FRIENDS

In kindergarten your idea of a good friend was the person who let you have the red crayon  when all that was left was the ugly black one.

In first grade your idea of a good friend was the person who went to the bathroom with you and held your hand as you walked through the scary halls.

In second grade your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you stand up to the   class bully.

In third grade your idea of a good friend was the person who shared their lunch with you   when you forgot yours on the bus.

In fourth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who was willing to switch square dancing partners in gym so you wouldn't have to be stuck do-si-do-ing with Nasty Nicky or  Smelly Susan.

In fifth grade your idea of a friend was the person who saved a seat on the back of the bus for you.

In sixth grade your idea of a friend was the person who went up to Nick or Susan, your new crush, and asked them to dance with you, so that if they said no you wouldn't have to be   embarrassed.

In seventh grade your idea of a friend was the person who let you copy the social studies homework from the night before that you had forgotten.

In eighth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you pack up your stuffed animals and old baseball cards so that your room would be a "high schooler's" room, but didn't laugh at you when you finished and broke out into tears.

In ninth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who went to that "cool" party thrown by a senior so you wouldn't wind up being the only freshman there.

In tenth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who changed their schedule so you would have someone to sit with at lunch.

In eleventh grade your idea of a good friend was the person who gave you rides in their new car, convinced your parents that you shouldn't be grounded, consoled you when you broke up with Nick or Susan, and found you a date to the prom.

In twelfth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you pick out a college, assured you that you would get into that college, helped you deal with your parents who were having a hard time adjusting to the idea of letting you go...

At graduation your idea of a good friend was the person who was crying on the inside but managed the biggest smile one could give as they congratulated you.

Now, your idea of a good friend is still the person who gives you the better of the two choices, holds your hand when you're scared, helps you fight off those who try to take advantage of you, thinks of you at times when you are not there, reminds you of what you have forgotten, helps you put the past behind you but understands when you need to hold on to it a little longer, stays with you so that you have confidence, goes out of their way to make time for you, helps you clear up your mistakes, helps you deal with pressure from others,smiles for you when they are sad, helps you become a better person, and most importantly loves you!

A Samurai and a Zen Master

A samurai, a very proud warrior, came to see a Zen Master one day. The samurai was very famous, but looking at the beauty of the Master and He said to the Master, "Why am I feeling inferior? Just a moment ago the Grace of the moment, he suddenly felt inferior. 

I have never felt like that before. I have faced death many times, and everything was okay. As I entered your court suddenly I felt inferior. The Master said, "Wait. When everyone else has gone, I will answer. " 


I have never felt any fear - why am I now feeling frightened?" 

People continued the whole day to come and see the Master, and the The Master said, "Come outside." samurai was getting more and more tired waiting. By evening the room was    empty, and the samurai said, "Now, can you answer me?" 

It was a full moon night, the moon was just rising on the horizon. And and there has never been any problem. The smaller tree has never said he said, "Look at these trees. This tree is high in the sky and this small one beside it. They both have existed beside my window for years, to the big tree, 'Why do I feel inferior before you?' This tree is The Master replied, "Then you need not ask me. 

You know the answer." small, and that tree is big -- why have I never heard a whisper of it?"

The samurai said, "Because they can't compare." 

Opinion About Others

Once an Old man spread rumors that this neighbor was a thief. As a result, the young man was arrested. Days later the young man was proved innocent. 

After being released he sued the old man for wrongly accusing him. In the court, the old man told the Judge: "They were just comments, didn't harm anyone." The judge told the old man: "Write all the things you said about him on a piece of paper. Cut them up and on the way home, throw the pieces of paper out. Tomorrow, come back to hear the sentence."

Next day, the judge told the old man: "Before the hearing starts, go out and gather all the pieces of paper that you threw out yesterday." The old man said: "I can't do that! The wind spread them and I won't know where to find them."

The judge then replied: "The same way, simple comments may destroy the honor of a man to such an extent that one is not able to fix it. If you can't speak well of someone, rather don't say anything."

Giving comments about others have several disadvantages:

1. We become slaves of our words what we have uttered.
2. We lose our own respect in society/colleagues because of doing consistent character assassination.
3. Most of time, we are not sure whether we are right or wrong because being human our judgment can be wrong so we fall in the category of liars.
4. Negative trait of our personality becomes prominent which becomes of character in the long run

Secret of Heaven and Hell

The old monk sat by the side of the road. With his eyes closed, his legs crossed and his hands folded in his lap, he sat. In deep and demanding voice of a samurai warrior. "Old man! Teach me about meditation, he sat. Suddenly his zazen was interrupted by the harsh heaven and hell!"


Response from the monk. But gradually he began to open his eyes, At first, as though he had not heard, there was no perceptible faintest hint of a smile playing around the corners of his mouth as heaven and hell?" replied the monk at last. "You who are so unkempt. The samurai stood there, waiting impatiently, growing more and more agitated with each passing second. "You wish to know the secrets of would ask me of heaven and hell?" 
You whose hands and feet are covered with dirt. You whose hair is uncombed, whose breath is foul, whose sword is all rusty and neglected. You who are ugly and whose mother dresses you funny. You stood out in bold relief as he prepared to sever the monk's head from
The samurai uttered a vile curse. He drew his sword and raised it high above his head. His face turned to crimson and the veins on his neck its shoulders.

"That is hell," said the old monk gently, just as the sword began its descent.


"And that," said the monk, "is heaven."

In that fraction of a second, the samurai was overcome with amazement, awe, compassion and love for this gentle being who had dared to risk his very life to give him such a teaching. He stopped his sword in mid-flight and his eyes filled with grateful tears.

MISTAKE

When John D Rockefeller ran the Standard Oil Company one of his senior executives made a mistake that cost over $2 million. 

The other executives thought Rockefeller would come down heavy on him and probably fire him.  But he didn't.  Before he called the man in, he sat down, took a notepad and wrote across the top of it: 'Points in favour of this man'.  Then he listed the man's strengths, including how he'd once helped the company make the right decision and earn them millions of dollars.   

One of the senior executives who witnessed it later said, 'Whenever I am tempted to rip into someone, I force myself to sit down and compile a list of the good qualities they have.  By the time I have finished, I have the right perspective.  And best of all, my anger is under control.  I can't tell you how many times this habit has prevented me from committing one of life's costliest mistakes-losing my temper.  I recommend it to anyone who must deal with people. 

 

So before you jump to conclusions about someone, stop and ask God for wisdom, then sit down and make a list of their best qualities.  If you do you may come to a different conclusion.  One thing is for sure, you'll approach them with the right attitude and you won't say things you'll later regret.

 

Baloons

There was a man who made a living selling balloons at a fair. He had all colors of balloons, including red, yellow, blue, and green. Whenever business was slow, he would release a helium-filled balloon into the air and when the children saw it go up, they all wanted to buy one. They would come up to him, buy a balloon, and his sales would go up again. He continued this process all day. One day, he felt someone tugging at his jacket.

He turned around and saw a little boy who asked, "If you release a black balloon, would that also fly?" Moved by the boy's concern, the man replied with empathy, "Son, it is not the color of the balloon, it is what is inside that makes it go up."

The same thing applies to our lives. It is what is inside that counts. The thing inside of us that makes us go up is our attitude.

Have you ever wondered why some individuals, organizations, or countries are more successful than others?

It is not a secret. These people simply think and act more effectively. They have learned how to do so by investing in the most valuable asset--people. I believe that the success of an individual, organization or country, depends on the quality of their people. 

BE YOURSELF

Be understanding to your enemies.
Be loyal to your friends. 
Be strong enough to face the world each day. 
Be weak enough to know you cannot do everything alone. 
Be generous to those who need your help. 
Be frugal with what you need yourself. 
Be wise enough to know that you do not know everything. 
Be foolish enough to believe in miracles. 
Be willing to share your joys. 
Be willing to share the sorrows of others. 
Be a leader when you see a path others have missed. 
Be a follower when you are shrouded by the mists of uncertainty. 
Be the first to congratulate an opponent who succeeds. 
Be the last to criticize a colleague who fails. 
Be sure where your next step will fall, so that you will not tumble. 
Be sure of your final destination, in case you are going the wrong way. 
Be loving to those who love you. 
Be loving to those who do not love you, and they may change. 
Above all, be yourself.