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:

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏