Food for Thought

The following words are written by Andy Rooney an American radio and television writer, a humorist and political commentator. He says, I've learned that...

The best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

When you're in love, it shows.

Just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.

Having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

Being kind is more important than being right.

You should never say no to a gift from a child.

No matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

Sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

We should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

Money doesn't buy class.

It's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

Under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

To ignore the facts does not change the facts.

When you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

Love, not time, heals all wounds.

The easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

Everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

No one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

Life is tough, but I'm tougher.

Opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

When you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.

One should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

When your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.

Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

The less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

A Guide for Life

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, 
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, 
be on good terms with all persons. 
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; 
and listen to others, 
even to the dull and the ignorant; 
they too have their story. 
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; 
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, 
you may become vain or bitter, 
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. 
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. 
Keep interested in your own career, however humble; 
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, 
for the world is full of trickery. 
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; 
many persons strive for high ideals, 
and everywhere life is full of heroism. 
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. 
Neither be cynical about love, 
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, 
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, 
gracefully surrendering the things of youth. 
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. 
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. 
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, 
be gentle with yourself. 
You are a child of the universe 
no less than the trees and the stars; 
you have a right to be here. 
And whether or not it is clear to you, 
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, 
whatever you conceive Him to be. 
And whatever your labors and aspirations, 
in the noisy confusion of life, 
keep peace in your soul. 

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, 

it is still a beautiful world. 

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann

Stream of Life!

Happiness knows no boundaries and dancing, music comes naturally to us when we want to express ourselves. Our thoughts, inexplicable emotions, our joy suddenly transforms itself just to say what we at times otherwise are not able to - Magical… it is this expression which is enough to make us look beyond all imperfections.

You do not have to be perfect to be happy or to make others happy!

See what Matt is up to now… dancing around the world – uniting people across continents and inspiring everyone around just to be themselves.

The lyrics are based off a poem from Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore

“Stream of Life”

The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures.

It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth in numberless blades of grass and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.

It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean-cradle of birth and of death, in ebb and in flow.

I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life.

And my pride is from the life-throb of ages dancing in my blood this moment.

Recipe of Life

The best recipes in life are those which we create ourselves – I was told once. I read somewhere ‘Life would be much easier if I had the source code’ – interesting concept. How true is it? Would we have a better control over our lives if we had the power to change it as and when required? As much as I want to believe otherwise thinking about notions like fate, destiny and providence, where all these notions stands correct to a certain extent, I also believe we always have the other option i.e. to make a difference, to live the way we want.

Unable in achieving an objective at one given point in time or the other is not necessarily failure but not the right time for it to happen – that is providence helping us off and on, guiding us through different perils with or without our knowledge. There is no recipe for a successful life – it is a combination of our experiences and observations, what we learn through our mistakes and last but not the least the strength of positive thinking and never giving up! Imagine your life as a big canvas ready to be painted - so paint it beautiful – paint it well, full of bright colors. The recipe can be as complicated or as simple as you want it to be – it’s just the way you look at it!

I Ask You!

How did it all come to this, I ask you? When as a child I was taught not to lie, not to hurt, not to steal from anyone – was taught to be honest, comforting and gentle to everyone – was taught to become a good human being, to be considerate, to be a beacon of light for all and yet the first day I step out from the safe and secure boundaries of my home I witness the opposite. How did it all come to this; I ask you, who is to blame? I ask you!

With this contrast between the real and the unreal, where do I stand? what do I do? when I am asked to join a few who ruthlessly dictate the lives of all or else left alone to withstand the consequences of choices I never made. Where do I stand? what do I do? when I am asked to defy my essential teachings to become a fake who I am not; how did it all come to this; I ask you, who is to blame? I ask you!

This is not the world I was promised. This is not the way I set out to live – so why am I to be punished if I retaliate – why am I to be held responsible, if I fight to protect myself from the unjust ways? Where do I stand? what do I do? when I am forced to go through the constant agony and pain of daily affairs which make me forget who I am. Where do I stand? what do I do? when I am made to lose track of where I started from and where am I heading. How did it all come to this; I ask you, who is to blame? I ask you!

Everyday is a constant struggle to keep myself alive. Trying my best not to give into the vicious circle of life. But slowly and steadily I start forgetting who I am; withering away with constant poisoning inculcated again and again – such poisoning which leaves me stranded with every bit of sanity from within. Where do I stand? what do I do? when I see my beliefs being brutally murdered in front of my eyes each day; so much so that I start a life of deceit where everyone is welcomed to join but no one is permitted to leave. How did it all come to this; I ask you, who is to blame? I ask you!

How will this ever change? I really don't know. Will I ever be able to make my place, I really don't know. For how long will I have to pay the price for standing my ground; I really don't know. For how long will I be punished for enduring it all; I really don't know? How did it all come to this; I ask you, who is to blame? I ask you!

Who are we fighting? Is it me, them or us all – trying in one way or the other to break free from it all. Why did it all come to this? Why did not we stop? Is there still hope, I question, for us all? I imagine each day that tomorrow will be a better day, there is hope I can feel, there is still light for us to reach. We can't give up now for I can see some good still left in this world worth fighting for! I Believe.