Tag Archives: life lessons

Yes, Life is different here!

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Living Abroad – Different strokes for different folks!

Yes, life is different here, very different!!
People speak so many different languages here. Just walk down the street and you will get an earful of gibberish dialects for sure; many of those you have never heard of!

Here, people come from all over the places! They have different skin tones, different heights. They walk differently, they talk differently. Some have local accent; others are outsiders for sure. Some speak in a monotone while others are too dramatic in every expression. Some stand still and deliver their opinion in a quiet but firm voice, while others use their hands and gestures more than their tongue.

Some dress sparingly and reveal everything, very outdoorsy to say it modestly! Others are too covered, as if protecting themselves from a wintery chill, even in the summer months.

Yes, life is different here, very different!!
The food choices are quite interesting, or strange. Some like it plain and others, spicy. Some eat only vegetables while others hunt for meat. Some can afford it all, while others live from hand to mouth. Some like it exotic and show off their feasts while others struggle to feed even two times a day.

Some splurge in excess while others conserve all the time. Some fast, because they have over-indulged in food while others fail to understand the concept of diet control.

Yes, life is different here, very different!!
There are so many different religions; some are more popular than others. Not everybody believe in a God but they all have their opinions. Fighting over religion is very common. Everybody is so guarded against others’ religion. Continue reading →

Fraility of life – A short term memory

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Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh. ~George Bernard Shaw

The earthquake and tsunami in Japan make us realize how precious yet how fragile life is! In fact, if we look around, we are constantly reminded of the fact that life is short; it is easily perishable. Every day, there is something or someone pointing to this sad truth.

yes, it is sad, if you think about it; the thoughts about your own demise can easily put you off. May be that is why we rarely think about it – uncertain in time yet a sure ending of our journey!

There is nothing you can do about this; this is life along with the last chapter. You can delay the inevitable by being careful – eating healthy, hiding in the basement and never crossing the train track… You can postpone it if you are lucky, but it is the law of nature; you can delay it but you cannot avoid it.

In spite of the well known path and a steady march towards the end, we are are rarely bothered by it. We barely think about it. We see others go, but you never imagine yourself in that coffin.

We need something big, something catastrophic to remind us of the temporary nature of our existence. Events like death of a loved one, Japanese earthquake and tsunami are the wake-up calls that remind us that nothing is predictable; anything is possible on a given day.

Actually, this is the best survival mechanism that our brain has adapted to. We have learned to ignore our own demise. Even if we talk about it, we never really take it seriously. These are things beyond us, there are powers beyond our control that we can do nothing about. So perhaps, there is no point in worrying about something that is bound to happen – sooner or later.

And, it is good that we think very little about this temporary aspect of our existence. We have learned to look forward to the good things in our life, without looking TOO FAR into the future! It is amazing how we wrap ourselves in our own little world, our daily routines. A day comes, a night goes by and another day starts; the life continues. The frailty of life seldom bothers us. Continue reading →

10 Simple but useful life lessons from Gandhi

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Simple but very useful tips from Gandhi’s life

It is unwise to be too sure of one’s own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err. ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi

Today is Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday. On this day, here are a few simple things and life lessons that we can learn from his life:

1. Discipline in diet to control/lose weight: Looking for a way to maintain healthy weight? According to most of the studies done, the body weight is most dependent on our eating and dietary habits. Have a will-power to say no to the food, even the yummy ones! Find a cause and fast for it, like Gandhi did! May be not to the same extremes, but you got the idea, right? :)

2. Believe in the power of simple logic: Want to succeed in something? – Then work hard for it. Want to get something done? -Just do it! We complicate our lives for no reason. Keep it simple!

3. Be kind and caring: Don’t bully anybody; be kind to one and all. Don’t harm others – humans or animals; don’t hurt anyone’s feelings…. All this is also good for our own peace of mind, keeps everybody around us happy, and makes us more conscious as a human being. Continue reading →

Live your life like a kids’ lemonade stand!

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Personal lessons & self-improvement tips from kids’ lemonade stand:

You most likely have driven by many lemonade stands in your neighborhood, where young kids are selling lemonade on a roadside or from a street corner. But, have you been to one of them lately? If not, you should. You can learn a lot from them, we all can. Here are some of the life lessons to take home from a kids’ lemonade stand:

Kifds' Lemonade Stand

Kifds' Lemonade Stand

1. Keep it simple: One table, one or two chairs, disposable glasses, a container for money and lemonade supplies- that’s the most of it. That is all they need to meet their objective. Still, it looks so complete, as if nothing is missing. Everything that is required is right there.
2. Welcome with a smile: The young kids always have an enthusiasm about their endeavors, always welcome you with a smile. The minute you walk in (or drive in), you feel at home. :)
3. Entertaining and interesting: It is never boring at the lemonade stands. While you enjoy your lemonade, kids are busy with something ‘cool’, something refreshing. They may be telling some funny story, singing carelessly, running after each other, reacting to the tip they just received, performing some cheers/ dance-routines, juggling lemons or doing something else to attract the customers. Continue reading →