Every day, every hour, and every minute is special

Author: Anupam Dey /


Today we have bigger houses and smaller families.
More conveniences, but less time.
 
We have more degrees, but less common sense.
More knowledge, but less judgment.
 
We have more experts, but more problems.
More medicine, but less wellness.
 
We spend too recklessly;
Laugh too little,
Drive too fast,
Get too angry too quickly,
Stay up too late,
Read too little,
Watch TV too much,
And pray too seldom!
 
We've multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too little, and lie too often.
 
More leisure and less fun;
More kinds of foods, but less nutrition.
Two incomes, but more divorces.
Fancier houses, but broken homes.
 
That's why I propose, that as of today,
you don't keep anything for special occasions,
because every day you live is a special occasion.
Search for knowledge.
 
Read more.
Sit on your front porch and admire the
view without paying attention to your needs.
Spend more time with your family and friends.
Eat your favorite foods and visit the places you love.
 
Life is a chain of moments of enjoyment,
not only about survival.
Use your crystal goblets. Don't save your best perfume,
use it every time you feel you want it.
 
Remove from your vocabulary
phrases like 'one of these days' and 'someday'.
Write that letter you've thought about writing.
 
Don't delay anything that adds laughter and joy to your life.
Every day, every hour, and every minute is special.
You never know when it will be your last.

0 comments

Keep the worms warm

Author: Anupam Dey /

You may have heard the old story about the world's most dedicated fisherman. He had out-fished his companion all morning long. They used the same live bait, the same equipment and fished together in the same mountain stream. But he had almost caught his limit of fish while his friend had yet to catch even one.

"What's your secret?" asked the friend. "I haven't even gotten a bite!"

The angler mumbled an unintelligible answer, causing his companion to ask again.

The successful fisherman emptied the contents of his mouth into a cupped hand and replied: "I said, 'You have to keep your worms warm.'"

Talk about dedication. But did you know there are at least three types of fresh water fishermen. 
(or fisherwomen, if that fits better)?

First, there are those who fish for sport. They like to "catch and release," quickly throwing their catch back into the water. For these anglers, it's all about recreation.

Then there are those who fish because they like the taste of fish. They are selective. They only keep the fish they will someday eat.

Finally, there are those who fish because they are hungry. If they don't catch, they don't eat. It is important for this group to succeed, and they are fully dedicated to what they do.

Whether or not we fish or even eat fish, there is a lesson to be learned here. We are most likely to succeed when we approach a task fully dedicated. Especially if the task before us is difficult or there seems little likelihood of success. Whether we want to patch a relationship, build a new business, write that first novel, kick a drug habit, or go back to school, we should see how willing we are to do what it takes, even if it means keeping the worms warm.

There are two important questions I ask myself to see just how dedicated I am. Question number one: "How much do I want this?" When some people fish, if they don't catch, they don't eat. Some things are too important for me to risk failure. So how much do I want to succeed at this relationship, this career or this dream?

The other question I ask is similar: "How hard am I willing to work?" If 'success' only comes before 'work' in the dictionary, I may have to work harder than I've ever worked before. But if I want it enough, the hard work will be worth it.

"Always bear in mind," said Abraham Lincoln, "that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing." 
And that is where it always begins: with a whole-hearted resolution to succeed, in a task, in a calling, in a life.

How much do I want this? And, how hard am I willing to work? 
Start there, and great things can happen.

0 comments

It is easier to criticize, but DIFFICULT TO IMPROVE

Author: Anupam Dey /

Once upon a time there was a painter who had just completed his course. He took 3 days and painted beautiful scenery. He wanted people's opinion about his caliber and painting skills.

He put his creation at a busy street-crossing. And just down below a board which read -"I have painted this piece. Since I'm new to this profession I might have committed some mistakes in my strokes etc. Please put a cross wherever you see a mistake."

While he came back in the evening to collect his painting he was completely shattered to see that whole canvass was filled with Xs (crosses) and some people had even written their comments on the painting.

Disheartened and broken completely he ran to his master's place and burst into tears.

This young artist was breathing heavily and master heard him saying"I'm useless and if this is what I have learnt to paint I'm not worth becoming a painter. People have rejected me completely. I feel like dying"

Master smiled and suggested "My Son, I will prove that you are a great artist and have learnt flawless painting. Do as I say without questioning it. It WILL work."

Young artist reluctantly agreed and two days later early morning he presented a replica of his earlier painting to his master. Master took that gracefully and smiled.

"Come with me." master said.

They reached the same street-square early morning and displayed the same painting exactly at the same place. Now master took out another board which read -"Gentlemen, I have painted this piece. Since I'm new to this profession I might have committed some mistakes in my strokes etc. I have put a box with colors and brushes just below. Please do a favor. If you see a mistake, kindly pick up the brush and correct it."

Master and disciple walked back home.

They both visited the place same evening. Young painter was surprised to see that actually there was not a single correction done so far. Next day again they visited and found painting remained untouched. They say the painting was kept there for a month for no correction came in!
 
Moral of the story:

It is easier to criticize, but DIFFICULT TO IMPROVE!

So don't get carried away or judge yourself by someone else’s criticism and feel depressed...

JUDGE YOURSELF! YOU ARE YOUR BEST JUDGE!!!

0 comments

A man reaps what he sows

Author: Anupam Dey /

A son and his father were walking on the mountains. Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams: "AAAhhhhhhhhhh!" To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain: "AAAhhhhhhhhhh!"

Curious, he yells: "Who are you?"
He receives the answer: "Who are you?"
Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!"
He receives the answer: "Coward!"
He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on?"
The father smiles and says: "Son, pay attention."
And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!"
The voice answers: "I admire you!"
Again the man screams: "You are a champion!"
The voice answers: "You are a champion!"
The boy is surprised, but does not understand.

Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE. It gives you back everything you say or do.

Thomas Dreier said, "The world is a great mirror. It reflects back to you what you are. If you are loving, if you are friendly, if you are helpful, the world will prove loving and friendly and helpful to you. The world is what you are."

As Jesus said, "What we sow is what we reap." If we sow negativity, we will reap negativity. If we sow bitterness, we will reap bitterness. If we sow criticism, we will reap criticism. On the other hand, if we sow love, we will reap love. If we sow friendship, we will reap friendship. If we sow encouragement, we will reap encouragement. Life gives back what we give to it.

Be sure to sow seeds of kindness, encouragement, and love today—and every day—and you will find, in time, that is exactly what you will receive back. For what we project is what we get back.

0 comments

From Nothing to Nothing

Author: Anupam Dey /


“Why did u come to the master?”
“Because my life is going nowhere, giving me nothing.”
“so where is it going now?”
“Nowhere.”
“And what‘s it giving you now?”
“Nothing.”
“So what’s the difference?”
“Now I’m going nowhere because there is nowhere to go; I’m getting nothing because there is nothing to desire.”

0 comments

Be Yourself

Author: Anupam Dey /


A plum once said, just because a banana lover came by, I converted myself into a banana. Unfortunately, his taste changed after a few months and so I became an orange. When he said I was bitter I became an apple, but he went in search of grapes. Yielding to the opinions of so many people, I have changed so many times that I no more know who I am.
How I wish I had remained a plum and waited for a plum lover.
Just because a group of people do not accept you as you are, there is no necessity for you to strip yourself of your originality. You need to think good of yourself, for the world takes you at your own estimate.
Never stoop down in order to gain recognition. Never let go of your true self to win a relationship. In the long run, you will regret that you traded your greatest glory – your uniqueness, for momentary validation. Even Gandhi was not accepted by many people. The group that does not accept you as you is not your world.
There is a world for each one of you, where you shall reign as king /queen by just being yourself. Find that world… in fact, that world will find you.
What water can do, gasoline cannot and what copper can, gold cannot.
The fragility of the ant enables it to move and the rigidity of the tree enables it to stay rooted. Everything and everybody has been designed with a proportion of uniqueness to serve a purpose that we can fulfill only by being our unique self. You as you alone can serve your purpose and I as I alone can serve my purpose. You are here to be you… just you.

0 comments

How would you like to be remembered?

Author: Anupam Dey /


About a hundred years ago, a man looked at the morning newspaper and to his surprise and horror, read his name in the obituary column. The newspapers had reported the death of the wrong person by mistake. His first response was shock. Am I here or there? When he regained his composure, his second thought was to find out what people had said about him. The obituary read, "Dynamite King Dies." And also "He was the merchant of death." This man was the inventor of dynamite and when he read the words "merchant of death," he asked himself a question, "Is this how I am going to be remembered?" He got in touch with his feelings and decided that this was not the way he wanted to be remembered. From that day on, he started working toward peace.

His name was Alfred Nobel and he is remembered today by the great Nobel Prize.

Just as Alfred Nobel got in touch with his feelings and redefined his values, we should step back and do the same.

What is your legacy? How would you like to be remembered?

Will you be spoken well of? Will you be remembered with love and respect? Will you be missed??

0 comments

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)