IT IS THE LITTLE THINGS THAT MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

There was a man taking a morning walk at or the beach. He saw that along with the morning tide came hundreds of starfish and when the tide receded, they were left behind and with the morning sun rays and they would die.

The tide was fresh and the starfish were alive. The man took a few steps, picked one and threw it into the water. He did that repeatedly. Right behind him there was another person who couldn't understand what this man was doing. He caught up with him and asked, "What are you doing? There are hundreds of starfish. How many can you help? What difference does it make?" This man did not reply, took two more steps, picked up another one, threw it into the water, and said, "It makes a difference to this one."

What difference are we making? Big or small, it does not matter. If everyone made a small difference, we’d end up with a big difference, wouldn’t we? Let's start telling our stories and allow the world we live in to change. I just did. 

Picture/s resource: myspace.com

 

GO ON AND LAUGH!!!

A newlywed couple moves into their new house. One day the husband comes home from work and his wife says, "Honey, you know, in the upstairs bathroom one of the pipes is leaking, could you fix it?" The husband says, "What do I look like, Mr. Plumber?"

A few days go by, and he comes home from work and his wife says, "Honey, the car won't start. I think it needs a new battery. Could you change it for me?" He says: "What do I look like, Mr. Goodwrench?"

Another few days go by, and it's raining pretty hard. The wife finds a leak in the roof. She says, "Honey, there's a leak on the roof! Can you please fix it?" He says, "What do I look like, Bob Vila?"

The next day the husband comes home, and the roof is fixed. So is the plumbing. So is the car. He asks his wife what happened. "Oh, I had a handyman come in and fix them," she says. "Great! How much is that going to cost me?" he snarls. Wife says: "Nothing. He said he'd do it for free if I either baked him a cake or slept with him." "Uh, well, what kind of cake did you make?" asks the husband. "What do I look like," she says, "A BAKER?"

Picture resource: dailyrepublic.com

IT IS A POOR IDEA TO LIE TO YOURSELF

There are lots of reasons that could motivate people to tell lies. Even though each reason might be different than the other still all of them stem from one root cause which is being unable to bear the consequences of telling the truth.

Lack of courage, lack of problem-solving skills & lack of the ability to properly handle unexpected events may make escaping from a situation a much better option than facing it.

Everybody lies. It may only be “white” lies, but everyone tells lies or “omits the truth” sometimes. We start lying at around age 4 to 5 when children gain an awareness of the use and power of language.

If the person values honesty or if he is religiously observant then he may try to escape the situation without lying but if lying is an option then it will definitely be considered the easier way out.

Consequently, lying is the combination of being unable to face the results of honesty and the lack of proper values (the tolerance of lying).

Do people lie to themselves on purpose? No they don’t. They just lie to themselves on intention in the beginning and they keep repeating the lie to everyone until they eventually believe it!!

Don't be surprised; the subconscious mind can be programmed by repetition , that’s why people end up believing their lies after repeating the story over and over.

Picture resource: harvardichthus.org

THE MECHANIC AND THE SURGEON STORY – PERCEPTIONS

A heart surgeon took his car to his local garage for a regular service, where he usually exchanged a little friendly banter with the owner, a skilled but not especially wealthy mechanic.

"So tell me," says the mechanic, "I've been wondering about what we both do for a living, and how much more you get paid than me...”

"Yes?" says the surgeon.

"Well look at this," says the mechanic, as he worked on a big complicated engine, "I check how it's running, open it up, fix the valves, and put it all back together so it works good as new.. We basically do the same job don't we? And yet you are paid ten times what I am, how do you explain that?"

The surgeon thought for a moment, and smiling gently, replied, "Try it with the engine running.”

 Picture recourse: http://www.ryanandcalder.co.uk/Staff/

Picture recourse: maxgrace.com

GO ON AND LAUGH!!!!!!!!

Regis: "Barbara, you've done very well so far - R500, 000 and one lifeline left -- phone a friend.

The next question will give you the top prize of One Million dollars if you get it right ... but if you get it wrong you will drop back to R32, 000 -- are you ready?"

Barbara: "Sure, I'll have a go!"

Regis: "Which of the following birds does not build it's own nest?

Is it........

A- Robin

B- Sparrow

C- Cuckoo

D- Thrush

Remember Barbara its worth 1 Million rand."

"I think I know who it..but I'm not 100%...

No, I haven't got a clue. I'd like to phone a friend Regis, just to be sure.

Regis: "Yes, who, Barbara, do you want to phone?

Barbara: "I'll phone my friend Maggie back home in Birmingham."

(ringing)

Maggie (also a blonde): "Hello..."

Regis: "Hello Maggie, its Regis here from Who Wants to be a Millionaire-I have Barbara here and she is doing really well on R500,000, but needs your help to be a Million rand.

The next voice you hear will be Barbara's and she'll read you the question.

There are 4 possible answers and 1 correct answer and you have 30 seconds to answer -- fire away Barbara."

Barbara: "Maggie, which of the following birds does not build it's own nest? Is it:

A- Robin

B- Sparrow

C- Cuckoo

D- Thrush"

Maggie: "Oh Gees, Barbara that's simple.....It's a Cuckoo."

Barbara: "You think?"

Maggie: "I'm sure."

Barbara: “Thanks Maggie." (hangs up)

Regis: "Well, do you want to stick on R500, 000 or play on for the Million, Barbara?"

Barbara: "I want to play, I'll go with C-Cuckoo"

Regis: "Is that your final answer?"

Barbara: "It is."

Regis: "Are you confident?"

Barbara: "Yes fairly, Maggie's a sound bet."

Regis: "Barbara.....you had R500, 000 and you said C-Cuckoo ...you're right! - You have just won ONE MILLION Rand.

Here is your check. You have been a great contestant and a real gambler. Audience please put your hands together for Barbara."

(clapping)

That night Barbara calls round to Maggie and brings her down to a local bar for a celebration drink and, as they are sipping their Champagne, Barbara turns to Maggie and asks "Tell me Maggie, How in God's name did you know that it was the Cuckoo that does not build its own nest?

Maggie: "Listen Barbara, everybody knows that a Cuckoo lives in a clock."

Picture resource: bestfreeicons.com

THE SOUND OF ONE HAND CLAPPING

There are times in our lives when things are completely out of control and you feel lost in the dark. It just seems that there is no way out and you cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. Have hope, can you hear the sound of one hand clapping in the distance. It beckons you to the sound of hope.

 Let people help you, this is a lifeline that is extended to you, grab it. Sometimes you really can’t help yourself. That’s when it’s time to rely on the kindness of your fellow man. Find a friend, relative, therapist, counselor, co-worker, or anyone you trust with your situation and ask them for help. Chances are they won’t say no, and even if they did, you can just move on to someone else. People who love you and care about you will help you if you tell them what’s wrong and ask for their help. Even if they can’t offer much in the way of advice, sometimes just telling someone about your situation is enough to lift you back towards the light. You may also be able to find a support group full of people who have conquered your problem and are there to support others seeking their way back from the brink. Whatever you do, reach out. Don’t sit in the darkness alone; follow the sound until you see the light.

Picture resource:shutterstock.com

NOT ALL WHO WANDER ARE LOST

If there is anything about which we feel sure, it is that the world we experience is real. We can see, touch and hear it. We can lift heavy and solid objects; hurt ourselves, if we're not careful, against their unyielding immobility. It seems undeniable that out there, around us, independent and apart from us, stands a physical world, utterly real, solid and tangible.

But all is not what it seems. First, the apparently solid table in front me is, it turns out, far from solid. And secondly, we assume that we are directly experiencing the world around; that the colours we see and the sounds we hear are there, around us, just as we experience them. We see the effects of wind but do we see it?

All that I see, hear, taste, touch, smell and feel has been created from the data fed to me by my sensory organs. All I ever know of the world around are the images produced in the mind. I think I am seeing the tree "out there", in the world around me. But all that I am actually experiencing is the image created in the mind.

This simple fact is very hard to grasp. It runs totally counter to all our experiences. There seems nothing more certain than the fact that I am seeing the world as it is, around me. But however nonsensical it may sound, this is the conclusion we are forced to make.

Picture resource: actualizink.typepad.com

HOW DO YOU STEP FROM THE TOP OF A 100-FOOT POLE?

We need to change the way we look at life and for some of us, our viewpoint. Problems in today’s life are unavoidable. We each face our own cross we need to be carry. The problem is, when we face these challenges, do we look at the glass half full or half empty?

 I personally like peace; problems disturb my equilibrium and cause me to experience anxiety, fear and worry. All of the latter are not going to add to my life another day, hour or minute. I can hear many of you saying, but you don’t know how deep I am or I cannot continue like this, “It’s just too much to bear”.

 Nature teaches us so many things, after every night a morning must come. In winter we experience longer nights, but a morning must come. There are seasons and if we experience a winter now, take heart summer must come.

Problems won’t always be there, it has an expiry date. So how will you step from this 100-foot pole, look at your situation and remember that it will not be staying permanently.

          
Picture resource:wallpapers.free-review.net

WHEN I GROW UP I WANT TO BE LIKE MY DAD

I came across this while searching for a document on our home pc and thought that I would like to share this with you. Sometimes as parents we doubt whether we are doing the parental part right. Clearly I am doing something correct and therefore so proud of my son, Nathaniel. The following is an un-edited version of what he wrote.  

When I grow up I want to be like my Dad, because he’s so hard working and always puts his family first. He’s humble and never thinks he’s better than others. He disciplines us and puts us on the right path. He teachers us good manners and laughs at our jokes. He teachers my sister and I well. My father puts food on the table and keeps our tummies full. He speaks the same way to anyone, rich or poor. He’s kind, loving, caring and takes us to hotels a lot. That’s why I want to be like my daddy.  He’s always buying us stuff like toys, sweets, candy and chips.   He never thinks about himself and lays next tome and prays with me. He kisses me and says, “good night my son.”My dad treats my mom with dignity and respect and buys her gifts and surprises her. He really loves her. These are the reasons why I’d like to be like my DAD.

Picture resource: Keith Edwards

Julius Malema , good leader or not? YOU BE THE JUDGE.

Leadership is a hot topic currently. An online search found 22 million website listings for the word "leadership." Why? Because good leadership gets things done. The quality of leadership determines the difference between a team passionate about what they're doing versus one that is following orders.

 

Leadership is essential to getting things done. But the qualities of good leaders, self-knowledge, commitment, willingness to look to others for support, being open to change and a desire to go the extra mile, can determine whether anyone chooses to follow.

A leader is someone who helps others do and become more than they ever thought possible. Leadership is about unlocking potential, whether individual potential or that of a group, company, or organization. It is not about telling people what to do, but inspiring them to see what they are capable of then helping them get there.

"We need to be clear about our own values, priorities, and preferences and not let someone else, or society, define them for us," said Marian Ruderman, a group director at the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, North Carolina. "By clearly identifying those values, priorities, and preferences we can articulate what we want, develop benchmarks, and make better choices."

An effective leader is not afraid to take on responsibilities. Sometimes it requires putting the organization or group first and keeping it there.

 In his article, "Seven Habits of Spectacularly Unsuccessful Executives," which appeared in Fast Company magazine in July 2003, Sydney Finkelstein chronicles the characteristics of leaders who fail, not just ineffective leaders but those who have reversed the fortunes of thriving corporations. Which bad leaders placed high on this notorious list? According to Mr. Finkelstein, it's those individuals who think they have all the answers.

Believing that an effective leader is one who knows it all is one of the most dangerous misconceptions about leadership. Human frailty comes into play whether sitting in a cubicle or a corner office. So while the ultimate decision and responsibility may lie with one individual, it is incumbent upon her or him to gather information and trust others' points of view before developing a plan of action.

So judging from some of the above qualities, what do you think?

Picture resource: africa.ibtimes.com

 

WOMAN CAN’T YOU STOP NAGGING? DID YOU PICK UP THE TRASH HONEY?

We are so different and yet I think that many of us do not understand the differences between male and female. Is it that we just tolerate each other?

Men love to have their abilities recognized and appreciated, and hate to have them scorned or ignored on the other hand, women love to have their feelings recognized and appreciated. They feel rejected when ignored. Men don't rate feelings highly as in their view they can result in wildly unstable behaviour they is misunderstood. Women don't rate abilities highly as in their view they can result in coldly dispassionate, aggressively competitive behaviour.

Men like to work on their own, and exercise their abilities by solving problems quickly and singlehandedly while women like to co-operate, and exercise their feelings through interactive communication with one another. Men value solutions, and view unsolicited assistance as undermining their effort to solve problems alone. Women value assistance and view unsolicited solutions as undermining their effort to proceed interactively. Men desire that their solutions will be appreciated while women desire that their assistance will be appreciated.

The above scenario might not include all, but certainly that difference is there. The question is how will we learn to understand and appreciate it?

Picture resource: amykennard.blogspot.com