"Simple Things To Make Your Life Happier and Healthier"

"Simple Things To Make Your Life Happier and Healthier"

You probably know that laughter, hope and optimism make life more enjoyable, but some of us seem to be wired for seriousness, sobriety and pessimism instead.

Recent research shows that genetics may have a lot to do with the level of happiness you experience on a day to day basis. Some people are naturally giggly, cheerful, and happy go lucky, while others are a bit more somber.

However, there are still plenty of things you can do to influence how you feel each day.

Your genetics may determine your happiness "set point," the level of happiness that you naturally feel, but your thoughts, choices, and actions still determine how much time you spend
above or below that point.

In these difficult times, feeling hopeful can seem like challenge even for natural optimists... so here's a list of simple things you can do to give your attitude a boost:


1. Do what you love


You already know what you enjoy doing -- if you can find a way to make a living at it great, otherwise consider spending time doing it as a hobby or just for fun.

Spend one or two hours this week doing something that you truly enjoy.


2. Make time for family and friends


Spending time with people you love and enjoy has a relaxing and soothing effect. You'll feel wanted, respected and loved, critical emotional experiences for good living.


3. Watch a good comedy


Nothing flushes away stress like a good laugh. If you don't have time for a full-length video, find a five-minute funny video on YouTube.com ...

Or check out the "Headlines" from The Tonight Show...


4. Repeat positive affirmations to yourself


Sometimes we just need to remind ourselves that things aren't as bleak as they seem. Repeat a positive mantra like "Today is a good day," "I'm having fun today," "I'm a great (insert occupation) and I do my job well," or "God works all things for the good of those who love him."


5. Each day make a list of 10 things you are thankful for


Try not to repeat the same things every day. Spend a few minutes thinking about the items on your list and realize how good you've got it.


6. Exercise


As long as you don't over-do it, exercise has an effect similar to chocolate because it releases endorphins, which generally have an uplifting effect.


7. Challenge yourself


A challenge makes us alert and self aware, which has an energizing effect mentally and physically.


8. Be spontaneous


Whether it's going out to a movie on a whim or wrestling with the kids in the living room, being spontaneous and playful is exciting and energizing.


9. Laugh daily


Laughter triggers your body to create more antibodies and hormones that build up your immune system.


10. Find ways to release tension and stress


If you bottle it all up, stress and tension will eat away at you and make you susceptible to all kinds of illness and health problems. A punching bag or dart board with a picture of your boss on the bullseye make great stress relievers.

11. Play games


Games get you out of your normal rut. They allow you to exercise your brain in a non-threatening situation and to explore new patterns of thinking. Don't get too serious about the games you play, they're supposed to be fun.


12. Play in the world of a child


Children are magnets for joy, creativity and laughter. Get down on your knees and let them show you how to play.


13. Wear something unusual, goofy or bizarre


Too often, we dress to impress. Purposely wearing something unbusiness-like or downright goofy can help you relax, release tension and free yourself to just be you.


14. Reward yourself


You do great things. Rewarding yourself encourages you to do more great things and builds up your self-esteem.

15. Make a funny movie


Camcorders are relatively inexpensive and everyone can think of something funny to do on camera. It's a creative output that encourages laughter. Post your video on YouTube or MySpace to share with others and make them laugh too.


16. Post jokes, cartoons and funny posters around where you can see them


These things encourage laughter and a light-hearted spirit.

17. Reward someone else

Nothing feels better than making someone else feel special and appreciated, even if it's just a simple smile and "Thank You" for a job well done.




Action Exercise

Pick 3 or 4 of your favorites and DO them over the next week.


Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Good As Your Dog.........

If you can start the day without caffeine,

If you can get going without pep pills,

If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,

If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it,

If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,

If you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you when, through no fault of yours, something goes wrong,

If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,

If you can ignore a friend's limited education and never correct him,

If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend,

If you can face the world without lies and deceit,

If you can conquer tension without medical help,

If you can relax without liquor,

If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,

If you can say honestly that deep in your heart you have no

prejudice against creed, color, religion or politics,

Then, my friend, you are almost as good as your dog!



Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

How To Be Happy Eat , Pray and Love....

Dump those self-help books, which claim to make you happy-as scientists have now revealed the true secret to happiness.

Scientists have suggested that people who go to church / temple/mosque/Gurdwara, stay thin, avoid worrying about their careers and have emotionally stable partners should be well on their way to achieving the sought-after state of mind.

Researchers of the University of Melbourne have challenged the theory that an individual's long-term happiness depends on their genes.

They have found changes in lifestyle led to significant long-term changes in general satisfaction.

Bruce Headey of the University of Melbourne questioned people in Germany about their jobs, social lives and religious activities during a 25-year period.

Nearly, some 60,000 people responded to their surveys.

The findings showed one of the biggest influences on a person's well-being was their partner's level of neuroticism.

The research found those with partners who scored highly on tests for neuroticism were more likely to be unhappy-something which tended to last as long as the particular relationship.

A long-term increase in general satisfaction was also observed among those who placed significant weight on family values and altruistic behaviour.

Having strong religious views also played an important role.

"People who attend church / temple/mosque/Gurdwara regularly seem to be happier than people who are not religious," the Daily Mail quoted Headey as saying.

However the scientists found those who prioritised their jobs and material success were less content than their peers and experienced a lasting decline in happiness.

Women, who reported being significantly less happy when they were obese.

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Be Kind To Yourself......

Being kind to others and yourself results in a significant physical, mental and emotional health benefits.

Here are some tips to go about pampering yourself and be Kind To Yourself:

• Take good care of your body, it's the only one you will every have. Eat well, exercise regularly, get enough sleep and don't forget to laugh. If you don't know how to take good care of your body, consult your doctor, a nutritionist, a personal trainer or a coach for help. Rule of thumb: when in doubt do what you will still feel good about tomorrow - that means forgo that second helping of ice cream! Good luck!

• Take time to smell the roses. Appreciate the little things in life as well as the big. It may sound cliched, however, being mindful of the small joys of life will elevate your mood, reduce stress and over time, will reorient your whole attitude to a more positive outlook. So, find at least one thing each day to be happy about. As an added bonus, this practice will save you money too!

• Keep telling yourself that you are as important as anyone else is. And, re mind yourself about this until you truly believe it. If you already believe it, still say it!

• Examine your feelings when you feel inferior or inadequate. Everyone has these feelings at one time or the other. Understanding why you feel this way will help you know what changes you need to make in your life and attitude to change these feelings. Being aware of your emotional ups and downs and recognising these are natural and generally transitory feelings, helps you to cut yourself some slack. If these feelings persist, get stronger, or you feel depressed, consult a doctor or therapist.

• Remember, it is perfectly natural not to be perfect at all times. More than that, it is perfectly acceptable not to be perfect all of the time. If you put your best efforts forward, you have not failed.

• Know your limitations and ask for assistance before you become overwhelmed. Strength comes from knowing when you need help and having the courage to ask for it. Surround yourself with a network of people whom you trust to support you and who can count on you in return.

• Give yourself credit for a job well done. Celebrate successes even when they seem small. One hundred little successes are a very big deal.
  




• Don't rush. We live in a busy world and it is easy to get caught up in the busyness around us. Give yourself peace of mind by 'padding' your schedule. Leave yourself more time to complete tasks, arrive at a meeting and prepare for a presentation than you think you will need. Rule of thumb: Decide how much time you will need and double it; triple it if it is something you've never done before or aren't sure of.
  




• Cultivate your sense of humor. It's pretty difficult to feel down while you're laughing.
  
  




• Take time every day to do the things you enjoy. Life is too short to live any other way!
  

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Letter to Grandfather

Often, during my morning walks in the park, I can see a man in his 80s walking with his grandchild. The sight reminds me of my grandfather, who used to walk me in the same park when I was a child. An ideal grandpa, his presence made my childhood beautiful.

Like any other child, I used to love listening to stories. And my constant refrain was for one 'that never ended'. Finally, one day he told me the story of a bird which picks up a grain of wheat a day from a granary in a village, adding that it would take years for the stock to finish and till then, the story would continue. That was the end of my persistence!

He had kept the child within him alive and every Saturday, when we visited the Hanuman temple, he would cajole me to have a plate at the panipuri stall. If I refused, he would tease me, "Oh, don't behave like an old lady!" At 86, when his health started to fail, I would go alone to the temple and, passing by, could see visions of both of us laughing over plates of panipuri.

He believed in doing his bit towards social work, which invited a fair amount of admiration, as well as criticism. Disturbed at the wagging tongues, I asked him once how he remained calm. He replied, "In every field, there are critics and admirers. But, if you are true to yourself, you needn't bother about these things."

He knew how to deal with children. While he never liked pets in the house, I loved puppies and when I was four years old, brought an abandoned pup back from the basketball ground. The next day, I fed him in our garden and left for school. When I returned, the pup was no longer there. When I asked grandpa, instead of scolding me, he simply answered that, "his father came to take him away".

He was extremely particular about his exercise and daily schedule. He woke up early and went for his walk at 5:30 am, following the same route and returning at exactly the same time everyday. The routine was kept up even in the monsoons, when he took an umbrella along for company. Often, I went along too on these walks, where he kept me involved by quizzing me on spellings, capitals of places, riddles, etc.

Once I reached second standard, I began writing a letter to grandpa every year on his birthday. He would read my letters with a smile. When I was in tenth standard, I gave him a gift, but he said he would prefer to receive a letter like each year. So, I continued. He, however, never commented and I sometimes wondered what he thought of my letter.

He died at the age of 87. When he left us, dad decided to open an old suitcase, which belonged to grandpa and occupied a pride of place on his table. Along with important documents, in the safest pouch, dad found an envelope. He opened it and called me to take a look. When I looked inside, I found all the letters I had ever written to grandpa kept in sequence and well-maintained. There wasn't a single fold on the pages and even the first letter, which was 15 years old, was intact.

Tears welled up in my eyes. For a long time, I was overwhelmed. Thanks, grandpa, for giving me memories I will cherish all my life.


Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Can you take away The Moon?

Ryokan, a Zen master, lived the simplest kind of life in a little hut at the foot of a mountain. One evening a thief visited the hut only to discover there was nothing in it to steal.

Ryokan returned and caught him. “You may have come a long way to visit me,” he told the prowler, “and you shoud not return emptyhanded. Please take my clothes as a gift.”

The thief was bewildered. He took the clothes and slunk away.

Ryokan sat naked, watching the moon. “Poor fellow, ” he mused, “I wish I could give him this beautiful moon.”

On the road, don’t be too paranoid about losing your stuff. Material possessions are useful, but pale in comparison to the true riches of a journey

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Cheer Up........

Every one of us has bad days. And every one of us has good days. Both states pass. And both come again, in different ways.

Life is a balance of light and dark. Happiness comes not from being attached to the good days and dreading the bad days, but by accepting that both are a part of life.

When we accept this, we are able to view life from a more balanced perspective, with equanimity, enjoying the good times, learning from the hard times, and appreciating that both have a role in our life.

There will never come a time when the learning stops. There is no point kidding your self by saying when this or that happens, everything will be perfect forever. It won't be, because more learning will always come your way. It is when you accept this, that life becomes easier, both on the good and bad days.

It doesn't mean that life will never get easier. It will, as you become more equipped to cope with it and to understand it. But there will always be learning.

Sometimes though, and certainly in these modern times of Western Society, the hard days linger longer for many. During these days, weeks, months and even years, finding the strength to trust that the hard times will pass can be overwhelming. Hope is all that draws us forward at times and if you have been in a place of darkness for a long time, then hope is not always possible to find.

So it is during such times that even the smallest steps are necessary to find hope again and some enjoyment in your day. Sometimes things that are disguised as small steps can be a huge catalyst in turning things around. When even finding a reason to get out of bed and get on with your day is a challenge, you need to be gentle and kind on yourself and accept that perhaps right now, you are only capable of small steps.


Here are some small things you can do to feel better.


1. Buy some colouring in pencils and draw. Or buy a colouring in book and colour in. It is very simple and childlike. But colour carries many healing properties and the distraction of drawing or colouring will bring you to a more present space, rather than dwelling on your situation. Anything creative with colour will be beneficial.


2. Make a list of your best qualities, yes you have some, everyone has goodness in them. Think of things you've done in the past, things that have left you feeling good. It may be things you've done, or it may be things you like about yourself. Maybe you once did a random act of kindness for someone, that no one else recognised needed doing. Or you like your smile, or that you used to be able to make people laugh (and you will again). Acknowledge these positive parts of yourself, without any reference to anything negative you see in yourself, no negativity allowed today.


3. Take yourself to somewhere with birds in their own environment. Birds in cages do not qualify. Simply watch the birds go about their day. Listen to their joy in being alive, how they sing for the pure love of it. Watch the freedom of their flight. They too have to survive and have their challenges. But they still remember to be joyous along the way.


4. Ban yourself from the computer for a whole day and night. Don't even turn it on. Have such days regularly. In the times we now live in, it is easy to forget about life going on outside. Computers are great in many ways. On the surface, they bring us more together, yet in other ways, they isolate us even more. Turn the computer off. Do something that you used to enjoy before the days of computers took over your life. Go for a walk. The exercise will be good for you too.


5. Call a friend who will make you laugh. Don't call a friend who will wallow in your sadness with you, despite their kind intentions. Today is not a day for that. Just call a friend who will joke about nothing with you. If you cannot think of anyone, go for a walk in your local neighbourhood. Think of someone who serves you in your day to day life who is always cheery. Have a brief chat and laugh with them. They will enjoy it too.


6. Dress in something that makes you look and feel nice, perhaps a brighter colour than what you have been wearing. Pay attention to your appearance and take pride in yourself, no matter how much effort it takes. It doesn't matter if you think you are kidding yourself into feeling better, it is a change and change is necessary to alter your current state. And it is an achievable goal when you are down.


7. Visit someone you know with children and hang out with the little ones for a while. Sing some songs, play make believe, hide and seek, anything. If there are no children you know nearby, just watch other children from a distance. Observe their simplicity and joy and remember that you too were once a child and these qualities are still a part of you too. Hop on a swing and lean back, get some wind beneath you and feel yourself glide through the air.


8. Look through old photo albums and remember the happy times. Even if they bring memories that also make you sad, remember the good times too. It is easy to focus on loss, loneliness or lack, rather than blessings that have once been there. If there are no photos, think back to some fun memories and relive them in your mind. Laughing out loud is definitely permitted.


9. Eat healthy food. If you don't have the strength or energy to prepare something for yourself, go out and buy a fresh juice, or a salad or soup. Chat with whoever serves you, smile at them. Healthy food heals both the body and the mind. So does smiling.


10. Have a beautiful bath. Use scents and candles. Make it a special thing, even if it is in the middle of the day. Nurture yourself. If you can, treat yourself to a massage, be pampered. Human touch is something we all need and it is easy when you are down to isolate yourself, hence becoming touch starved. Hugs are always recommended. Hug someone if there is someone to hug. If not, go out and get some human contact. Or pat an animal. We all need to be nurtured and we all need touch.


Every little thing that you can do to change your current disposition will be far more beneficial than it may appear. Any glimpse of happiness or hope, no matter how small, is better than none at all.

And if you manage to do just one of these things, then congratulate yourself for the effort. It doesn't matter if you are not strong enough to be the person you once were. Trust that healing is happening in your life now. You don't have to become who you were, rather you will become who you are meant to be when this healing time has passed. It will be someone new, someone amazing, someone accepting, someone happy.

You will smile again. It may not feel like it yet. But never lose hope. You will smile again, you will. You simply will.

And that in itself is worth smiling about, is it not?!

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

The healing Touch......

Four-year-old John’s neighbour, Mr. Walters, had recently lost his wife of 45 years.

One day when Mr. Walters was sitting alone in his backyard, crying softly and mourning the loss of his dear companion,little John crossed the garden and climbed into Mr. Walters’ lap and quietly sat with the old man for half an hour. When Suzanne, John’s mother, who was watching her son, later asked him, “What did you say to Mr.Walters?”

John replied, “Nothing. I just helped him cry.”

Apply it: At times, you can share the burden of an individual or give him strength in times of adversity by simply “being there for him”.

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Today.........

Today I will delete from my diary
two days: yesterday and tomorrow
Yesterday was to learn
and tomorrow will be the consequence
of what I can do today.


Today I will face life
with the conviction that this day
will not ever return.

Today is the last opportunity
I have to live intensely,
as no one can assure me
that I will see tomorrow's sunrise.

Today I will be brave enough
not to let any opportunity pass
me by,
my only alternative is to succeed.

Today I will invest
my most valuable resource:my time,
in the most transcendental work:
my life;
I will spend each minute
passionately to make
of today a different
and unique day in my life.

Today I will defy every obstacle
that appears on my way trusting
I will succeed.
Today I will resist
pessimism and will conquer
the world with a smile,
with the positive attitude
of expecting always the best.

Today I will make of every ordinary task
a sublime expression.

Today I will have my feet on the ground
understanding reality
and the stars' gaze
to invent my future.
Today I will take the time to be happy
and will leave my footprints and my presence
in the hearts of others.

Today, I invite you to begin a new season
where we can dream
that everything we undertake is possible
and we fulfill it,
with joy and dignity

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Where there's a will, there's a way

If you have the faith of a mustard seed, you can move mountains. Can you imagine an old man in his 70s, having a slender frame, diminutive and dressed in a simple white kurta and dhoti, actually making this quote come true? No? Well, you are not the only one who thought Dasrath
Manjhi of Bihar could never single-handedly carve a 360-ft long, 25-ft high and 30- ft wide road by cutting a mountain for 22 years!

But he did! Proving that the human spirit is greater than any mountain that stands in its way. Between Atri and Vazirgani, two villages in Gehlor, near Gaya in Bihar there stood a great mountain, making the distance between the two a perilous and arduous journey of 50 km.
Manjhi's wife was one day travelling this risky path but fell down on the way breaking her earthen pot and hurting herself. So that none other meets the same fate as his wife, Manjhi began his work, alone as everyone else laughed at his goal of cutting the mountain, with just a chisel, hammer and determination to create a road through the mountain. Today, with his
efforts the distance between the two villages is only 10 km! Although he is no more, his entire community can never forget that one man, alone, against all odds, showed them that where there is a will, the way simply springs forth!

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Five Ways To be Happy with Yousrself

1. Don't take others too seriously. Try to understand that no one is perfect. If you feel that someone is being overtly critical then be frank and point it out to that person.

2. Accept the fact that you are made a certain way. If you aren't happy with your weight or looks, try and improve on it. But don't put your self down.

3. Don't try to blend in with others. Just because all the people in your group are wearing saris for a wedding, you don't have to do the same. Wear what you are comfortable in. If you are comfortable in your skin, you will exude a certain confidence that will make you attractive to others.

4. Don't put up with any kind of bullying. Whether it's in your college, work or home, make sure that you put forth your point of view firmly. It's great to adjust, but not at the cost of changing yourself drastically.

5. If you are happy with yourself, then you will be sure of your thoughts and beliefs. You may not follow the herd mentality, but at the same time, you won't end up being different just for the heck of it.



Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Keep your Dreams.....

I have a friend named Monty Roberts who owns a horse ranch in San Ysidro. He has let me use his house to put on fund-raising events to raise money for youth at risk programs.

The last time I was there he introduced me by saying, “I want to tell you why I let Jack use my horse. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer who would go from stable to stable, race track to race track, farm to farm and ranch to ranch, training horses. As a result, the boy’s high school career was continually interrupted. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.

“That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of someday owning a horse ranch. He wrote about his dream in great detail and he even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings, the stables and the track. Then he drew a detailed floor plan for a 4,000-square-foot house that would sit on a 200-acre dream ranch.

“He put a great deal of his heart into the project and the next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a note that read, `See me after class.’

“The boy with the dream went to see the teacher after class and asked, `Why did I receive an F?’

“The teacher said, `This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. You have no money. You come from an itinerant family. You have no resources. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. You have to buy the land. You have to pay for the original breeding stock and later you’ll have to pay large stud fees. There’s no way you could ever do it.’ Then the teacher added, `If you will rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.’

“The boy went home and thought about it long and hard. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, `Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important decision for you.’ “Finally, after sitting with it for a week, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changes at all.

He stated, “You can keep the F and I’ll keep my dream.”

Monty then turned to the assembled group and said, “I tell you this story because you are sitting in my 4,000-square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace.” He added, “The best part of the story is that two summers ago that same schoolteacher brought 30 kids to camp out on my ranch for a week.” When the teacher was leaving, he said, “Look, Monty, I can tell you this now. When I was your teacher, I was something of a dream stealer. During those years I stole a lot of kids’ dreams. Fortunately you had enough gumption not to give up on yours.”

“Don’t let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what.”

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Fate is In Our Own Hands

Fate Is in Your Own Hands

Once upon a time, there was a general who was leading his army into battle against an enemy ten times the size of his own. Along the way to the battle field, the troops stopped by a small temple to pray for victory.

The general held up a coin and told his troops, "I am going to implore the gods to help us crush our enemy. If this coin lands with the heads on top, we'll win. If it's tails, we'll lose. Our fate is in the hands of the gods. Let's pray wholeheartedly."

After a short prayer, the general tossed the coin. It landed with the heads on top. The troops were overjoyed and went into the battle with high spirits. Just as predicted, the smaller army won the battle. The soldiers were exalted, "It's good to have the gods on our side! No one can change what they have determined."

"Really?" The general show them the coin--both sides of it were heads.


Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

The Trench Digger

An elderly couple retired to the countryside to a small isolated cottage overlooking some rugged and rocky heathland.

One early morning, the woman saw from her window a young man dressed in working clothes walking on the heath about a hundred yards away. He was carrying a spade and a small case and he disappeared from view behind a copse of trees.

The woman thought no more about it but around the same time the next day she saw the man again, carrying his spade and a small case, and again he disappeared behind the copse.

The woman mentioned this to her husband who said he was probably a farmer or gamekeeper setting traps, or performing some other country practice that would be perfectly normal, and so not to worry.

However, after several more sightings of the young man with the spade over the next two weeks, the woman persuaded her husband to take a stroll - early, before the man tended to arrive - to the copse of trees to investigate what he was doing.

There they found a surprisingly long and deep trench, rough and uneven at one end, becoming much neater and tidier towards the other end.

"How strange," the old lady said, "Why dig a trench here...and in such difficult rocky ground?" and her husband agreed.

Just then the young man appeared earlier than his usual time.

"You're early," said the old woman, making light of their obvious curiosity, "We wondered what you were doing and we also wondered what was in the case."

"I'm digging a trench," said the man who continued, realizing a bigger explanation was appropriate. "I'm actually learning how to dig a good trench because the job I'm being interviewed for later today says that experience is essential, so I'm getting the experience. And the case...it's got my lunch in it."

He got the job.
Moral: You Have to work Hard Everytime you Want to Suceed , and not wait for it to happen on its own

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Attitude is Everything

Jerry was the kind of guy you love to hate. He was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"
He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"

Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.

"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.

"Yes it is," Jerry said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live life."

I reflected on what Jerry said. Soon thereafter, I left the restaurant industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business: he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gunpoint by three armed robbers. While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body. I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?"

I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place. "The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied. "Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live.

"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked. Jerry continued,

"The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read, 'He's a dead man." I knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?" I asked.

"Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me," said Jerry. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes,' I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply... I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Bullets!'

Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."

Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.


Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

The Donkey

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

So he invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off!

Moral: Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up!

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.


Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

What You Are To Me?

I am a rose,
you are my thorns,
clutching to me,
protecting me.

I am the sun,
you are my rays,
helping me to shine
and to be all that I can.

I am a lake,
you are my water,
filling me with ideas, dreams,
and hopes for the future.

I am a tree,
you are my leaves,
sharing who and what I am
and becoming an important part of my life.

I am a heart,
you are my beat,
beating rhythmical

For, you see,
each day I love you more,
Today more than yesterday
and less than tomorrow.


Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Mother and Son

My mom only had one eye. I hated her, she was such an embarrassment. My mom ran a small shop at a flea market.She collected little weeds and such to sell, anything for the money we needed she was such an embarrassment.There was this one day during elementary school. I remember that it was field day, and my mom came. I was so embarrassed. How could she do this to me? I threw her a hateful look and ran out. The next day at school..."Your mom only has one eye?!" and they taunted me.
I wished that my mom would just disappear from this world so I said to my mom, "Mom, why don't you have the other eye?! You're only going to make me a laughingstock. Why don't you just die?" My mom did not respond. I guess I felt a little bad, but at the same time, it felt good to think that I had said what I'd wanted to say all this time.
Maybe it was because my mom hadn't punished me, but I didn't think that I had hurt her feelings very badly.
That night...I woke up, and went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. My mom was crying there, so quietly, as if she was afraid that she might wake me. I took a look at her, and then turned away. Because of the thing I had said to her earlier, there was something pinching at me in the corner of my heart. Even so, I hated my mother who was crying out of her one eye. So I told myself that I would grow up and become successful, because I hated my one-eyed mom and our desperate poverty.
Then I studied really hard. I left my mother and came to Seoul and studied, and got accepted in the Seoul University with all the confidence I had. Then, I got married. I bought a house of my own. Then I had kids, too. Now I'm living happily as a successful man. I like it here because it's a place that doesn't remind me of my mom.
This happiness was getting bigger and bigger, when someone unexpected came to see me "What?! Who's this?!"... It was my mother...Still with her one eye. It felt as if the whole sky was falling apart on me. My little girl ran away, scared of my mom's eye.
And I asked her, "Who are you? I don't know you!!!" as if I tried to make that real. I screamed at her "How dare you come to my house and scare my daughter! Get out here now!" And to this, my mother quietly answered, "oh, I'm so sorry. I may have gotten the wrong address," and she disappeared. Thank good ness... she doesn't recognize me. I was quite relieved. I told myself that I wasn't going to care, or think about this for the rest of my life.
Then a wave of relief came upon me... one day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house. I lied to my wife saying that I was going on a business trip. After the reunion, I went down to the old shack, that I used to call a house...just out of curiosity there, I found my mother fallen on the cold ground. But I did not shed a single tear. She had a piece of paper in her hand.... it was a letter to me.
My Son,
I think my life has been long enough now. And... I won't visit Seoul anymore... but would it be too much to ask if I wanted you to come visit me once in a while? I miss you so much. And I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion. But I decided not to go to the school.... For you... I'm sorry that I only have one eye, and I was an embarrassment for you.
You see, when you were very little, you got into an accident, and lost your eye. As a mother, I couldn't stand watching you having to grow up with only one eye... so I gave you mine... I was so proud of my son that was seeing a whole new world for me, in my place, with that eye. I was never upset at you for anything you did. The couple times that you were angry with me. I thought to myself, 'it's because he loves me.' I miss the times when you were still young around me.
I miss you so much. I love you. You mean the world to me. My world shattered! Then I cried for the person who lived for me. My Mother.
Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

The Attitude......

A little boy went into a drug store, reached for a soda carton and ask him for a Phone Call.
Shop-owner replied Sweetly I don't usually allow it, but you can make one call.

The store-owner observed and listened to the conversation:
The boy asked, "Lady, Can you give me the job of cutting your lawn?
The woman replied, "I already have someone to cut my lawn."

"Lady, I will cut your lawn for half the price of the person who cuts your lawn now." replied boy.
The woman responded that she was very satisfied with the person who was presently cutting her lawn.

The little boy found more perseverance and offered, "Lady, I'll even sweep your curb and your sidewalk, so on Sunday you will have the prettiest lawn in all of North-Palm beach, Florida."

Again the woman answered in the negative.

With a smile on his face, the little boy replaced the receiver.

The store-owner, who was listening to all this, walked over to the boy and said," Son... I like your attitude; I like that positive spirit and would like to offer you a job."

The little boy replied, "No thanks, I was just checking my performance with the job I already have. I am the one who is working for that lady I was talking to!"

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

The Sweetest Strawberry the World Has Ever Known

One of the Nasruddin's Stories..They Are Long but well worth reading..

Good day! My name is Nasruddin. I was born in Amritsar in the Punjab, in India. Or...it was so long ago... it may have been in Cairo, in Egypt. In fact, I think it was Newark, New Jersey, though my uncle claims it was Turkey, and my birth certificate says Balkh, in what is now Afghanistan.

Anyway, I was born, and I stand here as proof. I would like to tell you about the time I went to see my friend Tekka. I met Tekka when he was a young man, but that is another story altogether. So I was here, and Tekka was in his home village, and all that lay between us was a desert and a jungle.

The desert was easy. Twelve days under the burning sun...no sweat. Well, not exactly, but to return to the story, I came to the jungle. If you have ever seen a jungle, you know that it is big, and dark, and very green. The trees are tall, the bushes are thick, and there are lots of little animals moving about, making you think they are big animals!

Well, the path was narrow, and the jungle on either side was thick and noisy, and closed over the path in a way that made me a little nervous. But I love my friend Tekka, so I said to myself, "Nasruddin, you are a stalwart soul, and you must go through this jungle in order to see Tekka. Just think of it as taking a walk through the jungle!" I tried to argue with myself, but it was no use. I had to go.

So I started off through the jungle, and the path was not so bad when my eyes got used to the gloom. I was walking happily along, when I heard a noise behind me: "hhahh... hhahh... hhahh." I looked over my shoulder, and saw, to my surprise, a tiger was also taking a walk through the jungle!

"Ah," I said to myself, which was the best I could do in the circumstances. Then I had a thought, which was fortunate. "It is never too late to begin an exercise regimen. Why not start with jogging, for your health, that is." I agreed, and began at once. There I was, jogging through the jungle, enjoying what remained to me of my health, when I heard a sound behind me: "hhahh...hhahh...hhahh." I looked over my shoulder, and – what do you know!– the tiger had also taken up jogging! Although I think the tiger was less interested in excersise, and more interested in nutrition!

Due to the beneficial effects of exercise, my brain was functioning more efficiently. "If you can jog, surely you can run," I told myself. "Why not try for a world record?" It's amazing how quickly you can come to an agreement with yourself. I began immediately to see if I could set a new world record for land speed running. I tore through that jungle as if the path were a highway.

I am certain a world record was within my grasp, if only a judge with a stopwatch had been there. And when I heard a familiar sound behind me, which I probably don't have to explain sounded like "hhahh-hhahh-hhahh," I didn't even have to stop and look to know the tiger was also bent on setting a world record.

So there we were, the two athletes running like the wind through the jungle! It was thrilling! It was exciting! It was terrifying! Suddenly, there was no jungle!

There was no path either, only the blue sky, and a cliff, and me, Nasruddin, falling down it. I said to myself, "Aaauughh!!" but it did no good. So I grabbed onto a bush.

(Did you ever notice, every single time you fall down a cliff, there's a bush to grab onto. Check it out for yourself!)

So I grabbed this bush, and held on for dear life. I clung to it with all my strength, which I needed, because there was the tiger looking down at me, saying "hhahh...hhahh...hhahh." "Don't you know any other words?" I said. Apparently not, because the tiger continued to say the same thing over and over. I looked desperately about me for a way out, and could find none. Then I noticed the roots of the bush begin to pull out of the cliff, one by one.

"Nasruddin," I said, and I have a little song I sing to myself when I am in trouble, which seems to be more and more often these days, "Nasruddin, you have been/ in better sit-u-a-tions." It's a nice little song, very comforting. It certainly helped at that moment.

Then I heard a sound behind and below me that sounded strangely familiar: "hhahh...hhahh...hhahh."

"Wait!" I said to myself, "I thought I left that sound safely up above!" I looked down, and saw that the bad always comes with the good. Why is that, do you think? The good was that the cliff was not very high, and I would not be hurt if I fell. The bad was the other tiger standing below me, looking up!

There I was, hanging on the face of a cliff from a bush whose roots were pulling out, with a tiger above me and a tiger below me. I thought it was a good moment for my little song, so I sang again, "Nasruddin, you have been/ in better sit-u-a-tions." It had its effect – my head was clear, and I cast about desperately for a way out of my predicament. I assure you I didn't think of the word predicament at the time.

I looked on both sides, and suddenly spied a little green bush, with a single red berry. It was a wild strawberry! Now, my philosophy is always to enjoy yourself to the fullest, wherever you are. So I got a good grip with my toes, which are considerable, and held the bush with one hand, and reached out, risking all, and picked that strawberry.

And did I eat it? Oh, yes, my beloveds, I did. And I am here to tell you that if you are hanging on a cliff from a bush that is pulling out by the roots, and there is a tiger above you and a tiger below you, and you find a strawberry and you eat it, that will be the sweetest strawberry the world has ever known!

* * *

But wait...what about the tigers, and the cliff? How am I here to tell the tale? Well, here it is: they were nearsighted tigers, and when they got a close look at me, they lost their appetites.

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You