Build Happy Earth Links!

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Happiness Is An Inside Job

MULLA Nasruddin, the old wise man of the village, was searching for something, outside his house. Bent on his knees, he was fiddling with sand and dust. A passerby stopped and asked, "What are you looking for, sir?" I am looking for the needle. I have lost it somewhere", replied Mulla. Out of respect for Mulla, the person joined in the search. Gradually, a few more joined. Someone offered another needle but Mulla declined. A great deal of search failed to yield any result. One person, tired of the fruitless search, asked, "Sir, where exactly was it lost?" "I lost it inside the house," came the reply. A bit surprised, the villager asked for the reason for searching it on the road. Mulla stopped, looked up, and said," My son, it is dark inside."

This example is symbolic of the eternal search for happiness, something which we seek outside though it has to come from within.

In the first century a great philosopher said, "Men are disturbed not by the events but by the view they take of them." Ancient Indian philosophy also says that happiness is a state of mind. At one stage or the other, most of us have heard these lines but we ignore them as we genuinely believe that they are not relevant in the modern age where men have a lot to achieve in a competitive and challenging world. We have actually come to believe that high levels of stress, a constant race against time and increased dependence on medical intervention are givens in this competitive era. ...

* Nature has provided a 100-point package to everybody. To help understand this concept, these 100 points can be divided into 4-5 sub-heads like family status, education, family life, wealth and health, etc. If the score under one sub-head is abnormally high, it will definitely be very low under another sub-head. For instance, wealthy people often have a deficit of health and appetite. The poor are healthy but crave for money and food.

* Once, a journalist asked a philosopher about the happiest moment of his life. His reply was, "I wear the shoes of size six. Once, I spent the whole day in a size-five pair. Next day, when I stepped into my own shoes of size six, it was the happiest moment of my life." He was obviously hinting that if we start counting our blessings we will not be left with any time for complaints.

In fact, very little is required for real and stable happiness. Instead of being thankful to the ultimate donor, we spend our lifetime in pleasing people and seeking favours to ensure a life full of comforts. Others can give us pleasure but not happiness, pain but not suffering. Happiness or suffering is optional. Nobody can make us feel unhappy without our consent. If we really wish to remain happy, we need to redefine the concept.

Visit:
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/200305 ... /main2.htm

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Hemerocallis 'When My Sweetheart Returns' - Common name : Happy Ever Appster® Daylily

An outstanding selection bred by Dr. Darrel Apps, one of only a small handful of truly everblooming Daylilies available to gardeners in northern regions. This compact variety has large (5") lemon creme flowers with bold rose eye and bright yellow throat. Petals are slightly ruffled. Repeats constantly from June to frost. Diploid. Winter dormant. Spent flower stems can be trimmed back after all the buds have finished. Remove old foliage in late fall. Flowers are edible. May well prove to be hardy in Zone.

Visit:
http://www.perennials.com/seeplant.html?item=1.800.950
http://www.perennials.com/hea.html

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Happy Colours ... Tonu Gold Baby
Visit:
http://www.alcolore.it/quadri/happycolours.htm
http://www.neopets.com/newfeatures.phtml?arr=2004-12-27

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CARNIVAL ... Happy Colourful ... Life!
Visit:
http://www.neopets.com/newfeatures.phtml?arr=2002-04-22

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The WEEKEND Is Here! - Have A Terrific Weekend!

Visit:
http://www.funsilly.com/weekend.shtml

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HAPPY CHILD ... HAPPY TIMES!

Visit:
http://www.happytimes.co.uk/home.asp

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Love the Earth

Once again, Americans know what it means to queue for gas. And even as the lines decrease, the price will follow suit only to a limited degree. Facing the pumps, we can vent at the station attendants or rail against our political leaders. Both choices are futile because all the while we continue to grab a disproportionate share of the earth’s limited reserves and support the wars necessary to maintain our global dominance. Instead, we need to address the issue individually and not pass blame. As painful as this may be, we need to come to terms with the greed in our own lives.

This will require a completely new look at our relationship to the earth and its resources. A calculated approach that would give just access to all is a great place to start, but it is not yet enough. What is needed is a complete conversion, a turning from an underlying selfishness towards an abiding love for the planet that sustains us, and for our fellow humans who share it.

LOVE THE EARTH
# Love means protecting, nurturing, and caring—based on an overwhelming gratitude for the object it embraces. Love values the past, glories in the present, and hopes for the future. Love recognizes what is good and is willing to give all to guard what is beloved from injury or harm. Love makes sacrifice possible.
# A young child’s immediate response to the natural world is simply to love it for what it is—beautiful and exciting, full of surprise and mystery. ... (Let) us turn and become like little children. If we do we will be transformed from war-makers fighting over dwindling resources into peacemakers who love the earth.

Visit:
http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/love- ... e=DailyDig

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Hold On

Hold on tightly to what is truly important in life. Hold on to faith;
It is the source of believing that all things are possible.It is the fiber and strength of a confident soul.

Hold on to hope;
It banishes doubt and enables attitudes to be positive and cheerful.

Hold on to trust;
It is at the core of fruitful relationships that are secure and content.

Hold on to love;
It is life's greatest gift of all, for it shares, cares, and gives meaning to life.

Hold on to family and friends;
They are the most important people in your life, and they make theworld a better place. They are your roots, and the beginnings that you grew from; they are the vine that has grown through time to nourish you, help you on your way, and always remain close by.

Hold on to all that you are and all that you have learned;
for these things are what makes you unique.

Don't ignore what you feel and what you believe is right and important;
Your heart has a way of speaking louder than your mind.

Hold on to your dreams;
Achieve them diligently and honestly. Never take the easy way or surrender to deceit.

Remember others on your way and take time to care for their needs.
Enjoy the beauty around you. Have the courage to see things differently and clearly.

Make the world a better place one day at a time. And don't let go of the important things that give meaning to your life.

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Do not
Undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others.
It is because we are different that each of us is special.

Do not
Set your goals by what other people deem important.
Only you know what is best for you.

Do not
Take for granted the things closest to your heart.
Cling to them as you would your life, for without them, life is meaningless.

Do not
Let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past nor for the future.
By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.

Do not
Give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
It is a fragile thread that binds us to each other.

Do not
Be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

Do not
Shut love out of your life by saying it is impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give love;
The fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly.

Do not
Dismiss your dreams.
To be without dreams is to be without hope;
To be without hope is to be without purpose.

Do not
Run through life so fast that you forget not only where you have been, but also where you are going.

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Thank You, "enigma" .... For The BOUNDARY!

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We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are. After that we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire.

The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now.

If not now, when?

Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D Souza. He said:

"For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life".

This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.

So, treasure every moment that you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time and remember that time waits for no one.

So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are off welfare, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, until you are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination. Work like you don't need money, Love like you've never been hurt, And dance like no one's watching.

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Lessons from an Oyster



There once was an oyster
Whose story I tell,
Who found that some sand
Had got into his shell.

It was only a grain,
but it gave him great pain.
For oysters have feelings
Although they're so plain.

Now, did he berate
the harsh workings of fate
That had brought him
To such a deplorable state?

Did he curse at the government,
Cry for election,
And claim that the sea should
Have given him protection?

"No,' he said to himself
As he lay on a shell,
Since I cannot remove it,
I shall try to improve it.

Now the years have rolled around,
As the years always do,
And he came to his ultimate
Destiny stew.

And the small grain of sand
That had bothered him so
Was a beautiful pearl
All richly aglow.

Now the tale has a moral,
for isn't it grand
What an oyster can do
With a morsel of sand?

What couldn't we do
If we'd only begin
With some of the things
That get under our skin.

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Lessons from an Oyster*****

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Thank You, "enigma" ...

*****Oyster Nurses Pain ... Yields Pearl

Mother Grows Child ...
Takes Great Pain & Care ...
Hoping For The Gem Of A Child!
Salutations, Wonderful Mother!

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I Love You Anyway

The fear of rejection may be one of the most basic fears of the human experience. Dr. Joe Harding tells a heart-warming story of a man who finally decided to ask his boss for a raise in salary. It was Friday. He told his wife that morning what he was about to do, All day the man felt nervous and apprehensive. Late in the afternoon he summoned the courage to approach his employer. To his delight, the boss agreed to a raise.

The man arrived home to a beautiful table set with their best china. Candles were lighted. His wife had prepared a festive meal. Immediately he figured that someone from the office had tipped her off! Finding his wife in the kitchen, he told her the good news. They embraced and kissed, then sat down to a wonderful meal. Next to his plate the man found a beautiful lettered note. It read: "Congratulations, darling! I knew you'd get the raise! These things will tell you how much I love you."

While on his way to the kitchen to get dessert he noticed that a second card had fallen from her pocket. Picking it off the floor, he read: "Don't worry about not getting the raise! You deserve it anyway! These things will tell you how much I love you."

Total acceptance! Total love. Her love for him was not contingent upon his success at work. In fact, just the opposite. If he were to fail there, if he were to be rejected by his boss he'd be all the more accepted at home. She stood behind him no matter what; softening the blows, healing the wounds, believing in him, loving him. We can be rejected by almost anyone if we're loved by one.

That's the way families can be with each other. And I like to think that's the way God is with us, too! "We love because He first loved us."

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I Love***** You Anyway

...

HAPPY ***** Anyway


Be Happy ...
Make Others Happy ...
They, Too, Will Make You Happy! ...
You'll Be HAPPY ... Everyway!

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Happy Dasara FEAST!

TRY : Chandrakala
Visit:
http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/10/16/stor ... 400400.htm

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Happy Dussehra!

Dussehra falling on the last day of Navaratri or Durga puja arrives in the month of October. Dussehra literally means that which takes away ten sins. This Hindu festival is celebrated all over India to mark the defeat of Ravana by Lord Rama. Dussehra symbolises the triumph of good over evil. The 'Ramlila' - an enactment of the life of Lord Rama, is held during the nine days preceding Dussehra. On the tenth day, larger than life effigies of Ravana, his son and brother -Meghnath and Kumbhakarna, are set alight.

In West Bengal, puja pandals have beautifully decorated images of the goddess Durga and people gather here in large numbers to enjoy the festivities.

In Gujarat, the exuberant Navaratri celebrations include dancing the lively 'garba' and 'dandiya ras' dances.

In Himachal Pradesh, a week -long fair in the hill town of Kullu, is a part of the Dussehra celebrations. From the little temples in the hills , deities are brought in procession to the 'maidan' in Kullu, to pay homage to the reigning deity, Raghunathji.

Mysore, the city of palaces in Karnataka celebrates the ten day Dussehra in a royal style. The Mysore Palace is illuminated with a myriad lights. Majestic processions, a torch light parade and dance and musical events enliven the tranquil city.,

Telugu Dasara Sarada!



Visit:
http://www.webindia123.com/festival/oct/duss.htm
http://telugucartoons.com/fun/humour/te ... 21024.html

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Connoisseur King - Vijaya Dasami Special!

I REMEMBER how, during our middle school days, I would venture out with my friends to the palace gates to catch a glimpse of the Maharaja so that I could salute him. He was always gracious enough to wave back. That was a time when Mysore was under the benevolent reign of Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar (1902-40). His concern for the welfare of the people and his statesmanship drew praise, even from Mahatma Gandhi who called him "Raja rishi" (statesman-saint). Assisted by able Dewans, who were loyal administrators, he took the State forward in the fields of industry, commerce and education. After his passing away in 1940, his nephew, Jaya Chamaraja Wadiyar, ascended the throne of Mysore.

The coronation of the new ruler was celebrated joyously in every part of the State. Princes and other important functionaries came from all over the country to witness the event. The royal family sent truckloads of sugar to every mohalla in the city for distribution among the people.

I also remember how the nine-day Dasara festival fascinated us. It was a great time in Mysore, and relatives descended on us from all over to participate in the festive fare. With them, we went to the environs of the Palace, experienced the bustle on the exhibition grounds and made trips to Kannambadi and the Brindavan garden, which had come up just about then. We went to the famous zoo in Mysore and climbed up the thousand steps of the Chamundi Hill to reach the temple and to gaze at the 20-foot-high, beautifully carved granite statue of the Bull. We returned home after visiting the palace garage, which housed the several models of cars of the Maharaja. We also made a trip to Srirangapattana, the capital of Tipu Sultan.

On Vijayadasami, the last day of the festival, we deposited ourselves at vantage points to watch the procession of elephants, horses, camels, acrobats, clowns and courtiers, and the Maharaja himself on his way to the Bannimantap and back. We often found that the packed eats that we carried with us were not adequate and we came home tired and sleepy.

I cannot forget the spectacle of jamboosavari, the royal procession, which I regularly photographed in later years. The cavalcade of uniformed soldiers, caparisoned horses and elephants, dancers and floats fascinated me. There were brass bands, which had harmonised Indian and Western tunes. The colourfully attired palace guards and the Mysore Lancers marched in military precision, followed by the Camel Corps - with each animal swaying in step. There were folk dancers swirling past in riotous rhythm.

It was a sight for the gods to see the Maharaja who was seated in a golden howdah festooned with pearls atop a majestic tusker, which had cow elephants covering its flanks. The Maharaja looked conspicuous in his royal robes and gold-embroidered turban, on which was a diamond-studded brooch with a tassel of silken bristles which spread out into a fan, as he turned his head this side or that to receive the greetings of the people.

Clouds of rose petals cascaded on him from nowhere and descended on the golden howdah. The crowds on either side of the road, some twenty or thirty deep, rent the air with shouts of "victory" to the Maharaja, every time the mahout stopped the mount to receive garlands and bouquets offered by those waiting below the welcome arches. They placed the flowers on a silver platter fixed to a pole and carried by Siddiah, a palace attendant. At 7 feet 2 inches, Siddiah, the tallest man in town, wearing a blood-red long coat and a huge turban, drew everyone's attention as he walked beside the elephant to lift the plate close to the howdah, so that the Maharaja could take the garlands.

This picture got stamped on my mind year after year, during my student days. Ever since I started handling a camera, I never failed to photograph the Maharaja whenever there was an occasion worth the effort. I photographed him in the palace courtyard on many festival occasions, and on his birthday, when he rode a white caparisoned horse.
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Visit:
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thsc ... prd=fline&

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JEWISH Festival of Lights

Visit:
http://www.amosprint.com/holidays/hanukkah.htm

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