Take time to care for yourself

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A cobbler lived in a large village and he was the only cobbler in town, so he was responsible for repairing the boots of everybody else.

However, he didn’t have time to repair his own boots.

This wasn’t a problem at first, but over time, his boots began to deteriorate and fall apart.

While he worked feverishly on the boots of everyone else, his feet got blisters and he started to limp.

His customers started to worry about him, but he reassured them that everything was alright.

However, after a few years, the cobbler’s feet were so injured that he could no longer work and no-one’s boots got repaired.

As a consequence, soon the entire town started to limp in pain, all because the cobbler never took the time to repair his own boots.

This simple principle is so often disregarded.

If you are in a responsible position and are one of the important links in the groups survival chain and if You do not look after yourself, after a while you’ll be no good to anyone else either.

Your best intentions will mean nothing and you’ll be unable to do what you’re meant to do.

This goes for leaders, social workers, teachers, even parents, breadwinners, homemakers and daughters-in-law. 

If you don’t take the time to care for yourself, no-one else will. So start taking care of your health both physical and mental health so that you can be happy and help others also.

YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Dedicated to all teachers on this Teachers day in India, 5th Sept, 2014


Just when she was about to give up teaching profession because she thought her teaching wasn't even changing or helping even one child, her mind was completely changed one day.

When she went to school the next day, one of her first grader's parent came to her and just fell into her arms and cried out, "THANK YOU."

The mother explained that her child had ADHD (the teacher had already discovered that) and no one had the patience to teach or just love her for who she was. She told the teacher that she made a difference in her daughter's life, just by showing that she cared and for having patience with her. The child showed interest in studies when she was with her, but her other teachers constantly condemned her because they couldn't control her.

What a compliment!

Needless to say she is still continuing on with her teaching profession.

Dear teachers, sometimes it may seem like people have forgotten how important you really are.

For every child that says, “I’m not smart enough”, “I don’t get it”, “I can’t”…… there’s a teacher who says, “You can!”

For every child who needs basic skills, knowledge, someone to believe in him……….. there’s a teacher who will do whatever it takes to encourage, to motivate, to challenge, to engage, to inspire and instill a love for learning.

So for every teacher who works with the children building a better future for us, even when it feels like no one is watching or that people have forgotten just how special you teachers really are, I SALUTE YOU!

AND I THANK YOU for teaching each child to become the next great author, artist, scientist, architect, musician, doctor, engineer or teacher.

Never give up, if you teach from the heart, you may not realize it at that precise moment..........
BUT YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE.

First secret of success--Believe in yourself

– by Steve Goodier, www.lifesupportsystem.com

Adam was ready to retire. His wife Anna, however, was less enthusiastic.

As she explained to a friend, "Adam has never done anything that required physical exertion. He never played golf, mowed the lawn or even washed the windows. When he retires, he will sit in his easy chair and expect me to bring him his food."

But to Anna's surprise, soon after her husband retired, he joined a health club. And one night, when Adam arrived home from exercise class, he announced, "I signed up for the wrestling tournament. I am going to wrestle Friday night."

Anna was shocked. "Please don't do it, Adam," she begged. "You're not in shape. You will be so beat up they will have to carry you home!"

However, he couldn't be dissuaded and she told him that if he went through with his "lame idea," she was not going to watch.

True to her word, she stayed away that Friday evening as Adam wrestled.

And just as she predicted, two men practically carried Adam home. He lay down on the couch, every muscle strained and bruised.

Before she could speak, he sputtered, "Don't say a word, Anna! This is not the worst of it. I won tonight. I have to wrestle again tomorrow night!"

As Dr. Norman Vincent Peale said, "People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success."

Humility takes you far

On the first day, as President Abraham Lincoln entered to give his inaugural address, Just in the middle, one man stood up. He was a rich aristocrat.

He said, "Mr. Lincoln, you should not forget that your father used to make shoes for my family ."

And the whole Senate laughed; they thought they had made a fool of Abraham Lincoln.

But Lincoln and that type of people are made of a totally different mettle.

Lincoln looked at the man and said, "Sir I know that my father used to make shoes in your house for your family, and there will be many others here….
But the way he made shoes; nobody else can. He was a creator. His shoes were not just shoes; he poured his whole soul in it.
I want to ask you, have you any complaint? Because I know how to make shoes myself.
If you have any complaint, I can make another pair of shoes.
But as far as I know, nobody has ever complained about my father's shoes.
He was a genius, a great creator and I am proud of my father."

The whole Senate was struck dumb.

They could not understand what kind of Man Abraham Lincoln was.

It is not what happens to us that hurts us. It is our response that hurts us. Do not be embarrassed of your parents and what they used to do for a living. Be proud of them. Humility and respect for your parents will take you far.

Concentrate on your goals

The yogi Raman was a true master of the art of archery. One morning, he invited his favorite disciple to watch a display of his skill. The disciple had seen this more than a hundred times before, but he nevertheless obeyed his teacher.

They went into the wood beside the ashram and when they reached a magnificent oak tree, Raman took a flower which he had tucked in his collar and placed it on one of the branches.

He then opened his bag and took out three objects: his splendid bow made of precious wood, an arrow and a white handkerchief embroidered with lilacs.

The yogi positioned himself one hundred paces from the spot where he had placed the flower. Facing his target, he asked his disciple to blindfold him with the embroidered handkerchief.

The disciple did as his teacher requested.

'How often have you seen me practice the noble and ancient sport of archery?' Raman asked him.

'Every day,' replied his disciple. 'And you have always managed to hit the rose from three hundred paces away.'

‘But without blindfolding,’ the disciple said to himself. He did not dare to say that to his Master.

With his eyes covered by the handkerchief, the yogi Raman placed his feet firmly on the ground, drew back the bowstring with all his might - aiming at the rose placed on one of the branches of the oak tree - and then released the arrow.

The arrow whistled through the air, but it did not even hit the tree, missing the target by an embarrassingly wide margin.

'Did I hit it?' said Raman, removing the handkerchief from his eyes.

'No, you missed completely,' replied the disciple. 'I thought you were going to demonstrate to me the power of thought and your ability to perform magic.'

'I have just taught you the most important lesson about the power of thought,' replied Raman. 'When you want something, concentrate only on that. No one will ever hit a target they cannot see.'

When one has clear and specific goals in front of one’s eyes, its easier to get motivated. When a goal is vague, the motivational value is limited. Commitment plays an important role in achieving goals. Setting and meeting goals leads to feelings of satisfaction and accomplishment. It also allows us to choose how we want to move through life.

   

Farmer, the Caretaker

A boy crossed the desert and finally arrived at an ashram in a village. He was told that the guru was delivering a discourse in the evening and the boy was given permission to attend it.

That evening, the Guru spoke of the importance of farming and their work in the fields.

At the end of the talk, the boy said to one of the other inmates: 'I was really shocked. I expected to hear an enlightened speech on sin and virtue, but the Guru talked only about tomatoes and irrigation and things like that. Where I come from we all believe that God is mercy and that all we have to do is pray.'

The inmate smiled and said: ‘Here we believe that God has done His part and now it is up to us to continue the process.'

To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget our Source. Once in our life, we need a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman…….but everyday, three times a day, we need a farmer. It isn’t the Farm that makes the farmer. Its Love, Hard work and Character, which in the end contribute to real wealth, good morals and above all, Happiness.

The power of Hands

Unknown Author

Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. She didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands.

When her grandson sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge his presence and the longer he sat he wondered if she was OK

Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her at the same time, he asked her if she was OK. She raised her head and looked at him and smiled. "Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking," she said in a clear voice strong.

"I didn't mean to disturb you, grandma, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK," the grandson explained to her.

"Have you ever looked at your hands," she asked.. "I mean really looked at your hands?"

He slowly opened his hands and stared down at them. He turned them over, palms up and then palms down. “No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands," said he as he tried to figure out the point she was making.

Grandma smiled and related this story:

"Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life.

"They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor.

They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child, my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots.

They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to war.

They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse.

They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand.

They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer.

"These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of life.

But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of God."

The grandson never looked at his hands the same again. But he remembers God reached out and took his grandma's hands and led her home. He too wanted to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon his face.

Grandmas hold our hearts forever. A grandmother is like an angel. She takes you under her wings, prays and watches over you and would give you anything..

Teaching vs Teacher

Once a man wanted very much to be a teacher. So he went to seek the advice of the wisest, most highly respected counselor in the land.

"Wise counselor," he began, "it has always been my dream to be a teacher. I want to stimulate the minds of the young people of our land. I want to lead them down the road of knowledge. Please tell me the secret of becoming a teacher."

"Your goal is a commendable one, sir. However, it is also a very difficult one to achieve. First you must overcome three major obstacles."

"I am ready to meet the challenge," answered he bravely.

"First you must swim the Sea of Children," directed the knowing counselor.

So he started off to swim the Sea of Children.
First he had to learn their 38 names.
He had to send the line cutters to the end of the line.
He made the paper throwers stay after school to clean the room.
He commanded the name callers, pushers, and punchers to apologize to their victims.
He checked passes to see how many children were in the bathroom.
And he tracked down students who were gone longer than was necessary.
He arranged the desks in alphabetical order, then boy-girl, boy-girl, and finally into small groups of four.
He lined his children up for physical education and music and library and lunch.
Then he stifled a cry when the secretary came into the room with number 39.
Tired and shaken but still undefeated, he returned to the counselor for his second task.

"You are a very determined lad," said the advisor. "However, now you must climb the Mountain of Paperwork."

He set out at once.
He wrote objectives and drew up lesson plans.
He made out report cards and graded papers.
He filled out accident reports, attendance reports and withdrawal reports.
He completed inventories, evaluations, surveys, and request forms.
Finally, he made dittos and more dittos.
He ran them off until he was purple in the face. But the courageous boy's resolve never dwindled.
He went to the wise counselor for his third task.

"You are indeed very strong, sir. But this third task will take all the courage you can muster. You must now cross the country of Duties and Committees."

At first he was hesitant. But his convictions remained steadfast. He began his long journey across the country of Duties and Committees.

He took lunch duty, bus duty, and recess duty.
He was on the social committee, patrol committee, and the faculty advisory committee.
He was the adult supervisor of the student government and ran the United Fund and Easter Seal drives.
He went to PTA meetings, NRA meetings, SST meetings, School Site meetings, and in-service workshops.
He organized bicentennial programs, talent shows, and book drives.
Finally, he was elected the building representative of the union.
At last he reached the outskirts of Duties and Committees.

Exhausted but happy, he returned to the knowledgeable counselor.

"I swam the Sea of Children. I climbed the Mountain of Paperwork. I crossed the country of Duties and Committees," he proclaimed. "So what next? When will I be a Teacher?"

"Why, Sir," began the counselor, "you have been a teacher all along."

He protested, "But I have not taught! I have not stimulated any minds. I have not guided anyone down the road to knowledge."

"Oh, so you want to TEACH? I thought you said you wanted to be a TEACHER. That is a completely different story,” said the counselor!!!!!

Endurance and Hard work

Once a king had announced that anyone who wanted the post of personal assistant must meet him.

Many people gathered in the palace. The king led them to a pond and said, "Whoever will empty this pond's water with this pot will be chosen for the post. But remember, there is a hole in the pot."

Many left without a single try. They said, "The king has already chosen someone else. Let's go."

But one man kept filling the pot with pond water patiently. But always within few moments, the water poured on the ground completely. He never gave up and kept trying persistently.

At last the pond became empty. The man found a diamond ring in the empty pond and he gave it to the king.

At this the king said, "This ring is a reward for your endurance and hard work. You are fit for the job."

Message:
1. Tough times don’t last; tough people do
2. Life is just repeated attempts at trying to do better
3. Endurance is patience concentrated

Short Stories With A Moral

A child told the mother: “Mom, you are very beautiful today.”
Asked the mother : “Why?”
The child said : “Because you did not get angry today.”

Moral of the story:
1. It is easy to possess beauty:- do not get angry.
2. Anger is temporary madness.
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A man attended an interview for a job.
Along the corridor he picked up a piece and threw it into a dustbin.
The interviewer passed by and saw it.
This man got the job.
Moral of the story:
Live with good habits and you will be recognized.
_______________________________________________________

A small boy worked as an apprentice in a bicycle shop.
A man sent a bicycle for repair.
After repairing the bicycle this boy cleaned up the bicycle and it looked like a new one.
Other apprentices laughed at him for doing redundant work.
The second day after the owner claimed the bicycle back, this boy was offered a job.
Moral of the story :
1.Go the extra mile to be successful.
2. Doing more gains more; doing less loses more.
_______________________________________________________

The owner of a farm asked his child to work every day at the farm.
His friend told him : “ You do not have to make your son work so hard. The crops would grow just as good.”
Owner of the farm replied: “ I am not cultivating my crops but my child.”
Moral of the story:
1. A simple way to groom a child is to let him experience some hardships.
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Once a Bird asked a BEE, "After a continuous hard work, you prepare the honey..........
But a man steals the honey.
Do you not feel sad?"
Then the Bee replied, "Never......
Because a man can only steal my honey, not the art of making honey...."
Moral of the story:
1. Attitude is everything
2. A good attitude can find something good in everything

Hard work or Smart work?

Two salesmen joined a wholesale company together just after graduation. Both worked very hard.

After few years, the boss promoted one of them but the other remained at the lower grade itself.

He could not take it anymore, tendered his resignation to the boss and complained to the boss that he did not value hard working staff, but only promoted those who flattered him.

The boss knew that this man also worked very hard for the years, but in order to help him realise the difference between him and his counterpart, the boss asked him to do the following.

"Go and find out if anyone selling water melon in the market?"

He returned and said yes.

The boss asked how much per kg?

He went back to the market to ask and returned to inform boss the Rs12 per kg.

Boss told him, “I will ask the same question to your friend, let me see how he fares.”

The other salesman went, returned and said,
“Boss, only one person is selling water melon.
Rs12 per kg and Rs100 for 10 kg.
He has inventory of 340 melons.
On the table there are 58 melons.
They are bought from a Farm two days ago, they are fresh and red, good quality.
Every melon weighs about 15 kg,”

The salesman realised the difference between himself and his counterpart.

Letter by a Grandmother to her Grandchildren

To my beautiful grandchildren...

Our world is changing so fast and there are many things I wish for you...

I'd really like for you to know about hand-me-down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover loaf sandwiches. I really would.

I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated.

I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car.

And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen.

I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in.

I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother or sister.

And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room, but when they want to crawl under the covers with you because they're scared, I hope you let them.

When you want to see a movie and your little brother or sister wants to tag along, I hope you'll let them.

I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely.

If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.

I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books.

When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head.

May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.

I don't care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don't like it.

And if a friend offers you a cigarette, I hope you realize he is not your friend.

I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your grandparents and go fishing with your uncle.

These are just some of the things that I wish for you - tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it's the only way to appreciate life.

A lesson from Chinese Bamboo tree

This story is very much true in rearing our beautiful children. As parents, we have to patiently exert efforts in teaching and disciplining our children for them to develop right values and to adopt strong character while at the same time defeat many difficulties and different challenges.

A great lesson of patience, persistence and hard work can be learned from the story of planting Chinese bamboo. Unlike most other plants, Chinese bamboo is quite unique on its own. 

When this bamboo is planted, watered, and nurtured for the whole growing season, it does not outwardly develop even just for an inch. Then, on the next growing season, the farmer must continue to irrigate, fertilize and care for the bamboo tree and yet nothing happens – it fails to sprout just the same.

And as the seasons go in and out, the farmer has to continue caring for the bamboo for four consecutive years.

What could really be discouraging is the farmer has nothing substantial to demonstrate for all of his labor in caring and growing the tree. Four lonely years of hard work and caring and yet you have nothing!

And then on the fifth year, you must be prepared for something so amazing and incredible!

All the hard work seems to be paid off on the fifth year because that Chinese bamboo tree seed at last grows and not just growing as we normally see with other plants. The bamboo tree shoots up to more than 80 feet all in just one growing season! Now, that is a very astonishing demonstration of the power of nature!

Was the small tree inactive for four years and then just decides to grow dramatically on the fifth? The answer is quite clear for us to see. The little tree was actually developing itself underground by expanding its root system to make it tough enough to sustain its impending external growth in the fifth year and even beyond.

Had the tree failed to build up a strong and able underground foundation, it would be impossible for it to keep on growing when it is time to sprout outside into the outside world.

If that Chinese bamboo farmer dug up his little bamboo seeds each year just because he is curious or wants to make sure it was growing or what, he could effectively stopped the tree’s growth. 

There are times when we demand our little children to sit still and behave and be patient but big lessons can be deeply taught once they are demonstrated in actions and not just in words.