Thanks to Sudharshan Reddy Balakrishna
Learn From Mistakes
Thomas Edison tried two thousand different materials in search of a filament for the light bulb. When none worked satisfactorily, his assistant complained, “All our work is in vain. We have learned nothing.”
Edison replied very confidently, “Oh, we have come a long way and we have learned a lot. We now know that there are two thousand elements which we cannot use to make a good light bulb.”
Thanks to Venkata Meesaala
Giving and Receiving
A woman approached Sister DaVilla. It could be seen from the clothes she wore that she was very poor. She walked without shoes, and her feet were very dirty. On her head she carried a bowl of warm, perfumed water. Slowly, without saying anything, she removed the Sister's sandals and very carefully began wrapping the Sister's feet with perfumed cloth. She continued working for about half an hour, as a crowd gathered in the courtyard of the slum where she lived.
Indignant voices could be heard. "Why is she doing that? ""What a waste! The poorest among us caring for someone who should care for her instead!"" Is she crazy? What does she hope to accomplish?"" Sister DaVilla, don't you have anything to say?"
The Sister raised her hand to hush the crowd. She was known and respected in the slum, and had dedicated her life to the poor who lived there. "Let her be," Sister DaVilla said. "What she is doing is beautiful. This woman may be the poorest among you, but she still has something to offer. She is giving me the very best of herself, and at the same time she is taking too. Do you think I dedicate my life to helping you without receiving any thing in return? No one, not even the greatest saint, can keep pouring love down on people without someone bringing them water to fill their well from time to time."
If you keep spending on others without keeping count, do you think they will have much regard for your physical and spiritual health? Start by respecting yourself, and you will discover that others respect you more! Follow the example of Sister DaVilla. Accept the thanks you receive after serving others. It is necessary to renew your energy from time to time in order to keep giving the very best of yourself.
You will never give your best if you ignore this simple bit of advice: You can't keep withdrawing money from your bank account if you never make deposits! We have to receive in the same spirit as we give.
Thanks to Ranjan Jain
No One Is Dealt A Perfect Hand
A young man was playing poker with six of his friends. Now this young man did not have a vast amount of money but wanted to play anyway so he threw a quarter of his money in the pot.
When the dealer dealt his cards he noticed he had the worst possible hand - a high card. Since he had put a quarter of his money in the pot already, he reasoned that he would do what he could to come out victorious.
This young man knew what he was doing and did not even glance at any of the other six players. When the opportunity arose to swap all of his cards he tactfully refused and kept his seemingly worthless hand.
Now, when the time came to throw in more bets, this young man put in another quarter of his earnings. Because three of the other six observed that he never changed his cards, they assumed he had a great hand so they immediately folded and withdrew whilst the remaining three called and threw in some of their money.
Knowing that there were still three players left, he decided to put all his money in the pot. This frightened the last three and they folded. This young man came out victorious and now had ten times the amount he began with.
When his six friends asked him to show them his hand, he threw his cards on the table revealing the lowest hand. After a brief pause the young man stated:
"I knew I was going to win because the cards don't matter in poker, it is the trick of leading your opponent to believe you have an unbeatable hand".
This is not to say we should bluff our way through life, rather we should use what we have to be the best we can.
In life, no one is dealt with a perfect hand. Some are just dealt with higher cards and some will choose to try and change those cards.
If you want to win in anything, remember that your hand is only as strong as your will and determination. Put in all your talents and never focus on what another person has because you will just be more disappointed in the end.
Your life is in YOUR hand!! Believe in Yourself!!!!
Thanks to Kiran Shanmugam
Chocolate Sings
One day I had a date for lunch with friends. Mae, a little old 'blue hair' about 80 years old, came along with them---All in all, a pleasant bunch. When the menus were presented, we ordered salads, sandwiches, and soups, except for Mae who said, 'Ice Cream, please. Two scoops, of chocolate.'
I wasn't sure my ears heard right, and the others were aghast. 'Along with heated apple pie,' Mae added; completely unabashed. We tried to act quite nonchalant, as if people did this all the time. But when our orders were brought out, I didn't enjoy mine.. I couldn't take my eyes off Mae as her pie a-la-mode went down. The other ladies showed dismay. They ate their lunches silently and frowned.
The next time I went out to eat, I called and invited Mae. I lunched on white meat tuna. She ordered a parfait! I smiled. She asked if she amused me. I answered, 'Yes, you do, but also you confuse me. How come you order rich desserts, while I feel I must be sensible?'
She laughed and said, with wanton mirth, 'I'm tasting all that's possible. I try to eat the food I need, and do the things I should. But life's so short, my friend, I hate missing out on something good. This year I realized how old I was. (She grinned) I haven't been this old before.'
'So, before I die, I've got to try those things that for years I had ignored. I haven't smelled all the flowers yet. There are too many books I haven't read. There's more fudge sundaes to wolf down and kites to be flown overhead. There are many malls I haven't shopped.. I've not laughed at all the jokes. I've missed a lot of Broadway hits and potato chips and cokes.'
'I want to wade again in water and feel ocean spray on my face. I want to sit in a country church once more and thank God for His grace. I want peanut butter every day spread on my morning toast. I want un-timed long distance calls to the folks I miss the most. I haven't cried at all the movies yet, or walked in the morning rain. I need to feel wind in my hair. I want to fall in love again. So, if I choose to have dessert, instead of having dinner, then should I die before night fall, I'd say I died a winner, because I missed out on nothing. I filled my heart's desire. I had that final chocolate mousse before my life expired.'
With that, I called the waitress over... 'I've changed my mind,' I said. 'I want what she is having; only add some more whipped cream!'
This message is our gift - We need an annual Friends Day! Live well, love much, & laugh often - Be happy.
Be mindful that happiness isn't based on possessions, power, or prestige, but on relationships with people we admire and respect. And - Remember - that while money talks, CHOCOLATE SINGS!
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