I walk the line

Have you got a code you live by? What are the principles or set of values you actively apply in your life?

Here are 25 values that I consider important in my life and that I would like to pass on to  my child.   I believe that as a parent we are role models whom our children follow as examples.   In the modern day,  a well-rounded education which emphasises on life-skills, decision making and street-smartness is of more value .   Assimilation is of more importance than knowledge.

Honesty
Respect for people
Graciousness
Compassion
Ethics
Loyalty
Integrity
Strength
Patience
Love
Gratitude
Respect for nature
Work-life balance
Social skills
Reading
Sense of humour
Think before you speak
Responsibility
Perseverance
Speaking & listening skills
Take risks
Stand up for yourself
Agree to disagree
Time management
Money management

 

Other interesting posts in this category:
1) http://kate0murray.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/life/
2) http://dlrjournal.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/daily-prompt-i-walk-the-line/
3) http://justbeverity.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/daily-prompt-i-walk-the-line/
4) http://caughtbytheeyeofmankind.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/daily-prompt-i-walk-the-line/
5) http://alwayswasarebel.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/live-life/
6) http://adityaviyer.com/2014/03/30/i-walk-the-line/
7) http://completelydisappear.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/daily-prompt-i-walk-the-line/
8) http://oneeducatorsopinion.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/this-teachers-code/
9) http://thebohemianrockstarpresents.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/my-codes-a-photo-essay/
10) http://tnkerr.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/daily-prompt-i-walk-the-line/

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Que Sera Sera

Do you believe in fate or do you believe you can control your own destiny?

I believe that both fate and free-will play a part in our life. We have no control over our past actions. Our past actions some of them that we can’t even remember will bear fruit at some time or the other and we have to accept the result.

At the same time, what we have control over is our present.By using our free-will we can design the blueprint for our future. So by aligning our thoughts to a higher noble cause we can make our actions serve our loved ones and the commmunity. In this way,  we can act with purpose, with an integrated mind and intellect.

When our actions flow smoothly without any agitations then they help us by developing our equipoise and they do not generate excess wants and desires that disturb our mind. When our actions are not selfish and benefit a community then we don’t have to worry about the results – they will certainly bear ripe fruits benefitting our family, friends and community at large.

Other interesting posts in this category:
1) http://helenmeikle.wordpress.com/2014/03/27/daily-prompt-probably-depends-on-the-day/
2) http://tnkerr.wordpress.com/2014/03/26/daily-prompt-que-sera-sera/
3) http://afarfarbetterrest.wordpress.com/2014/03/26/che-sara-sara/
4) http://alexia13thmatron.wordpress.com/2014/03/26/que-sera-sera/
5) http://kate0murray.wordpress.com/2014/03/26/fated/

 

 

White Lies

(This is the script of my AP2 – Humorously speaking speech that I delivered at our Toastmasters Chapter meeting yesterday)

A bus filled with politicians was driving through the countryside one day, on the campaign trail. The bus driver, caught up in the beautiful scenery,loses control and crashes into the ditch. A farmer living nearby hears the horrible crash and rushes out to discover the wreckage. Finding the politicians, he buries them.

The next day, the police come to the farm to question the man. “So you buried all the politicians?” asked the police officer. “Were they all dead?”

The farmer answered, “Some said they weren’t, but you know how politicians lie.”

TME, distinguished guests and friends – How many of you have lied at some time or another in your life?

Now – For those of you who are not raising their hands – are you sure?

We grow up with the belief system etched in our mind that it is always wrong to lie and that you will be condemned if you do. We think that like Pinocchio whose nose grew longer whenever he told a lie so also something awful will happen to us if we tell lies.

•  Visit a hospital and you’ll hear a lie: “The doctor will be
  with you in a minute.”
• Visit a dentist and you’ll hear a lie: “This won’t hurt a
  bit.”

There are certain situations where it is ok to tell white lies:

–          1)  Sometimes we tweak the truth to not offend or hurt the feelings of someone who matters to you.

–          – Suppose your wife asks  you : Does this dress make me look fat?  At first you pretend you didn’t hear the question .. Then you say – “ No honey, you look as slim as you did yesterday!”

–            2)  If your 5 year old asks you if  tooth fairy or Santa exists – You do not destroy the little ones innocence or creative imagination

–            3) Offering pleasantries – or mild false truths.  Like if you are a guest at someones house and you are offered something.  It is ok to say.. that you loved it although you did not because you don’t want to be a jerk and offend them.

–            4) In a life and death situation –

The German philosopher Immanuel Kant asks what you should do if someone running by with a weapon asks you if you have seen someone pass by just few minutes ago and in which direction they were heading. Telling the truth might result in death or severe injury while lying may save a life.

5) Many a time we ask ‘How are you’ even though we don’t actually care

6) Even in this age of sms and internet – we lie.  When we text ‘I am on my way’ or ‘I didn’t get your message’

7) Then there is the ‘I’ve read the terms and conditions”.  Who reads all the 10 page terms and conditions on a contract or investment or legal document  before agreeing. A research by British firm Gamestation has shown that as many as 88% of people do not read the terms & conditions of a website before making a purchase.

 

A clergyman was walking down the street when he came upon a group of about a dozen boys, all of them between 10 and 12 years of age.
The group surrounded a dog.
Concerned lest the boys were hurting the dog,the clergyman went over and asked “What are you doing with that dog?”
One of the boys replied, “This dog is just an old neighborhood stray. We all want him, but only one of us can take him home. So we’ve decided that whichever one of us can tell the biggest lie will get to keep the dog.”
Of course, the clergyman was taken aback.
“You boys shouldn’t be having a contest telling lies!” he exclaimed.
He then launched into a ten minute sermon against lying,
beginning, “Don’t you boys know it’s a sin to lie,” and ending with, “Why, when I was your age, I never told a lie.”
There was dead silence for about a minute.
Just as the clergyman was beginning to think he’d convinced them , the smallest boy gave a deep sigh and said,
“Oh..All right,he won…give him the dog.”

 

In life, we may not be able to stick to absolute moral rules such as ‘never tell lies’ but we can follow an ethical approach of reasoning before we tell white lies to save someones life or not to offend our dear ones.

So … what did you think about my speech? . Don’t worry , its okay to lie

(References – the 2 jokes at the start and end of the speech  are googled from the internet)

 

Mr Sandman

What kind of sleeper are you? Do you drop off like a stone and awaken refreshed, or do you need pitch black and silence to drift off to dream?

I have  experienced  how insufficient sleep can wreak havoc with your day.   Sleep is vital for me to refresh, rejuvenate and enjoy my day. I try to make it a point to have atleast a 1 hour afternoon nap on weekends and a good nights sleep every day.

I do not need much time to knock off. When I go to bed, I usually take a book to read. After some time I just forget everything else, say my prayers and then I am fast asleep.

Here is a poem on Sleep that I had posted earlier:

Lying in the mothers lap
After a fun day
Sleep like a lullaby
Soothes the little infant

Fatigued, tanned bodies
Lie on the pavement
Sleep gives solace to them
Magical, sweet sleep

Sleep tender sleep
You ease the pain
Calm the nerves
And appease tired souls

Like a loving mother
Who dotes all her kids
You bring tranquil peace
To thief, saint, beggar and king

Sleep take me on a dream
To a world without walls
Where there is only joy and peace
And one does not belittle another

©copyright skm, March 5th, 2011

Other interesting posts in this category:
1) http://emirenaerambles.wordpress.com/2014/03/24/daily-prompt-mr-sandman/
2) http://lenzexperiments.wordpress.com/2014/03/23/dreaming-of-a-new-dawn/
3) http://thebohemianrockstarpresents.wordpress.com/2014/03/23/my-sleep-routine/
4) http://flowersandbreezes.wordpress.com/2014/03/23/bring-me-a-dream/
5) http://purplesus.wordpress.com/2014/03/23/daily-prompt-mr-sandman/
6) http://seikaiha.wordpress.com/2014/03/23/daily-prompt-mr-sandman/
7) http://wangsgard.com/musings/sleeping-i-am/
8) http://awakeanddreaming.org/enter-sandman/
9) http://lifeconfusions.wordpress.com/2014/03/23/sleeping-beauty/
10) http://dailymusing57.wordpress.com/2014/03/23/to-sleep-perchance-to-dream-the-daily-prompt/

 

The Heat is On

Do you thrive under pressure or crumble at the thought of it? Does your best stuff surface as the deadline approaches or do you need to iterate, day after day to achieve something you’re proud of? Tell us how you work best.
Photographers, artists, poets: show us PRESSURE.

A little pressure, some stress is needed to push us and to get things done. When things are too  laid back we tend to become lethargic and procrastinate.  Not all stress is harmful. It is how we perceive pressure or stress. If we view pressure as a catalyst to motivate us to get things done then stress can be our friend.

In this TED talk, Kelly McGonigal discusses how by looking at stress from a different angle we can take advantage of it.

 

Other interesting posts in this category:
1) http://themagicblackbook.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/pressure/
2) http://basicallybeyondbasic.com/2014/03/10/daily-prompt-the-heat-is-on/
3) http://muddyrivermuse.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/strive-to-thrive/
4) http://thebohemianrockstarpresents.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/p-p-p-pressure/
5) http://layloushti.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/pressure-come-when-i-need-you/
6) http://lifeisgreat0.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/deadlines/
7) http://knowledgeaddiction.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/the-heat-is-on/
8) http://raspberrydaydreams.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/daily-prompt-the-heat-is-on/
9) http://alienorajt.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/pressure-points-and-implosions/
10) http://agent909.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/daily-prompt-the-heat-is-on-perspective-of-medical-student/