“How was it possible, I asked myself, to walk for an hour through the woods and see nothing worthy of note? I who cannot see find hundreds of things to interest me through mere touch. I feel the delicate symmetry of a leaf. I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough, shaggy bark of a pine. In spring I touch the branches of trees hopefully in search of a bud, the first sign of awakening Nature after her winter’s sleep. I feel the delightful, velvety texture of a flower, and discover its remarkable convolutions; and something of the miracle of Nature is revealed to me. Occasionally, if I am very fortunate, I place my hand gently on a small tree and feel the happy quiver of a bird in full song. I am delighted to have the cool waters of a brook rush through my open fingers. To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug. To me the pageant of seasons is a thrilling and unending drama, the action of which streams through my finger tips. At times my heart cries out with longing to see all these things. If I can get so much pleasure from mere touch, how much more beauty must be revealed by sight. Yet, those who have eyes apparently see little. The panorama of color and action which fills the world is taken for granted. It is human, perhaps, to appreciate little that which we have and to long for that which we have not, but it is a great pity that in the world of light the gift of sight is used only as a mere convenience rather than as a means of adding fullness to life.” — Helen Keller, Three Days to See
One evening I was going back from a supermarket. As I have approached my car, I noticed that some person came and stood beside me. He was the one that could be considered as a bum. It seemed that he had no car, no home and no job. I expected that he will ask me for money, but he did not do that, he only said: „Your car is very nice“.
After several moments of silence I have replied: „Thanks“, and then the inner voice told me: „Ask him if he needs help“. After a short hesitation I have asked him, if he needs any help. His respond was astonishing, I will never forget those simple three words that I heard from him: „Don‘t we all?”
It was a true discovery to me. I needed help. Although I had money and a place to sleep, but I recognized that I needed help too. Then I have opened my wallet and gave him enough money to get a meal and some shelter for a day.
Suddenly I understood that no matter how much money, achievements, luxury things do we have, we all need help. And on the other hand, no matter how poor you are, how many material problems you have, you still might offer your help to others, you still might be giving. Even it‘s just a nice word, you can give that and it can be priceless to other person.
Maybe that man was just a homeless stranger, but to me he was more than that. Maybe he was sent by the Highest Loving Power personally to me, to open my eyes, to show me that there is one thing, among all other values and achievements, which is very important and irreplaceable for each and every person. Actually, it is a true gift and it is called Giving.
The Scorpion and the Frog is a fable about trust, human nature and malevolence. One of the many versions goes as follows:
A scorpion asks a frog to carry him over a river. The frog is afraid of being stung, but the scorpion argues that if it did so, both would sink and the scorpion would drown. The frog then agrees, but midway across the river the scorpion does indeed sting the frog, dooming them both. When asked why, the scorpion points out that this is its nature.
Unknown
The moral of the story: You can’t outsmart human nature. Be realistic about changing vicious people; sometimes they even act against their own interests.
A thunderous sound of hooves echoes across the vast prairie. A lone rider gallops across an open plain with a sense of freedom and exhilaration. This only comes from listening to nature’s rhythms.
He understands how to ride, but as any experienced equestrian will tell you, this is not enough. The true measure of a rider’s skill is how well they know how to fall.
Life will inevitably bring challenges and setbacks. So, the question is not whether we will fall, but how we will respond to the fall. Will we be defeated, or will we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and try again?
The Native American proverb suggests that life is not just about victorie
Lonely tree was growing among hot sands of dead desert. Prickly sands covered the Wood. The Sun mercilessly burned its bark. But the Tree kept on living in spite of all. One day a Hawk flew over the desert. The Hawk saw the Tree and sat on its branch. He looked around the desert and said: — You are a strange Tree, why do you keep on living among these dead hot sands? Who needs it? — You, — the Tree answered. — Me? — the Hawk was surprised. — I don‘t need you. — But if not me, — the Tree told, — you would have to sit on the hot sand instead of my branches. If not me, someone, seeing you sitting on the tree alone, would say that nobody needs you, too and would ask you what you live for. Sitting on my branches you, Hawk, think that I need you. The Hawk thought about it and had to agree with the Tree. If there was no Tree, the hawk would feel himself alone and useless among this vast desert
“If men would consider not so much wherein they differ, as wherein they agree, there would be far less of uncharitableness and angry feeling in the world.” – Joseph Addison
It was a cold and silent night. The weather was cold. A group of monkeys was on a tree. They were clinging to its branches. One of the monkeys said, “I wish we could find some fire. It will help us to keep warm.”
Suddenly they noticed a flock of fireflies. One of the young monkeys mistook it for fire, so he grabbed the firefly. He put it under a dry leaf and started blowing at it. Some other monkeys also joined in his efforts.
Meanwhile, a sparrow came flying to its nest on the same tree the monkeys were sitting on.
She noticed what they were doing. The sparrow laughed. She said, “Hey silly monkeys, that is a firefly, not real fire. I think all of you should take shelter in a cave
The monkeys did not listen to the sparrow. They continued to blow at the poor firefly.
After some time, the monkeys became very tired. Now they realized that what the sparrow had said was correct. They set free the firefly and moved to a nearby cave.
“The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.” Randy Pausch
One Step at a time
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Once upon a time, a wealthy king sought a suitable man to marry his daughter. So he decided to create a challenge to test whether an individual has the appropriate attitude and will not quit at the first indication of adversity. To pass the test, each candidate had to put on royal metal armor and ascend 1000 stairs to the top of the mountain, where the king’s palace was.
Many men gathered from all across the world to take on the task. However, as soon as they put on the armor, they understood that the endeavor would be impossible. The majority of men took the first step, then glanced up at the remaining 999 and gave up. Several men made it to the second step before abandoning their quest. And so it continued for the next couple of hundred guys, with some reaching the third stage.
The king appeared to be very concerned. He pondered if someone was deserving of his daughter. Everyone who came to try their luck with the challenge stayed away after they saw everyone who attempted to compete in the challenge fail miserably. Nobody thought it was possible. So far, everyone has failed, and they were discussing how the task was designed to be impossible to finish. The most powerful military men attempted and failed. The top athletes tried but failed. Even the most muscular men couldn’t go past the third stairwell. Nobody could make it any further. They all pointed their finger at the armor and the steps. If only the armor were lighter, the stairs weren’t so steep.
Then, to everyone’s astonishment, a young man who didn’t appear to be very ordinary and not very impressive declared he wanted to try. He, like everyone else before him, had his chance. He donned the heavy gear and proceeded to the steps. Everyone said he wouldn’t make it past the first step. But he was quick to go to the second. He could hardly move his shivering feet to the fourth step.
But he took a big breath and moved forward. He felt like he was about to collapse, but he was determined to keep going. He kept telling himself, “One step at a time.” I only have to finish this one. As he approached the fifth step, he felt a strong pull from the top. His armor became noticeably lighter. So he took another step, telling himself, “I’m not ready to quit yet.”
Surprisingly, the armor felt lighter in this following stage. He was exhausted but determined to take one more step. So the “not-so-special young man” went on. Each stride brought his armor lighter and his goal closer.
When the young man finished the challenge, the king praised him and then revealed a secret about the test: “You know, the challenge aimed to make sure that the guy who is going to marry my daughter is not the type of man who gives up after the first couple of difficult moments.”
The armor
The armor represents the difficult times, and the magnet on top, which made each step easier after the first few you had to make on your own, represents the willpower and experience that will make your future endeavors easier to bear. Because with the proper person at your side, as well as the right mindset and focus, you can do anything, no matter how big the problem is.
So you know that the most challenging part of any problem you and your partner will encounter in the future is the first few steps, and it will become easier from there. You have proven yourself worthy, and now you have my blessings to marry my daughter.”
Moral: Remember to take your first steps and keep going. It becomes easier as you gain experience.
If you love your nap, it has value. If you love your downtime, it is useful. If you love watching the clouds while sipping your coffee in the morning—that is sacred time.
GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY TRAILS . BLESSINGS What you can do about feeling as if you've lost control? Have faith that something greater than you will reach down and place you on the path to recovery. Joy bows its head when we are grieving, but its nature is to rise up again. Remember the unanswered prayer is never the unheard prayer. Creator's answer may be "not yet".
The “Happiness is Within You” story is a fable about a man who travels to a far-off land in search of happiness. He meets a wise old man who tells him that happiness is not found in distant places, but rather within oneself.
The wise man tells the traveler to seek out a certain tree in a nearby forest, which is said to hold the secret to true happiness.
The traveler searches for the tree, but when he finds it, he is disappointed to see that it looks like any other tree.
The wise man appears again and tells the traveler to cut the tree down and open it up. Inside, the traveler finds nothing but plain, unremarkable wood. Confused and frustrated, he asks the wise man what this means.
The wise man tells him that the true secret to happiness is not in external objects or circumstances, but rather in our own perception and attitude.
Happiness is not found in material things or in achieving external goals, but rather in cultivating an inner sense of peace, contentment, and gratitude.
The story is often used as a metaphor for the idea that true happiness comes from within, and that external factors can only provide temporary pleasure or satisfaction.
The lesson of the story is to focus on cultivating inner peace and contentment, rather than seeking happiness in external objects or circumstances. Love and Blessings
