Lovely story.. Before we start my question to all of you is: Would you have made the same choice?
At a fund-raising dinner for a school that serves learning disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question "When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?" The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued. "I believe that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes, in the way other people treat that child." Then he told the following story: Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?" Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps. Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play, not expecting much! The boy looked around for guidance and a few boys nodded approval, why not? So he took matters into his own hands and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning." Shay struggled over to the team's bench put on a team shirt with a broad smile and his father had a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted. of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?
Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible 'cause Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing the other team putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least be able to make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over, but the pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the head of the first baseman, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!" Never in his life had Shay ever ran that far but made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!" Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to second base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball, the smallest guy on their team, who had a chance to be the hero for his team for the first time. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions and he too intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.
All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay" Shay reached third base, the opposing shortstop ran to help him and turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third! Shay, run to third" As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams and those watching were on their feet were screaming, Shay, run home!" Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the "grand slam" and won the game for his team. That day," said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world." Shay didn't make it to another summer and died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his father so happy and coming home and seeing his mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you're probably sorting out the people on your address list that aren't the appropriate ones to receive this type of message. Well, the person who wrote this believes that we all can make a difference. We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the natural order of things." So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice: Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up that opportunity, leaving it and making the world a little colder in the process?
A wise man once said "every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them".
received via email
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
The Hospital Window
A great note for all to read it will take just 37 seconds to read this and change your thinking
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.
Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.
The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.
Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days and weeks passed.
One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.
He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.
It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window
The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
She said, 'Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.'
Epilogue:
There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.
Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.
If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.
'Today is a gift, that's why it is called the present.'
The origin of this letter is unknown, but it brings continued blessings to everyone who passes it on.
Just forward it to your friends to whom you wish blessings.
received by email
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.
Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.
The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.
Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days and weeks passed.
One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.
He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.
It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window
The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
She said, 'Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.'
Epilogue:
There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.
Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.
If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.
'Today is a gift, that's why it is called the present.'
The origin of this letter is unknown, but it brings continued blessings to everyone who passes it on.
Just forward it to your friends to whom you wish blessings.
received by email
THE BRICK
A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed downwhen he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door!
He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, 'What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money Why did you do it?' The young boy was apologetic. 'Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do,' He pleaded. 'I threw the brick because no one else would stop...' With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. 'It's my brother, 'he said 'He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up.'
Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, 'Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me.' Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. 'Thank you and may God bless you,' the grateful child told the stranger. Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy! push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: 'Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!' God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.
Thought for the Day:
If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
He sends you flowers every spring.
He sends you a sunrise every morning Face it, friend - He is crazy about you!
Send this to every 'beautiful person' you wish to bless.
God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.
Read this line very slowly and let it sink in...
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
received by email
He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, 'What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money Why did you do it?' The young boy was apologetic. 'Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do,' He pleaded. 'I threw the brick because no one else would stop...' With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. 'It's my brother, 'he said 'He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up.'
Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, 'Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me.' Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. 'Thank you and may God bless you,' the grateful child told the stranger. Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy! push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: 'Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!' God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.
Thought for the Day:
If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
He sends you flowers every spring.
He sends you a sunrise every morning Face it, friend - He is crazy about you!
Send this to every 'beautiful person' you wish to bless.
God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.
Read this line very slowly and let it sink in...
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
received by email
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Listen to your Heart...
Here are few examples of famous successful men who have made a mark by listening to their hearts, by not giving up, by working hard day in and day out, by keeping their goals in sight. They had vision and they didn’t hesitate in pursuing their dreams. They trusted their heart and their capability. All you need to be successful in life is right aptitude, attitude, vision and determination.
Bill Gates
William Henry Gates III attended an exclusive prep school in Seattle. He later went to Harvard University and dropped out to take up Software Development. While studying, in 1970, he and Paul Allen wrote the original Altair BASIC interpreter for MITS Altair 8800, first commercially successful PC. In 1975 Micro-soft and later Microsoft Corporation was founded. He has been number one on Forbes 400 for over a dozen years and most important of all he is sharing his success with others for a noble cause; Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation currently provides 90% of world’s budget for eradication of polio.
Dhirubhai Ambani
At the age of 16 he moved to Aden, initially he worked as an attendant at gas station and later as a clerk in an oil company. He started his business at the age of 26 with a meager capital of $375 and today we all can see where Reliance stands. He was awarded with Indian entrepreneur of 20th century by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. He moved from Rags-to-Riches. He rewrote the Indian Corporate history and single-handedly breathed life into the Indian Stock Market.
Steve Jobs
After graduating Steve Paul Jobs enrolled in Reed College and he dropped out after one semester. In 1976, 21 years old Jobs and 26 years old Steve Wozniak founded Apple Computer Co. in a garage. Jobs popularized the concept of home computers. By 1984, Macintosh was introduced; he contributed in the building of world-wide-web and is CEO and Chairman of Pixar Animation Studios. With the success of iPOD, Apple is bigger than ever. Very few people know that for several years he worked at annual salary of $1.00 and so he is listed in the Guinness Book of world Records as “Lowest paid Chief Executive Officer”. Though, he was once gifted $9 crores jet by the company. His net worth is more than $3 billion.
Michael Dell
Michael Saul Dell joined university of Texas at Austin with intention of becoming a Physician. While still studying, he started a company called PC’s Limited in his dormitory. Success of this company was good enough to prompt Dell to dropout at the age of 19. In 1987 PC’s Limited became Dell Computer Corporation. In 2005, Forbes listed him as 18th richest in the world with a net worth of around $1600 crores.
Subhash Chandra Goel
The ZEE Chairman dropped out after standard 12. At the age of 19 he started his own vegetable oils unit. A casual visit to his friend at Doordarshan gave him idea of starting his Broadcasting Company, and we all know ZEE became a huge success for the man. He knew nothing about programming, distribution or film rights but he very thoroughly understood the Indian sensibility. Funded by a UK businessman ZEE became first satellite channel in India and today it reaches 320 lakhs homes with 20 crore people in South-east Asia alone. It also covers Asians in Africa, America, Europe, Australia and Middle-east.
These guys dared to listen to their hearts and follow their dreams; they worked hard to succeed and results are in right front of us. Though above are the examples of college dropouts who went on to become millionaires, what we don’t know is that though many dropped out only few went on to succeed. This article is just to tell you to pursue your dreams but be sensible in the steps you take.
Bill Gates
William Henry Gates III attended an exclusive prep school in Seattle. He later went to Harvard University and dropped out to take up Software Development. While studying, in 1970, he and Paul Allen wrote the original Altair BASIC interpreter for MITS Altair 8800, first commercially successful PC. In 1975 Micro-soft and later Microsoft Corporation was founded. He has been number one on Forbes 400 for over a dozen years and most important of all he is sharing his success with others for a noble cause; Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation currently provides 90% of world’s budget for eradication of polio.
Dhirubhai Ambani
At the age of 16 he moved to Aden, initially he worked as an attendant at gas station and later as a clerk in an oil company. He started his business at the age of 26 with a meager capital of $375 and today we all can see where Reliance stands. He was awarded with Indian entrepreneur of 20th century by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. He moved from Rags-to-Riches. He rewrote the Indian Corporate history and single-handedly breathed life into the Indian Stock Market.
Steve Jobs
After graduating Steve Paul Jobs enrolled in Reed College and he dropped out after one semester. In 1976, 21 years old Jobs and 26 years old Steve Wozniak founded Apple Computer Co. in a garage. Jobs popularized the concept of home computers. By 1984, Macintosh was introduced; he contributed in the building of world-wide-web and is CEO and Chairman of Pixar Animation Studios. With the success of iPOD, Apple is bigger than ever. Very few people know that for several years he worked at annual salary of $1.00 and so he is listed in the Guinness Book of world Records as “Lowest paid Chief Executive Officer”. Though, he was once gifted $9 crores jet by the company. His net worth is more than $3 billion.
Michael Dell
Michael Saul Dell joined university of Texas at Austin with intention of becoming a Physician. While still studying, he started a company called PC’s Limited in his dormitory. Success of this company was good enough to prompt Dell to dropout at the age of 19. In 1987 PC’s Limited became Dell Computer Corporation. In 2005, Forbes listed him as 18th richest in the world with a net worth of around $1600 crores.
Subhash Chandra Goel
The ZEE Chairman dropped out after standard 12. At the age of 19 he started his own vegetable oils unit. A casual visit to his friend at Doordarshan gave him idea of starting his Broadcasting Company, and we all know ZEE became a huge success for the man. He knew nothing about programming, distribution or film rights but he very thoroughly understood the Indian sensibility. Funded by a UK businessman ZEE became first satellite channel in India and today it reaches 320 lakhs homes with 20 crore people in South-east Asia alone. It also covers Asians in Africa, America, Europe, Australia and Middle-east.
These guys dared to listen to their hearts and follow their dreams; they worked hard to succeed and results are in right front of us. Though above are the examples of college dropouts who went on to become millionaires, what we don’t know is that though many dropped out only few went on to succeed. This article is just to tell you to pursue your dreams but be sensible in the steps you take.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Life is Fair...
One of the things Maria Shriver mentions in her book “Ten Things I Wish I Had Known Before Going Into The Real World” is that life isn’t fair…
We see around us, many times the bad guy wins, a very good person dies early, a corrupt politician wins the election and lives a very long life though he indulged in dirty politics which never did any good to anyone, some people work very hard and still don’t get the returns they deserve. So it seems “life isn’t fair”.
But actually life is fair. It seems unfair because we always look at it from the same angle. You would say the bad guy won, but how can you be sure that he is bad? Maybe he isn’t bad and you don’t know him completely or maybe the win was an invitation to new problems for him. You don’t know the inside story.
As far as the corrupt politician is concerned you only know about his professional life, you know him only through what media wrote about him or what you heard from others. His family life might be on rocks. He might be having all possible differences with his near and dear ones and believe me nothing is worse than that. His long life is a curse for him.
I just gave two examples to you. If you observe carefully, the lives of your family and friends around you, you will surely find many such examples which will prove that life isn’t unfair. So don’t ever be evil.
Life is fair…
We see around us, many times the bad guy wins, a very good person dies early, a corrupt politician wins the election and lives a very long life though he indulged in dirty politics which never did any good to anyone, some people work very hard and still don’t get the returns they deserve. So it seems “life isn’t fair”.
But actually life is fair. It seems unfair because we always look at it from the same angle. You would say the bad guy won, but how can you be sure that he is bad? Maybe he isn’t bad and you don’t know him completely or maybe the win was an invitation to new problems for him. You don’t know the inside story.
As far as the corrupt politician is concerned you only know about his professional life, you know him only through what media wrote about him or what you heard from others. His family life might be on rocks. He might be having all possible differences with his near and dear ones and believe me nothing is worse than that. His long life is a curse for him.
I just gave two examples to you. If you observe carefully, the lives of your family and friends around you, you will surely find many such examples which will prove that life isn’t unfair. So don’t ever be evil.
Life is fair…
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