Confidence Level

A man had been on a long flight. The first warning of the approaching problems came when the sign on the airplane flashed on: "Fasten your seat belts." Then, after a while, a calm voice said, "We shall not be serving the beverages at this time as we are expecting a little turbulence. Please be sure your seat belt is fastened."

As he looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many of the passengers were becoming apprehensive. Later, the voice of the announcer said, "We are so sorry that we are unable to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still ahead of us."

And then the storm broke. The ominous cracks of thunder could be heard even above the roar of the engines. Lightening lit up the darkening skies and within moments that great plane was like a cork tossed around on a celestial ocean. One moment the airplane was lifted on terrific currents of air; the next, it dropped as if it were about to crash. The man confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those around him.

As he looked around the plane, he could see that nearly all the passengers were upset and alarmed. Some were praying. The future seemed ominous and many were wondering if they would make it through the storm. And then, he suddenly saw a girl to whom the storm meant nothing. She had tucked her feet beneath her as she sat on her seat and was reading a book. Everything within her small world was calm and orderly.

Sometimes she closed her eyes, then she would read again; then she would straighten her legs, but worry and fear were not in her world. When the plane was being buffeted by the terrible storm, when it lurched this way and that, as it rose and fell with frightening severity, when all the adults were scared half to death, that marvelous child was completely composed and unafraid.

The man could hardly believe his eyes. It was not surprising therefore, that when the plane finally reached its destination and all the passengers were hurrying to disembark, he lingered to speak to the girl whom he had watched for such a long time. Having commented about the storm and behavior of the plane, he asked why she had not been afraid. The sweet child replied:

"Sir, my Dad is the pilot and he is taking me home."

Have Confidence in Your Loved Ones and everyone around..and life sails so smoothly....

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Discovering True Fear

A sultan decided to travel by sea with some of his favorite courtiers. They joined the ship in Dubai and sailed out into the open sea.

However, as soon as the ship moved away from land, one of his subjects - who had never seen the sea before, having spent most of his life in the mountains - began to be overcome with panic.

Sitting in the ship's hold, he cried, shouted and refused to eat or sleep. Everyone tried to calm him down, saying that the journey wasn't as dangerous as all that, but although he heard their words, they had no influence on his heart. The sultan did not know what to do, and the fine journey upon calm seas and under blue skies, became a torment for the passengers and crew alike.

Two days passed without anyone being able to sleep because of the man�s cries. The sultan was about to order the ship to return to port, when one of his ministers, who was known for his wisdom, came over:

"Your Highness, with your permission, I will be able to calm him."

Without a moment's hesitation, the sultan said that not only would he allow it, but that he should reward him if he succeeded in solving the problem.

The wise man asked that the man be thrown into the sea. Right away, content because their nightmare was about to end, several crew members grabbed the man struggling in the hold, and cast him into the ocean.

The courtier thrashed about, sank, swallowed plenty of seawater, returned to the surface, screamed louder than ever, sank again, and managed to surface once again. Just then, the minister ordered for him to dragged back on board.

From then on, no one heard so much as a single complaint from the man, who spent the rest of the journey in silence, and even commented to one of the passengers that he had never seen anything so beautiful as the sky and sea touching on the horizon. The journey - which had before been a torment to all those on board the ship - became a pleasurable, peaceful experience.

A short time before they returned to port, the Sultan went to see the minister:

"How did you guess that, by throwing that poor man into the sea, he would calm down?"

"Because of my marriage," replied the minister. "I was always terrified of losing my wife, and was so jealous that I never stopped shouting and screaming like that man.

One day she could take no more, and left me - and I tasted the terrible experience of living without her. She only returned when I promised never again to torment her with my fears.

In the same way, that man had never tasted salt water, and had never known the agony of a drowning man. When he felt that, he understood only too well how marvelous it can be to feel the planks of a ship under his feet."


Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Just For Fun the Story of Life

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Truth Will Set You Free

Once there was a thief and he was looking for things to steal, but could not find very much. In desperation, he went in a temple where the Pujari (Priest) was giving a religious speech to many people. The thief had decided to steal money from the businesspeople, but after observing a new man's presence with different face he decided to listen to the speech for a little while.

The Pujari was speaking on the topic of truthfulness, and the thief thought that the talk was not so bad. He was completely lost in the true feeling of truthfulness. When the program was over everybody went home except for the thief who was not ready to leave.

The thief began to worry that the Pujari would think the thief would do something wrong in the temple. To help feel less fearful, the thief asked the Pujari, "I have nothing to do here but you gave a very deep speech on the importance of truthfulness which I really liked. However my mind is still not going to digest it."

The thief had many questions and arguments in his mind regarding the imbuement of truthfulness. He wondered how a thief could become free from not speaking a lie. The priest gave deep advice to him that by speaking truth also he would do his business. By using the virtue of truthfulness also he would remain safe and secure no matter where he was or what he stole.

The Pujari gave the thief confidence that he could be successful, even while stealing. The thief firmly determined to follow the Pujari's advice in the practical life and promised to follow the norm of truthfulness and honesty from that day in all respect. He committed to speak fact and reality everywhere from that very moment.

As making the promise not to speak a lie in his life when the thief was going out from there, in the same time, the king disguised in an ordinary form was roaming there to look after the atmosphere of the capital city. Coincidentally the thief met a person on the way in a roaming condition. The roaming gentleman asked the thief who he was. The thief recalled his promise to always speak the truth, even though difficult, he still revealed that he was a thief.

The gentleman replied happily and excitedly that he is also a thief. These two men became friends by handshaking and hugging with each other. The new thief suggested that they steal some very valuable things, and that he knows exactly where to find them. He took him in such incognito way that both of them arrived in front of the Grand Royal Palace.

The first thief told his new friend that he was committed to speak truth at all times. The new friend replied, "It doesn't matter. Let us go just saying our true identity and purpose." As the security personnel asked who they are and where they are going, both of them replied that they were going into the palace to steal diamonds.

The security guard thought, "What sorts of staff are they, and why are they being so angry with me? It is my duty to ask, but why did they reply so bitterly?" He did not know why they were so angry without any cause.

The new thief friend took them to a shelf in a beautiful big drawing room and said to break the lock of the safe. After breaking open the safe, they found five most valuable diamonds. The thief friend suggested that they take only four diamonds - two for each of them because breaking one diamond in half would be valueless. So they took four and left one diamond there in the opened safe.

Both of them went from their hiding two diamonds on their hand just packing on the cloth for each. They again returned in the same gate. While the security personnel asked who they are what they are taking in their hand? They replied they are thieving; they are taking diamonds of the palace. The security personnel again wondered why they were vulgarly behaving with him.

The next day as the royal palace offices were opened, they found the royal treasure of the palace was broken. When the royal treasurer checked it he noticed that 4 were missing. He saw this as a great opportunity, so he put the remaining diamond in his pocket and announced to the Kiing that the 5 valuable diamonds had been stolen from the royal treasure.

The King ordered the treasurer to ask the security guards about this event, and the guards responded that two people gave vulgarly replies last night that they were thieves and planned to steal the diamonds. The security guards also shared that they did not feel the people could really be thieves because no thief would announce so boldly that he was there to steal, and also have the courage to steal!

Then the evening security guards were questioned, and they replied "When we asked on their return what they carried, they said they were taking the valuable diamonds. This reply was unbelievable, so we did not do anything about it."

The King then ordered the security guards to arrest the thief, and bring him to the King. After bringing him in the palace they presented the thief before his majesty the king. The king carefully observed him from his feet to head and said, "So you are the thief. What did you steal?"

The thief replied, "I cannot speak a lie, so you must know I have stolen the diamonds of the royal treasure along with my friend."

"How many diamonds did you steal?" the King asked.

"We stole four. Two for each of us. Since we could not break the last one in half, we left one diamond in the safe."

The King then asked to the treasurer, "How many diamonds are missing?"

"All five, your Majesty."

Realizing what had happened, the King immediately fired the treasurer and appointed the thief as the new treasurer for his commitment to always being truthful.

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Two Drops of Oil

A merchant sent his son to learn the Secret of Happiness from the wisest of men. The young man wandered through the desert for forty days until he reached a beautiful castle at the top of a mountain. There lived the sage that the young man was looking for.

However, instead of finding a holy man, our hero entered a room and saw a great deal of activity; merchants coming and going, people chatting in the corners, a small orchestra playing sweet melodies, and there was a table laden with the most delectable dishes of that part of the world.

The wise man talked to everybody, and the young man had to wait for two hours until it was time for his audience.

With considerable patience, he listened attentively to the reason for the boys visit, but told him that at that moment he did not have the time to explain to him the Secret of Happiness.

He suggested that the young man take a stroll around his palace and come back in two hours time.

�However, I want to ask you a favor, he added, handing the boy a teaspoon, in which he poured two drops of oil. While you walk, carry this spoon and don�t let the oil spill.

The young man began to climb up and down the palace staircases, always keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon. At the end of two hours he returned to the presence of the wise man.

�So, asked the sage, �did you see the Persian tapestries hanging in my dining room? Did you see the garden that the Master of Gardeners took ten years to create? Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my library?�

Embarrassed, the young man confessed that he had seen nothing. His only concern was not to spill the drops of oil that the wise man had entrusted to him.

�So, go back and see the wonders of my world, said the wise man. You cant trust a man if you dont know his house.

Now more at ease, the young man took the spoon and strolled again through the palace, this time paying attention to all the works of art that hung from the ceiling and walls. He saw the gardens, the mountains all around the palace, the delicacy of the flowers, the taste with which each work of art was placed in its niche. Returning to the sage, he reported in detail all that he had seen.

�But where are the two drops of oil that I entrusted to you? asked the sage.

Looking down at the spoon, the young man realized that he had spilled the oil.

Well, that is the only advice I have to give you, said the sage of sages. The Secret of Happiness lies in looking at all the wonders of the world and never forgetting the two drops of oil in the spoon.

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

You Can Still Help

An old man lived alone in Minnesota. He wanted to spade his potato garden, but it was very hard work.
His only son, who would have helped him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and mentioned his situation.

Dear Son, I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my potato garden this year. I hate to miss doing the garden, because your mother always loved planting time. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. If you were here, all my troubles would be over.I know you would dig the plot for me, if you weren't in prison.

Love,
Dad

Shortly, the old man received this telegram: "For Heaven's sake, Dad, don't dig up the garden!! That's where I buried the GUNS!" The next morning, At 4a.m. A dozen FBI agents and local police officers showed up and dug up the entire garden without finding any guns.
Confused, the old man wrote another note to his son telling him what happened, and asked him what to do next. His son's reply was: "Go ahead and plant your potatoes, Dad. It's the best I could do for you from here."

- Moral of the Story.
NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN THE WORLD, IF YOU HAVE DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING DEEP FROM YOUR HEART, YOU CAN DO IT. IT IS THE THOUGHT THAT MATTERS NOT WHERE YOU ARE OR WHERE THE PERSON IS.

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

The wise songbird

Once upon a time there was a golden songbird that lived in a beautiful garden. It spent all its days singing the loveliest songs to the honour of its maker and the delight of all the people who heard it.
But the keeper of the garden, who was a foolish and greedy man, coveted the little songster, and one day he made a cunning net in which he snared it. The little bird begged the man to release him and promised to tell him three great secrets if only he would let him go. Now the gardener really was a very greedy man and rubbing his hands together, he eagerly released the bird.
Then the songbird told him it's three great secrets: Never believe all that you hear; Never regret what you have never lost, and never throw away that which you have in your keeping.
The gardener was furious when he heard this and said he had known these so-called 'secrets' since he was a little child and shouted that the bird had tricked him. But the songbird quietly replied that if the man had really known these three secrets, or only the last of them, he would never have let him go.
Then the bird added:"I have a most precious jewel weighing over three ounces hidden inside me and whoever possesses that marvellous stone will have every wish granted."
On hearing this, the keeper roared like a lion and cursed himself for setting the songster free. But the little bird only added fuel to his rage by explaining that since he weighed no more than half an ounce at most, as anyone with eyes could plainly see, how was it possible that a gem weighing more than three ounces could be hidden within it's tiny body?
At that the man tore his hair and lunged at the bird in a towering rage, but the little songbird flew to a nearby branch and added sweetly:"Since you never had the jewel in your hands you are already regretting what you never lost, and believing what I told you, you threw it away by setting me free."
Then the little songbird told the man to study well these three great secrets and so become as wise as the bird himself!

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You