Build Happy Earth Links!

[HH]

This secret word is: ask***!

Thank You, "enigma" ... NB: ***ask is THREE-FOURTHS OF THE tASK

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Be Happy Enriching Life!

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[enigma]

Sadly, many of us continually postpone our happiness - indefinitely. It's not that we consciously set out to do so, but that we keep convincing ourselves, "Someday I'll be happy."

We tell ourselves we'll be happy when our bills are paid, when we get out of school, get our first job, a promotion. 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 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 got 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...

Yesterday is history
Tomorrow a mystery
Today is a gift
That's why it's called the present!

[enigma]

JRD Tata (Indian Businessman) was asked in a seminar as to "What did he think were the golden words in English Language?"

Following was his reply:

If we allocate numbers to each of the English Alphabet (as shown below),then the following are the 3 MOST POWERFUL WORDS in English Language which add upto 100%.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26


D I S C I P L I N E
4 9 19 3 9 16 12 9 14 5 = 100%

A T T I T U D E
1 20 20 9 20 21 4 5 = 100%

R E E N G I N E E R (changing yourself)
18 5 5 14 7 9 14 5 5 18 = 100 %


And here comes the next ones.....

C O M P E T E N C E
3 15 13 16 5 20 5 14 3 5 = 99 %

H A R D W O R K
8 1 18 4 23 15 18 11 = 98 %

K N O W L E D G E
11 14 15 23 12 5 4 7 5 = 96 %

In addition to Knowledge, Hardwork & Competence, the important things that a person needs to be successful is to have DISCIPLINE, (RIGHT) ATTITUDE & the will to REENGINEER himself/herself in case of calamities/ hardships.

By the way... FORTUNE counts to 99.

[enigma]

A small truth to make our Life 100% successful..........

If A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Is equal to 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26


Then H+A+R+D+W+O+R+K = 8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

K+N+O+W+L+E+D+G+E = 11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

L+O+V+E=12+15+22+5=54%

L+U+C+K = 12+21+3+11 = 47%

(None of them makes 100%)


...............................

Then what makes 100%

Is it Money? ..... No!!!!!

Leadership? ...... NO!!!!

Every problem has a solution, only if we perhaps change our "ATTITUDE".

It is OUR ATTITUDE towards Life and Work that makes

OUR Life 100% Successful..

A+T+T+I+T+U+D+E = 1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

Does that make sense?

[enigma]

Once upon a time, there was a young woman named Sarah
who lived in the village below the Mountain of the Golden Footprints.
She was feeling very sad and depressed. Nothing or no one
could make her happy. She had been very unhappy and
depressed for a long time. "What is the use of going on?
she said. Nothing anyone said seemed to make a difference.

Her best friend went to visit Sarah and told her the story of the
Mountain of the Golden Footprints. It is a special place where
as the sun sets you can look out over the city and see sparkling golden
footprints on the places and people where you have made a difference.

But I haven't made any difference in anyone's life," she said.
There won't be any golden footprints for me to see.
So why should I bother to go here?

But," said her friend, "If you don't see any golden footprints,
there is a special village on the other side of the mountain.
That is a place for all those people who haven't made a difference.
It is comfortable and very pretty and there you can be happy.
So you see, you have other options besides not going on with your life.
If you went to the village on the other side of the mountain,
I would miss you, but it would be better than your not being alive.
You have nothing to lose.

So Sarah decided to give it a try.
After all, she only wanted to do something.
She could not go on the way she was.
Besides, although she was sure she would not see any golden footprints,
she had a little glimmer of hope that going there
would make a difference in her life.
The village on the other side of the mountain also sounded
like it could be a place where she could be happy.

She waked up the path to the top of the Mountain of the Golden Footprints.
It was a long walk and sometimes very difficult.
But she had made the decision to go to the top and continued on,
although sometimes she just wanted to stop climbing
and curl up and cease to exist.

She reached to top and came to the lookout point.
She was greeted by a woman called Faith who watched over
the Mountain of the Golden Footprints.

Sarah sat on a rock at the top of the mountain
and looked out over her village far below.
Although the sun was not setting yet, she felt inside as though
she were looking out over her life.
She could see her house and the house of her friend,
the house of her parents, her school,
and many places from her childhood.
She remembered many things as she looked out over these places,
some sad and some happy.

And as she was thinking about her life, the sun began to set.
She did not really pay any attention
since she did not expect to see any golden footprints.
But soon a golden twinkling light began to appear in the park
in the middle of the village. She did not still believe it could possibly be
a Golden Footprint. "Look," Faith said excitedly,
There is you first Golden Footprint!"

But how could that be?" asked Sarah.
I don't ever remember anything I did
in the part that could have possibly made a difference.

That is my department," answered Faith.
I have watched people make Golden Footprints
from this mountain top for many years.
I remember all the Golden Footprints happenings.

One day a long time ago, when you were a little child,
you went laughing through the park.
There was a man sitting there who had just left his wife and child
over a silly argument. He heard your laughter and missed his child so much
that he returned to this family and lived with them happily ever after.

Well, that was kind of accidental.
I certainly didn't know I had done that, said Sarah.
As she finished speaking, another golden sparkling footprint
appeared on the house of her friend.

Well, I have loved my friend very much.

Remember when she was very sick?
You went to see her and brought her flowers
and stayed with her and talked many hours
and you held her hand.
If you had not done that, she would not have survived.

But how could that be?" asked Sarah.
I'm not a doctor. I do not give medicine.
How could I have saved her life?

The doctor gave her good medicine, but you gave her hope.
You gave her strength and courage,
so that her body could make the medicine work.

And as she finished speaking,
the valley below was aglow with Golden Footprints.
There was one on the school where her smile and love for learning had
inspired a fellow student to stay in school and become a great philosopher.
There was one over a tree that she had planted in the yard of her house,
and one over the flowers that she had planted.
There was one over the place where her stubbornness
had convinced the King that the village needed a smoother road for travelers,
and he had smiled at her outspokenness and feisty nature.

There was a footprint right on top of the roof of her house.
That was where she had taken her children one night to watch the stars.

There was one over the pub in the village.
There was where she had met her husband
and where they had fallen in love.

I had forgotten all those things," said Sarah. "
I was so depressed that I only remembered the sad things
and not the good things. I guess I have made a difference.

And you will in the future said Faith. There are stars to show your grandchildren
and a birthday to spare with your friend. And your husband needs a romantic evening at the pub

Sarah sat for a long time until the sun had set and the Golden Footprints disappeared
and the lights of the village were lit in the streets and homes below
and flickered, not as Golden Footprints, but as tiny footprints of fireflies.
Soon Sarah would start the climb down the mountain,
guided by the tiny lights below.

Sarah smiled and thanked Faith.
She started on her way down the mountain and knew
that someday she would tell others about the Mountain of the Golden Footprints
and make a difference in their lives too.

[enigma]

There are two days in every week about which we should not worry.
Two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.

One of these days is yesterday with its mistakes and cares,
Its faults and blunders, Its aches and pains.
Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control.
All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday.
We cannot undo a single act we performed.
We cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone.

The other day we should not worry about is tomorrow.
With its possible adversities, Its burdens, Its large promise and poor performance.
Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.
Tomorrow's Sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds,
but it will rise.
Until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.
This just leaves only one day . . . Today.
Any person can fight the battles of just one day.
It is only when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternity's -
yesterday and tomorrow that we break down.
It is not the experience of today that drives people mad.
It is the remorse or bitterness for something which happened yesterday
and the dread of what tomorrow may bring.

Let us therefore live but one day at a time.

[HH]

Attractions of Two Hyderabads!

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India / Hyderabad / Attractions

# Hyderabad is the creation of the Qutb Shahi rulers, who were of Turkoman origin. In 1589, it was Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah who decided to shift his capital from the legendary fortress of Golconda to the banks of the River Musi. The splendid city that came up was adorned with fine mosques and palaces built in a style of architecture that was uniquely theirs - elegant buildings with their domes and minarets decorated with fine stucco ornamentation. Still adding a touch of elegance to the city are magnificent examples of their art - the Qutb Shahi tombs near Golconda Fort, the Jamia Masjid the oldest mosque in the city, the splendid Mecca Masjid, the largest in South India, the Toli Masjid and the imposing Badshahi-a-Shurkhana and Darul Shifa.

Arch of Triumph of the East

Standing majestically in the midst of the congestion and cacophony of the old city the Charminar the elegant arch, a masterpiece of Qutub Shahi architecture. An imposing square structure with its four minarets Piercing the sky, the Charminar is the symbol of this historic city.

Salar Jung Museum

Nawab Salar Jung Ill’s passion for rare objets d’art can be seen here. The 3 rooms of the museum dispay 35,000 objects there are unusual collections of jade, carved and inlaid pieces, gem-studded boxes, marble statues, as also displays of rare manuscripts, miniature Paintings, arms and armor, Chinese porcelain, bidriware and an interesting collection of clocks.

Cuisine

The rich cuisine of the Nawabs -superb dishes created with the subtle blending of spices and tasty Andhra fare with its emphasis on the fiery chilli, characterize Hyderabadi food. The famous local Biriyani with its distinctive aroma and taste, the kulcha, with a legend behind it to add romance to the flavor, melt-in- the-mouth Shikampur kababs, spicy chicken, mutton kormas and salans, tamatarka-kat and baghare baigan, haleem (meat and pounded wheat) are all delicacies from Hyderabad. To top them all are the celebrated sweets-almond flavored badam kajali, exotic varieties of halwas and finally the elaborately prepared paan to be enjoyed after a hearty feast.
Typical Andhra food, which is a part of the menu in most restaurants-in the city, include the delicious gongoora pachchadi (chutney), the avakai (mango pickled with mustard powder), appadams, dals, pulusus and chaaruus.
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Visit: http://www.asiatour.com/india/e-15hyde/ei-hyd15.htm
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Pakistan / Hyderabad / Attractions
In 1766 the Kalhora ruler constructed a fort half a square km in area and it still stands today. In 1843 the British arrived and defeated the Talpurs, completing their conquest of Sind. In the old city, buildings are topped by badgirs that look like chimneys on roof tops. They catch the cool breezes which blow steadily in a south-west direction for 40 days from late April each year. Hyderabad is hot for most of the year, although in autumn and winter the temperature dips down to around 24 C . In the old sections of the town, cows still roam the streets giving it a distinctly medieval atmosphere.
On the northern side of the hill on which Hyderabad is sited there are tombs from the Talpur and Kalhora periods. The ]b]tomb of Ghulam Shah Kalhora[/b] is one of the finest, although its dome collapsed and has now been replaced by a flat roof. Also worth a visit is the Institute of Sindhology's museum at the University of Sind. It has displays on all aspects of Sindhi history, music and culture depicting the lifestyles of the desert tribes. Infrequent GTS buses go to the campus, otherwise take a miniwagon to Jumshero, across the river from Hyderabad, and walk the 1-1/2 km to the university.
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Visit: http://www.asiatour.com/pakistan/e-09hyde/ep-hyd11.htm
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Be Happy Enriching Life!

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[enigma]

Your presence is a present to the world.
You are unique and one of a kind.
Your life can be what you want it to be.
Take the days just one at a time.

Count your blessings, not your troubles.
You will make it through whatever comes along.
Within you are so many answers.
Understand, have courage, be strong.

Do not put limits on yourself.
So many dreams are waiting to be realized.
Decisions are too important to leave to chance.
Reach for your peak, your goal and you prize.

Nothing wastes more energy than worrying.
The longer one carries a problem the heavier it gets.
Do not take things too seriously.
Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

Remember that a little love goes a long way.
Remember that a lot … goes forever.
Remember that friendship is a wise investment.
Life’s treasure are people together.

Realize that it is never too late.
Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way.
Have hearth and hope and happiness.
Take the time to wish upon a start.

AND DO NOT EVER FORGET ….
FOR EVEN A DAY
HOW VERY SPECIAL YOU ARE !

[enigma]

1. If you take an Oriental person and spin him around several times, does he become disoriented?
2. If people from Poland are called Poles, why aren't people from Holland called Holes?
3. "I am" is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language. Could it be that "I do" is the longest sentence?
4. Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery?
5. If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?
6. If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
7. If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?
8. Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
9. Why do croutons come in airtight packages? It's just stale bread to begin with.
10. No one ever says, "It's only a game", when their team is winning.
11. Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist but a person who drives a raceccar not called a racist?
12. Why are a wise man and a wise guy opposites?
13. Why do overlook and oversee mean opposite things?
14. Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety one?
15. Ever wonder what the speed of lightning would be if it didn't zigzag?
16. If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?
17. If Fed Ex and UPS were to merge, would they call it Fed UP?
18. Do Lipton Tea employees take coffee breaks?
19. What hair color do they put on the driver's licenses of bald men?
20. I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older, then it dawned on me they`re cramming for their final exam.

[enigma]

A Great Day Starts with a Good Morning!

Begin today with a heaping spoonful of energy!
Sprinkle it with lots of happiness, sunshine, and smiles!
Add a generous helping of optimism to keep you going!
Share this power-breakfast with others!

[enigma]

[enigma]

There was this little girl sitting by herself in the park. Everyone passed by her and never stopped to see why she looked so sad. Dressed in a worn pink dress, barefoot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by. She never tried to speak. She never said a word. Many people passed by her, but no one would stop.

The next day I decided to go back to the park in curiosity to see if the little girl would still be there. Yes, she was there, right in the very spot where she was yesterday,and still with the same sad look in her eyes.

Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl.

For as we all know, a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play alone. As I got closer I could see the back of the little girl's dress. It was grotesquely shaped. I figured that was the reason people just passed by and made no effort to speak to her.

Deformities are a low blow to our society and, heaven forbid if you make a step toward assisting someone who is different.

As I got closer, the little girl lowered her eyes slightly to avoid my intent stare. As I approached her, I could see the shape of her back more clearly. She was grotesquely shaped in a humped over form. I smiled to let her know it was OK; I was there to help, to talk.

I sat down beside her and opened with a simple, "Hello". The little girl acted shocked, and stammered a "hi"; after a long stare into my eyes.

I smiled and she shyly smiled back. We talked until darkness fell and the park was completely empty.

I asked the girl why she was so sad. The little girl looked at me with a sad face said, "Because, I'm different". I immediately said, "That you are!"; and smiled.

The little girl acted even sadder and said, "I know."

Little girl," I said, "you remind me of an angel, sweet and innocent."

She looked at me and smiled, then slowly she got to her feet and said, "Really?"

"Yes, you're like a little Guardian Angel sent to watch over all people walking by." She nodded her head yes, and smiled. With that she opened the back of her pink dress and allowed her wings to spread, then she said "I am." I'm your Guardian Angel," with a twinkle in her eye.

I was speechless -- sure I was seeing things. She said, "For once you thought of someone other than yourself. My job here is done".

I got to my feet and said, "Wait, why did no one stop to help an angel?"

She looked at me, smiled, and said, "You're the only one that could see me," and then she was gone. And with that, my life was changed dramatically.

So, when you think you're all you have, remember, your angel is always watching over you.

Like the story says, we all need someone...
And, every one of your friends is an Angel in their own way.

The value of a friend is measured in the heart.
I hope your Guardian Angel watches over you always.

[HH]

Happy Times of Teenager Anna With M E ...

*
Teenager Anna With M E***

# 16-year-old Anna hasn't been able to walk for two years. She tells us how life is as a teenager with *** Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.).

# M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome affects many parts of the body such as the nervous and immune systems. The most common symptoms include severe fatigue or exhaustion, problems with memory and concentration and muscle pain. ...

# There are so many symptoms of M E that vary in severity ... the most common include:

- Extreme exhaustion, often to the point of collapse
- Muscular and joint pain
- Sensitivity to noise, light and changes of temperature
- Persistent headaches
- Disturbed sleep patterns
- Short-term memory loss
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Swollen/painful glands.

**
Happy Times ... Anna has just turned 17 and she celebrated in style, despite her M.E.

I have been doing really well lately; I have just got back from a lovely cruise around Britain, Norway and France with my family. We would never have normally thought about going on a cruise but I couldn't manage long flights and desperately wanted to go abroad. Well, it was something I will never forget. Thirteen floors of pure 'wheelchair accessible' luxury! We were waited-on hand and foot and enjoyed excellent music, spectacular shows and the waiters even sang "happy birthday" to me in Hebrew!

We got off at each destination and saw the sights. In one port in Norway we had a taxi driver who looked like an Oompa Loompa, but was very nice and even though he had a limp he offered to help me!

Help. Argh - it's driving me mad - the boat was full of very 'helpful' staff and passengers, but I am in an electric wheelchair so I can go most places by MYSELF! I do not need their help out of sympathy and whilst I appreciate a little help, such as holding a door open, holding the lift etc, I do not need help to go down a ramp or to serve myself some salad. Oh, and I have a chair already, so I don't need another one to sit on!

A week after I got back it was time to party. I haven't had a birthday party for four years - the last one I had was with 30 friends, a huge bouncy castle, a lot of rain and all my socks disappeared (long story). So, to celebrate my 17th, I had a girlie night out with nine friends.

It was very good; I hadn't seen two of my friends for three years and I hadn't been out in the evening for that amount of time either. We talked, had cocktails, and had a laugh. It was just a bit hard to drive Speedy out at the end.

Cheers Everyone!

P.S I have just heard that I have been awarded my care package, this means that four days a week I can have lunch, get help around the house and getting upstairs. It is a lifesaver as I really didn't want to have another full-time au pair living with me all day and night. I also found out that I got a B in my Biology AS-level!

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Visit:
http://www.thesite.org/youthnet/jsp/pol ... 88&a=11108
http://www.thesite.org/youthnet/jsp/pol ... 88&a=13016
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Be Happy Enriching Life!
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[/quote]

[enigma]

Life is hard. You know it, as well as I do. I'm going to be realistic. Life has a lot of ups and downs. Sometimes you just want to hate it. I've gone to therapy, had tremors and have been through a lot. Here are some tips on how to survive:

1. No matter what happens, good or bad, life can always get better

2. Do something nice even when you don't have to.

3. Being nice doesn't hurt. Being weak does. Always stay proud and keep your head up high.

4. Make someone else's day better by giving them a compliment or try to cheer them up.

5. Remember, its never wrong to cry or get angry at least in privacy. Not being realistic to yourself isn't strong, its just stupid.

6. find nonviolent ways to let out your anger. I always find doing my best karate kick and yell really satisfying.

7. Laugh at yourself.

8. Do something that makes you look good like skating instead of walking or karate. Show off to people who you really trust as long as you don't hurt them.

9. Do something nostalgic like watching a cartoon or play with a kid.

10. Its the little things that count.

11. People who put you down are self conscious of themselves.

12. If something bad happened to you, you might have just have made someone else's day better.

[enigma]

When an Indian professional becomes a 'Non-Resident Indian' in the United States, he soon starts suffering from a strange disease. The symptoms are a fixture of restlessness, anxiety, hope and nostalgia. The virus is a deep inner need to get back home. Like Shakespeare said, "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak."The medical world has not coined a word for this malady. Strange as it is, it could go by a stranger name, the "X + 1" syndrome.

To understand this disease better, consider the background. Typically middle-class, the would be migrant's sole ambition through school is to secure admission into one of those heavily government subsidised institutions - the IITs. With the full backing of a doting family and a good deal of effort, he acheives his goal. Looking for fresh worlds to conquer, his sights rest on the new world. Like lemmings to the sea, hordes of IIT graduates descend on the four US consulates to seek the holiest of holy grails - the F-1 (student) stamp on the passport.

After crossing the visa hurdle and tearful farewell, our hero departs for the Mecca of higher learning, promising himself and his family that he will return some day - soon!

The family proudly informs their relatives of each milestone - his G.P.A., his first car (twenty years old), his trip to Niagara Falls (photographs), his first winter (parkas,gloves). The two years roll by and he graduates at the top of his class. Now begins the 'great hunt' for a company that will not only give him a job but also sponsor him for that 3" X 3" grey plastic, otherwise known as the Green Card. A US company sensing a good bargain offers him a job. Naturally, with all the excitement of seeing his first pay check in four digit dollars, thoughts of returning to India are far away. His immediate objective of getting the Green Card is reached within a year.

Meanwhile, his family back home worry about the strange American influences (and more particularly, AIDS). Through contacts they line up a list of eligble girls from eligible families and wait for the great one's first trip home. Return he does, at the first available oppurtunity, with gifts for the family and mouth-watering tales of prosperity beyond imagination. After interviewing the girls, he picks the most likely (lucky) one to be Americanised. Since the major reason for the alliance is his long-term stay abroad, the question of his immediate return does not arise. Any doubts are set aside by the 'backwardnes' of working life, long train travel, lack of phones, inadequate oppurtunities for someone with hi-tech qualifications, and so on.

The newly-weds return to America with the groom having to explain the system of arranged marriages to the Americans. Most of them regard it as barbaric and on the same lines as communism. The tongue-tied bride is cajoled into explaining the bindi and saree. Looking for something homely, the couple plunges into the frenetic expatriate week-end social scene compromising dinners, videos of Hindi / regional films, shopping at Indian stores, and bhajans.

Initially, the wife misses the warmth of her family, but the presence of washing machines, vacuum cleaners, daytime soap operas and the absence of a domineering mother-in-law helps. Bits of news filtering through from India, mostly from returning Indians, is eagerly lapped up. In discussions with freinds, the topic of returning to India arises frequently but is brushed aside by the lord and master who is now rising in the corporate world and has fast moved into a two garage home - thus fulfilling the great American Dream. The impending arrival of the first born fulfills the great Indian Dream. The mother-in-law arrives in time: after all, no right thinking parent would want their off-spring to be born in India if offered the American alternative.

With all material comforts that money can bring, begins the first signs of un- easiness - a feeling that somehow things are not what they should be. The craze for exotic electronic goods, cars and vacations have been satiated. The week-end gatherings are becoming routine.

Faced with a mid-life crisis, the upwardly mobile Indian's career graph plateu's out. Younger and more aggressive Americans are promoted. With one of the periodic mini recessions in the economy and the threat of a hostile take-over, the job itself seems far from secure.

Unable or unwilling to socialize with the Americans, the Indian retreats into a cocoon. At the home front,the children have grown up and along with American accents have imbibed American habits (cartoons,hamburgers) and values(dating). They respond to their parents' exhortation of leading a clean Indian way of life by asking endless questions.

The generation gap combines with the cultural chasm. Not surprisingly, the first serious thoughts of returning to India occur at this stage. Taking advantage of his vacation time, the Indian returns home to 'explore' possibilities. Ignoring the underpaid and beaurocratic government sector, he is bewildered by the 'primitive' state of the private sector. Clearly overqualified even to be a managing director/chairman he stumbles upon the idea of being an entrepreneur.

In other words if 'X' is the current year, then the objective is to return in the 'X + 1' year. Since 'X' is a changing variable, the objective is never reached. Unable to truly melt in the 'Great Melting Pot', chained to his cultural moorings and haunted by an abject fear of giving up an accustomed standard of living, the Non-Resident Indian vacillates and oscillates between two worlds in a twilight zone.

[enigma]

Jerry was the kind of guy you love to hate. He was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!" He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"

Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.' I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life."

"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.

"Yes it is," Jerry said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live life."

I reflected on what Jerry said. Soon thereafter, I left the restaurant industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it. Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business: he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gunpoint by three armed robbers. While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him.

Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body.

I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?" I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place. "The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied. "Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live.

"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked.
Jerry continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read, 'He's a dead man. " I knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?" I asked.
"Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me," said Jerry. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes,' I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply... I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Bullets!' Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."

Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude.

I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything.

[enigma]

One fine day, a bus driver went to the bus garage, started his bus, and

drove off along the route. No problems for the first few stops-a few

people got on, a few got off, and things went generally well. At the next

stop, however, a big hulk of a guy got on. Six feet eight,

built like a wrestler, arms hanging down to the ground. He glared at the

driver and said, "Big John doesn't pay!" and sat down at the back.

Did I mention that the driver was five feet three, thin, and basically

meek? Well, he was. Naturally, he didn't argue with Big John, but he wasn't

happy about it.

The next day the same thing happened-Big John got on again, made a show

of refusing to pay, and sat down. And the next day, and the one after that,

and so forth. This grated on the bus driver, who started losing sleep over

the way Big John was taking advantage of him.

Finally he could stand it no longer. He signed up for body building

courses, karate, judo, and all that good stuff. By the end of the summer,

he had become quite strong; what's more, he felt really good about himself.

So on the next Monday, when Big John once again got on the bus and said,

"Big John doesn't pay!," the driver stood up, glared back at

the passenger, and screamed, "And why not?" With a surprised look on his

face, Big John replied, "Big John has a bus pass."



Moral of the story:



Be sure there is a problem in the first place before working hard to
solve one

[HH]

7 Gifts that Multiply Happiness

*
Here are Seven Gifts that will Multiply Your Happiness ... Giving these Gifts will allow you to share with others your most unique treasure: Your authentic Self. Each Gift will return to you many times.

# Share Appreciation
# Share Time
# Share Knowledge and Ideas
# Share Friendship
# Share Kindness
# Share Experience
# Share Enthusiasm
Your Enthusiasm will inspire others to move forward with actions that bring rewarding achievements.
***Remember:
Happiness is not so much in having as sharing. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
- Norman MacEwan

---------------------------
Visit:
http://www.wow4u.com/7gifts/
---------------------------
Be Happy Enriching Life!
---------------------------

---------------------------

---------------------------
[/quote][/quote]

[enigma]

A city boy, Kenny, moved to the country and bought a donkey from an old
farmer for $100.00. The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey the next day.

The next day the farmer drove up and said, "Sorry son, but I have some bad
news, the donkey died last night."

Kenny replied: "Well then, just give me my money back."
The farmer said: "Can't do that. I spent it already."
Kenny said: "OK then, just unload the donkey."
The farmer asked: "What ya gonna do with him?"
Kenny: "I'm going to raffle him off."
(Note: To raffle is to sell a thing by lottery - draw lot - to a group of
people each paying the same amount for a ticket)

Farmer: "You can't raffle off a dead donkey!"
Kenny: "Sure I can. Watch me. I just won't tell anybody he's dead."
A month later the farmer met up with Kenny and asked, "What happened with
t! hat dead donkey?"
Kenny: "I raffled him off. I sold 500 tickets at two dollars apiece and
made a profit of $998.00."
Farmer: "Didn't anyone complain?"
Kenny: "Just the guy who won. So I gave him back his two dollars."

Kenny grew up and eventually became the chairman of Enron.

[akhilis2cool]

which eventually got screwed up!

[enigma]

which eventually got screwed up!

[enigma]

Too Busy for a Friend.? Hope U are not...or are U?

One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other
students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between
each name.

Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about
each of their classmates and write it down.

It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment,
and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers.

That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a
separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about
that individual.

On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the
entire class was smiling. "Really?" she heard whispered. "I never
knew that I meant anything to anyone!" and, "I didn't know others liked
me
so much," were most of the comments.

No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if
they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't
matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were
happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on.

Several years later, one of the students was killed in Viet Nam and
his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never
seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome,
so
mature.

The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him
took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless
the coffin.

As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came
up to her. "Were you Mark's math teacher?" he asked. She nodded:
"yes."
Then he said: "Mark talked about you a lot."

After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a
luncheon. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to
speak with his teacher.

"We want to show you something," his father said, taking a wallet out
of his pocket. "They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought
you might recognize it."

Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook
paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times.
The
teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she
had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about
him.

"Thank you so much for doing that," Mark's mother said. "As you
can see, Mark treasured it."

All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around. Charlie
smiled rather sheepishly and said, "I still have my list. It's in the
top drawer of my desk at home."

Chuck's wife said, "Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album."

"I have mine too," Marilyn said. "It's in my diary."

Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out
her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. "I carry
this with me at all times," Vicki said and without batting an eyelash,
she continued: "I think we all saved our lists."

That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark
and for all his friends who would never see him again.

The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life
will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be.

So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are
special and important. Tell them, before it is too late.

And One Way To Accomplish This Is: Forward this message on. If you do
not send it, you will have, once again passed up the wonderful
opportunity to do something nice and beautiful.

If you've received this, it is because someone cares for you and it
means there is probably at least someone for whom you care.

If you're "too busy" to take those few minutes right now to forward
this message on, would this be the VERY first time you didn't do that
little thing that would make a difference in your relationships?

The more people that you send this to, the better you'll be at
reaching out to those you care about.

Remember, you reap what you sow. What you put into the lives of others
comes back into your own.

May Your Day Be Blessed And As Special As You Are

[HH]

A city boy, Kenny, ...

Farmer: "You can't raffle off a dead donkey!"
Kenny: "Sure I can. Watch me. I just won't tell anybody he's dead."
A month later the farmer met up with Kenny and asked, "What happened with
t! hat dead donkey?"
Kenny: "I raffled him off. I sold 500 tickets at two dollars apiece and
made a profit of $998.00."
Farmer: "Didn't anyone complain?"
Kenny: "Just the guy who won. So I gave him back his two dollars."

***Kenny grew up and eventually became the chairman of Enron.

***which eventually got screwed up!

Kenny's Donkey Kick ... *** The Donkey Died ... to Make A 'Profit' For Kenny ... Who 'Kicked' & 'Killed' Enron ... And Those Who Depended On It

[enigma]

Amazing facts:

* Chewing on gum while cutting onions can help a person from producing tears.
* Until babies are six months old, they can breathe and swallow at the same time.
* Offered a new pen to write with, 97% of all people will write their own name.
* Male mosquitoes are vegetarians. Only females bite.
* The average person's field of vision encompasses a 200-degree wide angle.
* To find out if a watermelon is ripe, knock it, and if it sounds hollow then it is ripe.
* Canadians can send letters with personalised postage stamps showing their own photos on each stamp.
* Babies' eyes do not produce tears until the baby is approximately six to eight weeks old.
* It snowed in the Sahara Desert in February of 1979.
* Plants watered with warm water grow larger and more quickly than plants watered with cold water.
* Wearing headphones for just an hour will increase the bacteria in your ear by 700 times.
* Grapes explode when you put them in the microwave.
* Those stars and colours you see when you rub your eyes are called phosphenes.
* Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.
* Everyone's tongue print is different, like fingerprints.
* Contrary to popular belief, a swallowed chewing gum doesn't stay in the gut. It will pass through the system and be excreted.
* At 40° Centigrade a person loses about 14.4 calories per hour by breathing.
* There is a hotel in Sweden built entirely out of ice; it is rebuilt every year.
* Cats, camels and giraffes are the only animals in the world that walk right foot, right foot, left foot, left foot, rather than right foot, left foot ....
* Onions help reduce cholesterol if eaten after a fatty meal.
* The sound you hear when you crack your knuckles is actually the sound of nitrogen gas bubbles bursting.
* In most watch advertisments the time displayed on the watch is 10:10 because then the arms frame the brand of the watch and make it look like its smiling.
* The color blue can have a calming affect on people. Depending upon the shade, the brain may send up to 11 tranquilizing chemicals to calm the body
* Leonardo da Vinci could write with the one hand and draw with the other simultaneously.
* Names of the three wise monkeys are: Mizaru (See no evil), Mikazaru (Hear no evil), and Mazaru (Speak no evil).
* The only 2 animals that can see behind itself without turning it's head are the rabbit and parrot.
* The only 15 letter word that can be spelled without repeating a letter is uncopyrightable.
* Babies are born without knee caps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2-6 years of age.
* It is impossible to lick your elbow.
* The names of the continents all end with the same letter with which they start.
* Electricity doesn't move through a wire but through a field around the wire.
* All U. S. Presidents have worn glasses, some of them just didn't like to be seen wearing them in public.
* No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, and purple.
* Raw cashews are poisonous and must be roasted before they can be eaten
* If the population of China walked past you in single file, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.
* The Pentagon is virtually a city in itself. Approximately 23,000 employees, both military and civilian. While in the building, they tell time by 4,200 clocks, drink from 691 water fountains, utilize 284 rest rooms, consume 4,500 cups of coffee, 1,700 pints of milk and 6,800 soft drinks prepared or served by a restaurant staff of 230 persons Over 200,000 telephone calls are made daily through phones connected by 100,000 miles of telephone cable.

[enigma]

A man checked into a hotel.There was a computer in his room, So he decided to send an e-mail to his wife. However, he accidentally Typed wrong e-mail address, and without realising his error, he sent the e-mail.

Meanwhile.....somewhere in Houston, a widow had just returned home from her husband's funeral. The widow decided to check her e-mail,expecting messages from relatives and friends. After reading the first message,she fainted. The widow's son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor,and saw the computer screen which read:

To: My Loving Wife
Subject: I've Reached Date: 06 Oct 2004

I know you're surprised to hear from me. They have computers here now, and you are allowed to send e-mails to your loved ones. I've just reached and have been checked in. I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you then ! Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was. Enj'aaaaiiiii...........