65 Heading Towards 75

I asked one of my friends who has crossed  "65 & is heading towards 75". What sort of change he is feeling in him if any?

He sent me the following observations about himself, which I would like to share with all of you:

1) After loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, my children, my friends, now I have started loving myself.

2) I just realised that I am not an “Atlas”. The world does not rest on my shoulders.

3) I now stopped bargaining with vegetables & fruits vendors. After all, a few rupees more is not going to burn a hole in my pocket, but it might help the poor fellow save for his daughter’s school fees.

4) I pay the taxi driver without waiting for the change. The extra money might bring a smile on his face. After all he is toiling much harder for a living than me.

5) I stopped telling the elderly that they've already narrated that story many times. After all, the story makes them walk down the memory lane & relive the past.

6)  I have learnt "not to correct people even when I know they are wrong". After all, the onus of making everyone perfect is not on me. Peace is more precious than perfection.

7) I have started giving compliments freely & generously. After all it's a mood enhancer not only for the recipient, but also for me.

8) I have learnt not to bother about a crease or a spot on my shirt. After all, personality speaks louder than appearances. 

9) I walk away from people who don't value me. After all, they might not know my worth, but I do.

10) I remain cool when someone plays dirty politics to outrun me in the rat race. After all, I am not a rat & neither am I in any race.

11) I am learning not to be embarrassed by my emotions. After all, it's my emotions that make me human.

12)  I have learnt that its better to drop the "ego than to break a relationship".  After all, my ego will keep me aloof whereas with relationships I will never be alone.

13)  I have learnt to live each day as if it's the last. Please enjoy every day .

14) I am doing what makes me happy. After all, I am responsible for my happiness, and I owe it to me.

The question is are you going to do all this when you are 65 & heading towards 75 or now. 

Try being a kindling spirit.

Steve Jobs’ Last Words

I reached the pinnacle of success in the business world. In others’ eyes, my life is an epitome of success. However, aside from work, I have little joy. In the end, wealth is only a fact of life that I am accustomed to.

At this moment, lying on the sick bed and recalling my whole life, I realize that all the recognition and wealth that I took so much pride in, have paled and become meaningless in the face of impending death.
In the darkness, I look at the green lights from the life supporting machines and hear the humming mechanical sounds, I can feel the breath of god of death drawing closer.

Now I know, when we have accumulated sufficient wealth to last our lifetime, we should pursue other matters that are unrelated to wealth…

Should be something that is more important: Perhaps relationships, perhaps art, perhaps a dream from younger days

Non-stop pursuing of wealth will only turn a person into a twisted being, just like me.

God gave us the senses to let us feel the love in everyone’s heart, not the illusions brought about by wealth.

The wealth I have won in my life I cannot bring with me. What I can bring is only the memories precipitated by love.

That’s the true riches which will follow you, accompany you, giving you strength and light to go on.

Love can travel a thousand miles. Life has no limit. Go where you want to go. Reach the height you want to reach. It is all in your heart and in your hands.

What is the most expensive bed in the world? Sick bed…

You can employ someone to drive the car for you, make money for you but you cannot have someone to bear the sickness for you.

Material things lost can be found. But there is one thing that can never be found when it is lost – Life.

When a person goes into the operating room, he will realize that there is one book that he has yet to finish reading – Book of Healthy Life.

Whichever stage in life we are at right now, with time, we will face the day when the curtain comes down.

Treasure Love for your family, love for your spouse, love for your friends.

Treat yourself well. Cherish others.

The TREE Analogy to People

Very inspiring message

I have this tree analogy when I think of people in my life, be it friends, family, acquaintances, employees, coworkers, whomever....They all are placed inside what I call my tree test. It goes like this:

LEAF PEOPLE

Some people come into our life and they are like leaves on a tree. They are only there for a season. You can't depend on them or count on them because they are weak and only there to give you shade. Like leaves, they are there to take what they need and as soon as it gets cold or a wind blows in your life they are gone. You can't be angry with them, it's just who they are.

BRANCH PEOPLE

There are some people who come into your life and they are like branches on a tree. They are stronger than leaves, but you have to be careful with them. They will stick around through most seasons, but if you go through a storm or two in your life it's possible that you could lose them. Most times they break away when it's tough. Although they are stronger than leaves, you have to test them out before you run out there and put all your weight on them. In most cases they can't handle too much weight. But again, you can't be mad with them, it's just who they are.

ROOT PEOPLE

If you can find such people in your life who are like the roots of a tree then you have found something special. Like the roots of a tree, they are hard to find because they are not trying to be seen. Their only job is to hold you up and help you live a strong and healthy life. If you thrive, they are happy. They stay low key and don't let the world know that they are there. And if you go through an awful storm they will hold you up. Their job is to hold you up, come what may, and to nourish you, feed you and water you.

Just as a tree has many limbs and many leaves, there are fewer roots.

Look at your own life. How many leaves, branches and roots do you have? What are you in other people's lives.

THANK GOD FOR THE ROOTS !