The Wow! response

Last spring I was walking in a park. A short distance ahead of me was a mom and her three-year-old daughter. The little girl was holding on to a string that was attached to a helium balloon.

All of a sudden, a sharp gust of wind took the balloon from the little girl. I braced myself for some screaming and crying.

But, no! As the little girl turned to watch her balloon go skyward, she gleefully shouted out, Wow!

I didn't realize it at that moment, but that little girl taught me something.

Later that day, I received a phone call from a person with news of an unexpected problem. I felt like responding with Oh no, what should we do But remembering that little girl, I found myself saying, Wow, that's interesting! How can I help you

One thing's for sure - life's always going to keep us off balance with its unexpected problems. That's a given. What's not preordained is our response. We can choose to be frustrated or fascinated.

No matter what the situation, a fascinated Wow! will always beat a frustrated Oh, no.

So the next time you experience one of life's unexpected gusts, remember that little girl and make it a Wow! experience. The Wow! response always works.

Little Moments of Joy!

A short story by Barry Kingsley

 

Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living. It was a cowboy's life, a life for someone who wanted no boss. What I didn't realize was that it was also a ministry.

Because I drove the night shift, my cab became a moving confessional. Passengers climbed in, sat behind me in total anonymity, and told me about their lives. I encountered people whose lives amazed me, ennobled me, made me laugh and weep.

But none touched me more than a woman I picked up late one August night.

I was responding to a call from a small brick fourplex in a quiet part of town. I assumed I was being sent to pick up some partiers, or someone who had just had a fight with a lover, or a worker heading to an early shift at some factory for the industrial part of town.

When I arrived at 2:30 a.m., the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window. Under these circumstances, many drivers would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, then drive away. But I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door. This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself. So I walked to the door and knocked.

"Just a minute," answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 80s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

"Would you carry my bag out to the car?" she said.

I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness.

"It's nothing," I told her. "I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated."

"Oh, you're such a good boy," she said.

When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, then asked, "Could you drive through downtown?"

"It's not the shortest way," I answered quickly.

"Oh, I don't mind," she said. "I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice."

I looked in the rear view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. "I don't have any family left," she continued. "The doctor says I don't have very long."

I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. "What route would you like me to take?" I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, "I'm tired. Let's go now."

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

"How much do I owe you?" she asked, reaching into her purse.

"Nothing," I said.

"You have to make a living," she answered.

"There are other passengers," I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.

"You gave an old woman a little moment of joy," she said. "Thank you."

I squeezed her hand, then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly, lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient at the end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life. We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware--beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

People may not remember exactly what you did, or what you said, ...but they will always remember how you made them feel.

Perfect Love - Perfect Friend

!!*!!Perfect Love Perfect Friend!!*!!
Magic Man
I know the joy that comes from
feeling closer to someone
than I've ever felt before.
Because you are my love,
I know the passion of wanting
to share everything I have,
everything I am with you
and only you.
Because you are my friend,
I know that I can count on you
to hold my hand
through the rough times
and to be there
to share the good times, too.
Because you are my friend,
I'll always have someone
to make me smile;
just when I need it most,
to encourage me when I'm feeling
confused or doubtful.
And I know that I must be
one of the luckiest people
in the world
to have someone like you-
the perfect love,
the perfect friend.

Little lessons of life!

Don't go for looks, they can deceive.
Don't go for wealth even that fades away.
Go for someone who makes you smile.

There are moments in life
when you really miss someone
that you want to pick them up
from your dreams and hug them.
Hope you dream of that someone.

Dream what you want to dream,
go where you want to go,
be what you want to be,
because you have only one life
and one chance to do all the things
you want in life.

May you have...
Enough happiness to make you sweet
Enough trials to make you strong
Enough sorrow to keep you human
Enough hope to make you happy
And enough money to buy gifts.

When one door of happiness closes, another opens.
But we often took so long at the closed door,
that we don't see the one which has been opened for us.

The best kind of friend is the one
you could sit on a porch, swing with,
never saying a word and then walk away feeling
like that was the best conversation you've had.

It's true that we don't know
what we've got until we lose it,
but it's also true that we don't know what
we've been missing until it arrives.

Always put yourself in other's shoes.
If you feel that it hurts you,
it probably does hurt the person too.

Imperfections!

No matter how much planning and preparation you do, something will not turn out the way you wanted it to be. Yet even when those inevitable disappointments do indeed come, you can adapt and make the very most of them.

Life is not perfect and yet it can be perfectly wonderful. It's great to aim for perfection, and even better to achieve excellence in spite of the imperfections you encounter. When people and situations refuse to cooperate, you can be amazingly adaptable. You can move toward excellence even in the most distressing, imperfect scenarios.

Though what you have is not perfect, you can work with it. Accept what you have, imperfections and all, with gratitude and enthusiasm. Don't spend your time waiting for the perfect situation, something which is not very likely to come. Go ahead with life as it is, with the bumps and the pitfalls, and give your best to every moment.

The moment you are in TENSION!

The moment you are in TENSION

You will lose your ATTENTION

Then you are in total CONFUSION

 and you'll feel IRRITATION

 This may spoil your personal RELATIONS
 Ultimately, you won't get COOPERATION

And get things into COMPLICATION

Then you may raise CAUTION

And you have to take MEDICATION
Why not try understanding the SITUATION

And try to think about the SOLUTION

Many problems will be solved by DISCUSSION
Which will work out better in your PROFESSION

Don't think this is a free SUGGESTION

It is only for your PREVENTION

If you understand my INTENTION
You'll never come again into TENSION

Don't Look Back

As you travel through life, there are always those times
When decisions just have to be made;
When the choices are hard and solutions seem scarce,
And the rain seems to soak your parade.

There are some situations where all you can do
Is to simply let go and move on,
Gather courage together and choose a direction
That carries you toward a new dawn.

So pack up your troubles and take a step forward-
The process of change can be tough,
But think about all the excitement ahead,
If you can be stalwart enough.

There could be adventures you never imagined
Just waiting around the next bend -
And wishes and dreams just about to come true
In ways you can't yet comprehend.

Perhaps you'll find friendships that spring from new interests
As you challenge your status quo,
And you learn there are so many options in life
And so many ways you can grow.

Perhaps you'll go places you never expected
And see things you've never seen -
Or travel to fabulous far-away worlds
And wonderful spots in between.

Perhaps you'll find warmth and affection and caring -
A "somebody special" who's there
To help you stay centered and listen with interest
To stories and feelings you share.

Perhaps you'll find comfort in knowing your friends
Are supportive of all that you do -
And believe that whatever decisions you make,
They'll be the right choices for you.

So keep putting one foot in front of the other,
And taking your life day by day.
There's a brighter tomorrow that's just down the road,
Don't look back, you're not going that way.

Never Loose Hope

If you can look at the sunset and smile,
then you still have hope…

If you can find beauty in the colors of a small flower,
then you still have hope…

If you can find pleasure in the movement of a butterfly,
then you still have hope…

If the smile of a child can still warm your heart,
then you still have hope…

If you can see the good in other people,
then you still have hope…

If the rain breaking on a roof top can still lull you to sleep,
then you still have hope…

If the sight of a rainbow still makes you stop and stare in wonder,
then you still have hope…

If the soft fur of a favored pet still feels pleasant under your fingertips,
then you still have hope…

If you meet new people with a trace of excitement and optimism,
then you still have hope…

If you give people the benefit of a doubt,
then you still have hope…

If you still offer your hand in friendship to others
that have touched your life, then you still have hope…

If receiving an unexpected card or letter still brings
a pleasant surprise, then you still have hope…

If the suffering of others still fills you with pain and frustration,
then you still have hope…

If you refuse to let a friendship die, or accept that it must end,
then you still have hope…

If you look forward to a time or place of quiet and reflection,
then you still have hope…

If you still buy the ornaments, put up the Christmas tree or cook the
turkey,
then you still have hope…

If you still watch love stories or want the endings to be happy,
then you still have hope…

If you can look to the past and smile,
then you still have hope….

If, when faced with the bad, when told everything is futile, you can still
look up and end the conversation with the phrase… yeah….BUT.. Then you still
have hope…

Hope is such a marvelous thing. It bends, it twists, it sometimes hides, but
rarely does it break… It sustains us when nothing else can… It gives us
reason to continue and courage to move ahead, when we tell ourselves we'd
rather give in…

Hope puts a smile on our face when the heart cannot manage… Hope puts our
feet on the path when our eyes cannot see it… Hope moves us to act when our
souls are confused of the direction….

Hope is a wonderful thing, something to be cherished and nurtured, and
something that will refresh us in return… And it can be found in each of us,
and it can bring light into the darkest of places…
Never lose hope…

Sharing among friends!

Life ends when you stop dreaming, hope ends when you stop believing, love ends when you stop caring, Friendship ends when you stop Sharing!!

--
Thanks & Regards,
Varunkumar Nagarajan
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
" Life can give u a hundred reasons to cry,
But u can give life a thousand reasons to smile."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

The Truth About Failure!

Failure doesn't mean you are a failure... ...it does mean you haven't
succeeded yet.

Failure doesn't mean you have accomplished nothing... ...it does mean you
have learned something.

Failure doesn't mean you have been a fool... ...it does mean you had a lot
of faith.

Failure doesn't mean you have been disgraced... ...it does mean you were
willing to try.

Failure doesn't mean you don't have it... ...it does mean you have to do
something in a different way.

Failure doesn't mean you are inferior... ...it does mean you are not
perfect.

Failure doesn't mean you've wasted your life... ...it does mean you've a
reason to start afresh.

Failure doesn't mean you should give up... ...it does mean you should try
harder.

Failure doesn't mean you'll never make it... ...it does mean it will take a
little longer.

Failure doesn't mean God has abandoned you... ...it does mean God has a
better idea!

Never give up on anything!

Its Madness -
To hate all roses, because you got scratched by one thorn.
To give up all your dreams, because one did not come true.
To lose faith in prayers, because one was not answered.

To give up on your efforts, because one of them failed.
To condemn all your friends, because one of them betrayed.
Not to believe in love, because someone was unfaithful.

Remember that, another chance may come up.
A new friend, A new love, A new life.

Never give up on anything!

The Cage Door!

A fable tells about two birds, each in a cage with food and water. One bird rebelled against his conditions, rejected the food and kept knocking his head against the cage door. A few hours later, he died of his injuries.
The other bird said, "Nothing's worth dying that way.

Let me enjoy the food and water and be grateful for the little space in which I can fly." At the end of the day, the master came to free both birds.

But only one was ready and able to enjoy freedom while the other lost it once and forever.

Our life may get trapped in a cage. Closed doors might be health problems, job problems, financial limitations, feeling of rejection and insecurity, marriage problems, inability to meet your life partner, etc.

If we focus on the closed door, we will eventually act like the poor bird. But if we enjoy our life the way it is granted, we will eventually be freed. In such situations, "It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord." 

Drops of Oil!

A certain shopkeeper sent his son to learn about the secret of happiness from the wisest man in the world. The lad wandered through the desert for forty days, and finally came upon a beautiful castle, high atop a mountain.
It was there that the wise man lived.

Rather than finding a saintly man though, our young lad, on entering the main room of the castle, saw a hive of activity tradesmen came and went, people were conversing in the corners, a small orchestra was playing soft
music, and there was a table covered with platters of the most delicious food in that part of the world.

The wise man listened attentively to the boy's explanation of why he had come, but told him that he didn't have just then to explain the secret of happiness.

He suggested that the boy look around the palace and return in two hours. Meanwhile, I want to ask you to do something, said the wise man, handing the boy a teaspoon that held two drops of oil. As you wander around, carry this spoon without allowing the oil to spill.

The boy began climbing and descending the many stairways of the castle, keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon. After two hours, he returned to the room where the wise man was.

Well, said the wise man, did you see the Persian tapestries that are hanging in the dining hall? Did you see the garden that took the master gardener 10 years to create? Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my library?

The boy was embarrassed, and confessed that he had observed nothing. His only concern had been not to spill the oil that the wise man had entrusted to him.

Then go back and observe the marvels of my world, said the wise man. Relieved, the boy picked up the spoon and returned to his exploration of the palace, this time observing all the works of art on the ceilings and the
walls. He saw the gardens and the mountains all around him, the beauty of the flowers. Upon returning to the wise man, he related in detail everything he had seen.

But where are the drops of oil I entrusted to you, asked the wise man. Looking down at the spoon he held, the boy saw that the oil was gone. Well, there is only one piece of advice I can give you, said the wisest of wise
men. The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon.

This story serves as just a little reminder that while we get all caught up in the frenzy of work and assignments, we mustn't forget about the drops of oil, the things in life that really matter... friends, family, stuffed toys... and the ties that bind..

You are unique!

Enjoy that uniqueness. You do not have to pretend in order to seem more like someone else. You weren't meant to be like someone else. You do not have to lie to conceal the parts of you that are not like what you see in
anyone else.

You were meant to be different. Nowhere ever in all of history will the same things be going on in anyone's mind, soul and spirit as are going on in yours right now.

If you did not exist, there would be a hole in creation, a gap in history, something missing from the plan for humankind. Treasure your uniqueness. It is a gift given only to you. Enjoy it and share it!

No one can reach out to others in the same way that you can. No one can speak your words. No one can convey your meanings. No one can comfort with your kind of comfort. No one can bring your kind of understanding to another person.

No one can be cheerful and lighthearted and joyous in your way. No one can smile your smile. No one else can bring the whole unique impact of you to another human being.

Share your uniqueness. Let it be free to flow out among your family and friends and people you meet in the rush and clutter of living wherever you are. That gift of yourself was given you to enjoy and share. Give yourself
away!

See it! Receive it! Let it tickle you! Let it form you and nudge you and inspire you!

Little Things

Too often we don't realize what we have until it is gone;
Too often we wait too late to say "I'm sorry - I was wrong."
Sometimes it seems we hurt the ones we hold dearest to our hearts;
And we allow foolish things to tear our lives apart.

Far too many times we let unimportant things into our minds;
And then it's usually too late to see what made us blind.

So be sure that you let people know how much they mean to you;
Take that time to say the words before your time is through.

Be sure that you appreciate everything you've got
And be thankful for the little things in life that mean a lot.

Short story - Commitment

I will never forget what my old headmaster told taught me. Normally when you are only 15 years of age you do not remember most of the things that are preached by your teachers. But, this particular story is one such lesson that I will never forget. Every time I drift off course, I get reminded of this story.

It was a normal Monday morning at an assembly, and he was addressing the students on important things in life and about committing ourselves to what is important to us. This is how the story went:

An old man lived in a certain part of London, and he would wake up every morning and go to the subway. He would get the train right to Central London, and then sit at the street corner and beg. He would do this every single day of his life. He sat at the same street corner and begged for almost 20 years.

His house was filthy, and a stench came out of the house and it smelled horribly. The neighbors could not stand the smell anymore, so they summoned the police officers to clear the place. The officers knocked down the door and cleaned the house. There were small bags of money all over the house that he had collected over the years.

The police counted the money, and they soon realized that the old man was a millionaire. They waited outside his house in anticipation to share the good news with him. When he arrived home that evening, he was met by one the officers who told him that there was no need for him to beg any more as he was a rich man now, a millionaire.

He said nothing at all; he went into his house and locked the door. The next morning he woke up as usual, went to the subway, got into the train, and sat at the street corner and continued to beg.

Obviously, this old man had no great plans, dreams or anything significant for his life. We learn nothing from this story other than staying focused on the things we enjoy doing, commitment.

We should remain true to our course; which may mean committing yourselves to things that people around you would normally disapprove. Let nothing distract us from being happy, let nothing else determine our fate, but ourselves. What makes us happy is what matters in the end, not what we acquire.

Life is to Live!

People come and go from your life.
Always keep the happy memories you had because they are the only things u will have at the end of the day!!

We don't know what comes tomorrow, but today we should live happily.
Tomorrow will be a success if today is too. so make your today a success..

Hang on with people you love, people you care.. but if they don't want you; don't be there.. just leave them...

No one is perfect...
If someone doesn't want you just leave them and go cause life is there to live not to suffer ..

Live your life to the fullest!!

Take life as it comes!

"Take life as it comes" - If we follow this excellent phrase, we can lead a happy life without any sort of trouble. Even if u had a bad time, jus try to take some positive points out of that and try to accept that. If u start worrying for things, u will have to keep on worrying abt that and it may lead to trouble ur progress in life. Jus accept watever is happening and try to make the day better. Try to make a smile even at hard times.

Also accept the fact that "Nothing is permanent". So, there is obviously no need in worrying for things around us.

"Jus try to be happy and make others arnd u happy"