This piece was written by the late Erma Bombeck after she found out she was dying from cancer.
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television-and more while watching life.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."
There would have been more "I love you's"...More "I'm sorry's" ...But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute... look at it and really see it... live it... and never give it back.
Stop sweating the small stuff. Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what.
Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us. Let's think about what God has blessed us with.
And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally, as well as spiritually.
Life is too short to let it pass you by.We only have one shot at this and then it's gone.-
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ScienceDaily (Feb. 4, 2009) A new study at the University of Haifa discovered that worldwide, countries with the highest levels of artificial light at night also have the highest rates of prostate cancer.This discovery joins the findings of a previous study by the same researchers that found a connection between exposure to artificial light at night and the incidence of breast cancer.Countries in which nighttime artificial lighting is used more intensively tend to have a higher risk of prostate cancer in men, concludes a new study that was carried out at the University of Haifa. This joins a previous finding that was published in Chronobiology International in 2008, that exposure to artificial lighting at night increases the incidence of breast cancer in women.The study, carried out by Prof. Abraham Haim, Prof. Boris A. Portnov, and Itai Kloog of the University of Haifa together with Prof. Richard Stevens of the University of Connecticut, USA, was intended to examine the influence of various factors - including the amount of artificial light at night - on the incidence of three types of cancer: prostate, lung, and of the large intestine, in men around the world.Data was collected from a database of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, on the incidence of these types of cancer in men in 164 countries. Data on the levels of lighting at night were gathered from DMSP (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program) satellite images. The nighttime illumination data were adjusted by the geographic distribution of the population of the country, in order to reach an accurate measure of "the amount of artificial light per night per person." The researchers also examined additional factors, such as electricity consumption, percentage of urban population, socioeconomic status, and other variables.At the very first stage of the study, it already became clear that there is a marked link between the incidence of prostate cancer and levels of nighttime artificial illumination and electricity consumption. Several different methods of statistical analysis were used to arrive at this conclusion.Next the researchers isolated the "amount of artificial light at night per person" variable in order to examine its particular effect. The countries were divided into three groups for this stage of the study: those with little exposure to lighting at night; those with medium exposure; and those with high exposure. The results demonstrated that the incidence of prostate cancer in those countries with low exposure was 66.77 prostate cancer patients to 100,000 inhabitants. An increase of 30% was found in those countries with medium exposure: 87.11 patients per 100,000 inhabitants. The countries with the highest level of exposure to artificial light at night demonstrated a jump of 80%: 157 patients per 100,000 inhabitants.According to the researchers, there are a number of theories that could explain the increased incidence of prostate cancer due to exposure to lighting at night, such as suppression of melatonin production, suppression of the immune system, and an effect on the body's biological clock because of confusion between night and day. Whatever the cause, there is a definite link between the two. "This does not mean that we have to go back to the Middle Ages and turn the lights out on the country. What it means is that this link should be taken into account in planning the country's energy policies," the researchers pointed out.The researchers added that an increased use of artificial lighting is considered by the World Health Organization as a source of environmental pollution. As such, the appeal made by Israel's Ministry of Environmental Protection to use energy-efficient lighting is problematic, as this type of lighting is also much brighter. The country ought to encourage energy saving in lighting as well as limiting the pollution level.
~POWERFUL CONCEPTS~We begin this New Year with dampened enthusiasm and dented optimism.Our happiness is diluted and our peace is threatened by the financial illness that has infected our families, organizations and nations.Everyone is desperate to find a remedy that will cure their financial illness and help them recover their financial health.They expect the financial experts to provide them with remedies, forgetting the fact that it is these experts who created this financial mess.Every new year, I adopt a couple of old maxims as my beacons to guide my future. This self-prescribed therapy has ensured that with each passing year, I grow wiser and not older. This year, I invite you to tap into the financial wisdom of our elders along with me, and become financially wiser.*************************************************************************************Spending: If you buy things you don't need, you'll soon sell things you need.Savings: Don't save what is left after spending; spend what is left after saving.Hard work: All hard work brings profit; but mere talk leads only to poverty.Laziness: A sleeping lobster is carried away by the water current.Earnings: Never depend on a single source of income.Borrowings: The borrower becomes the lender's slave.Accounting: It's no use carrying an umbrella, if your shoes are leaking.Auditing: Beware of little expenses; a small leak can sink a large ship.Risk-taking: Never test the depth of the river with both feet.Investment: Don't put all your eggs in one basket.**********************************************************************************I'm certain that those who have already been practising these principles remain financially healthy. I'm equally confident that those who resolve to start practising these principles will quickly regain their financial health. Let us become wiser and lead a happy, healthy, prosperous and peaceful life........Warren Buffet
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1. Rule number one: Never lose money. Rule number two: Never forget rule number one. 2. Motivation comes in short bursts. Act while it’s hot. 3. Do not demean anyone, no matter the situation. It might be sooner than you know when the roles might reverse. 4. It takes years to build a reputation and seconds to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently. 5. Follow your own advice. 6. It’s all about delivering. If you think you have a “vision”, but can’t deliver fast enough (remember, timing is everything!), surround yourself with people who can. 7. No matter the consequences, those who are honest with themselves get farther in life. 8. While it may not be so easy at times, always try to have a positive attitude towards everything. 9. It’s not what happens to you, it’s what you do about it. 10. People you care most about in life are taken from you too soon. 11. Bad things do happen to good people. 12. You should not compare yourself to the best others can do, but to the best you can do. 13. It’s not what you have in life, but who you have in life that counts. 14. No matter how much you care, some people just don’t care back. And it’s not the end of the world. 15. Love has nothing to do with looks but everything to do with time, trust, and interest. 16. I’ve learned that greed will bury even the lucky eventually. 17. Chance is a gift, so act on chance when given the opportunity. 18. People deserve a second chance, but not a third. 19. Your actions now create memories you will reminisce and talk about in your elder years. 20. Taking ownership of failure builds the foundation for success. 21. If you never act, you will never know for sure. 22. Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing. 23. If you don’t know jewelry, know the jeweller. 24. You cannot make someone like you. All you can do is be someone who can be liked. The rest is up to them. 25. There are people who love you dearly, but just don’t know how to show it. 26. It takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it. 27. Our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become. 28. Just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean that they don’t love each other. 29. Two people can look at the exact same thing and see it totally different. 30. Talking can ease emotional pains.THERE COMES A TIME IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU REALIZE WHO MATTERS, WHO DOESN'T, WHO NEVER DID, AND WHO ALWAYS WILL.SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE PEOPLE FROM YOUR PAST. THERE IS A REASON THEY DIDN'T MAKE IT TO YOUR FUTURE.
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The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island.He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.
Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of Driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions.But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened everything was lost.He was stunned with grief and anger."God, how could you do this to me?" he cried.Early the next day, however, he was wakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal,"they replied.It's easy to get discouraged sometimes when things appear to be going badly. But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has positive answer for it. Believe me, there are some weeks that we all feel our huts are burning.
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Ten food variations to help you fit into that treasured 'hope' couture:1. Water your flab away:
Drinking water is the easiest way to put your body in the weight losing mode. It boosts your metabolism, and higher metabolism helps you lose weight even while you sleep.
Water acts as a natural appetite suppressant and replaces false sensation of hunger. Drink a good amount of water during the day, especially in the evening to raise your metabolism while you sleep.
2. Let high-calorie foods be moderated:
Want to eat fruit cream or fruit salad with ice cream? Let a spoonful of ice cream be the jewel and a bowl of fruit the crown.
In case of salad, make veggies the crown and cheese the jewel. When munching on chips, pair each bite with veggie dip and fresh salsa.3. Instead of three, eat five or six small meals:
Distributing the same number of calories into six meals keeps you full through out the day.4. Go for restaurant eating even at home:
Keep those bowls off and stick only to the plate and as the plate goes empty, don't reach for second round.5. Most calories before noon:
Go heavy in the morning so that you don't crave for food at night. Following this routine will help you ensure that the body consumes the morning calories rather than working on the evening ones.6. Fruit instead of fruit juice:
Eating whole fruits not only keeps you satisfied for longer hours than a mere glass of milk but also adds fibre to your diet.7. Go for loads of vegetables:
Another way to include water in your diet is to gorge on water-rich veggies. Start eating tomatoes, soups, salads and cucumbers during meals to reduce your overall calorie consumption.8. Don't eat by time, but by feeling the hunger:
Eating should be induced by actual hunger rather than boredom, nervousness, habit or frustration. So, the next time you plan on eating wait until your stomach is growling.9. Avoid white foods:
Chuck the white flour, white breads, white rice and sugar from your diet and indulge in plenty of whole grain breads and brown rice.10. Carry a notebook:
Do this for 10 days. Write down every single thing that you eat or drink - even water in your diary. By the end of ten days you'll know why you are putting on weight.-
Joy at work is not a matter of working in a lavish infrastructure, earningcountless $ and partying out every night.
JOY is a practice of being happy with what you are doing and more importantly for whom you are doing. People working in the Multinational companies, earning thousands of $ are not the happiest ones always.
Someone working in a smaller company with much lesser salary can be happier. Just remember the old days when you passed out from the college and landedup your first job?
The excitement of going to work could be seen bubbling out but as the time passed, things changed. Going to work became an obligation rather than an enjoyment.
Do you realise what changed in these few years?Here are some tips to help you regain that joy in your work:
1. Be realistic
We often have a habit of setting unrealistic goals for ourselves. We expect more than what we are capable of and when we are not able to meet our goals, depression seeps in and the work becomes a source of unhappiness rather than joy. See, if you also aimed to touch skies overnight. If yes, set S.M.A.R.T goals for yourself. SMART here means: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely.
2. Turn to the office with a right mindset
Enter your office with a positive mindset about your work, colleagues and employer. Bearing negative thoughts about your workplace will not only hamper your performance but will not let you like your work.
3. Maintain a good rapport with everyone at office
This is something said ad-nauseam times but not practiced very often. The best way to do is to maintain an open communication with your boss and colleagues. Practice small things like helping people wherever you can, pass a gentle smile as you see a colleague and you will see that you will always have some to help or advice you when needed.
4. Try to fix the problems rather than complaining.
Most of us have a habit of sitting and criticising things Rather than just discussing the problems around it will be a better idea to find a solution to them. This will not only create a healthy work atmosphere but also give you a sense of achievement.5. Focus on your KPAs
Many of us feel that we are doing a lot of work which is not recognised.This acts as a source of depression at work. The best way to come out of such a situation is to focus on your Key Performance Areas. If you do everything but your actual job, your performance will never be appreciated. So, see if you are doing the right things.6. Maintain transparency
If you are a boss or a senior person at your workplace, try to maintain transparency in the work culture. Well informed employees are easier to work with and will reduce your worries. Moreover, you will see that they will stand by you in the hour of need.
7. Celebrate success with juniors
Keep patting for the next batting. Celebrate success with the junior members of your team.
If they are happy and motivated, half of your worries will evaporate themselves. Also, such informal gatherings bring your team members closer and increase the compatibility quotient.
8. Accept new challenges and risks
A common feature of most of the happy professionals around. This will give you not only the joy of recognition but also a feeling of satisfaction. Identify new challenges and volunteer to handle them. If you are offered an opportunity to handle any new project which might be totally new for you, accept the challenge and do all that is required to make it successful.
9. Stay away from dirty politics
Dirty office politics will not let you do your actual job affecting your performance, will keep your colleagues away from you and won't let you think constructively. So, keep away from politics and blame game. If you have committed a mistake, accept it gracefully and learn to correct it.
10. Take a rejuvenating break from work
There will be times when even after practicing all the above mentioned things you will feel exhausted. This is an indication from your body that it needs rest. So, take a break and rejuvenate yourself for the next inning.
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1. He's superprotective of his gadgets.
"The main way that trysts are found out is through the discovery of incriminating e-mails, IM chats, cell phone texts or bills," says Belisa Vranich, PsyD, a clinical psychologist in New York City. So if he's being unfaithful, he may guard his gadgets or act really defensive when you innocently touch his phone or computer. It should be a giant red flag if he readily gave you passwords in the past, and now he's more evasive.
2. He steps up the grooming.
This is so obvious, but it's a sign many women miss: "If your man starts grooming more without you requesting it, that could be an indication that he's getting intimate with someone else," says Vranich. You can actually thank modern mass media for this tipoff. Guys today are used to viewing manscaped dudes onscreen, so if he has another chick to impress with his appearance, he may emulate those ultra-trimmed guys. Another clue: He's spending more time at the gym.
3. He smells different.
"When he comes home, if he doesn't smell the same as he did in the morning, and it isn't the scent of soap in the gym or at your home, it may be because he's showered at her place," offers Vranich. So pay attention, because in this case, that old saying "the nose knows" might very well be true.
4. Nothing fazes him anymore.
"If he was short-tempered before, a combination of added intimacy and attention could be making him way more relaxed, even downright giddy," Vranich says. Adds Mira Kirshenbaum, author of "When Good People Have Affairs: Inside the Hearts and Minds of People in Two Relationships": "If your guy is suddenly going around all happy and whistling, then you need to find out why." If your guy is suddenly going around all happy and whistling, then you need to find out why."
5. He becomes suspicious of you.
"If he's normally a mellow type, all of a sudden he may want to know where you are all the time and with whom," says Vranich. "It's the result of him realizing that if he's cheating and it's not that hard, you might also be getting away with it." Also, beware of extremely detailed responses to even your most innocent "How was work today?" queries. He may be preparing epic answers because he's terrified of getting caught
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Dear Husband,
Let me bop you on the head and remind you I exist. Yes, it was a while ago that I used to get five calls at the office.
And the times when we used to gossip about our day at work, our family, and dreamt dreams together.
We talked about where we can go on Sundays, what are the new restaurants and who can we call home for dinner.
Sure, there was excitement in setting up home together. Fun in choosing drapes, in setting up the kitchen, in finding the money and the right designs for the new furniture.
We could go any place, including where children below 18 years are not allowed. Agreed, it has been five years, twenty kg and two children ago. But, let me ask you to call home once in a while to talk to me. Instead of calling a friend to discuss something that has caught your attention, call me!
Instead of calling home to find out what your daughter has to say about her school picnic, whether your son has had his hair cut or merely to let me know whether you will be home for lunch, or not home for dinner, call for no reason at all.Let me remind you there are still dreams to be dreamt, holiday destinations unexplored, and new restaurants to check out. And there are conversations to be made beyond commercial break time and beyond whether I should heat up dinner.
Yes, now it is the kids that mob you as you walk in through the door. But let me remind you that they are not yet so big that you can't greet me over their heads. Let me remind you that soon the kids WILL be too big and then there will be only me.
No, I am not asking you to get out the candles and the roses out to romance me.
Your children will choose that moment to ask you to feed them/ change them/ swing them up in the air/ sit on your lap/ switch on the cartoon channel.
I know you care; you show it to me in many little ways and a few big ways too.
But do, once a day, TELL me that I am more than an ayah, housekeeper, teacher, doctor, laundrywalla, dinner-heater and mother.
With love,Your flat mateYour Wife
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When she walks away from you mad [ Follow her ] When she stares at your mouth [ Kiss her ]
When she pushes you or hits you [ Grab her and dont let go ]
When she starts cussing at you [ Kiss her and tell her you love her ]
When she's quiet [ Ask her what’s wrong ]
When she ignores you [ Give her your attention ]
When she pulls away [ Pull her back ]
When u see her at her worst [Tell her she's beautiful ] When you see her start crying [Just hold her and don’t say a word ]
When you see her walking [ Sneak up and hug her waist from behind ]
When she's scared [ Protect her ]
When she lays her head on your shoulder [ Tilt her head up and kiss her]
When she steals your favorite hat [ Let her keep it and sleep with it for a night]
When she teases you [ Tease her back and make her laugh ]
When she doesn’t answer for a long time [ reassure her that everything is okay ]
When she looks at you with doubt [ Back yourself up ]
When she says that she likes you [ she really does more than you could understand ]
When she grabs at your hands [ Hold her's and play with her fingers ]
When she bumps into you [ bump into her back and make her laugh ]
When she tells you a secret [ keep it safe and untold ]
When she looks at you in your eyes [ don’t look away until she does ]
When she misses you [she’s hurting inside]
When you break her heart [ the pain never really goes away ]
- Stay on the phone with her even if she’s not saying anything. -
When she's mad [ hug her tight and don't let go ]
When she says she's ok don’t believe it, [talk to her, because 10 yrs later she'll remember you]
- Call her at 12:00am on her birthday to tell her you love her
- Call her before you sleep and after you wake up
- Treat her like she's all that matters to you.
- Stay up all night with her when she's sick.
- Watch her favorite movie with her or her favorite show even if you think its stupid...
- Let her wear your clothes
- When she's bored and sad, hang out with her.
- Let her know she's important.
- Kiss her in the pouring rain. - Treat her this
Valentine's Day !-
There was a blind girl who hated
herself because she was blind.
She hated everyone,
except her loving boyfriend.
He was always there for her.
She told her boyfriend,
'If I could only see the world,
I will marry you.'
One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything,
including her boyfriend.
He asked her,'Now that you can see the world,
will you marry me?' The girl looked at her boyfriend
and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her.
She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them
the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.
Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her
saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before
they were yours, they were mine.'
This is how the human brain often works when our status changes.
Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who
was always by their side in the most painful situations.
Life Is a Gift
Today before you say an unkind word
- Think of someone who can't speak.
Before you complain about the taste of your food
- Think of someone who has nothing to eat.
Before you complain about your husband or wife
- Think of someonewho's crying out to GOD for a companion.
Today before you complain about life
- Think of someone who died too early
Before you complain about your children
- Think of someone who desires children but they're barren.
Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or
sweep
- Think of the people who are living in the streets.
Before whining about the distance you drive
-Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.
And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the
unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.
But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another
- Remember that not one of us is without sin.
And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down
- Put a smile on your face and think:
you're alive and still around.
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Symbols Associated with Valentines Day
Hearts:
To a beloved, there is no symbol as important as the heart. To give someone one's heart means to give to him or her one's whole being, for the heart is at the center of one's existence.
The heart stands for the most profound and noblest of human emotions - that of love. Through ages, it has inspired millions to rise above the mundane cares and to get lost in the thought of their beloved.
Thus a heart, pierced by the cupid's arrow, has become the most famous of the valentine's symbols.
Roses:
'Oh, my love is a red, red rose' ~ Poets and scholars have likened the beauty of their sweethearts to that of roses. Roses as the queen of flowers symbolize both peace and war, love and forgiveness.
Valentine's Day is a time to send flowers and gifts to your loved ones but beware! Some of these beautiful messengers may transmit wrong messages.Take the most common flowers, roses for instance.
There are formal meanings of different coloured roses in some cultures. Each of these meanings is still used in society today, so they are still valid.
Love Knot:
Young women in strict Muslim households used to send their pledges of love to young men through messages woven through the knots of a carpet in an Arab tradition.
This tradition of sending messages through the knots gave birth to the concept of love knots that continues to this day.
Love Birds and Doves:
It was believed that on this romantic day, birds found their mates. This belief is still cherished by love struck people all over the world.
The sweet little blue coloured lovebirds have come to signify that belief. It is said that the lovebirds can't live without their mates.
Dove, in the Christian belief signifies purity, meekness and innocence. Hence, these two birds have become the most endearing symbols of the spirit of valentine day.
Cupids:
Cupid, the mischievous son of the Goddess of Love, Venus, and is supposedly responsible for people falling in love. According to the myths, anyone being hit by the Cupids arrow falls in love with the first person he sees.
His mischievous intentions have led to some entertaining situations in various legends. Cupid in the Roman mythology has Eros the son of Aphrodite, as his counterpart in the Greek Myths. The names of both these Gods are used synonymously with the concept of love today.
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The First Secret: The power of Love. Love begins with our thoughts. We become what we think. Loving thoughts create loving experiences and loving relationships. Affirmations can change our beliefs and thoughts about ourselves and others. If we want to love someone, we need to consider their needs and desires. Thinking about your ideal partner will help recognize him or her when you meet.
The Second Secret: The power of Respect. You cannot love anyone or anything unless you first respect them. The first person you need to respect is yourself. To begin to gain self-respect ask yourself, "What do I respect about myself? " To gain respect for others, even those you may dislike, ask yourself, "What do I respect about them?"
The Third Secret: The power of Giving. If you want to receive love, all you have to do is give it! The more love you give, the more you will receive. To love is to give of yourself, freely and unconditionally. Practice random acts of kindness. The secret formula of a happy, lifelong relationship is to always focus on what you can give instead of you can take.
The Fourth Secret: The power of Friendship. To find true love you must first find a true friend. To love someone completely you must love them for who they are not what they look like. Friendship is the soil through which love's seeds grow. If you want to bring love into a relationship, you must first bring friendship.
The Fifth Secret: The power of Touch. Touch is one of the most powerful expressions of love, breaking down barriers and bonding relationships. Touch changes our physical and emotional states andmakes us more receptive to love.
The Sixth Secret: The power of Letting go. If you love something, let it be free. Even in a loving relationship, people need their space. If we want to learn to love, we must first learn to forgive and let go of past hurts and grievances. Love means letting go of our fears, prejudices, egos and conditions.
The Seventh Secret: The power of Communication. To love someone is to communicate with them. Let the people you love know; that you love and appreciate them. Never be afraid to say, "I love you." Never let an opportunity pass to praise and acknowledge someone. Always leave someone you love with a loving word ... it could be the last time you see them.
The Eighth Secret: The power of Commitment. If you want to have love in abundance, you must be committed to it. Commitment is the true test of love. If you want to have loving relationships, you must be committed to loving relationships. When you are committed to someone or something, quitting is never an option. Commitment distinguishes a fragile relationship from a strong, loving one.
The Ninth Secret: The power of Passion. Passion ignites love and keeps it alive. Lasting passion does not come through physical attraction alone. It comes from deep commitment, enthusiasm, interest and excitement. The essence of love and happiness are the same, all we need to do is to live each day with passion.
The Tenth Secret: The power of Trust. You cannot love someone completely unless you trust them completely. Act as if your relationship with the person you love will never end. Trust is essential in all loving relationships. Trust yourself, trust others and trust the world. It is the foundation for LOVE.
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