HOW LUCKY YOU ARE

If you woke up this morning
with more health than illness,
you are more blessed than the
million who won't survive the week.

If you have never experienced
the danger of battle,
the loneliness of imprisonment,
the agony of torture or
the pangs of starvation,
you are ahead of 20 million people
around the world.

If you attend a church meeting
without fear of harassment,
arrest, torture, or death,
you are more blessed than almost
three billion people in the world.

If you have food in your refrigerator,
clothes on your back,
a roof over your head and a place to sleep,
you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank,
in your wallet,
and spare change,
you are amongthe top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If your parents are still married and alive,
you are very rare,
especially in the United States.

If you hold up your head with
a smile on your face and are truly thankful,
you are blessed because the majority can,
but most do not.

If you can hold someone's hand, hug them
or even touch them on the shoulder,
you are blessed because
you can offer God's healing touch.

If you can read this post,
you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world
that cannot read anything at all.

You are so blessed in ways you may never even know.

WHY VEGETARIANISM?

Apples

1. protect heart
2. prevent constipation
3. block diaorrhea
4. improve lung capacity
5. cushion joints

Apricots

1. combat cancer
2. control blood pressure
3. save eyesight
4. shield against Alzheimer's
5. slow aging process

Artichokes

1. aid digestion
2. lower cholesterol
3. protect heart
4. stabilize blood sugar
5. guard against liver diseases

Avocadoes

1. battle diabetes
2. lower cholesterol
3. help stop strokes
4. control blood pressure
5. smoothes skin

Bananas

1. protect heart
2. quiet a cough
3. strengthen bones
4. control blood pressure
5. blocks diaorrhea

Beans

1. prevent constipation
2. help hemorrhoids
3. lower cholesterol
4. combat cancer
5. stabilize blood sugar

Beets

1. control blood pressure
2. combat cancer
3. strengthen bones
4. protect heart
5. aid weight loss

Blueberries

1. combat cancer
2. protect heart
3. stabilize blood sugar
4. boost memory
5. prevent constipation

Broccoli

1. strengthens bones
2. saves eyesight
3. combats cancer
4. protects heart
5. controls blood pressure

Cabbages

1. combat cancer
2. prevent constipation
3. promote weight loss
4. protects heart
5. help hemorrhoids

Cantaloupes

1. Save eyesight
2. control blood pressure
3. lower cholesterol
4. combat cancer
5. support immune system

Carrots

1. save eyesight
2. protect heart
3. prevent constipation
4. combat cancer
5. promote weight loss

Cauliflowers

1. protect against prostate cancer
2. combat breast cancer
3. strengthen bones
4. banish bruises
5. guard against heart disease

Cherries

1. protect heart
2. combat cancer
3. end insomnia
4. slows aging process
5. shield against Alzheimer's

Chestnuts

1. promote weight loss
2. protect heart
3. lower cholesterol
4. combat cancer
5. control blood pressure

Chilies & Peppers

1. aid digestion
2. soothe sore throat
3. clear sinuses
4. combat cancer
5. boost immune system

Figs

1. promote weight loss
2. help stop strokes
3. lower cholesterol
4. combat cancer
5. control blood pressure

Fish

1. protects heart
2. boost memory
3. combat cancer
4. support immune system

Flax

1. aids digestion
2. battles diabetes
3. protects heart
4. improves mental health
5. boosts immune system

Garlic

1. lowers cholesterol
2. controls blood pressure
3. combats cancer
4. kills bacteria
5. fights fungus

Grapefruit

1. protects against heart attacks
2. promotes weight loss
3. helps stop strokes
4. combats prostate cancer
5. lowers cholesterol

Grapes

1. save eyesight
2. conquer kidney stones
3. combat cancer
4. enhance blood flow
5. protect heart

Green Tea

1. combats cancer
2. protects heart
3. helps stop stroke
4. promotes weight loss
5. kills bacteria

Honey

1. heals wounds
2. aids digestion
3. guards against ulcers
4. increases energy
5. fights allergies

Lemons

1. combat cancer
2. protect heart
3. control blood pressure
4. smoothen skin
5. stop scurvy

Limes

1. combat cancer
2. protect heart
3. control blood pressure
4. smoothen skin
5. stop scurvy

Mangoes

1. combat cancer
2. boost memory
3. regulate thyroid
4. aid digestion
5. shield against Alzheimer's

Mushrooms

1. control blood pressure
2. lower cholesterol
3. kill bacteria
4. combat cancer
5. strengthen bones

Oats

1. Lowers cholesterol
2. combat cancer
3. battle diabetes
4. prevent constipation
5. smoothen skin

Olive Oil

1. protects heart
2. promotes weight loss
3. combats cancer
4. battles diabetes
5. smoothens skin

Onions

1. reduce risk of heart attack
2. combat cancer
3. kill bacteria
4. lower cholesterol
5. fight fungus

Oranges

1. support immune system
2. combat cancer
3. protect heart
4. strengthen respiration

Peaches

1. prevent constipation
2. combat cancer
3. help stop strokes
4. aid digestion
5. help hemorrhoids

Peanuts

1. protect against heart disease
2. promote weight loss
3. combat prostate cancer
4. lower cholesterol
5. aggravate diverticulitis

Pineapple

1. strengthens bones
2. relieves colds
3. aids digestion
4. dissolves warts
5. blocks diaorrhea

Prunes

1. slow aging process
2. prevent constipation
3. boost memory
4. lower cholesterol
5. protect against heart disease

Rice

1. protects heart
2. battles diabetes
3. conquers kidney stones
4. combats cancer
5. helps stop strokes

Strawberries

1. combat cancer
2. protect heart
3. boost memory
4. calm stress

Sweet Potatoes

1. save eyesight
2. lift mood
3. combat cancer
4. strengthen bones

Tomatoes

1. protect prostate
2. combat cancer
3. lower cholesterol
4. protect heart

Walnuts

1. lower cholesterol
2. combat cancer
3. boost memory
4. lift mood
5. protect against heart disease

Water

1. promotes weight loss
2. combats cancer
3. conquers kidney stones
4. smoothes skin

Watermelon

1. protects prostate
2. promotes weight loss
3. lowers cholesterol
4. helps stop strokes
5. controls blood pressure

Wheat

1. combats colon cancer
2. prevents constipation
3. lowers cholesterol
4. helps stop strokes
5. improves digestion

Wheat Bran

1. combats colon cancer
2. prevents constipation
3. lowers cholesterol

GET RID OF STRESS

A professor began his class by holding up a glass with some water in it. He held it up for all to see & asked the students “How much do you think this glass weighs?”

'50gms!' .... '100gms!' .....'125gms' ....the students answered.

“I really don't know unless I weigh it,” said the professor, “but, my question is: What would happen if I held it up like this for a few minutes?”

Nothing' …..the students said.

'Ok what would happen if I held it up like this for an hour?' the professor asked.

'Your arm would begin to ache' said one of the student.

“You're right, now what would happen if I held it for a day?”

“Your arm could go numb, you might have severe muscle stress & paralysis & have to go to hospital for sure!”....ventured another student & all the students laughed.

“Very good. But during all this, did the weight of the glass change?” asked the professor.

'No'....was the answer.

“Then what caused the arm ache & the muscle stress?”

The students were puzzled.

“What should I do now to come out of pain?” asked the professor again.

“Put the glass down!” said one of the students.

“Exactly!” said the professor.

Life's problems are something like this.

Hold them for a few minutes in your head & they seem OK.

Think of them for a long time & they begin to ache.

Hold it even longer & they begin to paralyze you. You will not be able to do anything.

Moral

It's important to think of the challenges or problems in your life, but EVEN MORE IMPORTANT is to ‘PUT THEM DOWN' at the end of every day before you go to sleep. That way, you are not stressed, you wake up every day fresh & strong & can handle any issue, any challenge that comes your way!

TWO CHOICES

Two Choices....What would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look for a punchline, there isn't one.

Read it anyway....

The question is: Would you have made the same choice?

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning-disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered aquestion: "When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?"

The audience was stilled by the query. The father continued. "I believe, that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child."

Then he told the following story:

Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?" Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. His Father watched with a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!" Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!" Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base .... By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball .... the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way, Shay." Shay reached third base because the opposing short stop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third! Shay, run to third!" As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, "Shay, run home! Run home!" Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.

"That day", said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world". Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his father so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

AND NOW A LITTLE FOOTNOTE TO THIS STORY:

We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate. The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces. If you're thinking about forwarding this post, chances are that you're probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't the "appropriate" ones to receive this type of message. Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference. We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the "natural order of things." So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice: Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?

A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.

You now have two choices:

1. Ignore

2. Copy & Forward

'May your day, be a Shay Day'

DO'NT EVER BE LATE

A priest was being honored at his retirement dinner after 25 years in the parish.

A leading local politician and member of the congregation was chosen to make the presentation and give a little speech at the dinner. He was delayed so the priest decided to say his own few words while they waited.

" I got my first impression of the parish from the first confession I heard here. I thought I had been assigned to a terrible place. The very first person who entered my confessional told me he had stolen a television set and, when stopped by the police, had almost murdered the officer. He had stolen money from his parents, embezzled from his place of business, had an affair with his boss's wife, taken illegal drugs, etc. etc."

"I was appalled. But as the days went on I knew that my people were not all like that and I had, indeed, come to a fine parish full of good and loving people."....

Just as the priest finished his talk, the politician arrived full of apologies at being late.

He immediately began to make the presentation and give his talk. "I'll never forget the first day our parish priest arrived," said the politician. "In fact, I had the honor of being the first one to go to him in confession."

Moral

DON'T EVER BE LATE

JUDGEMENT

A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of it's own imperfection. And miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you. I have been able to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw. So I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house?

Moral

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.

Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life.

CUPS OR COFFEE

A VERY SIMPLE STORY BUT A VERY PROFOUND MESSAGE

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university lecturer. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the lecturer went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass, some plain-looking and some expensive and exquisite, telling them to help themselves to hot coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the lecturer said:

"If you noticed, all the nice-looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress."

"What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the better cups and are eyeing each other's cups."

"Now, if life is coffee, then the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, but the quality of life doesn't change. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee in it."

So don't let the cups drive you...

Enjoy the coffee instead.

BE KIND

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.

He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"

"You don't owe me anything," she replied "Mother has taught us never to accept payment for a kindness." He said... "Then I thank you from my heart."

As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt; stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Years later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes.

Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room.

She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally, she looked, and something caught ;her attention on the side as she read these words....

"Paid in full with one glass of milk." (Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank You, GOD, that Your love has spread abroad through human hearts and hands."....

Moral

Never take some one for granted; Hold every person close to your heart because you might wake up one day and realise that you have lost a diamond while you were too busy collecting stones.

OBESITY

Definition
Obesity refers to an increase in total body fat. The easiest and most widely accepted method of determining whether you are obese is by measuring your Body Mass Index, or BMI.
To calculate the BMI, the following steps should be followed:
Calculate your weight in kilograms; divide by your height in metres; divide this number by your height in metres a second time.
A normal BMI = 18.5-24.9; overweight = 25.0-29.9; obese = 30 or greater; and morbidly obese = 40 or greater.
Why Should I Care About Obesity?
Obesity has become an epidemic in the U.S. and other developed countries. As many as one-third of all Americans are obese based on the BMI criteria. In addition to body image issues, obesity causes significant health issues. It is the second leading cause of preventable death (after smoking), and is associated with type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, arthritis, gallstones, and certain types of cancer.
Description of Obesity
Often referred to as a disease, obesity is actually a sign of what may well be a spectrum of different kinds of disorders – genetic or environmental. In fact, there is no single definition of obesity. It may be simply an extreme degree of overweight - but a person can be overweight without being obese. A 250-pound, 6' linebacker, for example, may be overweight according to ordinary standards, but may actually have a below-average amount of body fat. In contrast, a person in a normal weight range but with very sedentary habits, could have a small muscle mass, be storing excess fat, and thus be classifiable as obese. Two principal risk factors that lead to obesity, poor nutrition and lack of physical activity combined, are the second leading cause of preventable death (tobacco is first). Obesity is associated with significant increases in risk for type II diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, high cholesterol, coronary artery disease, degenerative joint disease and psychosocial disability. Certain cancers - colon, rectum and prostate in men; uterus, biliary tract, breast and ovary in women - are more prevalent in the obese.
Causes and Risk Factors of Obesity
Until recently, obesity was considered the result of a sedentary lifestyle and the chronic ingestion of excess calories. This may be the principal factor for many individuals, but there is evidence of strong genetic, metabolic, and environmental influences in the development of obesity. Certain illnesses, such as Cushing’s syndrome or hypothyroidism, and medications, such as glucocorticoids, can also cause obesity. However, less than one percent of all obese patients have an identifiable secondary cause of obesity.
Diagnosis of Obesity
A physical examination, including a measurement of weight and height, is usually sufficient to diagnose obesity. A complete medical history, including age of onset, family history, eating and exercise behavior, smoking, alcohol use, and previous weight loss experience are all important. Your physician may order blood tests, including fasting levels of glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides, to determine whether any obesity-related conditions are present.
Treatment of Obesity
Successful programs for weight loss reduction and maintenance should be started and followed under the care of a physician and/or a nutritionist. A weight-loss program may include:
Exercise (30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week).
A low-fat, high-complex carbohydrate, high fiber diet.
Behavior modification to change eating behavior.
Social support.
Medications.
Although several diets have become quite popular as effective ways of losing weight, none of them has been proven to be vastly superior in rigorously conducted, large-scale clinical trials. The key (and only) reason for the success of any dietary plan is that it make you consume fewer calories than what you are expending.
It is very important to discuss all medications you are taking with your physician. Current guidelines recommend drug treatment for individuals, especially those with other obesity-related health conditions, who have failed to respond adequately to dietary and behavioral modifications. A limited number of medications are available for the treatment of obesity. Although surgery (such as gastric bypass) is the last resort for the treatment of obesity, it can be extremely effective. However, it should be performed at an experienced surgical center, because such operations can carry significant risks, especially in the post-operative period. Consensus recommendations are to limit surgical therapies to patients with morbid obesity (BMI > 40).

RICH OR POOR

One day the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.
They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.
On their return from their trip, the father asked his son:
How was the trip?
It was great, Dad.
Did you see how poor people live?
Oh yeah.
So, tell me, what you learned from the trip?
The son answered:
I saw that we have one dog and they had four....
We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end….
We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night....
Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon....
We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond....
We have servants who serve us, but they serve others....
We buy our food, but they grow theirs....
We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them....
The boy's father was speechless.
Then his son added, Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.
Isn't perspective a wonderful thing?
Makes us wonder what would happen if we gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have.

HOW TO BE HAPPY

10 Tips regarding how to be happy!

1°Don’t worry
Worry is the least productive of all human activities and thoughts!!
2° Don’t let needless fears preoccupy your life
Most of things we fear never happen!!
3° Don’t hold grudges
That is one of the biggest and most unnecessary weights we carry through our lives!!
4° Take on one problem at a time
It’s the only way to handle things anyway, one by one!!
5° Don’t take your problems to bed with you
They are bad and unhealthy companions for good natural sleep and rest!!
6° Don’t take on the problems of other people
They are better equipped to handle their own problems than you are!!
7° Don’t live in the past

It will always be there in your memories to enjoy, but don’t cling to it. Concentrate on what is happening right now in your life, and you will be happy in the present also; not just the past!!
8° Be a good listener
It is only when one listens, that one gets and learns ideas different from ones own!!9° Don’t let frustration ruin and rule your life
Self pity more than anything, interferes with positive actions!!
10° Count your blessings
Don’t even forget the smallest blessings. As many small blessings add up to large ones!!

WHOM TO BLAME

Whom to blame . . .

Boy was born to a couple after eleven years of marriage. They were a loving couple and the boy was the gem of their eyes. When the boy was around two years old, one morning the husband saw a medicine bottle open. He was late for office so he asked his wife to cap the bottle and keep it in the cupboard. His wife, preoccupied in the kitchen totally forgot the matter. The boy saw the bottle and playfully went to the bottle fascinated by its color and drank it all. It happened to be a poisonous medicine meant for adults in small dosages. When the child collapsed the mother hurried him to the hospital, where he died. The mother was stunned. She was terrified how to face her husband.

When the distraught father came to the hospital and saw the dead child, he looked at his wife and uttered just five words.

QUESTIONS: 1. What were the five words? 2. What is the implication of this story?,
ANSWER: The husband just said "I am with you Darling."

The husband's totally unexpected reaction is a proactive behavior. The child is dead. He can never be brought back to life. There is no point in finding fault with the mother. Besides, if only he had taken time to keep the bottle away, this would not have happened. No one is to be blamed. She had also lost her only child. What she needed at that moment was consolation and sympathy from the husband. That is what he gave her.

If everyone can look at life with this kind of perspective, there would be much fewer problems in the world."

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears. And you will find things are actually not as difficult as you think.

Moral

Sometimes we spend time in asking who is responsible or whom to blame, whether in a relationship, in a job or with the people we know. By this way we miss out some warmth in human relationship.

TEAM WORK

A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, "Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.

The Lord led the holy man to two doors.

He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water. The people sitting around the table werethin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.

The Lord said, "You have seen Hell."

They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.

The holy man said, "I don't understand"." It is simple said the Lord, "it requires only one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves."

Moral

Its people's attitude that makes our place of work, a hell or heaven to them!!

'Help and Seek Help' this makes all the difference to each individual's life....

And makes our lives hell or otherwise.

Success and happiness is all about effective team-work....

Make it a great place to work.

TEAM WORK

A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, "Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.

The Lord led the holy man to two doors.

He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water. The people sitting around the table werethin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.

The Lord said, "You have seen Hell."

They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.

The holy man said, "I don't understand"." It is simple said the Lord, "it requires only one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves."

Moral

Its people's attitude that makes our place of work, a hell or heaven to them!!

'Help and Seek Help' this makes all the difference to each individual's life....

And makes our lives hell or otherwise.

Success and happiness is all about effective team-work....

Make it a great place to work.

THE POWER OF ONE

One song can spark a moment.
One flower can wake the dream.
One tree can start a forest.
One bird can herald spring.
One smile begins a friendship.
One handclasp lifts a soul.
One star can guide a ship at sea.
One word can frame the goal.
One vote can change a nation.
One sunbeam lights a room.
One candle wipes out darkness.
One laugh will conquer gloom.
One step must start each journey.
One word must start each prayer.
One hope will raise our spirits.
One touch can show you care.
One voice can speak with wisdom.
One heart can know what's true.
One life can make the difference.

You see, IT'S UP TO YOU!

DO NOT GIVE UP

Do Not Give Up

There are two people that live in each one of us. One of their names is 'Success' and the other's is 'Failure'.

They are always talking to you but sometimes, one is yelling louder than the other.

Unfortunately, it is usually 'Failure' which is the louder one. No matter what you try to achieve, he yells out, 'failure, failure'. Most of us listen and are inclined to give up. But if you fight against that voice and never give up, you will always find that 'Success' will catch his breath right when you need it the most. He will yell out in a triumphant voice, 'You're a winner,you can do it'.

If you always allow successful thinking to energize you, you will find that soon 'Failure' will fall off your shoulder.

SO NEVER GIVE UP!"

3A Success Mantra

What is the “3A” Success Mantra?
It is your - ATTITUDE, AIM & ACTION
ATTITUDE
Be Positive.
AIM
It must be WRITTEN, SPECIFIC & ACHIEVABLE.
ACTION
The longest journey begins with one small step.

SMILE FOR YOU

Smiling is infectious; you catch it like the flu,
When someone smiled at me today; I started smiling too.
I passed around the corner and someone saw my grin,
When he smiled, I realised, that I'd passed it onto him.
I thought about that smile; then I realised its worth,
A single smile, just like mine could travel round the earth.
So, if you feel a smile begin, don't leave it undetected,
Let's start an epidemic quick, and get the world infected.

THOSE WHO CARE

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic trip.

You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just read the post straight through and you'll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five World Cup Football winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss Universe.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz.

See how you do on this one.

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards.

They are the ones that care.

HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE

Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting.
Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.
You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack.
Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.
60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up.
Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep.

Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive...

Let's say it's 6.15 pm and you're driving home. Suddenly you start experiencing severe pain in your chest that starts to radiate out into your arm and up into your jaw. You are only about five miles from the hospital nearest your home. Unfortunately you don't know if you'll be able to make it that far. You have been trained in CPR, but the guy that taught the course did not tell you how to perform it on yourself.

"HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE"

Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, without help, the person whose heart is beating improperly and who begins to feel faint, has only about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness. However, these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously. A deep breath should be taken before each cough, deep and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep inside the chest. A breath and a cough must be repeated about every two seconds without let-up until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again. Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating. The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm.

In this way, heart attack victims can get to a hospital.

SHARING

When we share laughter,
There's twice the fun;
When we share success,
We've surpassed what we've done.

When we share problems,
There's half the pain;
When we share tears,
A rainbow follows rain.

When we share dreams,
They become more real;
When we share secrets,
It's our hearts we reveal.

If we share a smile,
That's when our love shows;
If we share a hug,
That's when our love grows.

If we share with someone on whom we depend,
That person is always family or friend.
And what draws us closer and makes us all care,
Is not what we have, but the things we share.

7 DON'TS AFTER MEALS

* Don't smoke - Experiment from experts proves that smoking a cigarette after meal is comparable to smoking 10 cigarettes (chances of cancer are higher).

* Don't eat fruits immediately - Immediately eating fruits after meals will cause stomach to be bloated with air. Therefore take fruits 1-2 hr after meal or 1 hr before meal.

* Don't drink tea - Because tea leaves contain a high content of acid. This substance will cause the protein content in the food that is consumed to be hardened thus difficult to digest.

* Don't loosen the belt - Loosening the belt after a meal will easily cause the intestine to be twisted & blocked.

* Don't bathe - Bathing will cause the increase of blood flow to the hands, legs & body thus the amount of blood around the stomach will therefore decrease. This will weaken the digestive system in the stomach.

* Don't walk about - People always say that after a meal walk a hundred steps and you will live till 99. In actual fact this is not true. Walking will cause the digestive system to be unable to absorb the nutrition from the food we intake.

* Don't sleep immediately - The food will not be able to digest properly. Thus will lead to gastric trouble & infection in the intestine.

ALL FACES ARE MIRRORS

Our life is actually a reflection of our thoughts and actions.

Long ago in a small, far away village, there was place known as the House of 1000 Mirrors. A small, happy little dog learned of this place and decided to visit.

When he arrived, he bounced happily up the stairs to the doorway of the house. He looked through the doorway with his ears lifted high and his tail wagging as fast as it could. To his great surprise, he found himself staring at 1000 other happy little dogs with their tails wagging just as fast as his. He smiled a great smile, and was answered with 1000 great smiles just as warm and friendly.

As he left the House, he thought to himself, "This is a wonderful place. I will come back and visit it often."

In this same village, another little dog, who was not quite as happy as the first one, decided to visit the house.

He slowly climbed the stairs and hung his head low as he looked into the door. When he saw the 1000 unfriendly looking dogs staring back at him, he growled at them and was horrified to see 1000 little dogs growling back at him.

As he left, he thought to himself, "That is a horrible place, and I will never go back there again."

ALL THE FACES IN THE WORLD ARE MIRRORS.

JUST OBSERVE WHAT KIND OF REFLECTIONS DO YOU SEE IN THE FACES OF THE PEOPLE YOU MEET?

WALK TOGETHER

When animals dont have any criteria to extend comfort..................

Why we,humans should?

A baby hippopotamus that survived the tsunami waves on the Kenyan coast has formed a strong bond with a giant male century-old tortoise, in an animal facility in the port city of Mombassa, officials said.

The hippopotamus, nicknamed Owen and weighing about 300 kilograms (650 pounds), was swept down Sabaki River into the Indian Ocean, then forced back to shore when tsunami waves struck the Kenyan coast on December 26, before wildlife rangers rescued him.

"It is incredible. A-less-than-a-year-old hippo has adopted a male tortoise, about a century old, and the tortoise seems to be very happy with being a 'mother'," ecologist Paula Kahumbu, who is in charge of Lafarge Park, told AFP.

"After it was swept and lost its mother, the hippo was traumatized. It had to look for something to be a surrogate mother. Fortunately, it landed on the tortoise and established a strong bond. They swim, eat and sleep together," the ecologist added. "The hippo follows the tortoise exactly the way it follows its mother. If somebody approaches the tortoise, the hippo becomes aggressive, as if protecting its biological mother," Kahumbu added.

"The hippo is a young baby, he was left at a very tender age and by nature, hippos are social animals that like to stay with their mothers for four years," he explained.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

This is a real story that shows that our differences don't matter much when we need the comfort of another. We could all learn a lesson from these two creatures of God.

LOOK BEYOND THE DIFFERENCES AND FIND A WAY TO WALK THE PATH TOGETHER.

LIFE IS A GIFT

Today before you think of saying an unkind word,

Think of someone who can't speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food,
Think of someone who has nothing to eat.








Before you complain about your husband or wife,
Think of someone who's crying out to God for a companion.







Today before you complain about life,
Think of someone who went too early to heaven.





Before you complain about your children,
Think of someone who desires children but they're barren.








Before you argue about your dirty house; someone didn't clean or sweep,
Think of the people who are living in the streets.








Before whining about the distance you drive,
Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.









And when you are tired and complain about your job,
Think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wished they had your job.







But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another,
Remember that not one of us are without sin and we all answer to one maker.








And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down,
Put a smile on your face and thank God you're alive and still around.






Life is a Gift, Liveit....
Life is a Gift, Enjoyit....
Life is a Gift, Celebrate it....
Life is a Gift, Fulfillit.

TAKE A STEP

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well.

The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally, he decided that the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbours to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.

At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly.

Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well.

He was astonished at what he saw.

With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing.

He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbours continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.

The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up.

Each of our troubles is a stepping stone.

We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up!

Shake it off and take a step up ! !

OBSTACLES IN OUR PATH

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.

Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.

After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.

The peasant learned what many of us never understand!

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

THOSE WHO SERVE

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.

"How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked.

"Fifty cents," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled is hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.

"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient.

"Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins.

"I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.

When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies..

The boy couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

PICK UP IN THE RAIN

One night, at11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Albama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride.

Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.

A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance, and put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him.

Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home.

A special note was attached..

It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away... God bless you for helping me and UNSELFISHLY SERVING OTHERS."

WORK ETHICS

Once upon a time a washerman was bringing up two donkeys. Let us say Donkey-A and Donkey-B.

Donkey-A felt that it was very energetic and could do better than the other. It always tried to pull the washerman's attraction over it by taking more load and walking fast in front of him. Innocent Donkey-B was normal, so it used to walk normally, irrespective of the washerman's presence.

After a period of time, the washerman started pressurising Donkey-B to be like Donkey-A.

But Donkey-B was unable to walk fast and got continuous punishment from the washerman.

One day it was crying and told Donkey-A "Dear friend, only we two are here, why to compete with each other....we can carry equal load at normal speed -".

That made Donkey-A all the more energetic and next day it told the washerman that it could carry more load and even it can run fast also.

Obviously a very happy washerman looked at Donkey-B.., his BP got raised and he started kicking Donkey-B.

Next day with smile, Donkey-A carried more load and started running fast. But it was breathtaking for Donkey-B and it couldn't act that way....But the washerman was frustrated, so he harassed Donkey-B terribly, and finally it fell down hopelessly.

Then Donkey-A felt itself as a supremo and happily started carrying more load with great speed. But now the load of the Donkey-B was also to be carried by Donkey-A, and still it had to run fast. For some period it did, finally due to fatigue it got tired and started feeling the pain.

But the washerman expected more from Donkey-A. It also tried its best, but couldn't cope up with his owner's demand. The washerman got angry with Donkey-A also and started harassing it to take more load...Donkey-A cried and tried its best...But it couldn't live up to the owner's satisfaction.

Finally the day came when due to frustration the washerman killed Donkey-A and went searching for some other Donkeys.

Its an endless story..........

But the Moral of the Story in life is......,

Think that all colleagues are same and that everyone is capable....

Always share the load equally....

Don't ever act smart in front of your Boss and never try to get more credit....

Don't feel happy when your colleague is under pressure....

STAYING FRESH

The Japanese have always loved fresh fish. But the waters close to Japan have not held many fish for decades. So to feed the Japanese population, fishing boats got bigger and went farther.

The farther the fishermen went, the longer it took them to bring in the fish. If the return trip took more than a few days, the fish were not fresh, and the Japanese did not like the taste.

Therefore fishing companies installed freezers on their boats. Freezers allowed the boats to go farther and stay longer.

However, the Japanese could taste the difference between the fresh and the frozen and they did not like frozen fish. The frozen fish brought a lower price.

So fishing companies installed fish tanks. They would catch the fish and stuff them in the tanks, fin to fin. After a little thrashing around, the fish stopped moving. They were tried and dull but alive.

But the Japanese could still taste the difference. Since the fish did not move for days, they lost their fresh-fish taste. The Japanese preferred the lively taste of fresh fish, not sluggish fish.

Finally the fishing companies decided to add a small shark to each tank. Lo and behold! Not all, but most of the fish remained in a very lively state. They were challenged, but oddly enough, in the presence of a challenging environment they thrived and remained fresh.

So, do not avoid challenges; jump into them, enjoy the game. Even if the challenges are too large and numerous, don't give up. Failing is not an option. Instead find more determination more, knowledge and more help.

If you have met your goals, set some bigger goals. Once you meet your personal or family needs, move onto goals for your group, the society, even mankind. Don't create success and lie in it. Put a shark in your tank and see how far you can go!

ABOUT MONEY

With MONEY....

One can buy a HOUSE but not a HOME
One can buy a CLOCK but not TIME
One can buy a BED but not SLEEP
One can buy a BOOK but not KNOWLEDGE
One can see a DOCTOR but not GOOD HEALTH
One can buy a POSITION but not RESPECT
One can buy BLOOD but not LIFE
One can buy SEX but not LOVE

SHORTCUTS TO SUCCESS

PLAN while others are playing

STUDY while others are sleeping

DECIDE while others are delaying

PREPARE while others are daydreaming

BEGIN while others are procrastinating

WORK while others are wishing

SAVE while others are wasting

LISTEN while others are talking

SMILE while others are frowning

COMMEND while others are criticizing

PERSIST while others are quitting

THE DUCK & THE DEVIL

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods.

He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck.

Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved.

In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile, only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes." Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen." Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?" So Johnny did the dishes.

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper." Sally just smiled and said,"Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help." She whispered again, "Remember the duck?" So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's, he finally couldn't stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck. Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug, and said, "Sweetheart,I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you."

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AND EVERY DAY THEREAFTER!

Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done... the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.) ....whatever it is....you need to knowthat God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing..... He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven.

He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you.

The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness, He not only forgives you, but He forgets . It is by God's grace and mercy that we are saved.

God is at the window.

GOD IS GREAT!