Tuesday, December 27, 2016

2016-52 - Happiness and Joy...

There was once a land in which the sound of a magic trumpet could be heard everywhere. The music ensured that there would be happiness and joy for all.

However, one day, the trumpet disappeared, and everyone in that land ended up feeling sad. No one did anything, except for a little girl who went off, determined to find the trumpet. She asked everywhere, until someone took her to see the wise old man of the mountains. The man told her that the trumpet was in the Well of Shadows, and he gave her a violin which might turn out to be useful.

When the girl arrived at the Well of Shadows, she found some musicians next to it playing sad tunes. However, on hearing such sad music, the girl realized that no one, including the trumpet, would want to come out of the well to be greeted by that kind of atmosphere.

So she started to play the cheeriest, happiest music she could. She didn't give up, and even managed to cheer up the other musicians. Together they improved the atmosphere around the well so much that the trumpet came out, more joyful than ever.

And, once again, happiness and joy returned to that land.

~ Author Unknown



Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.

~ Sir James Barrie ~

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

2016-51 - The Journey...


A young lady was seated in a bus. At one of the stops, a loud and grumpy old lady got into the bus and sat next to the young lady. She squeezed her full bodied figure into the seat and bumped the young lady with her numerous bags.

The person sitting on the other side of the young lady got upset, and asked her why she did not speak up and say something. The young lady responded with a smile, "It is not necessary to be rude or argue over something so insignificant... our journey together is so short. I get off after a few stops.

If only each one of us realize that our time here is so short; that to darken it with quarrels, futile arguments, not forgiving others, discontentment, and a fault finding attitude, would be a waste of time, and energy.

Whatever troubles anyone brings you, just remember that our journey together is so short... no one knows the duration of this journey... no one knows when their stop will come.

~ Author Unknown



Life is short, and it is up to you to make it sweet.

~ Sarah Louise Delany

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

2016-50 - Being Yourself...

One day a king came to the garden and saw withering and dying trees, bushes and flowers.

An oak said that he dies because it can't be as high as a pine. Applying to a pine tree, the king found her falling down because it can’'t give grapes like a grapevine. And the grapevine was dying because it couldn't blossom like a rose.

Soon he found a single plant, pleasing heart, bloomy and fresh. The king asked, "All the trees and flowers here are withering, and you are flourishing, why?"

"I think it comes naturally. I believe that when you planted me, you wanted to get joy. If you would like to grow an oak, grapes or rose, you would plant them. So I think that I can't be anything else than what I am. And I try to develop my best qualities.

Look at yourself. You can be only yourself. It is impossible for you to become someone else. You can joy and blossom or you can wither if you do not accept yourself."

~ Author Unknown



To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

2016-49 - Gratitude...

My wife, Shirley, and I have gone on vacations to a quiet beach in southwestern Florida for most of our married life. If that beach could talk, it would tell of teenage newlyweds who sunned and wrote "I love you" on its sands.

It would tell of a little girl with eyes the color of the sea gathering seashells and of three wild boys leaping and diving into the surf.

It would tell of joyous visits over the years from friends, parents, grandparents, new brides and grooms - and now grandchildren. The beach would tell glorious tales of warmth and gratitude.

But I realized one day that I had rarely expressed my gratitude to the one who'd lived those years with me. On our 40th wedding anniversary, Shirley and I walked again the familiar margin of the sea. I told her then how thankful I was that she shared my life.

We don't have to wait for anniversaries to thank the ones closest to us - the ones so easily overlooked. If I have learned anything about giving thanks, it is this: give it now! While your feeling of appreciation is alive and sincere, act on it. Saying thanks is such an easy way to add to the world's happiness.

~ Joe Fernandes



Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.

~ William Arthur Ward