Challenge yourself to be Alive

The Japanese have always loved fresh fish. But the water close to Japan has not held many fish for decades. So to feed the Japanese population, fishing boats got bigger and went farther than ever. The farther the fishermen went, the longer it took to bring the fish. If the return trip took more time, the fish were not fresh.

To solve this problem, fish companies installed freezers on their boats. They would catch the fish and freeze them at sea. Freezers allowed the boats to go farther and stay longer. However, the Japanese could taste the difference between fresh and frozen fish. And they did not like the taste of frozen fish. The frozen fish brought a lower price. So, fishing companies installed fish tanks. They would catch the fish and stuff them in the tanks, fin to fin. After a little thrashing around, they were tired, dull, and lost their fresh-fish taste. The fishing industry faced an impending crisis! But today, they get fresh-tasting fish to Japan.

How did they manage?

To keep the fish tasting fresh, the Japanese fishing companies still put the fish in the tanks but with a small shark.

The fish are challenged and hence are constantly on the move. The challenge they face keeps them alive and fresh!

Have you realized that some of us are also living in a pond but most of the time tired and dull? Basically in our lives, sharks are new challenges to keep us active. If you are steadily conquering challenges, you are happy.

“Your challenges keep you energized. Don’t create success and revel in it in a state of inertia. You have the resources, skills and abilities to make a difference. Put a shark in your tank and see how far you can really go..! ”

At personal level: “Move out of your comfort zone”

At leadership level: create opportunities which challenge one’s capabilities and makes him move.

ஆமாம்...இல்லை....( ஒரு சிறிய முயற்சி)

காதல் அபத்தமானது என்று அவளுக்கு எப்படி புரியவைக்கபோகிறேன் என்று யோசித்து கொண்டிருக்குபோதே அவள் தொடர்ந்தாள் “ஏன் என்னை உனக்கு பிடிக்கவில்லையா? எதற்கு தயக்கம் காட்டுகிறாய்”.என்றாள். “அப்படி எல்லாம் ஒன்றுமில்லை நமக்குள் காதல் என்று ஒன்று தேவைதானா” என்றேன் என்னிடம் காதலை சொன்ன அவளிடம்.

பார் நம் இருவரும் காதலித்தால் என்னென்ன பிரச்சினை வரும் என்று கொஞ்சம் யோசித்து பார்த்தாயா? என்று நான் சொல்லி முடிப்பதற்குள்...

உனக்கு என்னை பிடிக்கவில்லை என்றால் நேராக சொல்லலாமே அதற்கு ஏன் இப்படி சுத்தி வளைத்து பேசுகிறாய் என்றாள் கோபமாய்.

சரி இப்போ நம் இருவரும் காதலித்தால் எப்படியும் திருமணத்திற்கு நமது வீட்டில் எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவிப்பார்கள். உன் வீட்டிலும் எதிர்ப்பு என் வீட்டிலும் எதிர்ப்பு..நமது சொந்தங்களுக்குள் சண்டை சச்சரவுகள்.. இப்படி சண்டைகளுக்கு நடுவில் மனதளவில் பெரிதும் பாதிக்கப்பட்டு ..பின் நம் இருவரும் சொந்தங்களை எதிர்த்து காதல்தான் பெருசு என்று தனியாக திருமணம் செய்து.......இதை எல்லாம் கொஞ்சம் நினைத்து பார்த்தாயா? இது தேவையா? என்றேன்.

அதற்கு அவள் “நீ ஏன் இப்படி யோசிக்கின்றாய்? நம் காதல் வீட்டின் சம்மதத்தோடு திருமணத்தில் முடியும் என்ற நம்பிக்கையில் காதலிக்கலாமே” என்றாள்.

நான் சொல்வது அந்த மாதிரி சுமுகமாக திருமணம் நடக்கவில்லை என்றால் எவ்வளவு பிரச்சினை என்றுதான். என்றேன்..... அவள் தலையை குனிந்து கொண்டாள்.

அப்படியே நாம் வீட்டை எதிர்த்து தைரியமாக திருமணம் செய்து கொண்டாலும் அதற்கு பிறகு நாம் வாழப்போகும் வாழ்க்கையில் சந்தோசம் இருக்கும் என நீ நினைக்கின்றாயா? சொந்த பந்தங்களின் பாசம் தொடர்பு இல்லாமல் தனியாக வாழ்க்கை நடத்துவது எனக்கென்னவோ அவ்வளவு நல்லா இருக்கும் என தெரியவில்லை. என்றேன்.

அப்படியே நாம் காதல் திருமணம் செய்து கொண்டாலும்... என்ன நன்றாக இருந்தால் சந்தோசமாக ஒரு ஒரு வருடம் இருப்போம். அதற்குள் நமக்குள் சில பிரச்சினைகள் வரலாம். அப்படி பிரச்சினை என்று வந்தால் உனக்கு அல்லது எனக்கு உதவி செய்ய அல்லது மனதளவில் ஆறுதல் சொல்ல கட்டாயம் நம் சொந்தங்கள் தேவை. என்றேன்.

அவள் உடைந்த குரலில் கடந்த சிலமாதங்களாக நான் காதலால் மனதளவில்,கனவுகளில் உன்னோடு வாழ்ந்து இருக்கின்றேன் இப்போது நீ இப்படி சொல்லுகிறாய் என் நிலைமையும் கொஞ்சம் யோசித்து பார் என்றாள்.

அதில் என் தவறும் இருக்கின்றது..., இதற்க்கு நானும் ஒருவிதத்தில் காரணமாக இருந்து இருக்கின்றேன். ஆனால் நீ சொல்லும் இந்த காதல் கனவுகள்,கற்பனை உலகம் எல்லாம் நம் உடம்பில் உள்ள ஹார்மோன்கள் செய்யும் வேலைதான். அது உனக்கு தெரியுமா. நம் சுஜாதா கூட அப்படித்தான் சொல்லி இருக்கின்றார். காதலே ஹார்மோன்களின் விளையாட்டுதான் அதை தவிர வேறொரு விசயமும் இல்லை என்பதுதான் அவர் கருத்து. இதன் பாதிப்புகள் எல்லாம் போக போக நாளடைவில் சரியாகிவிடும்.என்றேன்.

அவர் என்ன வேண்டுமானாலும் சொல்லி இருக்கட்டும்.ஆனால் நீ என்னிடம் இப்படி சொல்லுவது என்னால் தாங்க முடியவில்லை. என்றாள்

பார் நான் உன்னை காதலிப்பதில் ஒன்றும் பிரச்சினை இல்லை ஆனால் அதற்க்கு பிறகு வருவதைத்தான் கொஞ்சம் நினைத்துப்பார்க்க சொல்லுகிறேன்.நம் வீட்டில் சம்மதித்தால் இருவருக்குமே ஒரு பிரச்சினையும் இல்லை...நாம் இருவரும் காதலித்துவிட்டு பின் நம் வீட்டில் மறுத்து,அவர்களை தவிர்த்து திருமணம் செய்து,... அதற்க்கு பிறகு வரும் பிரச்சினைகளை யோசித்து பார்த்தால் நாம் இருவரும் காதலிக்கமலே இருப்பது நல்லது என்பதுதான் என் கருத்து என்ன சொல்லுகிறாய் நீ ? என்றேன்.

அவள் தலையை குனிந்து இருந்தாள்.என் கண்களை பார்க்கவில்லை.ஏதும் பேசவும் இல்லை.

பார் நான் என் நிலைமையை மற்றும் நாம் காதலித்தால் என்ன ஆகும் என்பதையும் விளக்கிவிட்டேன். இப்பொது சொல் இதற்க்கு பிறகும் நாம் காதலிக்க வேண்டுமா? .

அதற்கு அவள் -------- என்றாள்.

(வேண்டுகோள்--காதலை விரும்புகிறவர்கள் ----------- இந்த இடத்தில "ஆமாம்" போட்டு படித்து என்னை திட்டுவதை தவிர்க்குமாறு கேட்டுக்கொள்கிறேன்)

இதை அனுப்பிய தமிழுலக நண்பர் கணேஷ் மூர்த்திக்கு நிரம்ப நன்றி!!!

+one Grace Added

Count your blessings and name them one by one...
It was in 1980 in this same day when the sun was shining bright, everyone expecting, the world rejoicing, and this land waiting for the arrival of the finest creations of God. Yes today was yet another day of Partying and a special occasion for me to have fun with my friends. Three decades gone. As I am entering into the fourth decade of my life, I thank God almighty for giving me a wonderful family, nice teachers and good friends. I knew that I would be getting calls from Siva, KV, and etc. But scene has changed this year, received gift and greeting card from SS1, SS2, C and Dr. M – an unexpected surprise. I had a surprise call from the person I never expected. It was SS2 and SS1. As I thought, KV was the first to send me a picture message sharp at 12 followed by SS2, SS1, Dr.M. Morning Siva message me followed by a call from U. SS1 and Dr.M sent sms again in the morning. Unexpected sms from Prabin and CCK were really a surprise. Thanks a lot buddies for remembering me. Love you all. These small things bring in so much of a meaning into my ordinary life. This is yet another day of hard work at office where I had my usual work load. I had no time to spend with my parents and my family members. Work has changed the very course of my life. But I have to take this part of life as it is a part and parcel of a human beings path in this world.

How sweet!!!! lets abide to it...

A LOVELY MESSAGE.

A boy was born to a couple after eleven years of marriage. They were a
loving couple and the boy was the gem of their eyes.

When the boy was around two years old, one morning the husband saw a
medicine bottle open. He was late for office so he asked his wife to cap
the bottle and keep it in the cupboard. His wife, preoccupied in the
kitchen totally forgot the matter.

The boy saw the bottle and playfully went to the bottle fascinated by its
color and drank it all. It happened to be a poisonous medicine meant for
adults
in small dosages. When the child collapsed the mother hurried him to the
hospital, where he died. The mother was stunned. She was terrified how to
face her husband.

When the distraught father came to the hospital and saw the dead child, he
looked at his wife and uttered just five words.

QUESTIONS
:
1. What were the five words?
2. What is the implication of this story?

Scroll down to read....




















ANSWER:

The husband just said "I am with you Darling"

The husband's totally unexpected reaction is a proactive behavior.


The child is dead. He can never be brought back to life. There is no point
in finding fault with the mother.
Besides, if only he had taken time to keep the bottle away, this would not
have happened.
No one is to be blamed. She had also lost her only child. What she needed
at that moment was consolation and sympathy from the husband. And that is
what he gave her.

If everyone can look at life with this kind of perspective, there would be
much fewer problems in the world. "


A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.


Take off all your envy, jealousy, anger, selfishness, and fears. And you
will find things are actually not as difficult as you think.

MORAL OF THE STORY

This story is really worth reading. ..... Sometimes we spend time in
asking who is responsible or whom to blame, whether in a relationship, in
a job or with the people we know. By this we miss out something

Best Wishes...

Abortion

Abortion

Would you consider abortion in the following 4 situations?

1. There's a preacher and wife who are very, very, poor. They already have 14 kids. Now she finds out she's pregnant with 15th. They're living in tremendous poverty. Considering their poverty the excessive world population, would you consider recommending she get an abortion?

2. The father is sick with sniffles, the mother has TB. They have 4 children. 1st is blind, 2nd is dead, 3rd is deaf, 4th has TB. She finds she's pregnant again. Given the extreme situation, would you consider recommending abortion?


3. A white man raped a 13 year old black girl and she got pregnant. If you were her parents, would you consider recommending abortion?


4. A teenage girl is pregnant. She's not married. Her fiance is not the father of the baby, and he's very upset. Would you consider recommending abortion?


In the first case, you have just killed John Wesley. One of the great evangelists in the 19th century.


In the second case, you have killed Beethoven.

In the third case, you have killed Ethel Waters, the great black gospel singer.

And most of all...........

If you said yes to the fourth case, you have just declared the murder of Jesus Christ !!

OBITUARY OF SOMEONE ELSE

I know that all of you were saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our church's most valuable members -- Someone Else.

Someone's passing created a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. Else has been with us for many years, and for every one of those years, Someone did far more than the normal person's share of the work. Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results. Someone Else can work with that group. Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend, one name was on everyone's lips, "Let Someone Else do it." It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the largest givers in the church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed that Someone Else would make up the difference.

Someone Else was a wonderful person, sometimes appearing super-human, but a person can only do so much. Were the truth known, everyone expected too much of Someone Else. Now Someone Else is gone. We wonder what we are going to do. Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow it? Who is going to do the things Someone Else did? Remember, we can't depend on Someone Else anymore.

Inspiring Thoughts!!!!

Anger is a condition in which the tongue works faster than the mind.

**************

You can't change the past,

But you can ruin the present by worrying over the future.

**************

Love...and you shall be loved.

**************

God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.

**************

All people smile in the same language.

**************

Everyone needs to be loved...
Especially when they do not deserve it.

**************

The real measure of a man's wealth is what he has invested in eternity.

**************

Laughter is God's sunshine.

**************

Everyone has beauty, but not everyone sees it.

**************

It's important for parents to live the same things they teach.

**************

Thank God for what you have,
TRUST GOD for what you need.

**************

If you fill your heart with regrets of yesterday and the worries of tomorrow,
You have no today to be thankful for.

**************

Man looks at outward appearance, but the Lord looks within.

**************

The choice you make today, will usually affect tomorrow.

**************

Take time to laugh, for it is the music of the soul.

**************

Patience is the ability to idle your motor, when you feel like stripping your gears.

**************

Love is strengthened by working through conflicts together.

**************

Harsh words break no bones, but they do break hearts.

**************

To get out of a difficulty, one usually must go through it.

**************

We take for granted the things, that we should be giving thanks for.

**************

Love is the only thing that can be divided without being diminished.

**************

Happiness is enhanced by others, but does not depend upon others.

**************

For every minute you are angry with someone,
You lose 60 seconds of happiness that you can never get back.

*************

Do what you can, for who you can, with what you have, and where you are.

*************

Thanks to Shanthi!!!!

I WANT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL

When

The school reopened in June,

And we settled in our new desks and

benches!


When we queued up in book depot,

And got our new books

and notes!


When we wanted two Sundays and no Mondays, yet

managed to line up daily for the morning prayers..

We learnt writing with

slates and pencils, and

Progressed To fountain pens and ball pens and then Micro tips!


When we began drawing with crayons and evolved to

Color pencils and finally sketch pens!


When we started calculating

first with tables and then with

Clarke's tables and advanced to

Calculators and computers!


When we chased one another in the

corridors in Intervals, and returned to the classrooms

Drenched in sweat!


When we had lunch in classrooms, corridors,

Playgrounds,

under the trees and even in cycle sheds!


When all the colors in the world,

Decorated the campus on the Second Saturdays!


When a single P.T. period in the week's Time Table,

Was awaited more eagerly than the monsoons!


When cricket was played with writing pads as bats,

And Neckties and socks rolled into balls!


When few played

'kabadi' and 'Kho-Kho' in scorching sun,

While others simply played

'book cricket' in the

Confines of classroom!


Of fights but no conspiracies,

Of Competitions but seldom jealousy!


When we used to

watch Live Cricket telecast,

In the opposite house in Intervals and Lunch breaks!


When few rushed at 3:45 to

'Conquer' window seats in our School bus!

While few others had 'Big Fun', 'peppermint' ,

'kulfi', ' milk ice !' and 'sharbat !' at 4o Clock!

Gone are the days

Of Sports Day,

and the annual School Day ,

And the one-month long

preparations for them.


Gone are the days

Of the stressful Quarterly,

Half Yearly and Annual Exams, And the most

enjoyed holidays after them!


Gone are the days

Of tenth and twelfth standards, when

We Spent almost the whole year writing revision tests!

We learnt,

We enjoyed,

We played,

We won,

We lost,

We laughed,

We cried,

We fought,

We thought.

With so much fun in them, so many friends,

So much experience, all this and more!


Gone are the days

When we used

to talk for hours with our friends!

Now we don't have time to say a `Hi'!


Gone are the days

When we played games on the road!

Now we

Code on the road with laptop!


Gone are the days

When we saw stars Shining at Night!

Now we see stars when our code doesn't Work!


Gone are the days

When we sat to chat with Friends on grounds!

Now we chat in chat rooms......!


Gone are the days

Where we

studied just to pass!

Now we study to save our job!

Gone are the days

Where we had no money in our pockets and still fun filled on our hearts!!

Now we have the atm as well as credit card but with an empty heart!!

Gone are the days

Where we shouted on the road!

Now we don't shout even at home

Gone are the days

Where we got lectures from all!

Now we give lectures to all... like the one I'm doing now....!!

Gone are the days

But not the memories, which will be

Lingering in our hearts for ever and ever and

Ever and ever and ever .....


Gone are the Days.... But still there are lot more Days to come in our Life!!

NO MATTER HOW BUSY YOU ARE ,

DONT FORGET TO

LIVE THE LIFE THAT STILL

EXISTS...... ...