10 Empowering Life Lessons from Books

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." Such wise words! Whether you read to cry or laugh, discover your own world or escape to another, books feed the mind and empower the soul.

 

Be bold. —Libba Bray, author of Beauty Queens
"For years, I'd heard the feminist Gloria Steinem described as 'shrill' and 'hostile' and many other dismissive, denigrating terms. But after reading about her struggles as a human being and as a leader of feminism's second wave in her book Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions, I got a truer picture. The woman I encountered in her generous, thought-provoking collection of essays is as warm and gracious as she is intelligent. I learned that it's far too easy for women to be shamed into staying quiet about their lives, their dreams, needs, desires, anger, aspirations, and that the old adage, 'Well-behaved women seldom make history' is all too true. Thank you, Gloria, for teaching me how to misbehave."

 

Choose friends wisely. —Michele Norris, author of The Grace of Silence: A Family Memoir
"I've learned many important life lessons from The Collected Autobiographies of Maya Angelou. She has lived a roller coaster life full of peaks and valleys, surprises and sorrows. She is a survivor who learned to surround herself with people who helped sustain her. That is the strongest thread that runs through her memoirs: Find people who believe in you for those days when it's hard to believe in yourself."
[Note: Norris is also co-host of NPR's All Things Considered and The Back Seat Book Club.]

 

You're stronger than you think. —Lauren Willig, author of The Garden Intrigue
"Robin McKinley's The Hero and the Crown taught me that heroism resides in unexpected places. Sometimes, the bravest deeds come from people doing their duty as they find it, blundering and muddling along, and doing the best that they can. No matter how bleak something may feel, you just have to press on through, battling your own dragons as the heroine in the book battled hers."

 

Devour knowledge. —Judith Viorst, author of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
"I first read The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann in my early twenties, and though I recognize now that it harbors deeper meanings, I loved it for the questing, curious mind of its innocent hero Hans Castorp. Spending several years as a patient in a sanitarium, Hans drinks in knowledge from the people he meets, learning about religion, art, politics, humanism, love, and death. His hunger to learn, and to keep on learning, became one of the guiding values of my life."

 

Home is truly sweet. —Sibella Court, author of Nomad: A Global Approach to Interior Style
"I consider myself a nomad; I can never stay still for too long. My mother read Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak to me and my siblings frequently. Even though I was very young at the time, the book stayed in my mind. No matter how far or for how long I globe-trot, it's always lovely to come home."

 

Keep an open mind. —Meg Cabot, author of The Princess Diaries
"The classic Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is an all-time favorite of mine. In it, witty but poor Elizabeth Bennet has her pride injured by the handsome Mr. Darcy, so she returns the favor. Will prejudices keep apart two people who are perfect for one another? Lesson: Don't judge people until you know the whole story, and never listen to guys named Mr. Wickham."

 

Follow your passion. —Uma Krishnaswami, author of The Grand Plan to Fix Everything
"The River by Rumer Godden was the first novel I read that seemed to speak directly to me, even though it was set in the 1920s. The India it portrayed seemed truthfully written, in a way that didn't patronize. Indirectly, the main character's story seemed to give me permission to write. Even now, when I doubt myself as a writer (which happens with predictable regularity!), I remember the impulse that book lit up in me to put pen to paper. It taught me that everyone's story matters."

 

Always pay attention. —Tamora Pierce, author of Mastiff: The Legend of Beka Cooper, Book Three

"No one will like this, but from Jim's experiences in the apple barrel in Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson and Scout, Jem, and Dill's adventures throughout To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, I learned that eavesdroppers often hear many interesting and instructive things. People may disapprove of eavesdropping, but many books teach the usefulness of it."

 

Be extraordinary every day. —Lisa Tucker, author of The Winters in Bloom
"If there is such a thing as the Great American Novel, the Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison is it. This stunning book helped me see that women can be epic heroes — that taking care of other people, watching over them, and forgiving their flaws, can be a noble, courageous way to spend a life."

 

Identify with others. —Joy Fielding, author of the forthcoming Now You See Her
"Books teach empathy and show you you're not alone, that your insecurities and passions are shared by millions of people all over the world. No matter how different we may seem, we all have the same emotions. Knowing that others feel the same things is an enormous comfort. Three novels that taught me a lot about life were J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, Joan Didion's Play It as It Lays, and Marilyn French's The Women's Room. Each spoke to me at different stages in my life and opened my mind to new possibilities."

 

 

Source: http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/parent-child/10-empowering-life-lessons-books

I feel you

The Favor Bank

‘What is this Favor Bank?’
‘It was an American writer who first mentioned it. It’s the most powerful bank in the world, and you’ll find it in every sphere of life.’

‘What favors could I do for anyone?’
‘That doesn’t matter in the least. Let me give you an example: I know that one day, you’ll be very influential. I know this because, like you, I too was once ambitious, independent, honest. I no longer have the energy I once had, but I want to help you because I can’t or don’t want to grind to a halt just yet.
I start making deposits in your account – not cash deposits, you understand, but contacts. I introduce you to such and such a person, I arrange certain deals, as long as they’re legal. You know that you owe me something, but I never ask you for anything.’
‘And then one day…’
‘ One day, I’ll ask you for a favor. You do what I ask, I continue to help you, and other people see that you’re a decent, loyal sort of person and so they too make deposits in your account – always in the form of contacts, because this world is made up of contacts and nothing else. They too will one day ask you for a favor, and you will respect and help the people who have helped you. You’ll know everyone you need to know and your influence will keep on growing.’

‘I could refuse to do what you ask me to do.’
‘You could. The Favor Bank is a risky investment, just like any other bank. You refuse to grant the favor I asked you, in the belief that I helped you because you deserved to be helped, because everyone should recognize your talent. Fine, I say thank you very much and ask someone else into whose account I’ve also made various deposits, but from then on, everyone knows, without me having to say a word, that you are not to be trusted.
‘And…’
‘You’ll grow only half as much as you could have grown, and certainly not as much as you would have liked to. At a certain point, your life will begin to decline, you got halfway, but not all the way. Neither frustrated nor fulfilled. You’re neither cold nor hot, you’re lukewarm, and as an evangelist in some holy book says: “Lukewarm things are not pleasing to the palate.”

Source:
http://paulocoelhoblog.com/2014/02/19/character-of-the-week-the-favour-bank/

Falling in love at a coffee shop

Never to Give Up

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 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 neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and begin 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 and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that fell on his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer’s neighbors 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 trotted off!

Source: https://www.moralstories.org/never-to-give-up/

Absolutely love podcasts from NPR

https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this

https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510289/planet-money

Sunday Musings

Let us have the courage to accept that which we cannot change.
And if we must fight, let us give a good fight.

- Kaushali Kanakia

Interview with Warren Buffet

Here are some very interesting aspects of his life:
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1. He bought his first share at age 11 and he now regrets that he started too late!
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2. He bought a small farm at age 14 with savings from delivering newspapers
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3. He still lives in the same small 3-bedroom house in mid-town Omaha, which he bought after he got married 50 years ago. He says that he has everything he needs in that house. His house does not have a wall or a fence.
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4. He drives his own car everywhere and does not have a driver or security people around him.
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5. He never travels by private jet, although he owns the world's largest private jet company.
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6. _His company, Berkshire Hathaway, owns 63 companies. He writes only one letter each year to the CEOs of these companies, giving them goals for the year. He never holds meetings or calls them on a regular basis. He has given his CEO's only two rules.
* Rule number 1: do not lose any of your share holder's money.
* Rule number 2: Do not forget rule number 1.
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7. He does not socialize with the high society crowd. His past time after he gets home is to make himself some pop corn and watch Television.
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8. Bill Gates, the world's richest man met him for the first time only 5 years ago. Bill Gates did not think he had anything in common with Warren Buffet. So he had scheduled his meeting only for half hour. But when Gates met him, the meeting lasted for ten hours and Bill Gates became = devotee of Warren Buffet.
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9. Warren Buffet does not carry a cell phone, nor has a computer on his desk. His advice to young people: "Stay away from credit cards and invest in yourself and _Remember:
 🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹
A : Money doesn't create man but it is the man who created money.

B : Live your life  as simple as you are.

C. Don't do what others say, just listen to them, but do what you feel good.

D : Don't go on brand name; just wear those things in which u feel comfortable.

E :  _Don't waste your money on unnecessary things; just spend on people who are really in need.

F :  After all it's your life then why give chance to others to rule.

_The above may not make you Warren Buffet. ..

However it will surely make you successful and bring you more wisdom  ...!

Source: Internet

Soothing flute

This website is for everyone who loves books and organizing.

https://www.goodreads.com/

How It Works

Goodreads is a free website for book lovers. Imagine it as a large library that you can wander through and see everyone's bookshelves, their reviews, and their ratings. You can also post your own reviews and catalog what you have read, are currently reading, and plan to read in the future. Don’t stop there – join a discussion group, start a book club, contact an author, and even post your own writing.

All the Difference in The World

Every Sunday morning I take a light jog around a park near my home.  There’s a lake located in one corner of the park.  Each time I jog by this lake, I see the same elderly woman sitting at the water’s edge with a small metal cage sitting beside her.

This past Sunday my curiosity got the best of me, so I stopped jogging and walked over to her.  As I got closer, I realized that the metal cage was in fact a small trap.  There were three turtles, unharmed, slowly walking around the base of the trap.  She had a fourth turtle in her lap that she was carefully scrubbing with a spongy brush.

“Hello,” I said.  “I see you here every Sunday morning.  If you don’t mind my nosiness, I’d love to know what you’re doing with these turtles.”

She smiled.  “I’m cleaning off their shells,” she replied.  “Anything on a turtle’s shell, like algae or scum, reduces the turtle’s ability to absorb heat and impedes its ability to swim.  It can also corrode and weaken the shell over time.”

“Wow!  That’s really nice of you!” I exclaimed.

She went on: “I spend a couple of hours each Sunday morning, relaxing by this lake and helping these little guys out.  It’s my own strange way of making a difference.”

“But don’t most freshwater turtles live their whole lives with algae and scum hanging from their shells?” I asked.

“Yep, sadly, they do,” she replied.

I scratched my head.  “Well then, don’t you think your time could be better spent?  I mean, I think your efforts are kind and all, but there are fresh water turtles living in lakes all around the world.  And 99% of these turtles don’t have kind people like you to help them clean off their shells.  So, no offense… but how exactly are your localized efforts here truly making a difference?”

The woman giggled aloud.  She then looked down at the turtle in her lap, scrubbed off the last piece of algae from its shell, and said, “Sweetie, if this little guy could talk, he’d tell you I just made all the difference in the world.”

Source: http://www.marcandangel.com/2013/05/21/4-short-stories-change-the-way-you-think/

Thank you God, for this life and forgive us if we do not love it enough.

Sorry for the long hiatus.
After four years I finally got access back to my account.

Looking forward to blogging again :)

PS. Quote credits Paulo Coelho (as always)

The last cab ride

Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living. One time I arrived in the middle of the night for a pick up at a building that 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 80′s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s 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.”

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 to 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.

A true story by Kent Nerburn

http://academictips.org/blogs/the-last-cab-ride/

Quote of The Week

“There is a candle in your heart, ready to be kindled.

There is a void in your soul, ready to be filled.

You feel it, don't you?” 

― Rumi

Grow by giving

Grow by Giving

Perhaps the single most powerful way to succeed in life is to have more concern for our fellow human beings.  Normally, we are overwhelmingly concerned about ourselves, driven by our own personal motives and ambitions.  However, the happiest people literally lose themselves in the feelings, thoughts, and aspirations of others.

Are you ready to "forget yourself" and be genuinely interested in the welfare of others?  Are you willing to be tolerant and kind to others, listen attentively and silently to their words, and be non-judgmental and open to their opinions and points of view?  If you are, you're an excellent candidate for great success in life, not to mention an ever-increasing personal happiness and joy.

Try a little experiment. When you meet with others, immediately put yourself in their shoes. Think only of what they want. Listen carefully to their thoughts and feelings, and show genuine concern and empathy. Do this for the entire meeting. Now watch how the interaction goes. Watch how the energy level of the other person increases. The other individual becomes more animated and involved.

In addition, if you watch closely, you may notice some interesting things starting to happen. An unthought of point of view or perspective may be raised in the conversation. New ideas or fresh new insights are suddenly revealed. Or, a new interesting idea, project or event might suddenly come out of the discussion. This all happens because you have shifted your concern toward the other person.

But there's more. If you pay very close attention, you'll see that there might be an added "response from life." For example, during the conversation, someone might call in a great new project to you; or a dramatic new development might arise in some area of your work. This is life itself "responding" to your concern for another person. It is a hidden power that we have witnessed dozens of times in the past. 

Whenever you shift your perspective from yourself to others, your energy increases, conditions of accomplishment, success, and positive outcome reveal themselves, life responds suddenly, positively, and abundantly, and one feels a great joy. The more real and heartfelt the positive feeling toward the other person, the greater the energy, success, joy, and happiness.

Source: http://www.gurusoftware.com/GuruNet/AurobindoMother/MotherPath.htm

This is Your life.

Are you who you want to be? 

Dying thoughts..

I've read about many masters that walked this earth and every single one without exception has always stressed on the last thoughts before dying. 

Remember it has to Always Always be about God.

Moksha (Liberation): Destiny

The thought or wish the dying individual holds at the moment of death has special importance in determining his future destiny. 

If the last thought is of God or the master, the individual achieves liberation.

-Avatar Meher Baba 

Finding misplaced articles

This is literally a miracle prayer someone told me once, I've used it often and it has touchwood till now never failed me..
Whenever you misplace an article, eg. keys, books, clothes, watch, cards etc. while looking for it keep chanting within yourself, "Who found the lost property of St Anthony."
Hope it helps you too :)

Five foods that will improve your looks

As we age, gravity can have its way with us. Sagging skin, lowered metabolisms and wrinkles can all make you feel and look older. Instead of shelling out tons of money for anti-aging exfoliates and other expensive treatments, you can improve your appearance simply with the foods you choose to put in your body.

Here are five foods that will reverse the aging process and improve your looks.

Spinach

Popeye had a point by getting this green veggie tattooed on his arm. You won’t necessarily be able to save Olive and pack on tons of bulk within minutes of eating spinach, but this magic food will keep the whites of your eyes crystal clear.

Spinach is packed full of carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin and it tastes delicious with steak, salads or even curry.

Bananas

A banana a day will keep the doctor away. It makes your skin look younger by building up its elasticity. Pair a banana with your morning cereal, natural, fat-free yogurt with granola, or add some honey for some extra sweetness.

Turkey

This lean protein doesn’t just make you sleepy after a huge Thanksgiving meal. It also keeps your hair, teeth and nails looking like the stuff of dreams – a definite turn on for any woman. Water, plenty of fruits and veggies, and lean meat will help you maintain your boyish looks, and attract women for years to come.

Beets

They may not be your first go-to veggie, but our purple pals are strong allies in the fight against aging. Beets contain a large concentration of betaine, which is a bioactive agent that helps to breakdown fat. The juice in beets also includes a type of chlorine that enables your body to digest better.

Add a tablespoon of beetroot juice to your salad to enjoy all of the benefits without suffering through the taste.

Guava

Guava is a bit of a miracle fruit. It's high in antioxidants that help to counteract free radicals that cause skin damage and make you appear older. The vitamin C in guava also boosts your metabolism and keeps you from getting sick.

These five foods are your ticket to the Fountain of Youth. Pair them with plenty of daily exercise and you’re bound to age as well as George Clooney. You may even get picked for a starring role in the next James Bond film.

Source: http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/14603409-five-foods-that-will-improve-your-looks?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mylikes