IN PRAISE OF YOUTH!

I was going to the stock broker's office located on the third floor of a ten story building. When I was a little distance from the lift, I saw a man entering the lift and the door closed. I could have walked fast and stopped the lift. I didn't. Instead I continued walking in my leisurely pace thinking that I will wait for the lift to go up and come down. It might take five minutes but I was prepared to wait. I was not at all happy with the decision. Yet for some reason, perhaps lethargy, I was not prepared to move fast.

Suddenly a young man rushed from behind me to the lift and pressed the open button. I looked at the door thinking whether the lift will stop going up, whether the lift door will open or whether it will not open. A few seconds passed and I held my breath. To my utter amazement the door did open . I got inside after the young man. As the lift moved up I nodded at him and gave him a smile of gratefulness. He smiled back at me as though telling me that what he did was nothing and he was capable of doing much greater things. In my mind I fully agreed with him.

And then I started telling myself:
Youth is achievement.
Youth is courageous.
Youth is brave.
Youth is bold.
Youth is dynamic.
Youth has no fear.
Youth is risk taking.
Youth has dreams.
Youth has hope.
Youth has stamina.

May be you can add some words of your own to the above list!

If you are not young, you don't have to despair. OLDER people having the above qualities can also be called YOUNG.

Have a good day!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting a particular way ------ you become just by performing just actions, temperate by performing temperate actions, brave by performing brave actions.
(Aristotle ---Greek Philosopher)

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As long as a man stands in his own way, everything seems to be in his way.
(Ralph Waldo Emerson ---Writer and Philosopher)

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Sometimes only a change of viewpoint is needed to convert a tiresome duty into an interesting opportunity.
(Alberta Flanders ----Author)
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Just as your car runs more smoothly and requires less energy to go faster and farther when the wheels are in perfect alignment, you perform better when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and values are in balance.
(Brian Tracy ----- Trainer, Speaker, Author and Businessman)

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All of us are watchers ------ of television, of time clocks, of traffic on the freeway --- but few are observers. Everyone is looking, not many are seeing.
(Peter M. Leschak ---- Author)

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BEWITCHING INDIAN SAREES!

Indian saree is one of the most beautiful dresses for ladies. I agree it is time consuming to wear the saree and restricts movement. But I assure you that a lady wearing the saree irrespective of size, shape or color will look gorgeous, glamorous, dignified, bewitching, outstanding, attractive and ravishingly beautiful --- just like a goddess from heaven! Don't believe me. Take a look and convince yourself. After all, seeing is believing. I strongly recommend a saree to be kept in the wardrobe of every single woman on earth to be worn on special occasions.

GOATS TO THE SLAUGHTER!

Mutton prices are skyrocketing! Is it because we all love to eat lamb chops, mutton fry, mutton curry, mutton stew, mutton soup etc.?

However, have you thought about the method of getting meat from the goats? It appear to be a very painful, torturous and agonising process for the poor goats.

Take a close look at the goats. They are tied so tightly that they cannot breathe. They are suffocating. They are pulling hard at the ropes and they cannot get free. They are in the hot sun since morning. They have not been given water and anything to eat. They look terrified and their eyes are popping out. Perhaps they are aware of the impending disaster.
The question is how long they will have to wait for the calamity? I walked back on the same platform after 3 hours. The goats were still in the same position. They have stopped struggling and resigned to their fate. In the meanwhile there was a heavy downpour and they were completely drenched. Then the hot, burning sun came out and they were getting scorched.

I asked a shopkeeper why these goats were tied like that and some looked like lambs. I also asked him if they were for sale. He told me with an impish grin that the goats were waiting to be slaughtered and no one knows when the slaughterer will come to end their misery. He also told me that these goats don't grow big.

I felt sorry for the goats. I sighed and continued walking. There was nothing I can do.

Where is the SPCA? Where are the animal lovers?

There was a time when the newspapers and animal lovers were making lot of noise against killing stray dogs which were attacking human beings and some small children were even bitten to death. No body in Kochi eats dogs meat but non vegetarians love mutton dishes. This could be one answer for the ordeal of the goats. Or are there other answers for this unwanted cruelty?

Why not we all become vegetarians in protest at least for a few months? After all the biggest and strongest animals like elephant, giraffe, horse, hippopotamus are vegetarians. If nothing else, at least the goats will get some respite and the price of mutton will come crashing down.

Wish you all a bright and beautiful day!

MEET JACOB DAMANG, THE GORKAH

This is young, dashing Jacob Damang. He is 26 years old. He is from Dargeeling in West Bengal in India. He belongs to the Gorkah tribe. He is working in the Indian Navy as a musician. He is stationed in the Naval Base,Kochi. He studied upto 12th standard and is doing BA in English Literature through correspondence course from Annamalai University.He is drawing a salary of Rs.8000 per month($160) plus free food and lodging.

His band plays Western Classical Music, AbbA, Back Street Boys,Hindhi movie songs etc. for the navymen. The band mainly travels with the naval ships on a goodwill mission to different countries and plays music on foreign shores. He has already visited Singapore, Malasia, Thailand, Seyshells, Maldives,Cameroon,etc. Next year probably the ship will go to European Countries and he will get a chance to play on European shores also.

He plays football for about one and a half hours every day to keep himself physically fit. He doesn't smoke or drink although these things are available in plenty in the navy at cheap prices and all his colleagues enjoy themselves.

He joined the navy when he was 18 and has already put in 8 years of service. He plans to retire after completing 15 years and he will get a pension of Rs.7000 per month for life. After that he wants to join British Airways branch office in Calcutta where his brother is employed.

Gorkahs are very famous for their bravery and courage. They fought very valiantly during the Second World war for the British Army. Even now the British Army has a Gorkah regiment and every now and then the British officials come to Dargeeling to recruit Gorkahs. The salary is very high in Britain but Jacob says that living conditions for the Gorkahs are quite difficult in the British Army. The Gorkahs are famous for their special knife KUKRI with which they fought their enemies.

Jacob said that it is time for him to marry. He has already told his parents to arrange a suitable girl. He had a girl friend but she is already married now.

He is a Born Again Christian. His grand father was a Budhist but converted to Christianity. In his younger days, Jacob says that he was a 'freak'. He was away from God and did all rubbish including not going to church for worship. His parents were very upset with him.He was very disturbed then. Now he is very happy doing God's work in a small way. Saturday and Sunday are holidays for him. He comes out of the Naval Base to distribute pamplets about Jesus to the public in Kochi. His aim is to talk to as many strangers as possible and make them understand that they can attain salvation only through Jesus. Just looking at him and listening to him I could feel his energy level , enthusiasm and missionary zeal are at a very high level. No doubt he is inspired by the HOLY SPIRIT.

Best wishes for a happy week end!

THE PRESENT ---- by Spencer Johnson

The Past is history,
The Future is mystery
The Present is a GIFT:
Enjoy the GIFT

You already know what the Present is.
You already know where to find it and
You already know how it can make you happy and successful.
You knew it best when you were younger.
You have simply forgotten.

The Present is not the Past and it is not the Future.
The Present is the Present moment.
The Present is now.

Even in the most difficult situations,
When you focus on what is “Right” in the Present moment,
It makes you happier and
Gives you the needed energy and confidence to deal with what is “Wrong”.

Being in the Present means, tuning out distractions and
Paying attention to what is important “NOW”

Look at what happened in the Past.
Learn some thing valuable from it.
Use what you learn to improve the Present.

No one can predict or control the Future.
However, the more you plan for what you want to see happen
The less anxious you are in the Present and
The more the Future is known to you.

Picture what a wonderful Future would be like.
Create a realistic plan to help it happen.
Put your plan into action in the Present.

When you want to be happy and more successful,
It is time to be in the Present moment.
When you want the Present to be better than the Past
It is time to learn from the Past.
When you want the Future to be better than the Present
It is time to plan for the Future.

When you live and work with a purpose and respond to what is important NOW,
You are more able to lead, manage, support, befriend and love.

WISH YOU A WONDERFUL PRESENT!

AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH!

This is a mindblowing documentary by Al Gore ex Vice President of the US and Nobel Prize winner dealing all about global warming and other dangers that are bound to take place to our wonderful planet Earth within probably the next 50 years.

We have a resposibility to save the Earth from the impending disaster due to our carelessness and provide a better place for our children to live in.

I strongly recommend this documentary for all of you to see and also tell others about it.

I urge you to act NOW and FAST. You owe it to yourself and your children.

A time will come soon when your children will ask you, "Why didn't you act when you had a chance?" You will have no answer if you ignore my exhortations and do nothing.

Have a wonderful day!

IN HONOUR OF ST.ANTONY OF PADUA, WORKER OF MIRACLES!

Every Tuesday the main road near Kaloor gets blocked from early morning till about 10pm with devotees thronging St.Antony's Shrine. They are not only Christians but also Hindus and Muslims from all walks of life. They have immense faith in St.Antony to perform miracles and solve their problems.
ST.ANTONY'S SHRINE
ST.ANTONY'S STATUE

INSIDE VIEW OF THE SHRINELINE FOR GARLANDING ST.ANTONY'S STATUE

DEVOTEES IN THE VERANDA OF THE SHRINE DEVOTEES IN THE VERANDA OF THE SHRINE

LINE FOR GARLANDING ST.ANTONY'S STATUE

PRIESTS HEARING CONFESSION

DEVOTEES WAITING TO DRINK KANJI(Rice gruel) AFTER MASS

DEVOTEES THRONGING IN FRONT OF THE SHRINE

DEVOTEES LIGHTING CANDLES IN FRONT OF THE SHRINE

DEVOTEES LIGHTING CANDLES IN FRONT OF THE SHRINE

TRAFFIC JAM OPPOSITE THE SHRINE

VEGETABLES SOLD NEAR THE SHRINE

CHILDRENS PLAY THINGS SOLD NEAR THE SHRINE

BEGGARS NEAR THE SHRINE

ST. ANTONY'S STATUE

PARENTS BEWARE!

Look at the poor old man. He is lying on the slabs of a gutter, miserable, suffering and nobody to care for him. I discussed this with a young man and asked him why the old man's children are not there to take care of him. The young man told me that the old man may not be married and therefore he may not have children. Then I asked him why the government is not taking care of the old man? He told me that India is so highly populated that the government has no funds to take care of poor, sick, old people.

A few weeks back, I saw three old men in different locations. One man was begging, another man sleeping under a bus shelter and another old man, hardly able to walk, was carrying a bathroom weighing machine on his shoulder to the marine drive to earn some money by weighing people. Once again I discussed this with another young man and told him that the children are responsible for the pitiable condition of these old men. He told me in no uncertain terms that these old men were themselves responsible for the sorry state of affairs. These men would have treated their children badly when they were small and therefore the children are not bothered about them now when they are old and helpless.

I can see a very valid point here. If you don't treat your children well when they are dependent on you, the chances are you will be paid back in the same coin when you are old.

This brings me to another related subject and that is starting an OLD AGE HOME. This is a very good business plus you are doing a great service to old people. I know an Indian nurse living in the UK who started a home for the aged in a very small way with the assistance of her husband. The demand soon became so huge that she had to expand in a big way and she started to make big bucks. She minted money and she built palatial houses in UK, SPAIN AND INDIA. Now the home is run by paid employees and the couple is on a permanent holiday all through the year. All that they do is to hop, skip and jump from UK to SPAIN, SPAIN to INDIA and INDIA to UK back again. They only go to UK to count the money. Their two daughters are well educated and married to big business men in India.

Incidentally, I recently read in a news paper that children feel guilty for leaving their elderly parents in old age homes. They are compelled to this because they have to follow their ambitions and build successful careers. What do you think?

BEST WISHES!

RAJAN --- PARKING CHARGES COLLECTOR!

This is Rajan, 45 years old. He is married and has two small children. He is working as a parking fees collector for the last 3 years with the GCDA and getting a salary of Rs.3000($60) per month. His wife is also working and getting a salary of Rs3ooo.

They are staying in a rented house and paying Rs1300 towards rent. His youngest son is in the UKG and the eldest son is in the 2nd standard. After paying the school fees, bus charges and electricity bill they have very little money to meet the day to day living expenses. They live very frugally. Their main aim is to educate their children well so that the children can have a better life.They want their children to become graduate engineers.

He has a keen sense of duty and loyal to his organization. He works from 7AM to 7PM -- a tiring 12 hours for the paltry salary. He looks famished. He told me that he was treated rudely by the car owners who come there to park their vehicles. He was hungry for a friendly gesture. When I started talking to him he became very excited and talkative. It looked as though he had not talked to a friendly stranger for many years. He was extremely happy to be photographed. He even promised to get me a free pass for the forthcoming International Cricket match.

It was an eye opener for me. For a little bit love, affection, attention and friendliness he was prepared to go to any extent to please me.

WITH LOVE, PRAYERS AND BEST WISHES!

UNMANNED RAILWAY CROSSING!

Look at the first and second photos carefully. In the first photo, the mother is holding her daughter's hand and helping her to cross the tracks very carefully. In the second photo, the boy came alone and ran across the track with gay abandon. Now the questions are:
1) Does the parents of the boy know their little son is crossing an unmanned railway track?
2) If they know, why are they so careless?

LET US EAT SOME DELICIOUS INDIAN SWEETS!

India has a variety of delicious, mouth watering sweets. Let us take a look at a few of them.