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04/06/2020

"Can you sleep when the wind blows?"

The following story is a superb metaphorical exposition of the level of preparedness.

Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast.
He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic.

They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops. As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals.

Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. 'Are you a good farm hand?' the farmer asked him.

'Well, I can sleep when the wind blows,' answered the little man.

Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him.

The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work.

Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore.

Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, 'Get up! A storm is coming!

Tie things down before they blow away!' The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, 'No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows.'

Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.

When you're prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically, you have nothing to fear. Can you sleep when the wind blows through your life?

The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm.

The above story goes on to talk about trials and tribulations in life and if we do our best to understand, accept, and implement the principles learnt by us we will experience a deep sense of security, peace, and joy from within.
We will then be able to 'sleep when the wind blows.'
HOPE ALL IS WELL IN YOUR WORLD

27/04/2020

Once, Lord Indra got upset with Farmers, he announced there will be no rain for 12 years & you won’t be able to produce crops.

Farmers begged for clemency from Lord Indra , who then said , Rain will be possible only if Lord Shiva plays his Damru. But he secretly requested Lord Shiva not to agree to these Farmers & when Farmers reached Lord Shiva he repeated the same thing that he will play Damru after 12 years.

Disappointed Farmers decided to wait till 12 years.

But one Farmer regularly was digging, treating & putting manure in the soil & sowing the seeds even with no crop emerging.

Other Farmers were making fun of that Farmer . After 3 years all Farmers asked that Farmer why are you wasting your time n energy when you know that rains will not come before 12 years.

He replied “I know that crop won’t come out but I’m doing it as a matter of “practice”. After 12 years I will forget the process of growing crops and working in the field so I must keep it doing so that I’m fit to produce the crop the moment there is rain after 12 years.”

Hearing his argument Goddess Parvati praised his version before Lord Shiva & said “You may also forget playing the Damru after 12 years!”

The innocent Lord Shiva in his anxiety just tried to play the Damru, to check if he could….and hearing the sound of Damru immediately there was rain and the farmer who was regularly working in the field got his crop emerged immediately while others were disappointed.

It is the practice which keeps on making you perfect.

We become even diseased or old just because we don’t practice.

Practice is the essence of quality survival.

So, let lockdown lift after 2 weeks, 2 months or 2 years. Whatever trade or profession we are in, keep sharpening our skills, practice with what we have, upgrade our knowledge.

Don’t wait for rain , that is the lock down to be lifted and then start something… focus on our skills today, up skill your self so that you are ready to meet the challenges.

12/04/2020

Queen Elizabeth has survived

The plague
Smallpox
Malaria
WWII
Korean War
Vietnam War
Making of Land Rover and Range Rover
The Concord
The retirement of the Concord
N**i rule in Germany
Destruction of Berlin

Partition of Berlin
Unifications of Berlin
Creation of Israel
Sending poor Palestinians into diaspora
Tripartite invasion of Egypt in 1956
1967 Arab- Israeli War
October 1973 War
West-East Cold War
Iran-Iraq War
First Gulf War
Fall of Saddam Hussein
Fall and disintegration of Soviet Union
Britain joining the EU
Britain leaving the EU
Apollo 1-17
Independence of countries in Asia and Africa
14 British Prime Ministers
Charles and Diana
Charles and Camilla
Andrew and Fergie
Harry and Megan
14 American Presidents
7 Saudi Kings
48 Italian Prime Ministers
9 UN Secretary-Generals
3rd, 4th, and 5th French Republics
Mad Cow Disease
The Internet
Apple TV
Netflix
Wi-Fi
Covid

Only because she rarely leaves her palace
SO Keep Safe and Stay at Home😊

26/02/2020

WHAT’s YOUR MANAGERIAL STYLE?

The KRISHNA OR RAMA?

In Hindu mythology there are two great epics.

One is called Ramayan and other is called Mahabharata.

The centre story of both these books is around victory of good on evil.

In one story Ram leads his army to defeat Ravana in his land,

While in the second Krishna oversees Pandavas defeat Kauravas in the battle at Kurushektra.

In Ramayan, Ram is the best warrior of his side.
He leads his army from the front. Strategizes & directs different people to do things which will meet the objectives.

His people are happy to follow orders & want to get all the appreciation for being the best executors.

Ram sets direction & also tells people what to do during difficult times.

Ultimately they won the war & the final outcome was achieved.

On the other hand Krishna told Arjuna,

I won’t fight the battle.
I won’t pick up any weapon;
I would only be there on ur chariot as a charioteer.

And he did what he said.

He never picked up the weapon & he never fought.

Still, Pandavas won the war & final outcome was achieved.

So, what was different?

It was their managerial style &

it was also the type of people who were being lead.

Ram was leading an army of ‘MONKEYS’ who were not skilled fighters & they were looking for direction.

While on other hand,

Krishna was leading Arjuna who was one of the best archer of his time.

While Ram’s role was to show it &
lead from the front,

Krishna played the role of a coach whose job was to remove cobwebs from his protégée’s mind.

Krishna couldn't teach Arjuna archery but he could definitely help him see things from a very different perspective.

Here are some of the basic differences in two styles:

Ram- A skilled warrior, lead monkeys, was emotional, gave precise roles &

instructions, motivated the army to fight for his cause

Krishna: works with best the professionals, provides strategic clarity, allows team members to take lead, fights for the cause of the team, did not depict his true emotions

Look at ur team/family & reflect what type of leader/parent u are,

One who keeps answering/solving problems for people/kids Or

Who asks relevant questions from their people/kids so that they can find their own solution.

Are u someone who tells/directs all the time Or

Someone who clarifies doubts & allows their people/kids to find their own ways.

Are u someone who has monkeys in the team & the way u deal with it Or

U have the brightest experts in their area getting stuck with issues?

Younger generation doesn't want you to tell or show how things are done,
they want to know the meaning of their task and how it makes a difference in this world.

They are Arjuna’s who don’t necessarily seek more skill/knowledge but they need someone to clarify the cobwebs in their mind.

If u still apply Ram’s style on them, u are bound to fail as a manager.

On the other hand if there are people who aren't skilled enough but rely on ur expertise to sail u through Ram’s style is appropriate.

Isn't it good for us to reflect & think what managerial style will bring the best result for u and ur team/family ?

Is it Ram or Krishna?

The Managing Leader vs the Coaching Leader!

24/02/2020

A man who has gone out of his town comes back and finds that his house is on fire.

It was one of the most beautiful houses in the town, and the man loved the house the most! Many people were ready to give double price for the house, but he had never agreed for any price and now it is just burning before his eyes.

And thousands of people have gathered, but nothing can be done, the fire has spread so far that even if you try to put it out, nothing will be saved. So he becomes very sad.

His son comes running and whispers something in his ear:
"Don't be worried. I sold it yesterday and at a very good price ― three times.The offer was so good I could not wait for you. Forgive me."

Father said, "thank God, it's not ours now!" Then the father is relaxed and became a silent watcher, just like 1000s of other watchers.

Please think about it! Just a moment before he was not a watcher, he was attached. It is the same house....the same fire.... everything is the same...but now he is not concerned. In fact started enjoying it just as everybody else in the crowd.

Then the second son comes running, and he says to the father, "What are you doing? You are smiling ― and the house is on fire?" The father said, "Don't you know, your brother has sold it."
He said, "we have taken only advance amount, not settled fully. I doubt now that the man is going to purchase it now."

Again, everything changes!!
Tears which had disappeared, have come back to the father's eyes, his smile is no more there, his heart is beating fast. The 'watcher' is gone. He is again attached.

And then the third son comes, and he says, "That man is a man of his word. I have just come from him. He said, 'It doesn't matter whether the house is burnt or not, it is mine.

And I am going to pay the price that I have settled for. Neither you knew, nor I knew that the house would catch on fire.'"
Again the joy is back and family became 'watchers'! The attachment is no more there.

Actually nothing is changing!
just the feeling that "I am the owner! I am not the owner of the house!" makes the whole difference.

This simple methodology of watching the mind, that you have nothing to do with it..Everything starts with a Thought !

Most of the thoughts are not yours but from your parents, your teachers, your friends, the books, the movies, the television, the newspapers.

Just count how many thoughts are your own, and you will be surprised that not a single thought is your own. All are from other sources, all are borrowed ― either dumped by others on you, or foolishly dumped by yourself upon yourself, but nothing is yours.

Sow a thought, you reap an action.
Sow an act, you reap a habit.
Sow a habit, you reap a character.
Sow a character, you reap a destiny..!

15/02/2020

RAITA...

Adding Extra Curd

On a Sunday afternoon a family gathered over the Lunch table to have their favourite Mutton Biriyani, Wife was serving the food to both her Son and her Husband. After the food was served, husband tasted the Biriyani along with Raita and starting yelling at his wife for adding More salt in Raita. She opened the refrigerator and added some curd to it, and she served it again, after tasting it the husband said “You should have done it properly and checked it before serving it to us, because of the extra salt, you have spoilt my mood of eating Biriyani”

After some time, the son and the father completed their lunch and wife served herself and completed her lunch, while she was washing the vessels, son came to meet her and he saw his mother with tears in her eyes, when he inquired why she was crying, she just wiped her tears and said “ nothing” and asked him what he wants, he asked for some money, and she told him to take it from her purse.

After some years, Son was married and his mother lived along with him. On a Sunday afternoon, he was helping his wife in placing the dishes on the table and his son started serving Biriyani to his grandmother, and he started serving her some Raita, after that he sat on his chair and started helping his wife and his son.

While he started eating the biriyani with Raita, he felt it was salty, he got up from his chair and picked up the curd bowl and added some curd to Raita and told “Biriyani is yummy”

His wife asked him why he added some extra curd to Raita, he looked at his mother and said “my mother knows the pain of extra salt in Raita”, his wife said I don't understand what you said “ He smiled and said Raita was salty, so I added extra curd so that you not will feel it salty” she said “I am sorry about it” He said

“If my father could have added extra curd to the Raita, my mother would have not had tears in her eyes for rest of her life”

“If my father could have added extra care towards my mother, my mother would have not had the extra burden in her heart”

“If my father could have gone an extra mile in loving our family, we would have gone an extra mile in being peaceful and happy”

Every one of us make mistakes in one way or other way in our life, but the greatest mistake is fighting and yelling over the mistakes that was made.

Ask for yourself “Did you react over the extra salt in the Raita or did you respond by adding extra curd to it” Life becomes sweeter when we understand the power of adding some Empathy, care, kindness and forgiveness”

_*An extra second of thinking can change our life forever*_

20/12/2019

Such a beautiful message ...keep patience worth reading!!!

I was jogging this morning and I noticed a person about half a km ahead.

I could guess he was running a little slower than me and that made me feel good, I said to myself I will try catch up with him.

So I started running faster and faster. Every block, I was gaining on him a little bit.

After just a few minutes I was only about 100 feet behind him, so I really picked up the pace and pushed myself. I was determined to catch up with him.

Finally, I did it! I caught up and passed him. Inwardly I felt very good. "I beat him".

Of course, he didn't even know we were racing.

After I passed him, I realized I had been so focused on competing against him that .....

I had missed my turn to my house,

I had missed the focus on my inner peace,

I missed to see the beauty of greenery around,

I missed to do my inner soul searching meditation,
and
in the needless hurry stumbled and slipped twice or thrice and might have hit the sidewalk and broken a limb.

It then dawned on me, isn't that what happens in life when we focus on competing with
co-workers, neighbours,
friends, family, trying to outdo them or trying to prove that we are more successful or more important and in the bargain
we miss on our happiness within our own surroundings?

We spend our time and energy running after them and we miss out on our own paths to our given destination.

The problem with unhealthy competition is that it's a never ending cycle.

There will always be somebody ahead of you,
someone with a better job,
nicer car,
more money in the bank,
more education,
a prettier wife,
a more handsome husband,
better behaved children,
better circumstances and
better conditions etc.

But one important realisation is that
You can be the best that you can be, when you are not competing with anyone.

Some people are insecure because they pay too much attention to
what others are,
where others are going,
wearing and driving, what others are talking.

Take whatever you have,
the height, the weight and personality.
Accept it and realize, that you are blessed. Stay focused and live a healthy life.

*There is no competition in Destiny. Each has his own.*

Comparison AND Competition is the thief of JOY.
It kills the Joy of Living your Own Life.

*Run your own Race that leads to Peaceful, Happy Steady Life.*

21/11/2019

A donkey was tied to a tree. A demon came and released him.

The donkey entered the field of a farmer and began to eat everything. The farmer’s wife saw the donkey and was afraid that he would destroy the farm, took the rifle and killed him.

The donkey’s owner saw the dead donkey, got angry and also took his rifle and fired at the woman, killing her. When the farmer got home and saw that his wife was dead, he killed the donkey's owner.

The donkey owner's sons seeing their dead father, burned the farmers field. The farmer in retaliation killed them.

When they asked the demon what he had done, he said:

- "I did nothing, I just released the donkey."

Do you get it? The devil doesn’t have power to do much, but one simple thing he does triggers the evil intents of men’s hearts to harm one another.

So, let's think before seeking revenge! Be careful with your heart, because many times, the only thing the devil does is “release the donkey”.

01/10/2019

5 Little Stories About The True Power Of Love

1- Today, two days after my partner’s funeral, I received a bouquet of flowers which he had ordered for me the week before. The note read, “Even if the cancer wins, I want you to know that you’re the girl of my dreams.”

2-Today I won a court case that lasted a very long time. 14 months ago, I found out that my neighbour regularly beat his dog. So, I kidnapped it, and I was arrested. I spent a lot of money on the trial, but today, when I woke up and felt the warmth of my shaggy friend at my feet, I knew it had all been worth it.

3- My daughter came home from school and asked me where she could learn sign language. I asked her why she wanted to, and she replied that there was a new girl at her school who was deaf and only knew sign language, and she had no one to talk to.

4-Today, I chose the wrong number and accidentally sent my dad a message saying “I love you, “which was meant for my husband. A few minutes later I got a reply:” I love you too. Dad.” It was so touching. We say things like that to each other so rarely.

5- My grandfather and I were looking through some photographs when we stumbled upon an old shot of him dancing at a party with my grandmother, who had died several years before. He put his arm around me and said, “Always remember that even if something doesn’t last forever, it doesn’t mean that it’s not worth your time.”

I liked the story no. 4 the most. Which one you liked?

Credits :Received on WhatsApp

14/09/2019

𝐓𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞:⁣⁣
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1. Take care of your health. Spend time n money on maintaining yourself. ⁣⁣
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2. Learn to be independent. Its perfectly ok to not earn, but its important to be independent. ⁣⁣
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3. Learn to ride that bike or drive that car. You don't always need an es**rt! ⁣⁣
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4. Learn about investments and taxes. Its not necessary to have someone else manage your savings n earnings.⁣⁣
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5. Plan and save for your own gifts n desires. You don't always need a husband or your dad to buy you something you love. Gift yourself! ⁣⁣
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6. Take equal responsibility of your parents. Its not acceptable to expect everything from your brother every time. ⁣⁣
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7. Let the father take care of the unwell child once in a while. Your career is equally important and the father is equally responsible. ⁣⁣
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8. Its ok if the kitchen platform is exceptionally unclean or sink is full of dirty vessels. Relax n take that break! ⁣⁣
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9. Help the other woman, even if you dont like her. You never know what her battles are. ⁣⁣
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10. Its ok to get on well with inlaws! Not every family needs to have a saas-bahu drama. ⁣⁣
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11. Have some friends (men and women) beyond your husband's group, Its ok ! Spend some time away from family with your friends. ⁣⁣
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12. Its ok to not cry. Not all women need to be sentimental all the time ⁣⁣
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13. When things go wrong, try to be balanced and find way out of your problems. You don't need to play the victim. ⁣⁣
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14. Find time to read and keep yourself updated.⁣⁣
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15. Raise independent, caring and health conscious kids. Make all family members equally accountable and responsible. ⁣⁣
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16. Create different girlie groups. Share your problems, seek opinions but finally take your own decision and stick to it.⁣
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17. Spend some time doing what you like, even if its just sitting idle. Dont feel guilty because others feel its worthless. ⁣⁣
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18. Believe in yourself, or noone else will.⁣
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19. Remember, you have a voice, use it!⁣
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20. Have a dream, and don’t sacrifice it for anyone!

Share so every woman reads this!😊

08/09/2019

Over a few glasses of Single Malt, one of my Parsee friends unveiled to me *the very essence of being a Bawa*!! Worth pondering :

"I am a devout and chaste Zoroastrian and people often ask me if my prophet Zarathushta preached meditation.

Folklore says Zarathustra went in search of the TRUTH at the age of 30 and on mount 'USHI-DARENA' he received DIVINE REVELATION over a period of ten years. 'Ushi-Darena' is variously translated to mean "Sustainer of Inner Wisdom".

The prophet surely must have reflected on the Truths of Nature using his inner wisdom, but, *perhaps not necessarily sitting in a dark cave*.

Did Zarathustra suggest a life of denial or renunciation? The answer is an affirmative NO.

His message is simple and clear -- *Be HAPPY and make others happy.*

-- Marry, have many children, eat, drink, create wealth, *but be charitable.*

-- *No fasting or celibacy* to please God.

-- *Be positive* and exercise the right choices.

And, therefore, as a Zoroastrian my form of *meditation is active not passive.*

It does not require any complex practices. It is simple.

- When I travel and look at Nature's beauty with awe, I am meditating.

- When I eat something I like I am meditating enjoying the subtle bursts of taste.

- When I am enjoying a single malt, my senses tingle with the subtle aromas that tickle my nose and yes I am in a meditative state.

- When I hug a loved one, I feel a hightened sense of oneness.

- When I carry an infant in my arms I witness and rejoice in the very miracle of life.

- At any place of worship I try to absorb the energy, light and beauty of that place with my eyes wide open rather than shutting them and be in darkness in search of the elusive.

Yes, as a Zoroastrian, my form of meditation is active .... to be in this world and of this world ... *making this world a better place for myself and for others simply with GOOD THOUGHTS, GOOD WORDS and GOOD DEEDS!*

Life is for living -- *live it to the fullest and without any regret on exit*.. just take care of yourself and others with truthfulness - biji koi magaj-mari nahi!"

10/08/2019