Getting Started on Container Gardening
Any gardening enthusiast will tell you that there is no place too small for you to create your own garden. With enough knowledge and creativity you can make turn any space into a beautiful garden. One of the best solutions to the lack of space is container gardening. Container gardening involves using containers to grow vegetables, herbs and fruits.
There are many benefits to container gardening the most important of which is that it requires less soil and takes up less space. People who live in apartment complexes, those with impaired mobility, and those who live in dry areas can still engage in gardening through this method. Container gardening also requires less time than growing and nurturing a big garden so those who do not have too much free time can start a container garden. Read More
People who are interested in container gardening can visit Simon Newman's blog-- container gardening This website will teach you everything you need to know about container gardening It also provides additional information regarding small or pocket gardens.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Eric and Alex Cursetobless Mentoring
Our story isn't extraordinary or unique. In fact, it's probably the same story that thousands of other Big Brothers/Big Sisters would share with you about their experience getting to know a total stranger. I'm a 48-year-old career military officer in the US Coast Guard and my mentee is a ten-year-old boy whose father lives 350 miles away. Matched when he was eight years old, we have spent the last two and a half years getting to know each other and learning how to be friends. This is our story.
I moved to Sault Ste Marie, MI after receiving military transfer orders from the CGC POLAR STAR in Seattle, WA. Back in Seattle, I have three children from a fourteen-year marriage that ended in 1997, who weren't even sure if the Upper Peninsula of Michigan was part of the United States or not. It is.
From the moment I arrived, I felt isolated from my own family and searched for a way to fill my time in a productive manner. About nine months later, I saw a BBBS ad in the Coast Guard monthly information flyer called the "Group Scoop". I called and made an appointment.
At the time, Alex was an eight-year old boy who had already been on the BBBS waiting list for two years before I discovered the program. He lived alone with his mother in a comfortable home just outside the city limits. Alex has a sister who is twelve years older than him and a brother who is two years older. Neither his brother nor his sister lived close enough to provide the friendship and leadership that Alex's mother wanted him to have. Alex visits his father a couple of times a year.
Both Alex and I are shy with strangers. We were a little bit embarrassed to be ourselves at first, but this wasn't a relationship that either one of us wanted to back away from just because it required some effort on our parts. During one of our first visits, we talked about all the things we like to do, made a list, and presented it to his mother for approval. We have been very successful at balancing our activities between things that require money such as movies, bowling, skating, skydiving (just kidding) and with community volunteer work like Habitat for Humanity, shoveling snow (my house) and working various booths at local festivals. We also set aside time for just sitting down together playing chess, checkers, cards or backgammon. We frequently find ourselves at the library looking up things like which Roman numeral means 50 or getting on the Internet. We go out an average of two times a week, sometimes more, sometimes less. Even very simple things like washing the car or going for a ride on the motorbike provides satisfaction for both of us.
Because I'm older than the average Big Brother, when we're out in public, people frequently assume that I’m Alex's dad. He and I have talked about this several times. Alex misses having his father close by and I was filling that void for him. Likewise, I missed my children and he was filling that void for me. Two years later, we have come to respect one another as good friends, brothers, if you will. We're now as comfortable with each other as we are with people we've known our whole lives. He is one of my favorite people, and I believe that my influence has had a positive effect on him. Alex's social skills have grown tremendously over the course of our friendship, and I'd like to think that I helped him with that. I know that his friendship has had a profound influence on my life.
I'm being transferred back to Seattle this summer. Now Alex and I have to learn how to say goodbye after two and a half wonderful years together, which is something I'm not looking forward to. I know we've developed feelings for one another, but we haven't talked about that yet. I hope the last thing we get to teach each other is how to say goodbye while keeping the joy of each other's memories in our hearts.
I moved to Sault Ste Marie, MI after receiving military transfer orders from the CGC POLAR STAR in Seattle, WA. Back in Seattle, I have three children from a fourteen-year marriage that ended in 1997, who weren't even sure if the Upper Peninsula of Michigan was part of the United States or not. It is.From the moment I arrived, I felt isolated from my own family and searched for a way to fill my time in a productive manner. About nine months later, I saw a BBBS ad in the Coast Guard monthly information flyer called the "Group Scoop". I called and made an appointment.
At the time, Alex was an eight-year old boy who had already been on the BBBS waiting list for two years before I discovered the program. He lived alone with his mother in a comfortable home just outside the city limits. Alex has a sister who is twelve years older than him and a brother who is two years older. Neither his brother nor his sister lived close enough to provide the friendship and leadership that Alex's mother wanted him to have. Alex visits his father a couple of times a year.
Both Alex and I are shy with strangers. We were a little bit embarrassed to be ourselves at first, but this wasn't a relationship that either one of us wanted to back away from just because it required some effort on our parts. During one of our first visits, we talked about all the things we like to do, made a list, and presented it to his mother for approval. We have been very successful at balancing our activities between things that require money such as movies, bowling, skating, skydiving (just kidding) and with community volunteer work like Habitat for Humanity, shoveling snow (my house) and working various booths at local festivals. We also set aside time for just sitting down together playing chess, checkers, cards or backgammon. We frequently find ourselves at the library looking up things like which Roman numeral means 50 or getting on the Internet. We go out an average of two times a week, sometimes more, sometimes less. Even very simple things like washing the car or going for a ride on the motorbike provides satisfaction for both of us.
Because I'm older than the average Big Brother, when we're out in public, people frequently assume that I’m Alex's dad. He and I have talked about this several times. Alex misses having his father close by and I was filling that void for him. Likewise, I missed my children and he was filling that void for me. Two years later, we have come to respect one another as good friends, brothers, if you will. We're now as comfortable with each other as we are with people we've known our whole lives. He is one of my favorite people, and I believe that my influence has had a positive effect on him. Alex's social skills have grown tremendously over the course of our friendship, and I'd like to think that I helped him with that. I know that his friendship has had a profound influence on my life.
I'm being transferred back to Seattle this summer. Now Alex and I have to learn how to say goodbye after two and a half wonderful years together, which is something I'm not looking forward to. I know we've developed feelings for one another, but we haven't talked about that yet. I hope the last thing we get to teach each other is how to say goodbye while keeping the joy of each other's memories in our hearts.
Fields of Blessings on Father's Day
Fields of Blessings on Father's Day
On Father’s Day we take the time
To turn our thoughts to dad
Thank him for the home he gave
For all the things we had.
We think about the fleeting years
Too quickly, gone for good
It seems like only yesterday
I’d go back if I could.
A time when dad was always there
No matter what the weather
Always strong when things went wrong
He held our lives together.
He strived so hard from day to day
And never once complained
With steady hands, he worked the land
And kept the family name.
He taught us that hard work pays off
You reap just what you sow
He said that if you tend your crops
Your field will overflow.
My harvest has been bountiful
He taught me how to give
In his firm and steadfast way
He taught me how to live.
Dad dwells among the angels now
He left us much too soon
He glides across a golden field
Above the harvest moon.
I see him in the fields of grain
He rides upon the wind
And when my path is beaten down
He picks me up again.
~ Marilyn Ferguson ~
All Rights Reserved
"Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live." Proverbs 4:1-4 KJV
On Father’s Day we take the time
To turn our thoughts to dad
Thank him for the home he gave
For all the things we had.
We think about the fleeting years
Too quickly, gone for good
It seems like only yesterday
I’d go back if I could.
A time when dad was always there
No matter what the weather
Always strong when things went wrong
He held our lives together.
He strived so hard from day to day
And never once complained
With steady hands, he worked the land
And kept the family name.
He taught us that hard work pays off
You reap just what you sow
He said that if you tend your crops
Your field will overflow.
My harvest has been bountiful
He taught me how to give
In his firm and steadfast way
He taught me how to live.
Dad dwells among the angels now
He left us much too soon
He glides across a golden field
Above the harvest moon.
I see him in the fields of grain
He rides upon the wind
And when my path is beaten down
He picks me up again.
~ Marilyn Ferguson ~
All Rights Reserved
"Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live." Proverbs 4:1-4 KJV
Saying “happy Father’s Day” Cursetobless In Different Languages
Saying “happy Father’s Day” in Different Languages
"I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection." - Sigmund Freud.
Remember the days as a child, when you used to wait for your father to be back home in the evening? When you would jump into his arms … share your day’s exploits with him? And how patiently he would hear to all your tales? How easily he would solve the most intricate problems? You would know his arrival by the sheer knock on the door… you knew it was him. You knew him by his body odor - that soothing one that always seemed to reassure you that he was near. You knew him by his touch, his sounds, his gait …… you knew him by instinct.
The picture remains same. Over time and across geographical locations – the picture of a child relating to his/her father remains unaltered. No matter which corner of the world you belong the facets of relationship with your father never seems to change – the games you played with him in the backyard, the long drives, the values you learnt...the list is endless.
It’s this universality of a father-child relationship that makes Fathers Day a global event. While dates vary across regions, so does the language of wishing your father a “Happy Father’s Day”.
This is how you would say “Happy Father’s Day” in different languages –
1) Spanish - Día de padres feliz
2) Russian - Счастливый день отцов
3) Portugese - Dia de pais feliz
4) Italian - Giorno di padri felice
5) German - Glücklicher Vatertag
6) French - Jour de pères heureux
7) Dutch - De gelukkige Dag van Vaders
Although most countries celebrate Fathers Day according to the American custom, on the third Sunday of June, however there are some regions where Fathers day is celebrated on other dates. Argentina, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Cuba, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Ireland, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Zimbabwe all follow the American custom ( third Sunday of June) while Austria, Belgium and Costa Rica celebrate the event on the second Sunday of June. In the southern hemisphere – Australia and New Zealand celebrate Father’s Day on the first Sunday of September. Russia celebrates the event on 23rd February while In China Father’s Day is celebrated on the 8th of August. Some countries again have a religious aspect to this event. While Iran celebrates Father’s Day according yto the Islamic calendar on 13 Rajab, Germany follows the Biblical date of Ascension Day to celebrate the event.
No matter what date the event is celebrated on, what language is used to wish – the core emotion of expressing love, respect and gratitude on this day remains unchanged.
"I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection." - Sigmund Freud.
Remember the days as a child, when you used to wait for your father to be back home in the evening? When you would jump into his arms … share your day’s exploits with him? And how patiently he would hear to all your tales? How easily he would solve the most intricate problems? You would know his arrival by the sheer knock on the door… you knew it was him. You knew him by his body odor - that soothing one that always seemed to reassure you that he was near. You knew him by his touch, his sounds, his gait …… you knew him by instinct.
The picture remains same. Over time and across geographical locations – the picture of a child relating to his/her father remains unaltered. No matter which corner of the world you belong the facets of relationship with your father never seems to change – the games you played with him in the backyard, the long drives, the values you learnt...the list is endless.It’s this universality of a father-child relationship that makes Fathers Day a global event. While dates vary across regions, so does the language of wishing your father a “Happy Father’s Day”.
This is how you would say “Happy Father’s Day” in different languages –
1) Spanish - Día de padres feliz
2) Russian - Счастливый день отцов
3) Portugese - Dia de pais feliz
4) Italian - Giorno di padri felice
5) German - Glücklicher Vatertag
6) French - Jour de pères heureux
7) Dutch - De gelukkige Dag van Vaders
Although most countries celebrate Fathers Day according to the American custom, on the third Sunday of June, however there are some regions where Fathers day is celebrated on other dates. Argentina, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Cuba, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Ireland, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Zimbabwe all follow the American custom ( third Sunday of June) while Austria, Belgium and Costa Rica celebrate the event on the second Sunday of June. In the southern hemisphere – Australia and New Zealand celebrate Father’s Day on the first Sunday of September. Russia celebrates the event on 23rd February while In China Father’s Day is celebrated on the 8th of August. Some countries again have a religious aspect to this event. While Iran celebrates Father’s Day according yto the Islamic calendar on 13 Rajab, Germany follows the Biblical date of Ascension Day to celebrate the event.
No matter what date the event is celebrated on, what language is used to wish – the core emotion of expressing love, respect and gratitude on this day remains unchanged.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Bible Content Cursetobless
~ Duplicate Content of Biblical Proportions ~
I have been doing some research of "Top 10 Lists" for a new site. Whilst no list of the top 10 best selling books is exactly the same, there is one common feature. Every single top 10 list states that The Bible in all its variations has sold more than 6 billion copies.
That is close to the current world population, estimated by the CIA to be 6,525,170,264
Thus there are probably as many bibles in the world as people
That is an awful lot of duplicate content
~ Gideons ~
Gideons is an interesting organisation, whose work is evangelism and distribution of the bible. You will see Gideons bibles in every hotel room, and I was given a Gideons bible whilst at school in addition to a larger bible I was issued for Religious Education lessons.
With the help of the Gideons organisation, whenever you need a bible, there is one close at hand.
~ Spread the Word ~
This is a fundamental concept in all religion, not just Christian. It is not enough to have the knowledge and faith, you are also meant to pass it onto other people. Lots of the time the knowledge will fall on deaf ears. If the knowledge is out there, and easy to find even without specifically looking for it, such as in a hotel room drawer, it has a benefit.
~ Worthwhile Duplicate Content ~
I am sure many of those 6 billion bibles are in dusty attics, unused drawers, or buried at the back on shelves, long forgotten. Every now and then one copy gets rediscovered, unearthed or brought out of hiding.
~ The Bible and Duplicate Content ~
A church is not the only place you can find a copy of the bible. I am sure many religious people read more of the bible while in church than the cumulative total of all other places, but that doesn't make it pointless to have multiple copies in your home, school, library and even hotel rooms. All those copies of the bible are seeds, and every now and then one of those seeds gets picked up and begins to germinate, wherever the seed is located.
I have been doing some research of "Top 10 Lists" for a new site. Whilst no list of the top 10 best selling books is exactly the same, there is one common feature. Every single top 10 list states that The Bible in all its variations has sold more than 6 billion copies.
That is close to the current world population, estimated by the CIA to be 6,525,170,264
Thus there are probably as many bibles in the world as people
That is an awful lot of duplicate content
~ Gideons ~
Gideons is an interesting organisation, whose work is evangelism and distribution of the bible. You will see Gideons bibles in every hotel room, and I was given a Gideons bible whilst at school in addition to a larger bible I was issued for Religious Education lessons.
With the help of the Gideons organisation, whenever you need a bible, there is one close at hand.
~ Spread the Word ~
This is a fundamental concept in all religion, not just Christian. It is not enough to have the knowledge and faith, you are also meant to pass it onto other people. Lots of the time the knowledge will fall on deaf ears. If the knowledge is out there, and easy to find even without specifically looking for it, such as in a hotel room drawer, it has a benefit.
~ Worthwhile Duplicate Content ~
I am sure many of those 6 billion bibles are in dusty attics, unused drawers, or buried at the back on shelves, long forgotten. Every now and then one copy gets rediscovered, unearthed or brought out of hiding.
~ The Bible and Duplicate Content ~
A church is not the only place you can find a copy of the bible. I am sure many religious people read more of the bible while in church than the cumulative total of all other places, but that doesn't make it pointless to have multiple copies in your home, school, library and even hotel rooms. All those copies of the bible are seeds, and every now and then one of those seeds gets picked up and begins to germinate, wherever the seed is located.
The Lesson
The Lesson
Last month I received a precious lesson around the swimming pool when my kids participated on the Marlins Swim Team. Curious moms like myself stepped out of our SUVs and minivans and stared with wide-eyed wonder at a woman driving an old Caddy, eight children in tow.
Her name is Lynn Clater but many of us simply referred to her as, "The mom with eight kids." Everyone, the husbands included, could picture the dishwater blonde with this colorful brood of children—Asian, black, white and somewhere in between. The seemingly close-knit group of all clean, smiling siblings looked like family.
We leaned our heads in twos, our eyes on their entrance, their departure, speculating that she was a foster parent. Regardless, we were amazed by her patience and kindness and touched by the mutual love that flowed so easily between all of them.
"Mama, look at my backstroke!" one of them would yell, and with a kind of delicate grace she'd sashay toward the blue waters packed with kids, most often with an eight-month-old strapped around her waist and a two-year-old on her heels.
"Great! I see ya, sugar," she'd bellow over the tumult.
One day, curiosity got the best of me and I boldly asked her how she came to mother so many children. I was surprised to find that she was not a foster parent, received no government funds, but years ago decided to start Noah's Ark Children's Ministry, Inc. in her home, to care for children of imprisoned mothers.
"But why so many?" I asked her, especially after discovering she had abandoned a high-paying job and her husband had suffered heart problems.
Her good-natured response was, "Why not? We live by faith and God always provides."
For her faith and her commitment, for her love and dedication, I'd like to bestow the good neighbor award on Lynn Clater of Marietta. Thank you, Lynn, for showing my family and others what happens when you open up your home and heart and extend love and caring for the good of many.
Last month I received a precious lesson around the swimming pool when my kids participated on the Marlins Swim Team. Curious moms like myself stepped out of our SUVs and minivans and stared with wide-eyed wonder at a woman driving an old Caddy, eight children in tow.
Her name is Lynn Clater but many of us simply referred to her as, "The mom with eight kids." Everyone, the husbands included, could picture the dishwater blonde with this colorful brood of children—Asian, black, white and somewhere in between. The seemingly close-knit group of all clean, smiling siblings looked like family.We leaned our heads in twos, our eyes on their entrance, their departure, speculating that she was a foster parent. Regardless, we were amazed by her patience and kindness and touched by the mutual love that flowed so easily between all of them.
"Mama, look at my backstroke!" one of them would yell, and with a kind of delicate grace she'd sashay toward the blue waters packed with kids, most often with an eight-month-old strapped around her waist and a two-year-old on her heels.
"Great! I see ya, sugar," she'd bellow over the tumult.
One day, curiosity got the best of me and I boldly asked her how she came to mother so many children. I was surprised to find that she was not a foster parent, received no government funds, but years ago decided to start Noah's Ark Children's Ministry, Inc. in her home, to care for children of imprisoned mothers.
"But why so many?" I asked her, especially after discovering she had abandoned a high-paying job and her husband had suffered heart problems.
Her good-natured response was, "Why not? We live by faith and God always provides."
For her faith and her commitment, for her love and dedication, I'd like to bestow the good neighbor award on Lynn Clater of Marietta. Thank you, Lynn, for showing my family and others what happens when you open up your home and heart and extend love and caring for the good of many.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
The Four Gentlemen Who Created A Beautiful World
The Four Gentlemen Who Created A Beautiful World
Four gentlemen visited me in my office. They came to say goodbye to me. They did not want to be part of this world.. They blamed me for their departure from this world... "It is a shame that individuals like you are forcing us to leave this world. We came here with a noble intention but it seems that you are not interested in us at all . You will suffer all along your life Vish. We curse you......"
" Go to Hell" I said. I have been doing my duty to the best of my abilities and you seem to say that i have been responsible for your exit...."
Turning to the Happiness, the first gentlemen, I said " You have failed to cheer up people..... so don't open your mouth..."
To Honesty I said " You have lost all interest in mankind....You are selfish and care only about yourself... Who cares for you anyway?..."
To Integrity I said " You fear to partner with ordinary human beings and roam around only with the great people. So Get lost this moment....
To Knowledge I said " You want to share your secrets only with few people. You are afraid that if everyone knows these secrets your value will be undermined.. You are playing a game and your intentions are not genuine, I dont need you in any case...
All the four gentlemen left my office. I heaved a sigh of relief. I became light... These four people had good characteristics but they put too much pressure on my being.....
Everyone in this world is trying to be happy....
Everyone in this world is trying to be honest...
Everyone in this world is trying to integrate their inner world with the outer...
Everyone in this world is trying to acquire knowledge...
And they keep trying for the rest of their life......
They will never succeed. How many people have been born and how many have died?. Billions have come and gone and all we have been doing is trying, trying and trying.... We are failing,failing and keep failing....
The reason is simple. ...
We tried to find happiness in only good things ,not the bad ones. Who told you my dear friend that happiness means showing of all your teeth? Who gave you the permission to deny happiness in sorrow and pain? Which school of thought related happiness with only pleasure...You belittled your own happiness and forced me to drive this gentlemen away from your life....
Majority of the human beings are honest. They pay all their bills on time and never cheat other people. But they cheat themselves. When you heard that faint voice from within you say something why did you not pay attention to it ?. Why were you not honest to all those wonderful things your inner voice whispered to you? Why did you cheat it my dear friend? Why did you not have the guts to follow it? Why? Why? Why? You did not earmark a place for honesty and forced me to drive this gentlemen away from your life....
You balanced your personal life with your professional life. Atleast you attempted to do.. But you never cared a damn about balancing your inner world with the outer. You gave it the stupid name of spirituality and gave it the last preference. When everything else failed you took shelter in your inner self. You are not ashamed to visit the bank everyday,you are not ashamed to have sex everyday but you have problems praying to God,to evoke your inner being,to visit a temple,church or mosque...everyday. You thought you could integrate your inner self with the outer at a later date, which stupid thought gave you permission to think in this manner my dear friend? You lost out on a golden opportunity to tap into the vast potential of your higher self and realise all your dreams ... You forced me to drive this gentlemen away from your life....
You gave education a lot of respect. I appreciate you for that. You worked hard on your education and you did very well. I salute you for that. But where is the sharpness of the mind... where is the concentration of the mind... How did doubt creep up in your mind, from where did insecurity manage to get in, how did you allow fear to enter into your premises?. How could these have happened if you had the real knowledge? Education is knowing the external world and knowledge is about mastering your inner being. You were educated but you lacked knowledge. You were an individual who went into the battlefield with all the tools but you did not know which territory to capture. You captured everything which came your way and this spelt doom for you... You could see but you could not visualise. You were strong but you were not powerful. You were wealthy but you were not rich. You were happy but you were not blissful... You were ignorant about knowledge and paid no attention to it. You had everything and yet you had nothing.... You forced me to drive this gentlemen away from your life....
"Relax...." said the four gentlemen to me... "We will give you and everyone else another chance. This time we will go out of our way to help everyone.. We promise you that... We will work one on one with every individual . We will work day and night for you. We will help you restore beauty in this world...
I thought about for a moment. Should i accept their proposal... Are these four guys genuine...?
I rose from the table and slapped them hard on their face. I returned home... "Daddy what happened to you, did someone hit you on your face. Your face is all red and swollen" said my six year old son. I looked at the mirror. I could see the four gentlemen smiling. Their face were not red and swollen... They were not affected by my reaction. " We are here to stay and help you... We are not going anywhere.We look forward to your criticism and active participation...." they seemed to say... I was embarrassed. My child came running. I hid my face. He forced it open with his gentle hands. The redness had disappeared and so was the swelling... We hugged each other.The four gentlemen also participated...... A beautiful world was created that very moment...
Four gentlemen visited me in my office. They came to say goodbye to me. They did not want to be part of this world.. They blamed me for their departure from this world... "It is a shame that individuals like you are forcing us to leave this world. We came here with a noble intention but it seems that you are not interested in us at all . You will suffer all along your life Vish. We curse you......"
" Go to Hell" I said. I have been doing my duty to the best of my abilities and you seem to say that i have been responsible for your exit...."
Turning to the Happiness, the first gentlemen, I said " You have failed to cheer up people..... so don't open your mouth..."
To Honesty I said " You have lost all interest in mankind....You are selfish and care only about yourself... Who cares for you anyway?..."
To Integrity I said " You fear to partner with ordinary human beings and roam around only with the great people. So Get lost this moment....
To Knowledge I said " You want to share your secrets only with few people. You are afraid that if everyone knows these secrets your value will be undermined.. You are playing a game and your intentions are not genuine, I dont need you in any case...
All the four gentlemen left my office. I heaved a sigh of relief. I became light... These four people had good characteristics but they put too much pressure on my being.....
Everyone in this world is trying to be happy....
Everyone in this world is trying to be honest...
Everyone in this world is trying to integrate their inner world with the outer...
Everyone in this world is trying to acquire knowledge...
And they keep trying for the rest of their life......
They will never succeed. How many people have been born and how many have died?. Billions have come and gone and all we have been doing is trying, trying and trying.... We are failing,failing and keep failing....
The reason is simple. ...
We tried to find happiness in only good things ,not the bad ones. Who told you my dear friend that happiness means showing of all your teeth? Who gave you the permission to deny happiness in sorrow and pain? Which school of thought related happiness with only pleasure...You belittled your own happiness and forced me to drive this gentlemen away from your life....
Majority of the human beings are honest. They pay all their bills on time and never cheat other people. But they cheat themselves. When you heard that faint voice from within you say something why did you not pay attention to it ?. Why were you not honest to all those wonderful things your inner voice whispered to you? Why did you cheat it my dear friend? Why did you not have the guts to follow it? Why? Why? Why? You did not earmark a place for honesty and forced me to drive this gentlemen away from your life....
You balanced your personal life with your professional life. Atleast you attempted to do.. But you never cared a damn about balancing your inner world with the outer. You gave it the stupid name of spirituality and gave it the last preference. When everything else failed you took shelter in your inner self. You are not ashamed to visit the bank everyday,you are not ashamed to have sex everyday but you have problems praying to God,to evoke your inner being,to visit a temple,church or mosque...everyday. You thought you could integrate your inner self with the outer at a later date, which stupid thought gave you permission to think in this manner my dear friend? You lost out on a golden opportunity to tap into the vast potential of your higher self and realise all your dreams ... You forced me to drive this gentlemen away from your life....
You gave education a lot of respect. I appreciate you for that. You worked hard on your education and you did very well. I salute you for that. But where is the sharpness of the mind... where is the concentration of the mind... How did doubt creep up in your mind, from where did insecurity manage to get in, how did you allow fear to enter into your premises?. How could these have happened if you had the real knowledge? Education is knowing the external world and knowledge is about mastering your inner being. You were educated but you lacked knowledge. You were an individual who went into the battlefield with all the tools but you did not know which territory to capture. You captured everything which came your way and this spelt doom for you... You could see but you could not visualise. You were strong but you were not powerful. You were wealthy but you were not rich. You were happy but you were not blissful... You were ignorant about knowledge and paid no attention to it. You had everything and yet you had nothing.... You forced me to drive this gentlemen away from your life....
"Relax...." said the four gentlemen to me... "We will give you and everyone else another chance. This time we will go out of our way to help everyone.. We promise you that... We will work one on one with every individual . We will work day and night for you. We will help you restore beauty in this world...
I thought about for a moment. Should i accept their proposal... Are these four guys genuine...?
I rose from the table and slapped them hard on their face. I returned home... "Daddy what happened to you, did someone hit you on your face. Your face is all red and swollen" said my six year old son. I looked at the mirror. I could see the four gentlemen smiling. Their face were not red and swollen... They were not affected by my reaction. " We are here to stay and help you... We are not going anywhere.We look forward to your criticism and active participation...." they seemed to say... I was embarrassed. My child came running. I hid my face. He forced it open with his gentle hands. The redness had disappeared and so was the swelling... We hugged each other.The four gentlemen also participated...... A beautiful world was created that very moment...
Do You Count Your Blessings Or Think Your Blessings Don't Count?
Do You Count Your Blessings Or Think Your Blessings Don't Count?
"If the only prayer you say in your life is 'Thank you', that would suffice" (Miester Eckhart). Do you have an attitude of gratitude? If we stop to think more, we would stop to thank more. Of all the human feelings, gratitude has the shortest memory.
Be aggressively thankful. When it comes to living, do you take things for granted or take them with gratitude? Thanksgiving is the attitude of a productive life.
No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks. How long has it been since you thanked those closest to you? The person who forgets the language of gratitude will never find themselves on speaking terms with happiness.
Replace regret with gratitude. Be grateful for what you have, not regretful for what you have not. If you can't be thankful for what you have, be thankful for what you have escaped.
It's a sure sign of mediocrity to be moderate with our thanks. Don't find yourself so busy asking God for favors that you have no time to thank Him. I believe we should have the attitude of George Hubert when he said, "Thou O Lord has given so much to me, give me one more thing - a grateful heart."
Thanksgiving, you will find, creates power in your life because it opens the generators of your heart to respond gratefully, to receive joyfully and to react creatively.
Count your blessings at every opportunity. Find fifty things to be thankful for today. As you do, creative ideas will spring forth as a result of the mental conversation you are having with yourself.
One of the best ways to generate momentum and opportunities is to sit down and write thank you notes to people who have influenced your life.
The most highly satisfied life can be found in being thankful. Appreciative words are one of the most powerful forces for good on the earth. Thankful words don't cost much, yet they accomplish so much. Count your blessings; don't discount them!
Don't find yourself at the end of your life saying: "What a wonderful life I've had! I only wish I'd appreciated it sooner."
"If the only prayer you say in your life is 'Thank you', that would suffice" (Miester Eckhart). Do you have an attitude of gratitude? If we stop to think more, we would stop to thank more. Of all the human feelings, gratitude has the shortest memory.
Be aggressively thankful. When it comes to living, do you take things for granted or take them with gratitude? Thanksgiving is the attitude of a productive life.
No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks. How long has it been since you thanked those closest to you? The person who forgets the language of gratitude will never find themselves on speaking terms with happiness.
Replace regret with gratitude. Be grateful for what you have, not regretful for what you have not. If you can't be thankful for what you have, be thankful for what you have escaped.
It's a sure sign of mediocrity to be moderate with our thanks. Don't find yourself so busy asking God for favors that you have no time to thank Him. I believe we should have the attitude of George Hubert when he said, "Thou O Lord has given so much to me, give me one more thing - a grateful heart."
Thanksgiving, you will find, creates power in your life because it opens the generators of your heart to respond gratefully, to receive joyfully and to react creatively.
Count your blessings at every opportunity. Find fifty things to be thankful for today. As you do, creative ideas will spring forth as a result of the mental conversation you are having with yourself.
One of the best ways to generate momentum and opportunities is to sit down and write thank you notes to people who have influenced your life.
The most highly satisfied life can be found in being thankful. Appreciative words are one of the most powerful forces for good on the earth. Thankful words don't cost much, yet they accomplish so much. Count your blessings; don't discount them!
Don't find yourself at the end of your life saying: "What a wonderful life I've had! I only wish I'd appreciated it sooner."
Change Your Story, Improve Your Life
Change Your Story, Improve Your Life
What do you tell yourself and others about your life? Do you paint a picture of your life as happy and optimistic or as somber and sad?
It’s not what happens to us in this life but it is what we do with and about what happens to us in this life. Life is not fair. Never has been. Never will be. That’s just the way it is. So if you don’t like the hand that you’ve been dealt you have a right to complain all you want but that won’t change circumstances and it won’t make it better. It will make it worse.
Our lives are defined by the stories we tell ourselves and others. Good things happen to everybody and bad things happen to everybody. But it’s the story we tell that emphasizes the event.
We’ve all heard inspiring stories about people who have overcame hardships and difficulties. Those are the stories everyone likes to hear. They remind us of the triumph of the human spirit. On the other hand we all hear stories of gloom and doom from often well-meaning friends, loved ones, relatives. We hear exaggerated stories of sickness and despair. But all of the exaggeration of the bad brings more bad to your life. You get what you focus on. You see what you look for. If you are focusing on “how bad it is” that is what you are getting, more of “how bad it is”. If you are focused on the good that is what you get more of “the good”.
You can choose the stories you tell in your own life. You can choose to downplay the bad things and focus on the good things.
You can choose to put your emotions into the happy and joyful things and minimize your emotional words and stories about the bad things. We all have things we don’t like and things that happen to us that we would rather not have in our lives, but our lives go on. And our stories go on. The definition of what happened to you lies in the story you tell about it. When you change your story, you change your life because you changed the meaning and the definition of what happened.
Viktor Frankl, the holocaust survivor and the author of the great book “Man’s Search for Meaning” said
“Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
Mr. Frankl survived one of most horrific events of all times. He could have told a horrendous story but he chose not to. Somehow he found meaning in it and he chose for his story to be a triumph of the human spirit.
What do you tell yourself and others about your life? Do you paint a picture of your life as happy and optimistic or as somber and sad?
It’s not what happens to us in this life but it is what we do with and about what happens to us in this life. Life is not fair. Never has been. Never will be. That’s just the way it is. So if you don’t like the hand that you’ve been dealt you have a right to complain all you want but that won’t change circumstances and it won’t make it better. It will make it worse.
Our lives are defined by the stories we tell ourselves and others. Good things happen to everybody and bad things happen to everybody. But it’s the story we tell that emphasizes the event.
We’ve all heard inspiring stories about people who have overcame hardships and difficulties. Those are the stories everyone likes to hear. They remind us of the triumph of the human spirit. On the other hand we all hear stories of gloom and doom from often well-meaning friends, loved ones, relatives. We hear exaggerated stories of sickness and despair. But all of the exaggeration of the bad brings more bad to your life. You get what you focus on. You see what you look for. If you are focusing on “how bad it is” that is what you are getting, more of “how bad it is”. If you are focused on the good that is what you get more of “the good”.
You can choose the stories you tell in your own life. You can choose to downplay the bad things and focus on the good things.
You can choose to put your emotions into the happy and joyful things and minimize your emotional words and stories about the bad things. We all have things we don’t like and things that happen to us that we would rather not have in our lives, but our lives go on. And our stories go on. The definition of what happened to you lies in the story you tell about it. When you change your story, you change your life because you changed the meaning and the definition of what happened.
Viktor Frankl, the holocaust survivor and the author of the great book “Man’s Search for Meaning” said
“Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
Mr. Frankl survived one of most horrific events of all times. He could have told a horrendous story but he chose not to. Somehow he found meaning in it and he chose for his story to be a triumph of the human spirit.
Team Hoyt Is Inspiration To All
Eighty-five times Dick Hoyt has pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in Marathons. Eight times he’s not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a Wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and Pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars–all in the same day.
Dick’s also pulled him cross-country skiing, taken him on his back Mountain climbing and once hauled him across the U.S. On a bike. Makes Taking your son bowling look a little lame, right?
And what has Rick done for his father? Not much–except save his life.
This love story began in Winchester , Mass. , 43 years ago, when Rick Was strangled by the umbilical cord during birth, leaving him Brain-damaged and unable to control his limbs.
“He’ll be a vegetable the rest of his life;” Dick says doctors told him And his wife, Judy, when Rick was nine months old. “Put him in an Institution.”
But the Hoyts weren’t buying it. They noticed the way Rick’s eyes Followed them around the room. When Rick was 11 they took him to the Engineering department at Tufts University and asked if there was Anything to help the boy communicate. “No way,” Dick says he was told. “There’s nothing going on in his brain.”
“Tell him a joke,” Dick countered. They did. Rick laughed. Turns out a Lot was going on in his brain. Rigged up with a computer that allowed Him to control the cursor by touching a switch with the side of his Head, Rick was finally able to communicate. First words? “Go Bruins!” And after a high school classmate was paralyzed in an accident and the School organized a charity run for him, Rick pecked out, “Dad, I want To do that.”
Yeah, right. How was Dick, a self-described “porker” who never ran More than a mile at a time, going to push his son five miles? Still, he Tried. “Then it was me who was handicapped,” Dick says. “I was sore For two weeks.”
That day changed Rick’s life. “Dad,” he typed, “when we were running, It felt like I wasn’t disabled anymore!”
And that sentence changed Dick’s life. He became obsessed with giving Rick that feeling as often as he could. He got into such hard-belly Shape that he and Rick were ready to try the 1979 Boston Marathon.
“No way,” Dick was told by a race official. The Hoyts weren’t quite a Single runner, and they weren’t quite a wheelchair competitor. For a few Years Dick and Rick just joined the massive field and ran anyway, then They found a way to get into the race Officially: In 1983 they ran another marathon so fast they made the Qualifying time for Boston the following year.
Then somebody said, “Hey, Dick, why not a triathlon?”
How’s a guy who never learned to swim and hadn’t ridden a bike since he Was six going to haul his 110-pound kid through a triathlon? Still, Dick Tried.
Now they’ve done 212 triathlons, including four grueling 15-hour Ironmans in Hawaii . It must be a buzzkill to be a 25-year-old stud Getting passed by an old guy towing a grown man in a dinghy, don’t you Think?
Hey, Dick, why not see how you’d do on your own? “No way,” he says. Dick does it purely for “the awesome feeling” he gets seeing Rick with A cantaloupe smile as they run, swim and ride together.
This year, at ages 65 and 43, Dick and Rick finished their 24th Boston Marathon, in 5,083rd place out of more than 20,000 starters. Their best Time? Two hours, 40 minutes in 1992–only 35 minutes off the world Record, which, in case you don’t keep track of these things, happens to Be held by a guy who was not pushing another man in a wheelchair at the Time.
“No question about it,” Rick types. “My dad is the Father of the Century.”
And Dick got something else out of all this too. Two years ago he had a Mild heart attack during a race. Doctors found that one of his arteries Was 95% clogged. “If you hadn’t been in such great shape,” One doctor told him, “you probably would’ve died 15 years ago.” So, in a way, Dick and Rick saved each other’s life.
Rick, who has his own apartment (he gets home care) and works in Boston, and Dick, retired from the military and living in Holland, Mass. , always find ways to be together. They give speeches around the country and compete in some backbreaking race every weekend, including this Father’s Day.
That night, Rick will buy his dad dinner, but the thing he really wants to give him is a gift he can never buy.
“The thing I’d most like,” Rick types, “is that my dad sit in the chair and I push him once.”
And the video is below….
Dick’s also pulled him cross-country skiing, taken him on his back Mountain climbing and once hauled him across the U.S. On a bike. Makes Taking your son bowling look a little lame, right?And what has Rick done for his father? Not much–except save his life.
This love story began in Winchester , Mass. , 43 years ago, when Rick Was strangled by the umbilical cord during birth, leaving him Brain-damaged and unable to control his limbs.
“He’ll be a vegetable the rest of his life;” Dick says doctors told him And his wife, Judy, when Rick was nine months old. “Put him in an Institution.”
But the Hoyts weren’t buying it. They noticed the way Rick’s eyes Followed them around the room. When Rick was 11 they took him to the Engineering department at Tufts University and asked if there was Anything to help the boy communicate. “No way,” Dick says he was told. “There’s nothing going on in his brain.”
“Tell him a joke,” Dick countered. They did. Rick laughed. Turns out a Lot was going on in his brain. Rigged up with a computer that allowed Him to control the cursor by touching a switch with the side of his Head, Rick was finally able to communicate. First words? “Go Bruins!” And after a high school classmate was paralyzed in an accident and the School organized a charity run for him, Rick pecked out, “Dad, I want To do that.”
Yeah, right. How was Dick, a self-described “porker” who never ran More than a mile at a time, going to push his son five miles? Still, he Tried. “Then it was me who was handicapped,” Dick says. “I was sore For two weeks.”
That day changed Rick’s life. “Dad,” he typed, “when we were running, It felt like I wasn’t disabled anymore!”
And that sentence changed Dick’s life. He became obsessed with giving Rick that feeling as often as he could. He got into such hard-belly Shape that he and Rick were ready to try the 1979 Boston Marathon.
“No way,” Dick was told by a race official. The Hoyts weren’t quite a Single runner, and they weren’t quite a wheelchair competitor. For a few Years Dick and Rick just joined the massive field and ran anyway, then They found a way to get into the race Officially: In 1983 they ran another marathon so fast they made the Qualifying time for Boston the following year.
Then somebody said, “Hey, Dick, why not a triathlon?”
How’s a guy who never learned to swim and hadn’t ridden a bike since he Was six going to haul his 110-pound kid through a triathlon? Still, Dick Tried.
Now they’ve done 212 triathlons, including four grueling 15-hour Ironmans in Hawaii . It must be a buzzkill to be a 25-year-old stud Getting passed by an old guy towing a grown man in a dinghy, don’t you Think?
Hey, Dick, why not see how you’d do on your own? “No way,” he says. Dick does it purely for “the awesome feeling” he gets seeing Rick with A cantaloupe smile as they run, swim and ride together.
This year, at ages 65 and 43, Dick and Rick finished their 24th Boston Marathon, in 5,083rd place out of more than 20,000 starters. Their best Time? Two hours, 40 minutes in 1992–only 35 minutes off the world Record, which, in case you don’t keep track of these things, happens to Be held by a guy who was not pushing another man in a wheelchair at the Time.
“No question about it,” Rick types. “My dad is the Father of the Century.”
And Dick got something else out of all this too. Two years ago he had a Mild heart attack during a race. Doctors found that one of his arteries Was 95% clogged. “If you hadn’t been in such great shape,” One doctor told him, “you probably would’ve died 15 years ago.” So, in a way, Dick and Rick saved each other’s life.
Rick, who has his own apartment (he gets home care) and works in Boston, and Dick, retired from the military and living in Holland, Mass. , always find ways to be together. They give speeches around the country and compete in some backbreaking race every weekend, including this Father’s Day.
That night, Rick will buy his dad dinner, but the thing he really wants to give him is a gift he can never buy.
“The thing I’d most like,” Rick types, “is that my dad sit in the chair and I push him once.”
And the video is below….
Life is Not Fair
Life is Not Fair
The United States Constitution declares that all men (referring to men and women) are created equal and that they are entitled to such rights as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It's a wonderful concept and we have seen those who have benefited tremendously in their pursuit of happiness and we have seen those who, with little or no pursuit, have not benefited. Somewhere along the line, we natural-born American citizens have adopted the idea that our constitution puts a demand on life that says life must be fair to us.
This thinking says that since I am born equal to everyone else, I should have what everyone else has as well. There are two problems with this-first they have overlooked the word "pursuit" and secondly, life is not and never will be "fair".
For those that look to God for the matters of life, this is a good thing. While we do believe that life comes from God Who created all things, life is still not fair. Life may present an equal opportunity to all, but there is still "pursuit" involved and even with this pursuit, the results of those opportunities may be unequal. Let me explain.
Matthew 13:3: And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
Now just looking at this verse we have to consider something. When someone sows seed do they receive back just what they've sown? That would be called "fair"-sow one and get one back. But when a farmer sows seed, he always receives back much more, way out of proportion to what he has sown. Now let's look at the whole parable.
Matthew 13:1-9: The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
The United States Constitution declares that all men (referring to men and women) are created equal and that they are entitled to such rights as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It's a wonderful concept and we have seen those who have benefited tremendously in their pursuit of happiness and we have seen those who, with little or no pursuit, have not benefited. Somewhere along the line, we natural-born American citizens have adopted the idea that our constitution puts a demand on life that says life must be fair to us.This thinking says that since I am born equal to everyone else, I should have what everyone else has as well. There are two problems with this-first they have overlooked the word "pursuit" and secondly, life is not and never will be "fair".
For those that look to God for the matters of life, this is a good thing. While we do believe that life comes from God Who created all things, life is still not fair. Life may present an equal opportunity to all, but there is still "pursuit" involved and even with this pursuit, the results of those opportunities may be unequal. Let me explain.
Matthew 13:3: And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
Now just looking at this verse we have to consider something. When someone sows seed do they receive back just what they've sown? That would be called "fair"-sow one and get one back. But when a farmer sows seed, he always receives back much more, way out of proportion to what he has sown. Now let's look at the whole parable.
Matthew 13:1-9: The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
To Conquer Fear, You Have To Become Fear Itself
To Conquer Fear, You Have To Become Fear ItselfWhat I've learned from "Batman Begins", the movie, was more than the cost of a ticket to sit in a dark room full of strangers for more than two hours.
Well, actually the cost of two tickets (one for me and another for my wife).
I don't know about majority of the audience but this one phrase caught my attention immediately...
"To Conquer Fear, You Have To Become Fear Itself".
I know that the meaning of fear in the movie was pretty obvious. Bruce Wayne was afraid of bats. He never had fear towards anything at all... except the dark-black, mysterious blind creatures.
The fear of bats haunted him from small kid until he was big enough to be called an adult.
I know it's gotta be strange for an adult to be NOT afraid of other things (even dangerous sword fights) but bats... but let's just assume that this all makes sense.
The point is... there might be one 'thing' in your life which is stopping you from moving forward. That fear itself.
I'll give you an example of my own experience.
I've always liked to think of getting an extra income from the internet but I was afraid that I might fail.
I was afraid that people would see me as a newbie who knows nothing at all about internet marketing.
I was afraid that my writings would be full of grammatical errors and I could mean one thing when I intended to tell the other.
I was afraid that I could involve in scams and get into trouble.
Well, I was actually afraid of trying and afraid of myself.
Little that I know that many of those internet marketing experts were once just like me... only they took actions one day at a time... until one day they were hailed as 'internet marketing gurus'.
So, what did I do?
I confronted my fear.
How?
By first getting enough (not necessarily much) information about internet marketing, finding a mentor and doing it a step at a time.
Yes, you will be surprised with what you can do with the little knowledge that you learn once you turn it into action.
Of course, there's no guarantee that the fear will all subside immediately and you'll be generating thousands of dollars of internet income overnight.
But, through continuous action of pursuing my passion, I managed to get that first online sale after a few months... and then another... and then another... and then I have no fear in what I'm doing anymore. I'm showing results that I can make money online.
My question to you is... what is the fear that's stopping you from moving ahead?
Bruce Wayne was afraid of bats... confronted his fear and became a "big bat" himself.
While you can probably become who you dream to be, you have to know what's topping you to get there, learn and then take necessary action to reach your dream.
Against All Odds - The Miracle Worker
Against All Odds - The Miracle Worker
One of the greatest stories on victory and success of the 19th century must be that of Annie Sullivan, the famous educator who was often fondly known as the “Miracle Worker”.
Annie Sullivan was born Johanna Sullivan on April 14, 1866 in Agawam, Massachusetts to impoverished Irish immigrants. With two other siblings, Annie and her family lived in a small hovel in dire poverty.
Growing up, Annie was often subjected to the physical abuse by her alcoholic father. At the age of five, trachoma struck Annie, leaving her almost blind. When Annie was nine, her mother died and her father abandoned the children. They were then shuttled between relatives.
Eventually, the relatives sent her and Jimmie, her younger, tuberculosis-stricken brother to the Almshouse in Tewksbury, which was a state home for the poor. Jimmie soon died in the infirmary.
Annie underwent a series of operations to fix her eyesight but these attempts were not effective. She returned to the Tewksbury Almshouse against her will.
Four years later in October 1880, she convinced state inspectors to send her to the Perkins Institution for the Blind in South Boston. Annie's sight was partially restored after a series of surgeries and with the help of glasses. In 1886, she graduated as class valedictorian in 1886.
In March 1887, the 21 year-old Annie was sent by the school's director to Tuscumbia, Alabama as governess and teacher to a seven-year-old deaf-blind and mute girl. The student was Helen Adams Keller.
Helen has been a very difficult child with bad behaviors and temper tantrums. The epiphany came for Helen Keller one summer day. Through repeated use of the manual alphabet, as well as much patience and love, Annie finally managed to reach Helen. Her greatest achievement was to become the first person successfully teach a deaf-blind and mute child.
Helen Keller attended Radcliffe College in Cambridge and wrote her autobiography, entitled “The Story of My Life”, which became a famous novel.
Helen Keller became one of the founders of the American Foundation for the Blind as well as a nationally renowned leader for women's rights. Annie accompanied her around the world on her lecture tours.
Annie received several recognitions from various foundations for her tireless teaching and commitment to her student. Her failing eyesight continued to deteriorate until her death on October 20, 1936.
Although Annie was legally blind, what she had accomplished in her life is definitely much more than most able bodied people such as you and I had done. As such, we have no excuse but to do all we can everyday. We should learn from Annie and show perseverance and patience in our work and to do it with zest and gusto!
Monday, May 28, 2007
Lemonade Stories
Lemonade Stories: Inspiring Entrepreneurs and the Mothers who Made Them -I just heard about this new film, Lemonade Stories: Inspiring Entrepreneurs and the Mothers who Made Them. It's airing on CNNfn on Friday, May 7, at 9pm EST. Now this is what I call "must-see TV". This film promises an answer to the age-old question: "Are entrepreneurs born or made?" The film's answer? They're raised!
Lemonade Stories focuses on some extraordinary entrepreneurs, their equally extraordinary mothers, and how they contributed to the entrepreneurial spirit of their children. Among the entrepreneurs profiled:
Richard Branson (Virgin Group) and his mother, Eve Branson (an entrepreneur herself)
The Simmons Brothers - Russell Simmones (Def Jam), Reverend Run (Run-DMC), and Danny Simmons (Def Poetry Jam)
Arthur and Molly Blank of Home Depot.
A 11-year-old girl Kelly Reinhart, who is the founder of TPak International, who invented a thigh pack that won a $1,000,000 contract with the US Army.
Read more about the film at LemonadeStories.com.
Dreamer
Dreamer: Inspired By a True Story is a 2005 film starring Kurt Russell and Dakota Fanning, inspired by the true story of an injured Thoroughbred racehorse named Mariah's Storm. It marked the directing and screenwriting debut of John Gatins.The movie opens with a view of the beautiful countryside of Lexington, Kentucky, on a summer morning. The camera zooms into a horse farm, owned by the Crane family—a family of horsetrainers. 
There, we are introduced to the warm-hearted, precocious eleven-year-old girl Cale, the youngest member of that family, who lives at the Crane Farm with her parents, Ben and Lilly. She has just woken up, and tells us, through voice-over, that there used to be horses in their barn—but now they're probably the only horse farm in Lexington that doesn't have any horses. Her father Ben was once a great horseman, but now his talent is being wasted on making other men's fortunes.
This morning, the disillusioned Ben is finally going to let Cale into his life and take her to his work at the racetrack, where we are also introduced to his boss Palmer, and his two employees Manolin and Balon. This day is special because Prince Tariq from the Middle-East is here. He and his brother, Prince Sadir, are rivals. Tariq wants to beat his brother's horse, and he wants a good horse that can do so. Palmer picks out his horse Sonya, a thoroughbred filly. She is a great champion, but after "talking" to her, Ben realizes that she is not ready to race today. However, Palmer still makes her race. She falls and breaks her cannon bone.
A furious Ben tells his boss that he has just killed a great athlete. Palmer thinks they should put the horse down, but because his daughter is there, Ben begs him to spare the horse. His rudeness against Palmer results in the los of his job. Ben says that he'll take the horse. Ben, Cale, Manolin and Balon transport Sonya home and get Pop, Ben's father, to help them. But when Pop—who had been told it was an emergency—arrives at their farm, he says "This is what you geniuses call an emergency in the middle of the night in the rain?" and suggests that they put Sonya down. His relationship with his son is not good at all; they hardly talk at all anymore. But soon, Sonya can stand again. Cale is always thinking about Sonya; now they finally have their own horse! Although her father has told her to leave the wounded filly alone, she still goes out into the barn at night and feeds her Popsicles. Ben sees this as an opportunity to make money; Palmer has shut him out everywhere. Ben sees his friend Bill Ford to get a stud for Sonya. Then he can sell the foal, which might give him $300,000. Pop asks Cale to give her dad a coffee can one night when she is visiting him. It appears to contain $20,000, money that he has been saving just in case. An angry Ben shows up at Pop's farm and asks him why he gives him all this money after watching him having to sell every piece of their land. Pop replies that he doesn't know. Ben tells Pop to stop filling Cale's head with horse stories. He doesn't want Cale to be inspired into spending her life working with horses; he thinks that's no way to make a living. Ben returns to the Crane Farm, where Cale is feeding Sonya chocolate cake in the stable. Ben says that even though they'll sell the foal, they'll still have Soñador. That's Sonya's full name; it's Spanish for "dreamer". Sadly, they learn that Sonya is infertile.
Now, Ben is very depressed. In a conversation with Lilly in the kitchen one morning, he says to her that Sonya has ruined them, to which Lilly responds that she's the best thing that's ever happened to their farm. She tearfully says that Ben should spend more time with Cale, who really wants to be with him. Just because Pop has disappointed him when he was a boy doesn't mean that he has to disappoint her. Ben bitterly says that if Cale hadn't been with him the day when Sonya fell, and he had let them put the horse down, he'd still have his job. Unfortunately, Cale is there and hears his harsh words. Deeply hurt, she runs to her room and locks her door. Ben and Lilly try to make her come out, but Cale, wanting to make her father upset, packs her bag, jumps out through her window and goes to the barn. She intends to run away with Sonya. Ben shows up and accidentally scares Sonya, who runs away in panic with Cale on her back. Cale is now in real danger. Ben drives up next to Sonya with his car and tries to take Cale's hand. He fails, and then he parks the car and successfully catches Cale in his arms when she jumps off. Manolin and Balon catch Sonya—and when they come back they have great news: she is, despite her serious injury, fast enough to race again!
Sonya succeeds to come on third place in a local race, but the Crane family's happiness is short-lived as a man walks up and claims her. That night, Ben talks to his devastated daughter in their now empty stable and explains that he never guessed that Sonya would get claimed. Cale says that he put her out for sale to get some of his money back; that he lied to her when he said she'd always have her; that she wasn't for sale. Ben angrily says that every racehorse in the world is for sale. Cale leaves him stunned in the stable after saying: "She wasn't just some racehorse. She was our horse."
When Ben goes to parent's night at Cale's class, where the parents read their children's recently written stories. Ben reads her story—which is about a king, his castle and a magic horse. While reading it loudly in front of the other parents, he realizes that the king in the story is him, that the castle is the Crane Farm and that the horse is Sonya. He realizes that he shouldn't have let anyone buy Sonya. When he comes home, he sits on Cale's bedside, and the father and daughter share a moment of redemption. One morning, Ben says to Cale that Pop has bought a goat, and asks Cale to help him take it out of the trailer. But the "goat" appears to be—Sonya! Cale is overwhelmed by happiness and hugs the young mare. Ben says that they're "out of coffee for a while". Ben's got yet another surprise for Cale as well—a contract in which Cale Crane is the owner of Soñador. She signs it, and then Sonya's training starts.
Cale decides that Sonya should compete in the 22nd running of the Breeders' Cup Classic — for which the winner's price is $3,000,000! The jockey is going to be Manolin, who earlier in the movie told Cale that he gave up horse racing after a horrible accident in a race when he fell off his horse's back and got run over by three horses. Luckily, Sonya gets a shot in the race. Palmer shows up at their house and wants to buy Sonya. He offers Cale $100,000 and her father's job back, but Cale turns it down, and Palmer walks away.
The Cranes need a sponsor who can pay the fee. They choose Prince Sadir, whos horse hasn't got into the race, but still wants to beat his brother Tariq. Cale, Ben and Pop show up at his mansion and convince him to pay the fee of $120,000 after telling him that Sonya has a chance of beating Tariq's horse. On the race day—six months after Sonya's accident—everyone is really excited, but the horse Goliath's Boy attacks Sonya, whose leg appears to get bad again after the attack. Now, everything appears to be lost—but Sonya is dead set on running anyway. The race begins, and Sonya runs further and further up from last place. Manolin nearly falls off Sonya, but manages to stay on her back. Sonya takes the lead and wins the race, and Cale's dream has now come true! Soñador has won. Now, not only are they rich; but Sonya is a racehorse again, Manolin's a jockey again, and Ben's relationships with his father and daughter are finally good again. The movie ends with Cale sitting on Soñador's back with her arms raised in victory, and through voice-over saying the poem: "You are a great champion. When you ran, the ground shook. The sky opened, and mere mortals parted. Parted the way to victory, where you'll meet me in the winner's circle—and I'll put a blanket of flowers on your back."
There, we are introduced to the warm-hearted, precocious eleven-year-old girl Cale, the youngest member of that family, who lives at the Crane Farm with her parents, Ben and Lilly. She has just woken up, and tells us, through voice-over, that there used to be horses in their barn—but now they're probably the only horse farm in Lexington that doesn't have any horses. Her father Ben was once a great horseman, but now his talent is being wasted on making other men's fortunes.This morning, the disillusioned Ben is finally going to let Cale into his life and take her to his work at the racetrack, where we are also introduced to his boss Palmer, and his two employees Manolin and Balon. This day is special because Prince Tariq from the Middle-East is here. He and his brother, Prince Sadir, are rivals. Tariq wants to beat his brother's horse, and he wants a good horse that can do so. Palmer picks out his horse Sonya, a thoroughbred filly. She is a great champion, but after "talking" to her, Ben realizes that she is not ready to race today. However, Palmer still makes her race. She falls and breaks her cannon bone.
A furious Ben tells his boss that he has just killed a great athlete. Palmer thinks they should put the horse down, but because his daughter is there, Ben begs him to spare the horse. His rudeness against Palmer results in the los of his job. Ben says that he'll take the horse. Ben, Cale, Manolin and Balon transport Sonya home and get Pop, Ben's father, to help them. But when Pop—who had been told it was an emergency—arrives at their farm, he says "This is what you geniuses call an emergency in the middle of the night in the rain?" and suggests that they put Sonya down. His relationship with his son is not good at all; they hardly talk at all anymore. But soon, Sonya can stand again. Cale is always thinking about Sonya; now they finally have their own horse! Although her father has told her to leave the wounded filly alone, she still goes out into the barn at night and feeds her Popsicles. Ben sees this as an opportunity to make money; Palmer has shut him out everywhere. Ben sees his friend Bill Ford to get a stud for Sonya. Then he can sell the foal, which might give him $300,000. Pop asks Cale to give her dad a coffee can one night when she is visiting him. It appears to contain $20,000, money that he has been saving just in case. An angry Ben shows up at Pop's farm and asks him why he gives him all this money after watching him having to sell every piece of their land. Pop replies that he doesn't know. Ben tells Pop to stop filling Cale's head with horse stories. He doesn't want Cale to be inspired into spending her life working with horses; he thinks that's no way to make a living. Ben returns to the Crane Farm, where Cale is feeding Sonya chocolate cake in the stable. Ben says that even though they'll sell the foal, they'll still have Soñador. That's Sonya's full name; it's Spanish for "dreamer". Sadly, they learn that Sonya is infertile.
Now, Ben is very depressed. In a conversation with Lilly in the kitchen one morning, he says to her that Sonya has ruined them, to which Lilly responds that she's the best thing that's ever happened to their farm. She tearfully says that Ben should spend more time with Cale, who really wants to be with him. Just because Pop has disappointed him when he was a boy doesn't mean that he has to disappoint her. Ben bitterly says that if Cale hadn't been with him the day when Sonya fell, and he had let them put the horse down, he'd still have his job. Unfortunately, Cale is there and hears his harsh words. Deeply hurt, she runs to her room and locks her door. Ben and Lilly try to make her come out, but Cale, wanting to make her father upset, packs her bag, jumps out through her window and goes to the barn. She intends to run away with Sonya. Ben shows up and accidentally scares Sonya, who runs away in panic with Cale on her back. Cale is now in real danger. Ben drives up next to Sonya with his car and tries to take Cale's hand. He fails, and then he parks the car and successfully catches Cale in his arms when she jumps off. Manolin and Balon catch Sonya—and when they come back they have great news: she is, despite her serious injury, fast enough to race again!
Sonya succeeds to come on third place in a local race, but the Crane family's happiness is short-lived as a man walks up and claims her. That night, Ben talks to his devastated daughter in their now empty stable and explains that he never guessed that Sonya would get claimed. Cale says that he put her out for sale to get some of his money back; that he lied to her when he said she'd always have her; that she wasn't for sale. Ben angrily says that every racehorse in the world is for sale. Cale leaves him stunned in the stable after saying: "She wasn't just some racehorse. She was our horse."
When Ben goes to parent's night at Cale's class, where the parents read their children's recently written stories. Ben reads her story—which is about a king, his castle and a magic horse. While reading it loudly in front of the other parents, he realizes that the king in the story is him, that the castle is the Crane Farm and that the horse is Sonya. He realizes that he shouldn't have let anyone buy Sonya. When he comes home, he sits on Cale's bedside, and the father and daughter share a moment of redemption. One morning, Ben says to Cale that Pop has bought a goat, and asks Cale to help him take it out of the trailer. But the "goat" appears to be—Sonya! Cale is overwhelmed by happiness and hugs the young mare. Ben says that they're "out of coffee for a while". Ben's got yet another surprise for Cale as well—a contract in which Cale Crane is the owner of Soñador. She signs it, and then Sonya's training starts.
Cale decides that Sonya should compete in the 22nd running of the Breeders' Cup Classic — for which the winner's price is $3,000,000! The jockey is going to be Manolin, who earlier in the movie told Cale that he gave up horse racing after a horrible accident in a race when he fell off his horse's back and got run over by three horses. Luckily, Sonya gets a shot in the race. Palmer shows up at their house and wants to buy Sonya. He offers Cale $100,000 and her father's job back, but Cale turns it down, and Palmer walks away.
The Cranes need a sponsor who can pay the fee. They choose Prince Sadir, whos horse hasn't got into the race, but still wants to beat his brother Tariq. Cale, Ben and Pop show up at his mansion and convince him to pay the fee of $120,000 after telling him that Sonya has a chance of beating Tariq's horse. On the race day—six months after Sonya's accident—everyone is really excited, but the horse Goliath's Boy attacks Sonya, whose leg appears to get bad again after the attack. Now, everything appears to be lost—but Sonya is dead set on running anyway. The race begins, and Sonya runs further and further up from last place. Manolin nearly falls off Sonya, but manages to stay on her back. Sonya takes the lead and wins the race, and Cale's dream has now come true! Soñador has won. Now, not only are they rich; but Sonya is a racehorse again, Manolin's a jockey again, and Ben's relationships with his father and daughter are finally good again. The movie ends with Cale sitting on Soñador's back with her arms raised in victory, and through voice-over saying the poem: "You are a great champion. When you ran, the ground shook. The sky opened, and mere mortals parted. Parted the way to victory, where you'll meet me in the winner's circle—and I'll put a blanket of flowers on your back."
Nurse Edith Cavell Nurse Of Courage
Nurse Cavell is alleged to have helped several hundred of soldiers from the allied forces to escape from occupied Belgium to the neutral Netherlands, in violation of military law. She was arrested in 1915 and court-martialled by the Germans for this offense. UK and US diplomats disagreed about whether anything could be done to help her case, with Sir Horace Rowland, from the Foreign Office suggesting "I am afraid that it is likely to go hard with Miss Cavell, I am afraid we are powerless." The sentiment was echoed by Lord Robert Cecil, who joined the coalition government in 1915 as an under secretary for foreign affairs after working for the Red Cross. "Any representation by us," he advised, "will do her more harm than good."
Representing the United States, which had not yet joined the war, Hugh Gibson, First Secretary of the American legation at Brussels, made clear to the German government that executing Cavell would further harm their nation's already damaged reputation. In a statement issued afterward, he noted:
"We reminded him (Baron von der Lancken) of the burning of Louvain and the sinking of the Lusitania, and told him that this murder would stir all civilized countries with horror and disgust. Count Harrach broke in at this with the rather irrelevant remark that he would rather see Miss Cavell shot than have harm come to one of the humblest German soldiers, and his only regret was that they had not 'three or four English old women to shoot.'"
She made no defense, admitting her actions, and was executed by firing squad at 2am on October 12, becoming a popular martyr and entering British history as a heroine. The execution took place at the Tir National, a State military site (today a memorial, near the State television buildings), where she was buried. Edith Cavell's case became an important article of British propaganda throughout the war. The German medical officer assisting was the expressionist poet Gottfried Benn (1886-1956), who gave an account of the event.
The night before her execution she told the Anglican chaplain, Rev. Gahan, who had been allowed to see to give her Holy Communion, "Patriotism is not enough, I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone." These words are inscribed on her statue in St. Martin's Place, near Trafalgar Square in London.
Her final words to the German pastor, Le Saur were recorded as 'Ask Mr. Gahan to tell my loved ones later on that my soul, as I believe, is safe, and that I am glad to die for my country.'
After the war Edith Cavell's body was exhumed and returned to the UK. A memorial service at Westminster Abbey led by King George V was followed by travel by special train to Thorpe Station, Norwich. She was reburied on Life's Green, at the east end of Norwich Cathedral. Every year a service is held before the grave.
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