change your life, you must change your vision of your life. 

How to get what I want Arnold Schwarzenegger was not that famous in 1976 when he met with a newspaper reporter. The reporter asked Schwarzenegger. "Now that you've retired from bodybuilding, what do you plan to do next?"

Schwarzenegger answered very calmly and confidently: " I'm going to be the #1 movie star in Hollywood."

The report wad shocked and amused at Schwarzenegger's plan. At that time, it was very hard to imagine how this muscle-bound body builder, who was not a professional actor and who spoke poor English with a strong Austrian accent, could ever hope to be Hollywood's #1 movie star! 

So the reporter asked Schwarzenegger how he planed make his dream come true, Schwarzenegger said: " I" ll do it the same way I became the #1 body builder in the world. What I do was to create a vision of who I want to be, then I start living like that person in my mind as if it were already true." Sounds almost childishly simple, doesn't it? But it worked! Schwarzenegger DID become the #1 highest paid movie star in Hollywood! Remember: " If you can see it, you can be it."

A successful businessman I know wears a shirt with these words on it. "Don't just pursue your dreams. Chase them down and tackle them!" You only get one life to live, so why not live the best life possible? so you can be fully satisfied at what you see and get. Just think a minute!

http://www.goal-setting-for-success.com/how-to-get-what-i-want.html

One Year To Live

Anthony Burgess was 40 when he learned that he had only one year to live. He had a brain tumor that would kill him within a year. He know he had a battle on his hands. He was completely broke at the time, and he didn't have anything to leave behind for his wife, Lynne, soon to be a widow.

Burgess had never been a professional novelist in the past, but he always knew the potential was inside him to be a writer. So, for the sole purpose of leaving royalties behind for his wife, he put a piece of paper into a typewriter and began writing. He had no certainty that he would even be published, but he couldn't think of anything else to do.

"It was January of 1960," he said, "and according to the prognosis, I had a winter and spring and summer to live through, and would die with the fail of the leaf."

In that time Burgess wrote energetically, finishing five and a half novels before the year wad through (very nearly the entire lifetime output of E.M. Forster, and almost twice that of J. D. Salinger.) 

one year to live But Burgess did not die. His cancer had gone into remission and then disappeared altogether. In his long and full life as a novelist ( he is best known for A Clock-work Orange), he wrote more than 70 books, but without the death sentence from cancer, he may not have written at all.

Many of us are like Anthony Burgess, hiding greatness inside, waiting for some external emergency to bring it out. Ask yourself what you'd do if you had Anthony Burgess's original predicament. "If I had just a year to live, how would I live differently? What exactly would I do?" 

http://www.goal-setting-for-success.com/one-year-to-live.html

A Bitter Reality

An Engineering Student must read....

As the dream of most parents I had acquired a degree in Software Engineering and joined a company based in USA, the land of braves and  opportunity. When I arrived in the USA, it was as if a dream had come true.

Here at last I was in the place where I want to be. I decided I would be staying in this country for about Five years in which time I would have earned enough money to settle down in India.

My father was a government employee and after his retirement, the only asset he could acquire was a decent one bedroom flat.

I wanted to do some thing more than him. I started feeling homesick and lonely as the time passed. I used to call home and speak to my parents every week using cheap international phone cards. Two years passed, two years of Burgers at McDonald's and pizzas and discos and 2 years watching the foreign exchange rate getting happy whenever the Rupee value went down.

Finally I decided to get married. Told my parents that I have only 10 days of holidays and everything must be done within these 10 days. I got my ticket booked in the cheapest flight. Was jubilant and was actually enjoying hopping for gifts for all my friends back home. If I  miss anyone then there will be talks. After reaching home I spent home one week going through all the photographs of girls and as the time was getting shorter I was forced to select one candidate.

In-laws told me, to my surprise, that I would have to get married in 2-3 days, as I will not get anymore holidays. After the marriage, it was time to return to USA, after giving some money to my parents and telling the neighbors to look after them, we returned to USA.

My wife enjoyed this country for about two months and then she started feeling lonely. The frequency of calling India increased to twice in a week sometimes 3 times a week. Our savings started diminishing.

After two more years we started to have kids. Two lovely kids, a boy and a girl, were gifted to us by the almighty. Every time I spoke to my parents, they asked me to come to India so that they can see their grand-children.

Every year I decide to go to India… But part work part monetary conditions prevented it. Years went by and visiting India was a distant dream. Then suddenly one day I got a message that my parents were seriously sick. I tried but I couldn't get any holidays and thus could not go to India ... The next message I got was my parents had passed away and as there was no one to do the last rights the society members had done whatever they could. I was depressed. My parents had passed away without seeing their grand children.


After couple more years passed away, much to my children's dislike and my wife's joy we returned to India to settle down. I started to look for a suitable property, but to my dismay my savings were short and the property prices had gone up during all these years. I had to return to the USA...


My wife refused to come back with me and my children refused to stay in India... My 2 children and I returned to USA after promising my wife I would be back for good after two years.

Time passed by, my daughter decided to get married to an American and my son was happy living in USA... I decided that had enough and wound-up every thing and returned to India... I had just enough money to buy a decent 02 bedroom flat in a well-developed locality.

Now I am 60 years old and the only time I go out of the flat is for the routine visit to the nearby temple. My faithful wife has also left me and gone to the holy abode.

Sometimes

I wondered was it worth all this?

My father, even after staying in India,

Had a house to his name and I too have the same nothing more.

I lost my parents and children for just ONE EXTRA BEDROOM.

Looking out from the window I see a lot of children dancing. This damned cable TV has spoiled our new generation and these children are losing their values and culture because of it. I get occasional cards from my children asking I am alright. Well at least they remember me.


Now perhaps after I die it will be the neighbors again who will be performing my last rights, God Bless them.

But the question
still
remains 'was all this worth it?'

I am still searching for an answer.................!!!

START THINKING

IS IT JUST FOR ONE EXTRA BEDROOM???

LIFE IS BEYOND THIS ...DON'T JUST LEAVE YOUR LIFE ...
START LIVING IT ...
LIVE IT AS YOU WANT IT TO BE ...

http://www.studyconnect.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28487

Don’t judge people before you truly know them

A 24 year old boy seeing out from the train’s window shouted…

“Dad, look the trees are going behind!”

Dad smiled and a young couple sitting nearby, looked at the 24 year old’s childish behavior with pity, suddenly he again exclaimed.

“Dad, look the clouds are running with us!”

The couple could not resist and said to the old man.

“Why don’t you take your son to a good doctor?”

The old man smiled and said…

“I did and we are just coming from the hospital, my son was blind from birth, he just got his eyes today.”

Moral of the short story:

Every single person on the planet has a story. Don’t judge people before you truly know them.

http://www.videoinspiration.net/blog/inspirational-famous-short-stories/

A Blind Girl

There was a blind girl who hated herself just because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She said that if she could only see the world, she would marry her boyfriend.

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her and then she could see everything, including her boyfriend. Her boyfriend asked her, “Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?”

The girl was shocked when she saw that her boyfriend was blind too, and refused to marry him. Her boyfriend walked away in tears, and later wrote a letter to her saying:

“Just take care of my eyes dear.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is how human brain changes when the status changed. Only few remember what life was before, and who’s always been there even in the most painful situations.

Life Is A Gift

Today before you think of saying 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 is crying out to God for a companion.

Today before you complain about life–
think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Before you complain about your children–
think of someone who desires children but they’re barren.

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 wished they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another–
remember that not one of us are without sin and we all answer to one maker.

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 – Live it, Enjoy it, Celebrate it, and Fulfill it.

-Author Unknown
http://academictips.org/blogs/moral-tale-the-story-of-a-blind-girl/

Temper Control

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.
The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence...

Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done Well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fencewill never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.

Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.  When I go to bed at night, I want to always believe that I have never left nail holes in any of those precious, vulnerable hearts.

http://www.moytura.com/reflections/fence.htm

Saint in two villages

Once there lived a saint who used to travel different villages, lived there for a fortnight and guided them to live their lives morally. With him, his few sincere disciples used to follow him.

While he was travelling to new villages, it just happened that he entered one of the village, where the moral values of people were very low. The criminals used to roam freely. The respect of women-hood was always in danger. However, the saint and his disciples took it as the wish of God and started living there. (As expected) The people of village started showing disrespect to the saint and his disciples, and some villagers even verbally abused them. But the saint remained calm and tried to purify the minds of the villagers with his speeches and poems. The efforts of saint did not show much improvement in the villagers' attitude and they always made fun of his speeches and mockery of his appearance. Few people even called him suspicious and thief and asked him to leave the village with his disciples. Meanwhile, one fortnight of their stay ended. The saint along-with his disciples got ready to move on to new villages. Before leaving, the saint in his final speech to villagers said, "May all the requirements of the villagers get fulfilled in this village itself. May God provide the villagers all the prosperity that they desire for. May not a single villager think of leaving the village even in the dreams."

Then while moving on, they entered a village where the people were very hospitable and greeted the saint and his disciples with all the traditions and customs. The people did a lot of service to the saint, attended his speeches and gave a lot of respect to the values that he used to teach. The saint in his one of the speech, told the villagers, "One should never get carried away with the illusions of this world. You should live the life like a lotus, which never gets malign, although it stays and grows in maligned and dirty water." The villagers promised the saint that they will follow his teachings in their lives. The fortnight of the stay of saint came to an end and then he asked his disciples to be ready to move on to new village. Now, before leaving, the saint gave his final speech to villagers, "May the requirements of the villagers never get fulfilled in this village. May God deprive the villagers the prosperity that they wish. May all the villagers forced to leave this village to earn their livelihood in the far flung different villages, towns and cities."

They then started travelling to some new location. One of the disciples of the saint got puzzled with the behavior of saint and asked him, "O great Saint, I never doubt your knowledge and wisdom. But I am feeling puzzled with the final speeches you made in the last two villages. The morally degraded villagers were blessed while morally and spiritually elevated villagers were cursed to disintegrate. Please guide me the reason for making such speeches." On hearing this, the saint smiled and replied, "My dear disciple, I have neither blessed the morally degraded people nor have I cursed the other village. In reality, I have blessed the humanity on both occasions. I did not see any improvement in the mindset of people in the first village. So I wished to God that may they remain in the same village and die in the same village, so that they never hurt any good people outside. For the second village, I wished that may God disintegrate the village, so that the villagers may reach every corner of the world and spread good morals everywhere."

http://spiritualstories4u.blogspot.in/2012/11/saint-in-two-villages.html

Miser inside a well

Once upon a time, there lived a very rich man in a village. He was also very greedy and miserly person. He always used to think of becoming wealthier. However he was good at heart. Whenever he met someone needing help (not financially though!!), he used to help the person.

On one day, while he was going somewhere, he heard a voice of a person calling for help. On further investigation, he saw that a man had fallen inside a well. Without thinking anything else, he extended his hand for pulling the man out of the well. But he was unable to reach anywhere near to man as the well was a bit too deep. He started to bend little downwards in order to reach the man. Still, he was unable to reach the man. He kept on bending further and further. While he was bending more and more, he lost balance and he too fell inside the well. By this time, a lot of people had gathered around the well. They all started trying to help both men. Somebody found a rope and threw it inside the well. People started shouting, "Give your hand, give your hand!!!!" The miser man thought that he can not give anything to anyone and he shouted back, "I won't give my hand." Now everyone got confused due to the miser's reactions.

Meanwhile, the second person came out of the well with the help of rope. He knew that the miser man was not a bad human, and he started thinking of saving the miser. During that time, a wise saint also came there on seeing such a big crowd. Seeing him, the man asked the saint, "Oh saint, please help us. There is this miser man, who while trying to help me, himself fell inside the well. Now he is not giving his hand for us to pull him out." The saint said, "You should not ask him to give his hand. He might be a good human being but he is also a miser. You should have used different words for communicating the same message." The man did not understand this and requested the saint to help him. The saint came near the well and looked inside. Then he threw the rope towards the miser and said, "Take this rope!!" The miser thought, 'This saint is very generously donating me a rope. If he is giving me the rope for free, I should take it.' He immediately grabbed the rope. People then pulled him out of the well and he was saved. Everyone praised the saint for using different words for communicating the same message to the miser for saving his life.

https://www.facebook.com/spiritualstories4u