Question: What is the best advice your mother ever gave you?

Answer By Jonathan Pettit

I was about ten. My mom had just finished creating one of her amazing meals, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Delicious. Later, as I was washing the dishes, my mom came up to me. “Sorry, dinner was so awful again,” she said.

I was shocked. “What? No, it was great. I loved it.”

“Really?” she said, with mock surprise. “You always eat so quietly, never saying anything. You’ve never told me you liked my cooking, so I thought you hated it.”

“No, you’re the best cook I know.”

“Then you should tell me that,” she said. “Whenever someone does something nice for you, you should thank that person. If you don’t, then she might think she’s not appreciated and stop doing those nice things.”

Something clicked right then. From that day onward, I thanked everyone for literally everything. If anyone did something that even vaguely helped me, I thanked that person profusely. It became a habit, something I didn’t even think about, and that’s when the magic started happening.

People liked me more. They talked to me more, shared with me, were more friendly. In my first year of high school, during the final week, I came home and found a giant freezie (a kind of sweet frozen snack) waiting for me. “Thanks, mom!” I said instinctively.

“This isn’t from me, she said. “This is from your bus driver.” He had been driving that bus for years, and my siblings and I were the first people to ever thank him as we got dropped off. Those two simple words made a huge difference, so much so that he went out of his way to tell our mom and give us a present.

That’s the power of appreciation. When you have it, all is right in the world, but when it’s missing life is empty. My mom taught me many things, but taking two seconds to say ‘thank you’ every time, in any situation, was the best.

*Debriefing of this Story*

You would have met people who call themselves as good critics but have you ever met a person who says I am good at appreciating others? Isn't that a sad part of our society?

Let's start appreciating people more frequently especially people who are close to us. 

*"The sweetest of all sounds is praise"*

Have a great day !!!!

think of your life. 60+

“BITTER TRUTH”

IN CASE YOU ARE ALREADY A SENIOR CITIZEN ONE SANE ADVISE TO ALL OF YOU MY DEAR FRIENDS …

“LIVE RICH AND DO NOT DIE RICH”

*MOST OF THE INDIAN SENIOR CITIZENS DIE RICH.*

*~ The younger generation is moving away from real estate, whereas the seniors are still engrossed emotionally in real estate.* 

The seniors have built houses not only for themselves but also for their children, and even for those who have settled abroad or outside the home State.

*The next generation is least interested in these houses.They have no time to look at these properties.  The next generation is very asset light.*

 One such senior citizen died at the age of eighty-five. His wife had already passed away.  One son lives in London and the other in New Zealand.They have the nationality of those countries. Neither was interested in the house his father had built.The father had written a will to give all the property equally to both the children.The sons did not have time to get all the property in their names and then sell it.Both of them made a power of attorney in someone's name.Thus, all the proceeds from the sale of the property were sent to their home country.

 *~ Our second traditional investment is in gold and silver items.*

 Investing in gold and silver is often very emotional.

This is done in the form of ornaments for daughters-in-law or for grandchildren, instead of buying pure gold.

 The new generation often does not like old fashioned jewellery items.As such, they are broken down into new designs.It goes back and forth.

*The new generation prefers to wear fake rather than genuine jewelery as they do not want to take risks*.

 In other countries, gold is kept in pure form as an investment and a very little quantity in jewellery items.

 *~ The third emotional investment is children's higher education.*

Occasionally, senior  citizens take out loans for their children's higher education by cutting down on their hobbies/needs.When the children get jobs, they pay off debts but in some cases  the parents have to repay these loans.

 Going beyond this, some seniors are investing in Ayurvima policies or other investments to facilitate education for their grandchildren.

 *Taking out a loan for children's education is understandable but why to invest in grandchildren's education now*, especially  when your children have already started investing in SIPs for their children's education etc.

 *How is our mindset? We don’t want to ask financial help from our married children. But taking care of grandchildren is our responsibility!* Thinking of own children throughout their life and again thinking of grandchildren in old age.!!! 

*Your lifespan is increasing.  Your costs are rising.Think about it.Do not forget your own pleasure in thinking of others.Live life for yourself.*

 It is rightly said that *Most of the Indians spend miserly all their lives and make the next generation rich.*

 *So, If You are 60+ Live Your Life Well, Spend on Your Hobbies and Fulfill Your Wish List, so that You Live Rich and  Don't Just Die Rich  !!!!!*

        ----------X----------

99%  true in the case of Indian parents who are 60+

Dad - Achan - Pappa - Appa

When you no longer listen or care what I say. I’m still your Dad. 

When you decide I’m old fashioned and want to go your own way. I’m still your Dad. 

When you talk back, complain and argue. I’m still your Dad. 

When you figure you know more than I do. I’m still your Dad. 

When you move away and take a piece of my heart with you. I’m still your Dad. 

I will love you still as much as the first day I held you in my arms. I’m still your Dad. 

I will pray for you and make sure your wings are strong enough to soar. I’m still your Dad. 

I’ll want what’s best and will sacrifice my plans for yours. I’m still your Dad. 

I’ll always have room for you and a hug to welcome you. I’m still your Dad. 

Until my last breath, I’ll keep carrying your love with me. And I will thank God every day for the privilege and joy it’s been to be called — your Dad.

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Originally recd via WhatsApp, source and credits unknown.

Omen Envelope aka Shagun Ka Lifafa!

On an auspicious occasion like a Birthday, Engagement or Marriage, sometimes we prefer giving a "शगुन का लिफाफा" instead of a gift item. But the money we put in the envelope is never like Rs. 100, 500 or 1000; but it is always Rs. 101, 501 or 1001.

Have you ever thought why we add that extra one rupee in the शगुन का लिफाफा 🤔 ? Well, there are four age-old reasons for doing that:

1. "Zero" signifies an end, while "One" signifies a new beginning. That extra one rupee ensures that the receiver does not come across a zero.

2. Mathematically, the numbers 100, 500 and 1000 are divisible, but the numbers 101, 501 and 1001 are indivisible. शगुन is a blessing, and we simply want our good wishes and blessings to remain indivisible.

3. The added one rupee is a symbol of continuity, ahead of the basic amount. It strengthens the bond between the giver and the receiver. It simply means, "Our good relationship will continue". 

4.  However, the added rupee must be a coin, and never a one rupee note. A coin is made of metal, which comes from Mother Earth 🌍 and it is considered to be an अंश or a part of Goddess Lakshmi. While the bigger amount is donation, the one rupee coin is the "seed" for further growth of that amount. Your good wishes and blessings are for the better life growth in either cash, kind or karma.

Dhamo rakshati rakshita:

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

just for fun.

Two little boys stole a load of apples from a neighbours apple tree. They decided to go to a quiet place to share the lot equally.

One of them suggested the nearby cemetery.

As they were jumping over the gate to enter the cemetery, they dropped two apples, but they didn't bother to pick them since they had enough.

A few minutes later, a drunk, on his way from a bar, passed near the cemetery gate & heard a voice saying: "One for me, one for you. One for me, one for you. One for me, one for you."

He immediately sobered up & ran as fast as he could to a church nearby, for the priest.

"Father, please come with me. Come & witness God & Satan sharing corpses at the cemetery.”

They both ran back to the cemetery gate & the voice continued: "One for me, one for you. One for me, one for you. One for me, one for you."

Suddenly, the voice stopped counting & said: "What about the two at the gate?"

You've never seen 2 people running so fast!

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Source and Credits Unknown.

Got via WhatsApp share.

Inspiration..

*_🍃 INSPIRE 🍃_*

*_▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬_*

*_എങ്ങനെ ജീവിക്കണമെന്ന് ഓരോരുത്തർക്കും തീരുമാനിക്കാം....,_*

*_▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬_*

_ആദികാവ്യമായ രാമായണത്തിന്റെ ആദ്യവരികൾ ഏതാനും ചോദ്യങ്ങളാണ്.......,_

_സർവജ്ഞനായ നാരദരോട് വാല്മീകിയുടെ ചോദ്യങ്ങൾ......._

_ഈ ലോകത്ത് ഗുണവാനാരാണ്...?_ _ധർമ്മജ്ഞനും കൃതജ്ഞനും സത്യവാക്കും ആര് ? ഉറച്ച തീരുമാനമെടുക്കുന്നതാര് ? നല്ലവണ്ണം പെരുമാറുന്നതാര് ? എല്ലാ ജീവജാലങ്ങള്‍ക്കും വിദ്വാനാര് ? സമർത്ഥനാര് ? പ്രിയദർശനനാര് ? ക്രോധത്തെ ജയിച്ചവനാര് ? ചോദ്യങ്ങളങ്ങനെ നീളുന്നു...._

*_ആദർശപുരുഷനാര് എന്നതാണ് അന്വേഷണം.......,_*

*_ഉത്തരത്തിനല്ല നാം പ്രാധാന്യം കല്പിക്കേണ്ടത്. നല്ല മനുഷ്യന് വേണ്ട ഗുണങ്ങൾ എണ്ണിയെണ്ണി സൂചിപ്പിക്കുകയാണ് ആദികവി......,_*

*_വലിയ ബുദ്ധിമാന്മാരും പ്രതിഭാശാലികളും ധാരാളമുണ്ടായിരിക്കാം. പക്ഷേ അവർക്കെല്ലാം നന്മനിറഞ്ഞ മനസ്സുണ്ടോയെന്ന എന്നതാണ് കാര്യം.....,_*

*_പ്രതിഭ തെല്ല് കുറഞ്ഞാലും മനുഷ്യത്വം ഏറി നിന്നാൽ സമൂഹത്തിന് നന്ന്....._*

*_നല്ല മനുഷ്യർ അന്യരിലെ നന്മയും പുറത്തുകൊണ്ടുവരുന്നവരായിരിക്കും......,_*

*_എങ്ങനെ ജീവിക്കണമെന്ന് ഓരോരുത്തർക്കും തീരുമാനിക്കാം....,_*

*_നന്മ പലർക്കും പലതാണ്. ചിലർ,നന്മയെന്നാൽ നിരീക്ഷണപാടവവും കൃത്യതയും യുക്തിബോധവും ജിജ്ഞാസയുമാണെന്ന് കരുതും....,_*

*_ചിലർക്ക് ഏറ്റവും വലുത് സർഗശേഷിയാണ്....._*

*_ചിട്ടയും അച്ചടക്കവും ഇച്ഛാശക്തിയും വിജയികൾക്ക് വേണ്ട സദ്ഗുണങ്ങൾ തന്നെ. പക്ഷേ ദുർബലരോടുള്ള കാരുണ്യത്തേക്കാൾ വലിയ നന്മയുണ്ടോ....?_*

*_▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬_*

*Arjuna’s Arrows and Algebra!*

🙏🙏

*Bhāskarāchārya* (1114 -1185 CE), has been called the greatest mathematician of medieval India. He was born in Karnataka, and is considered the progenitor of Differential Calculus - 500 years before Newton and Leibniz!

Bhāskarāchārya wrote at least four mathematical treatises in Sanskrit. One of them, titled *Leelavati*, contains many algebra-related teasers, which have become the subject of significant research by scholars. These teasers are in the form of *shlokas* which pose the problems. The shlokas need to be interpreted correctly to decipher the meaning in order to find the solution.

Take a look at the shloka displayed below. 

पार्थ: कर्णवधाय मार्गणगणं क्रुद्धो रणे संदधे 

तस्यार्धेन निवार्य तच्छरगणं मूलैश्चतुभिर्हयान् |

शल्यं षड्भिरथेषुभिस्त्रिभिरपि च्छत्रं ध्वजं कार्मुकम् 

चिच्छेदास्य शिरः शरेण कति ते यानर्जुनः संदधे || ७६ ||

The direct meaning of this shloka is a question formulated as follows:

During the battle between Arjuna and Karna in the Mahabharata, Arjuna released some arrows. Of the released arrows:

• Half were consumed in stopping the arrows coming from Karna

• 4 times the squareroot of the arrows were consumed to control the horses of Karna's chariot

• 6 were for gaining control over Shalya, the charioteer of Karna. (Shalya was the maternal uncle of Nakula and Sahadeva)

• 3 were used to take on the umbrella and flag of the chariot and the bow of Karna.

• Finally Karna was killed by a single arrow.

So how many arrows were released by Arjuna in the battle?

Basic algebra easily yields the answer to this question, if the equation is formulated correctly.

Let the total number of arrows be X. The statements above can be reduced to the algebraic form

** X = X/2 + 4√X + 6 + 3 + 1*

Solving the above, we get the value of X=100 for the total number of arrows shot by Arjuna.

However, the fun is not just in getting the algebra right. There is so much hidden information in this shloka. If we pause to think a little deeper about the hidden meanings:

• Even for an atirathi like Arjuna, it took as many as 50 arrows to stop the arrows of Karna - it tells us about the skills of Karna.

• That the horses needed 40 arrows to immobilize the chariot tells us about the kind of training given to the horses in the battle field.

• When even the horses needed 40 arrows, that Shalya the charioteer surrendered with just 6 tells us that he is favouring Arjuna.

• 3 arrows to take the chariot and the bow shows the helplessness of Karna.

• Once everything is in control the enemy should vanquished in just a single arrow.

So the rules and skills required to win such a battle operationally are:

 firstly, stop the enemy fire-power; second, immobilize the enemy by taking on his mobility- the horses and the driver; thirdly signal to him his helplessness by destroying the carriage, and finally eliminate the enemy himself.

If we analyze the same shloka on the *spiritual* side:

• To attain ultimate liberation, firstly one needs to control over his/her personal desires, this being a very difficult task, thus takes 50 arrows.

• Then take control over 5 senses and sensual pleasures indicated by the horses. The 40 arrows needed to do this indicate the difficulty of the task.

• Gaining control over 5 senses will lead one to the control over the consciousness (manas, thought, ego) indicated by the driver.

• If all the foregoing are done, achieving the ultimate liberation (moksha) should be relatively easy.

This is the greatness of our ancestors in sanatana dharma - Vidya integrated with Values. Just a single shloka includes so much of knowledge!🙏

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Ps.  I got this message via WhatsApp from a group post, original source and credit's unknown.

I thought this message conveys to much that one needs to know about our heritage, past and lost wisdom and so on... these need to be taught in schools so that these kind of wonders can be appreciated and everyone can be proud of our past.