As a man was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not.

He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. “Well,” trainer said, “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”

The man was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn't, they were stuck right where they were.

Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before?

Failure is part of learning; we should never give up the struggle in life.

**Moral of the story Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before?

Failure is part of learning; we should never give up the struggle in life.**

Priya married Hitesh this day. At the end of the wedding party,

Priya’s mother gave her a newly opened bank saving passbook.

With Rs.1000 deposit amount.

Mother: Priya, take this passbook. Keep it as a record of your marriage life.

When there’s something happy and memorable happened in your new life, put some money in.

Write down what it’s about next to the line.

The more memorable the event is, the more money you can put in.

I’ve done the first one for you today.

Do the others with Hitesh.

When you look back after years, you can know how much happiness you’ve had.

Priya shared this with Hitesh when getting home.

They both thought it was a great idea and were anxious to know when the second deposit can be made.

This was what they did after certain time:

• 7 Feb: Rs.100, first birthday celebration for Hitesh after marriage

• 1 Mar: Rs.300, salary raise for Priya

• 20 Mar: Rs.200, vacation trip to Bali

• 15 Apr: Rs.2000, Priya got pregnant

• 1 Jun: Rs.1000, Hitesh got promoted

…. and so on…

However, after years, they started fighting and arguing for trivial things.

They didn’t talk much.

They regretted that they had married the most nasty people in the world…. no more love…

Kind of typical nowadays, huh?

One day Priya talked to her Mother:

‘Mom, we can’t stand it anymore. We agree to divorce.

I can’t imagine how I decided to marry this guy!!!’

Mother: ‘Sure, girl, that’s no big deal.

Just do whatever you want if you really can’t stand it.

But before that, do one thing first.

Remember the saving passbook I gave you on your wedding day?

Take out all money and spend it first.

You shouldn’t keep any record of such a poor marriage.’

Priya thought it was true.

So she went to the bank, waiting at the queue and planning to cancel the account.

While she was waiting, she took a look at the passbook record.

She looked, and looked, and looked.

Then the memory of all the previous joy and happiness just came up her mind.

Her eyes were then filled with tears.

She left and went home.

When she was home, she handed the passbook to Hitesh, asked him to spend the money before getting divorce.

The next day, Hitesh gave the passbook back to Priya.

She found a new deposit of Rs.5000. And a line next to the record:

‘This is the day I notice how much I’ve loved you thru out all these years.

How much happiness you’ve brought me.’

They hugged and cried, putting the passbook back to the safe.

Do you know how much money they had saved when they retired?

I did not ask.

I believe the money did not matter anymore after they had gone thru all the good years in their life.

**Moral of the story When you fall, in any way, Don't see the place where you fell, Instead see the place from where you slipped. Life is about correcting mistakes.

**Well “A pessimist says, Erasers are for people who make mistakes. But an optimist says, Erasers are for people who are willing to correct their mistakes

LOVE IS PRECIOUS! DON'T MISS IT!!**

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper.

His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper,he must hammer a nail into the back of the wall.

The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the wall.

Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down.

He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the wall.

Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.

The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the wall.

He said, 'You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the wall. The wall will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.

**Moral of the story Once you hurt your loved ones it won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound will still be there.

A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.**

A woman sat down next to a man on a bench near a playground at West Coast park one fine Sunday Morning.

"That's my son over there" she said, pointing to a little boy in a red T-shirt who was gliding down the slide.

"He's a fine looking boy," the man said. "That's my son on the swing in the blue T-shirt."

Then, looking at his watch, he called to his son.

"What do you say we go, Jack?"

Jack pleaded, "Just five more minutes, Dad. Please?" "Just five more minutes."

The man nodded and Jack continued to swing to his heart's content. Minutes passed and the father stood and called again to his son. "Time to go now?"

Again Jack pleaded, "Five more minutes, Dad.

Just five more minutes." The man smiled and said, "O.K."

"My, you certainly are a patient father," the woman responded.

The man smiled and then said, "My older son John was killed by a drunk driver last year while he was riding his bike near here. I never spent much time with John and now I'd give anything for just five more minutes with him. I've vowed not to make the same mistake with Jack.

He thinks he has five more minutes to swing. The truth is, I get Five more minutes to watch him play."

**Moral of the story Life is not a race.

**Life is all about making Priorities.

**What are your priorities?

**Give someone you love, 5 more minutes of your time no matter how busy and you will have no regret forever.

**Once you have lost it, shall be lost Forever....

Life can only be understood backwards; But it must be Lived forwards. LIVE LIFE BEFORE YOU LEAVE LIFE... 5 More Minutes. ....**

A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business.

Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.

He said, “It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you.”

The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. “I am going to give each one of you a SEED today – one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO.”

One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed.

Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.

Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn’t have a plant and he felt like a failure.

Six months went by — still nothing in Jim’s pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn’t say anything to his colleagues, however… He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil – He so wanted the seed to grow.

A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.

Jim told his wife that he wasn’t going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right.

He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful — in all shapes and sizes.

Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!

When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives.

Jim just tried to hide in the back. “My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown,” said the CEO. “Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!”

All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front.

Jim was terrified. He thought, “The CEO knows I’m a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!”

When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed – Jim told him the story.

The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, “Behold your next Chief Executive Officer! His name is Jim!”

Jim couldn’t believe it. Jim couldn’t even grow his seed.

“How could he be the new CEO?” the others said.

Then the CEO said, “One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead – it was not possible for them to grow. All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!”

**Moral of the story

• If you plant honesty, you will reap trust.
• If you plant goodness, you will reap friends.
• If you plant humility, you will reap greatness.
• If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment.
• If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective.
• If you plant hard work, you will reap success.
• If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation.
• If you plant faith in God , you will reap a harvest.

So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.**

At a restaurant, a cockroach suddenly flew from somewhere and sat on a lady. She started screaming out of fear. With a panic stricken face and trembling voice, she started jumping, with both her hands desperately trying to get rid of the cockroach.

Her reaction was contagious, as everyone in her group also got panicky.

The lady finally managed to push the cockroach away but ...it landed on another lady in the group.

Now, it was the turn of the other lady in the group to continue the drama.

The waiter rushed forward to their rescue. In the relay of throwing, the cockroach next fell upon the waiter.

The waiter stood firm, composed himself and observed the behavior of the cockroach on his shirt.

When he was confident enough, he grabbed it with his fingers and threw it out of the restaurant.

**Moral of the story Was the cockroach responsible for their histrionic behavior?

**If so, then why was the waiter not disturbed? He handled it near to perfection, without any chaos.

**It is not the cockroach, but the inability of the ladies to handle the disturbance caused by the cockroach that disturbed the ladies.

**It is not the shouting of father or boss or wife that disturbs, but it’s inability to handle the disturbances caused by their shouting that disturbs.

**It’s not the traffic jams on the road that disturbs, but inability to handle the disturbance caused by the traffic jam that disturbs.

**More than the problem, it’s reaction to the problem that creates chaos in life.

**Do not react in life, always respond. The women reacted, whereas the waiter responded.

Reactions are always instinctive whereas responses are always well thought of, just and right to save a situation from going out of hands, to avoid cracks in relationship, to avoid taking decisions in anger, anxiety, stress or hurry.**

Human Beings and frogs are the two creatures in nature who have tremendous power to adjust...

Put a frog in a vessel of water and start heating the water...

As the temperature of the water rises, the frog is able to adjust its body temperature accordingly...

The frog keeps on adjusting with increase in temperature...

Just when the water is about to reach boiling point, the frog is not able to adjust anymore...

At that point the frog decides to jump out...

The frog tries to jump but is unable to do so, because it lost all its strength in adjusting with the water temperature...

Very soon the frog dies. What killed the frog?

Many of us would say the boiling water...

But the truth is what killed the frog was its own inability to decide when it had to jump out...

**Moral of the story We all need to adjust with people and situations, but we need to be sure when we need to adjust and when we need to face...

**There are times when we need to face the situation and take the appropriate action...

**If we allow people to exploit us physically, emotionally or financially, they will continue to do so...

**We have to decide when to jump...

Let us jump while we still have the strength.....**

In a forest, a pregnant deer is about to give birth. She finds a remote grass field near a strong-flowing river. This seems a safe place. Suddenly labour pains begin.

At the same moment, dark clouds gather around above & lightning starts a forest fire. She looks to her left & sees a hunter with his bow extended pointing at her. To her right, she spots a hungry lion approaching her.

What can the pregnant deer do? She is in labour!

What will happen? Will the deer survive? Will she give birth to a fawn? Will the fawn survive? Or will everything be burnt by the forest fire? Will she perish to the hunters' arrow? Will she die a horrible death at the hands of the hungry lion approaching her?

She is constrained by the fire on the one side & the flowing river on the other & boxed in by her natural predators.

What does she do? She focuses on giving birth to a new life.

The sequence of events that follows are:

• Lightning strikes & blinds the hunter.
• He releases the arrow which zips past the deer & strikes the hungry lion.
• It starts to rain heavily, & the forest fire is slowly doused by the rain.
• The deer gives birth to a healthy fawn.

**Moral of the story In our life too, there are moments of choice when we are confronted on αll sides with negative thoughts and possibilities.

Some thoughts are so powerful that they overcome us & overwhelm us.**

Maybe we can learn from the deer. The priority of the deer, in that given moment, was simply to give birth to a baby.

The rest was not in her hands & any action or reaction that changed her focus would have likely resulted in death or disaster.

Ask yourself, Where is your focus? Where is your faith and hope?

A giant ship engine failed.

The ship's owners tried one expert after another, but none of them could figure but how to fix the engine.

Then they brought in an old man who had been fixing ships since he was a young.

He carried a large bag of tools with him, and when he arrived, he immediately went to work.

He inspected the engine very carefully, top to bottom.

Two of the ship's owners were there, watching this man, hoping he would know what to do.

After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer.

He gently tapped something.

Instantly, the engine lurched into life.

He carefully put his hammer away.

The engine was fixed! A week later, the owners received a bill from the old man for ten thousand dollars.

"What?!" the owners exclaimed. "He hardly did anything!"

So they wrote the old man a note saying, "Please send us an itemized bill."

The man sent a bill that read:

Tapping with a hammer........ $ 2.00

Knowing where to tap........ $ 9,998.00

**Moral of the story Effort is important, But knowing where to make an effort in your life makes all the difference.

"Life doesn't change in ONE MINUTE, but Taking decision After thinking ONE MINUTE can change life."**

A king with a defect in one eye & one leg asked all the painters to draw his beautiful portrait but no one was ready to draw, as how to show him beautiful with defects in one eye & a leg.

One painter however agreed and drew a classic one.

It was such a fantastic picture that every one was surprised, He painted the king aiming for a hunt, targeting with one eye closed & a leg bent for it.

Moral of the story Why can't we all paint others like this, hiding their weakness & highlighting their strengths? May we learn to hide other's weakness & bring their virtues to light.**

If you put a flea in a jar and tightly screw on the lid, the flea will try to jump as high as it can.

But soon, the flea accepts its limit.

From that point on, even if you take off the lid, the flea will never, ever jump any higher than the perceived lid.

Humans work the same way. If you perceive a limit– if you’re continually slapped down, or if your actions seem to make no difference– you might just stop trying. If effort expended never achieves a desired result, effort stops. That’s when you feel demoralized and disempowered in your work.

But here’s the reality:

You always have options. You always have the ability to make choices, and move forward, and leap higher.

Moral of the story There is no jar. There is no lid. There is only a question of how high you’re willing to leap.

Once two friends were walking through the forest. They knew that anything dangerous can happen to them at any time in the forest. So they promised each other that they would remain united in any case of danger.

Suddenly, they saw a large bear approaching them. One of the friends at once climbed a nearby tree. But the other one did not know how to climb. So being led by his common sense, he lay down on the ground breathless, pretending to be a dead man.

The bear came near the man lying on the ground. It smelt in his ears, and slowly left the place. Because the bears do not touch the dead creatures. Now the friend on the tree came down and asked his friend on the ground, “Friend, what did the bear tell you into your ears?” The other friend replied, “The bear advised me not to believe a false friend.”

Moral of the story True Friend is the one who always supports and stands by you in any situation.

Pencil: I'm sorry.

Eraser: For what? You didn't do anything wrong.

Pencil: I'm sorry because you get hurt because of me. Whenever I made a mistake, you're always there to erase it. But as you make my mistakes vanish, you lose a part of yourself. You get smaller and smaller each time.

Eraser: That's true. But I don't really mind. You see, I was made to do this. I was made to help you whenever you do something wrong. Even though one day, I know I'll be gone and you'll replace me with a new one, I'm actually happy with my job. So please, stop worrying. I hate seeing you sad

Moral of the story Parents are like the eraser whereas their children are the pencil. They're always there for their children, cleaning up their mistakes. Sometimes along the way... they get hurt, and become smaller (older, and eventually pass on). Though their children will eventually find someone new (spouse), but parents are still happy with what they do for their children, and will always hate seeing their precious ones worrying, or sad. Take care of your Parents, treat them with kindness and most especially love them.

A German once visited a temple under construction where he saw a sculptor making an idol of God.

Suddenly he noticed a similar idol lying nearby.

Surprised, he asked the sculptor, "Do you need two statues of the same idol?"

"No," said the sculptor without looking up, "We need only one, but the first one got damaged at the last stage."

The gentleman examined the idol and found no apparent damage. "Where is the damage?" he asked.

"There is a scratch on the nose of the idol." said the sculptor, still busy with his work.

"Where are you going to install the idol?"

The sculptor replied that it would be installed on a pillar twenty feet high.

"If the idol is that far, who is going to know that there is a scratch on the nose?" the gentleman asked.

The sculptor stopped work, looked up at the gentleman, smiled and said, "I will know it."

Moral of the story The desire to excel is exclusive of the fact whether someone else appreciates it or not. "Excellence" is a drive from inside, not outside. Excellence is not for someone else to notice but for your own satisfaction and efficiency....

It's another morning... Again I have to go to office. Oh, this is me. I was surprised to see my snap in the news paper. But what the HELL it is doing in the obituary column?? Strange.

One sec... Let me think, last night when I was going to bed I had a severe pain in my chest, but I don't remember anything after that, I think I had a sound sleep.

Its morning now, oh... It's already 10:00 AM, where is my coffee? I will be late for office and my boss will get a chance to irritate me. Where is everyone.??? I screamed.

"I saw is a crowd outside my room ‼! Let me check." I said to myself.. So many people... But why are some of them crying. WHAT IS THIS HAPPENING ??? I m laying there on the floor.

"I AM HERE" . I shouted!!! No one listened.. "LOOK I AM NOT DEAD" . I screamed once again!!! No one is interested in me. They all were looking me on the bed.

I went back to my bed room.

"Am I dead??" I asked myself.

Where is my wife, my children, my mom-DAD, my friends?

I found them in the next room, all of them were crying. still trying to console each other.

My wife was crying. she was really looking sad. My little kid was not sure what happened, but he was crying just coz his mom was sad.

How can I go without saying my kid that I really love him, I really do care of him. ?? How can I go without saying my wife that she is really most beautiful and most caring wife in this world..?? How can I go without saying my parents that whatever I am . I am just because of u ?? How can I go without telling my friends that without them perhaps I have done most of the wrong things in my life. thanks for being there always when I need them. and sorry for not being there when they really need me..

I can see a person standing in the corner and trying to hide his tears. Oh. he was once my best friend, but a small misunderstanding made us part, and we both have strong enough ego to keep us disconnect.

I went there.. And offered him my hand, "Dear friend. I just want to say sorry for everything, we r still best friend, please forgive me."

No response from other side, what the hell?? He is still preserving his ego, I am saying sorry.. even then!!! I really don't care for such people.

But one sec.. it seems he is not able to see me!!!! He did not see my extended hand. My goodness. AM I REALLY DEAD???

I just sat down near ME; I was also feeling like crying.

"OH GOD !!!! PLEASE JUST GIVE ME FEW MORE DAYS." I just wasn't to make my wife, my parents; my friends realize that how much I love them.

My wife entered in the room, she looks beautiful.. "YOU R BEAUTIFUL" I shouted. She didn't hear my words, in fact she never heard these words coz I never said this to her.

"GOD!!!!" I screamed. a little more time please.. I cried.

One more chance please. to hug my child, to make my mom smile just once, to feel my dad proud on me at least for a moment, to say sorry to my friends for everything I have not given to them, and thanks for still being in my life..

Then I looked up and cried!!!!

I shouted...

"GOD!!!! ONE MORE CHANCE PLEASE!!!!"

"You shouted in your sleep," said my wife as she gently woke me up. "Did you have a nightmare?"

I was sleeping.. Oh that was just a dream...

My wife was there. she can hear me. This is the happiest moment of my life. I hugged her and whispered.. "U R THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND CARING WIFE IN THIS UNIVERSE.. I REALLY LOVE U DEAR"

I could understand the reason of the smile on her face with some tears in her eyes & I was happy..

"THANK YOU GOD FOR THIS SECOND? CHANCE."

Moral of the story Still it's not late.. Forget your Egos, Past and express your love to others. Be friendly. Keep smiling. for ever... Keep our ego aside and express our love, care, appreciation, friendship, because we don't get a second chance always. Don't regret after the things happen. Always show our love to everyone who are associated with us!!!.

Once upon a time all feelings and emotions went to a coastal island for a vacation. According to their nature, each was having a good time. Suddenly, a warning of an impending storm was announced and everyone was advised to evacuate the island.

The announcement caused sudden panic. All rushed to their boats. Even damaged boats were quickly repaired and commissioned for duty.

Yet, Love did not wish to flee quickly. There was so much to do. But as the clouds darkened, Love realised it was time to leave. Alas, there were no boats to spare. Love looked around with hope.

Just then Prosperity passed by in a luxurious boat. Love shouted, “Prosperity, could you please take me in your boat?”

“No,” replied Prosperity, “my boat is full of precious possessions, gold and silver. There is no place for you.”

A little later Vanity came by in a beautiful boat. Again Love shouted, “Could you help me, Vanity? I am stranded and need a lift. Please take me with you.”

Vanity responded haughtily, “No, I cannot take you with me. My boat will get soiled with your muddy feet.”

Sorrow passed by after some time. Again, Love asked for help. But it was to no avail. “No, I cannot take you with me. I am so sad. I want to be by myself.”

When Happiness passed by a few minutes later, Love again called for help. But Happiness was so happy that it did not look around, hardly concerned about anyone.

Love was growing restless and dejected. Just then somebody called out, “Come Love, I will take you with me.” Love did not know who was being so magnanimous, but jumped on to the boat, greatly relieved that she would reach a safe place.

On getting off the boat, Love met Knowledge. Puzzled, Love inquired, “Knowledge, do you know who so generously gave me a lift just when no one else wished to help?”

Knowledge smiled, “Oh, that was Time.”

“And why would Time stop to pick me and take me to safety?” Love wondered.

Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and replied, “Because only Time knows your true greatness and what you are capable of. Only Love can bring peace and great happiness in this world.”

Moral of the story

When we are prosperous, we overlook love. When we feel important, we forget love. Even in happiness and sorrow we forget love. Only with time do we realize the importance of love. Why wait that long? Why not make love a part of your life today? Wish you a happy valentine week.

Once upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs... who arranged a running competition.

The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower.

A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants....

The race began....

Honestly, no one in crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower.

You heard statements such as:

"Oh, WAY too difficult!!"

"They will NEVER make it to the top."

or:

"Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!"

The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one....

Except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher....

The crowd continued to yell, "It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!"

More tiny frogs got tired and gave up....

But ONE continued higher and higher and higher....

This one wouldn't give up!

At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top!

THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it?

A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal?

It turned out....

That the winner was DEAF!!!!

Moral of the story

Never listen to other people’s tendencies to be negative or pessimistic. because they take your most wonderful dreams and wishes away from you — the ones you have in your heart!

Always think of the power words have. Because everything you hear and read will affect your actions! Therefore, ALWAYS BE POSITIVE!

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with a bag of potato chips and a six-pack of root beer and started his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old man. He was sitting in the park, just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase.

He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old man looked hungry, so he offered him some chips. He gratefully accepted it and smiled at him.

His smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer. Again, he smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

As twilight approached, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave; but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old man, and gave him a hug. He gave him his biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, “What did you do today that made you so happy?”

He replied, “I had lunch with God.” But before his mother could respond, he added, “You know what? He’s got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!”

Meanwhile, the old man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and he asked, “Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?”

He replied “I ate potato chips in the park with God.” However, before his son responded, he added, “You know, he’s much younger than I expected.”

Moral of the story

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime! Embrace all equally!

Diagnosed with advanced testicular cancer at the age of 25, doctors gave Lance Armstrong less than a 40 percent chance of recovery. Tumors were discovered in his lungs and stomach along with multiple lesions on the brain.

His biking career was over or so everyone thought; but no one counted on the indomitable belief Armstrong had in himself and the lessons which his mother, Linda Walling had taught him.

One of the first things that he did was to acknowledge the disease that had captured him in its talons and learn everything he could about it. He devoured books, resources and found help in support groups with people going through similar difficulties.

Lance sought strength in three things his mother had instilled in him

“Make every obstacle an opportunity”, “Always work hard and good things will happen” and “Don’t believe it when other people say you can’t”.

His first comeback after beating cancer was not a success and he finished fourteenth in the race. He even thought about retirement but constant support from his fiancée, mother and buddy Chris Carmichael soon had him training for his next race in the Appalachians.

He returned from his training a transformed man and never let the constant difficulties plough him down again.

True, the doping scandals have destroyed Lance’s reputation as a professional biker. But one cannot but admire his sheer will power and dedication through which he turned the odds in his favor at a time when everyone thought his life was over.

Moral of the story

Make every obstacle an opportunity. Always work hard and good things will happen. Don’t believe it when other people say you can’t.

A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat. A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.

Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were u the one who changed my sign this morning? What did u write?" The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what u said but in a different way."

What he had written was: "Today is a beautiful day & I cannot see it."

Do u think the first sign & the second sign were saying the same thing? Of course both signs told people the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?

Moral of the story

Be thankful for what you have. Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively Invite the people towards good with wisdom. Don't take life too seriously, you're not gonna get out of it ALIVE!!!