Smile

Smiling people lighten up the room, change the moods of others and make things happier. A smiling person brings happiness with him and people are drawn towards him. We want to know a smiling person and figure out what is so good. Frowns, sulky faces and grimaces push all people away. There is a famous saying “Frown and you frown alone, but smile and the whole world smiles with you”. Smiling changes our mood. Next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. There is a good chance your mood will change for the better. Smile can really relieve stress. It prevents us from looking tired, worn down and overwhelmed. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile. The stress should be reduced and you will be able to take appropriate action. Smiling helps the immune system to work better. When you smile, your immune function improves, possibly because your are more relaxed. 

A smile causes a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younge. Don’t go for a facelift, just try smiling your way through the day and you will look younger and feel better.

Smiling people appear more confident so they are more likely to be approached and promoted and are generally more successful in life.

Smiling helps you stay positive and makes you stay away from depression, stress and worry. Smiles improve your appearance and it is an inexpensive way to change your looks. Smiles make things right again and say much more than words can.  If you have hurt someone, said something harsh, feel lost, alone or down, a smile can set things right again. A smile lets other people know that you are prepared to be open to them and you are willingly agreeing to set things right where needed. Smiles create trust and rapport. They make other people feel good. A genuine smile is accompanied by a general glow, smiling eyes and a reassuring demeanor, that helps the viewer to be more at ease in your presence. A genuine smile comes from being happy, positive and from drawing your feelings from the heart. Love the people around you and spread happiness. When you smile, it tends to make others around you smile. Even in the most stressful times, a roomful of smiles can brighten everybody’s mood. A fake smile can make you look phony and nervous, so don’t try it. 

Smiling is a good long-term predictor of happier outcomes. Smiling attracts health, happiness, friends, success and a longer life. So always keep smiling.

Dr (Mrs) Archana Bharat

The last Indian

A packed bus was moving in between Sonapet and Rohtak (Haryana state) on 30th November 2014, in which two girls from Rohtak also were travelling. On the way, three men tried to molest these girls. All the passengers except a pregnant woman remained in the bus, enthusiastically watching the proceedings. The incidents took a reverse sweep as the sisters bounced on the molesters with their belts flying around. The goons were finally driven off. It is not the report of these Haryana girls moving to Delhi to receive President’s Honour for extra ordinary bravery that caught my attention but the broad comment of a news reporter on Indian citizens. 

He called for an extensive introspection of a citizen’s civil sense. In a nation, in which every student repeats ‘India is my country and all Indians are my brothers and sisters’ on a daily basis and has a background of morality which is filled with the energy of Vasudeva kudumbakam’, the reporter asks us how the fellow passengers could have been so indifferent and complacent while two Indian girls were fighting for their lives and human dignity. The reporter continued saying that we see five types of persons here. The first is the goons who tried to molest these girls, next is the passengers who are indifferent; then comes the driver and the conductor - quite negligent, then the pregnant woman - a patriot or a fellow having some civil sense and finally two victims fighting for their lives and human dignity. 

All these readings prompt me to ask again and again, “Is there an Indian in this India?” There would be many who may answer, “Yes, I’m one.” But I’m sure that they too may not have another one near them to count in that category. If ever there are such Indians, I still doubt if they know that life on earth is in pairs and without causing another one of his kind, existence itself is in question. Have we chosen to be the last Indians? I remember a strange comment that a school boy passed, while visiting a museum. He stared at a few skeletons exhibited there and said, “Looks the same.”  Less Indians may mean to this School boy that the majority of citizens in this nation live in the abundance of having something. I assume that it is the passion for possessions that keeps each Indian always looks dissimilar. 

Joseph Mattappally

Talking Plants

‘Syngonium’ was telling ‘Caladium’ that you are far more beautiful as compared to me, but look the master loves me more as I have been put in more number of pots. ‘Dieffenbachia’ was a little nervous today, as the child in the family was sick after eating a part of him. ‘Coleus’ was planning to participate in a fashion show, but she has been asking the organizers if ‘Croton’ has also given her name for the show. The ‘Marigold’ was happy that he was no more required to share the same room with ‘Dahlia’. He thanked his master and was ready to bow in front of his master’s prayer idol.

‘Bougainvillea’ appeared too friendly with ‘Asparagus’, rising hand in hand this time. The ‘Portulaca’ was always afraid of being overshadowed by the ‘Wandering Jew’. The master was watching all this happening in his home garden. He was surprised the way plants were talking to each other. He decided to find the real name of every plant he has at his home, using the Internet. Incredible images of leaves, flowers and trees were seen by him. He carefully noted down every name and every detail about the plants he had.

Next morning when he came out of his house to look at his plants, he felt as if all plants were queued up to ask him, what he found about them. He pulled up a chair and sat down near them. He started calling each plant with their real names. He now knew all the names. He could feel the joy of talking to his own plants. No! This story won’t end the way such stories end, that he came out of his dream, or he fell down from his cot. Everything was real. I experienced it myself, so I decided to share it with you. Let’s talk to nature. We have so many friends around us.

Dr. Sunil Ji Garg

A Total View of Life

We see ‘LIFE’ all around us, yet few of us understand it fully. The perception of ‘life’ differs from individual to individual depending upon our experiences. To some, life is the greatest blessing and to some, the severest punishment. Others find it somewhere in between. If so, is there any common thread in all these perceptions? This question arose in my mind once and I reflected on it. It is said that half of life is ‘if’. Please note that the middle two letters in the word ‘life’ are ‘i’ and ‘f’. It is also said that three fourths of life is ‘lie’. Note that if ‘f’ is removed, the remaining word is ‘lie’. While this perception of life may be partially true, it does not serve a good purpose if we do not go beyond this.

Life has to be seen in totality without missing any letters. The four letters of ‘life’ should be seen as its four phases and if we follow them faithfully, life becomes enriching and leads us to its ultimate goal. Let us see what these phases are. 

The first letter ‘L’ indicates the phase of ‘Learning’. This means that the first phase of life is a period of learning. While life continues to be a process of learning all through, it is the initial learning which shapes one’s life. During this period, one acquires knowledge of various mundane matters. Right from

birth, we have to learn basic activities like sitting, standing, walking and eating as well as educational learning. Good or bad habits acquired during this period influence life in subsequent phases, and this is the time when one is influenced most by the environment one grows up in. It should be wisely guarded by those who are responsible for the upbringing of children. Having completed the period of learning, one becomes self dependent and steps into the second phase of life. This period may be called the period of ‘Indulgence’ and the second letter ‘I’ stands for it. During this period the society, by and large, gives us independence to lead our life in our own way. It is more so in the present time because individual rights are granted by the constitution and law. One acquires family, wealth, fame or social standing during this phase of life and enjoys them. One is strong physically and, therefore, there is no anxiety on that account.

Depending upon the upbringing, sanskars and associates, one also cultivates certain finer qualities but, generally, this is the time for action, for doing things. With the ups and downs of life, one may become more reflective and the process continues as one grows in age and wisdom. Thus begins the phase of ‘Finding’. This is what the third letter ‘F’ indicates. In most cases the period of indulgence is

necessary before the urge to find reality arises. In this phase we start understanding the temporariness of mundane matters and events and try to look for something permanent. Slowly, we start giving up the sense of ‘doership’ and consider ourselves as instruments of God. There may be occasional failures but this awareness is often restored.

Then begins the last phase of life which may be called the period of ‘Evolution’. The last word ‘E’ stands for it. Having understood the reality of life, one strives to achieve its ultimate goal and that is the real process of evolution. Every action in this phase of life becomes a step towards the goal and the vicissitudes of life no more bother one. They only appear as the events of a play on the stage. When we see life in its totality, it becomes a means to achieve the ultimate goal which is ‘evolution’ to the level of the ‘self’. This may also be called enlightenment, salvation or self realisation. When life is viewed this way it becomes enriching and every experience becomes a step to evolution. Then even the ‘ifs’ and ‘lies’ add to its excitement like the suspense of a stage-drama. Those who fail to look at life in totality get entangled in its ‘ifs’ and ‘lies’. For them ‘F’ stands for ‘Finish’ and ‘E’ for ‘End’. Like the drama show on the stage, they keep on repeating the show of life till they reach evolution.

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I expect to pass through life but once !

If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being .....

Let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again !

William Penn

Rakesh Mittal IAS

Avoid Overspending

Sticking to a budget can be extremely difficult, particularly if your finances are tight and you are not inclined to be particularly organized or disciplined. However, you can successfully curb excess spending and keep your budget intact by following certain tips. Oftentimes, people spend money on spur of the moment purchases that they really should be saving for something else. The easiest way to avoid this bad habit is to portion out your money every time you get a pay cheque. Put your bill money (including credit card payments), grocery money and funds for other necessities in the bank. Take out in cash the remaining money which can be considered spending money. Having the funds in cash can often help you monitor your spending better as people often go overboard when buying things with a credit card because they don’t see the account balance shrinking in front of them.

Next time you head out on a shopping trip, plan to run all your errands at the same time. If you have a list of places to go and things to accomplish, you will be less likely to spend extra time shopping or browsing for items other than those on your list. Check your list before you leave your house and eliminate anything you don’t actually need. It will not only help you stay on track but will most likely make your entire outing more efficient and effective and will help you avoid forgetting something important and having to make an extra unnecessary trip.

Many people over-spend because they feel that shopping eases stress or relieves depression and they often buy things they don’t really want.

You might want to buy a device with a slick new function and you may want to upgrade your existing device. Ask yourself whether you really need it before buying it. Don’t buy something because you are worried about hurting the sales person’s feelings. Beware of sale items which make you feel that you have to take advantage of a special deal or a limited time offer.

It has been aptly said that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Do not allow your mind to wander unnecessarily as you might fall into the temptation of spending money to kill time. You could utilize your time in a creative and useful manner.

If you have a habit of overspending, you could let someone else take charge and shop for you instead. Encourage yourself to exercise restraint and buy only when you need something. Overspending may lead you into debt.

Dr (Mrs) Archana Bharat

The Art of Refusal

He is in his eighties. He is extremely talented. With my recommendation he approached an International school owner to experiment with his innovative language teaching skills. The lady school owner was impressed. She gave an assignment to this old gentleman. She even arranged home pick and drop service in her school van. The routine continued for four days and on fifth day the van didn’t come. He tried to contact the school, but no genuine answer was given. He understood that the school doesn’t want his services anymore. He narrated this whole story to me and therefore comes this post for you.

The art of refusal has gone this wild these days. A common practice is seen when a person stops picking the phone, when he starts avoiding someone. He will never-ever talk to you straight that he doesn’t want to talk to you anymore. He will make you understand this by his wild gestures like this. I am using the word ‘wild’ as to my knowledge this mechanism of avoiding is typically used by some wild animals. 

The art of refusal that doesn’t hurt other person’s feeling is a rare gesture these days. People may be much more networked owing to whatsapp, facebook and twitter, but somewhere their own network inside needs a re-engineering. Sometime people do it as a habit and they do not even know that they are hurting someone’s feeling. Some other people do it deliberately also. The first breed might have a little chance to get them reengineered. The deliberate attempters are definitely the harder ones to crack. Let’s hope that the best changes are yet to come.

Dr. Sunil Ji Garg

Back to Chaos

The world today knows about Isis activities in Iraq. Isis has the image of people clad in dark costumes, faces covered with black balaclava, machine guns on right hands, copies of Quran tucked into the pockets and both hands well gloved. Their activity stories that Medias show out comprise of sabotage, attacks, abductions, murder and conversions. Somebody has fit in a joke here. According to the story, a Christian family was moving through an Iraq city. They were caught by a group of Isis militants. The leader asked the man in the car if they are Muslims. The man answered, “Yes, we are”. Further, the leader asked for proof and suggested a quote from Quran. The man in the car quickly recited a verse from the Bible. The leader is said to have immediately let them off. 

As they rode off, the wife of this man, who also was there in the car with him, asked him why he took the risk of fooling them, which could have invited their wrath. The man answered with a smile, “This is not the only case of these Muslim brother militants. Most of the faith fanatics in every religion know not what they are told.” It is a known fact that religious intolerance is strangling most communities in this world. If some of the faith promoters are striving to spread their religion, some others struggle for reformation within, some others for absolute control over the community. No one is trying to zero in into the spirit of the Holy Messages. 

When a Zen monk was asked whether he was happy, he is said to have answered that a half monk can only be half happy. His stand was that we are only partially conscious and deserves only partial awareness and split moments of happiness. If we dissect the roots of faith related extremisms, it is easy to find that there are no traces of awareness anywhere. More terrorists are inside rolling in ash than those who are out playing with bombs. Both are sides of the same coin. Then, where are we going to? Neither to hell nor to heaven but to chaos! Isn’t it from chaos that everything was created and God was found sliding out?  

Joseph Mattappally