ஊக்கமூட்டும் கதை

ஊக்கமூட்டும் கதை

ஒரு கால் இல்லாத இளைஞன் ஒருவன். அம்மாவுடன் வசித்து வருவான். கால் இல்லாத ஊனமும் தனிமையும் அவனை வாட்டும். ஒரு சமயம், அம்மாவோடு பேருந்தில் போகும்போது லேடீஸ் சீட்டில் உட்கார்ந்திருப்பான். ஒரு பெண்மணி அவனைக் கண்டபடி திட்டும். அவன் உடனே எழ, அவனுக்கு கால் இல்லாததைப் பார்த்து திட்டியவள் 'ஸாரி’ கேட்பாள். அது அவனுக்குப் பெரிய துயரத்தைத் தரும்.

ஒரு கட்டத்தில் அவன் தற்கொலை செய்ய முடிவெடுத்து, வீட்டுக்குப் பக்கத்தில் உள்ள ரயில்வே டிராக்கில் போய் படுத்து கிடக்கிறான். ரயில் வருகிற நேரம்...ஒரு 'குஷ்டரோகி' பிச்சைக்காரன், அந்த இளைஞனை பார்த்து ஓடி வந்து காப்பாற்றி விடுகிறான்.

பக்கத்தில் இருக்கும் ஒரு கல் மண்டபத்துக்கு அழைத்துப் போய் அந்த இளைஞனிடம் சொல்கிறான், "நான் ஒரு குஷ்டரோகி... எப்பிடி இருக்கேன்னு பார்த்தியா... இப்படி தான் அன்னைக்கு கூட ரயில்ல விழப்போன ஒரு கொழந்தையக் காப்பாத்தினேன்.அந்தம்மா வந்து கொழந்தைய வாங்கிட்டு நன்றி சொல்லாம என்னைத் திட்டிட்டுப் போனாங்க... அவ்வளவு அருவருப்பா இருக்கேன் நான். அப்படி பட்ட நானே உயிரோட இருக்கும் போது. உனக்கெல்லாம் என்ன இந்த கால் ஊனம் பெரிய குறையா ’ என அறிவுரை கூறி அந்த இளைஞனின் நம்பிக்கையை தூண்டி விடுகிறான்.

தற்கொலை முயற்சியை விட்டுவிட்டு வாழ்க்கையின் மீதான புதிய நம்பிக்கைகளோடு தூங்குகிறான் ஊனமுற்றவன்.காலையில் பார்த்தால் ரயில்வே டிராக்கில் யாரோ விழுந்து செத்திருப்பார்கள். அந்த இளைஞன்தான் செத்துப்போய் விட்டான் எனப் பயந்து ஓடி வருகிறாள் அவன் அம்மா. அம்மா... நான் இருக்கிறேன் அம்மா..." என அந்த இளைஞன் கத்திக்கொண்டே வருகிறான். ஆனால், அங்கே அந்த குஷ்டரோகி பிச்சைக்காரன் செத்துக்கிடக்கிறான்.

முந்தைய இரவு அந்த இளைஞன் தூங்கிய பிறகு அந்த பிச்சைக்காரன் இப்படிப்பட்ட ஒருவனே இந்த சமூகத்தில் வாழக் கூச்சப்பட்டு சாக நினைக்கிறான். நாம இவ்வளவு அவமானங்களுக்கு நடுவிலே இப்படி வாழ்கிறோமே. என யோசித்ததினாலே தண்டவாளத்தில் குதித்திருப்பான்.செத்துப்போன குஷ்டரோகியை பார்த்து அந்த இளைஞன் சொல்கிறான்,

"அம்மா...! அவன் எனக்கு வாழக் கத்துக்கொடுத்தான்... நான் அவனுக்கு சாகக் கத்துக் கொடுத்துட்டேன்...!" என கதறி அழுகிறான்.

ஆகவே நாம், நம் சக மனிதர்களுக்கு எதைக் கற்றுத் தரப்போகிறோம் என்பதில்தான் இருக்கிறது நம் வாழ்க்கையின் அர்த்தம்!

நல்லதையே கற்றுத் தருவோம்...

Why is life such a problem and why is it so harsh?

Why is life such a problem and why is it so harsh?

There is an ancient story, 

A farmer, an old farmer, mature, seasoned, one day was very very angry with God -- and he was a great devotee. He said to God in his morning prayer, "I have to tell it as it is -- enough is enough! You don't understand even the ABC of agriculture! When the rains are needed there are no rains; when the rains are not needed you go on pouring them. What nonsense is this? If you don't understand agriculture you can ask me -- I have devoted my whole life to it. Give me one chance: the coming season, let ME decide and see what happens."

God said, "Okay, this season you decide!"

So the farmer decided, and he was very happy because whenever he wanted sun - there was sun, whenever he wanted rain - there was rain, whenever he wanted clouds - there were clouds. And he avoided all dangers, all the dangers that could become destructive to his crops.

He simply rejected them -- no strong winds, no possibility of any destruction to his crops. And his wheat started growing higher than anybody had ever seen; it was going above man's height. And he was very happy.

He thought, "Now I will show him!"

And then the crop was cut and he was very puzzled. There was no wheat at all -- just empty husks with no wheat in them. What happened? Such big plants -- plants big enough to have given wheat four times bigger than ordinary wheat -- but there was no wheat at all. And suddenly he heard laughter from the clouds. God laughed and he said, "Now what do you say?"

The farmer said, "I am puzzled because there was no possibility of destruction and all that was helpful was provided. And the plants were going so well, and the crop was so green and so beautiful! What happened to my wheat?"

God said, "Because there was no danger -- you avoided all dangers -- it was impossible for the wheat to grow. It needs challenges."

Challenge brings integrity; otherwise, a person remains hollow, empty. God gives life with all its dangers and problems to make our life A COMPLETE & COMPREHENSIVE ONE.

சுவையான உணவு

உலகில் மிகவும் சுவையான உணவு எது?

ஒரு குட்டிக்கதை….

ஒரு நாள் அரசன் ஒருவன் தனது அரச சபையில் "உலகில் மிகவும் சுவையான உணவை யாராவது எனக்கு தரமுடியுமா? " என கேட்டுக்கொ‌ண்டான். அங்கிருந்தவர்கள் "உலகில் மிகவும் சுவையான உணவு எது?" என யோசித்துக்கொண்டிருக்க மந்திரி ஒருவர் "என்னால் தர முடியும் மன்னா. ஆனால் காட்டிற்குள் சென்றால்தான் அதனை பெறமுடியும். " என்று கூறினார். அடுத்த நாள் காலையில் மந்திரயோடு குதிரையுடன் பயணத்தை தொடங்கினான் மன்னன். காட்டிற்குள் சிறிய தூரம் சென்றதும் "இன்னும் எவ்வளவு தூரம் செல்ல வேண்டும்? " என மன்னன் கேட்டான். மந்திரி "கொஞ்ச தூரம் தான் மன்னா " என்று பதிலளித்தார். மீண்டும் சிறிய தூரம் சென்றதும் மன்னன் அதே கேள்வியை கேட்டான். மந்திரி "கொஞ்ச தூரம் தான் மன்னா " என்று பதிலளித்தார். சூரியன் தலைக்கு மேல் வந்துவிட்டது. மன்னன் "எனக்கு கடும் பசியாக உள்ளது. அந்த உணவை எப்போது தருவீர்கள்? " என கேட்டான். மன்னனின் நிலையை அறிந்த மந்திரி ஒரு கட்டத்தில் தனது பயணத்தை முடித்துக்கொண்டார். தனது பையில் இருந்து மாவினால் செய்யப்பட்ட ஒரு உணவை எடுத்து மன்னனுக்கு கொடுத்தார். கடும் பசியிலும் பயணக்களைப்பிலும் இருந்த மன்னன் அதை உடனடியாக வாங்கி சாப்பிட்டான். "ஆஹா…இப்படியொரு சுவையான உணவை என் வாழ்க்கையில் நான் சாப்பிட்டதேயில்லை. இந்த உணவு உங்களுக்கு எப்படி கிடைத்தது? " என்றான் மன்னன். அதற்கு மந்திரி "மன்னா…இது எம் மக்களால் உண்ணப்படும் சாதாரண உணவுதான் வேறொன்ருமில்லை. உங்களுக்கு ஏற்பட்ட பசியும் பயணக்களைப்பும்தான் இதனை சுவையாக எடுத்துக்காட்டியிருக்கிறது." என்றார் மந்திரி. தன் நிலையை அறிந்து சிரித்துக்கொண்டான் மன்னன். பிறகு இறைவன் எமக்கு தந்த, நாம் உண்ணக்கூடிய அனைத்து உணவுகளும் உலகில் சிறந்த உணவுகள்தான் என்பதை உணர்ந்த மன்னன் மந்திரியிற்கு நன்றி தெரிவித்து அங்கிருந்து புறப்பட்டான்.

"மனம் கொண்டதே மாளிகை"

குட்டி ஸ்டோரி

குட்டி ஸ்டோரி:-

முதல் முதலில் உலகம் உருவான போது. கடவுளும் மனிதர்களோடு பூமியில் வாழ்ந்து வந்தார். மனிதர்களோடு மனிதர்களாக இருந்து, அவர்களுக்கு தேவையானதை செய்து கொடுத்து வந்தார்.

ஒரு நாள் ஒரு விவசாயிக்கு கடவுள் மீது பயங்கரமான கோபம் ஏற்பட்டது. கடவுளின் வீட்டுக்கு சென்று ஏய் கடவுளே வெளியே வா என்றார். கடவுள் வெளியே வந்து என்ன பிரச்சனை என்று கேட்டார். நீ ஏன் மனிதர்களை ஏழை பணக்காரன் என்று வகை பிரித்து வைத்துள்ளாய். ஏன் இன்பம் துன்பம் என வகை பிரித்து கொடுக்கிறாய். அனைவருக்கும் இன்பத்தையே கொடுக்கலாம் அல்லவா என்று கோபமாக கேள்விகளைத் தொடுத்தான்.

அதற்கு கடவுள் சிரித்துக்கொண்டே, "சரி இனி நீதான் கடவுள், ஓராண்டுக்கு என்னுடைய சக்திகள் அனைத்தையும் உனக்கு கொடுக்கிறேன், உனக்கு விரும்புவதை நீ செய்துகொள்" என்று கூறி தன் சக்திகள் அனைத்தையும் அவளிடம் கொடுத்து விட்டு மறைந்து போனார்.

விவசாயிக்கு ஒரே மகிழ்ச்சி தான் நினைத்த அனைத்தையும் உடனடியாக மாற்றினான். தனக்கு பிடித்த பயிர் வகைகளை தன் நிலத்தில் வளரச் செய்தான். அவன் நினைத்த போது மழை பெய்தது. நினைத்தபோது வெயில் அடித்தது. எந்த கடினமும் இல்லாமல் பயிர்களை நன்கு பசுமையாக வளரச் செய்தான். ஓராண்டு கழித்து கடவுள் மீண்டும் வந்தார். தற்போது நீ மகிழ்ச்சியாக இருக்கிறாயா என்று கேட்டார். அதற்கு அந்த விவசாயி, பார் கடவுளே இந்த உலகில் அனைத்தையும் சிறப்பானதாக மாற்றிவிட்டேன்.

என் விவசாய நிலங்களைப் பார் எப்படி பசுமையாக உள்ளது. நீ இருக்கும் பொழுது இது போன்று கிடையாது. அனைவரும் மகிழ்ச்சியாக உள்ளனர் என்று கூறினான். அதற்கு கடவுள் நான் உன் பயிர்களை பரிசோதித்து பார்க்கலாமா என்று கேட்டார். அதற்கு அவன் ஏன்? எதற்கு? சரி பார்க்கலாம் என்று கூறி, தன் கோதுமைப் பயிர்களை பரிசோதித்துப் பார்க்கும் பொழுது, ஒன்றில் கூட கோதுமை விதைகள் இல்லை. அவன் அதிர்ச்சி அடைந்து போய், நீதான் ஏதோ செய்துவிட்டாய் என்று கடவுளை குறை கூறினான். அதற்கு கடவுள், நான் எப்படி இதற்கு காரணமாக முடியும். உன்னிடம் தானே அனைத்து சக்திகளும் உள்ளது. நீதானே அதற்கு காரணம் என்று கூறினார். நான் அனைத்தையும் சரியாகவே செய்தேன் அதற்கு தேவையான ஊட்டச்சத்துக்களை வெயிலினை, மழையினை, சரியாகவே கொடுத்தேன் என்று கூறினான்.

அதற்கு கடவுள் கூறினார், எந்த ஒரு பயிரானது ஒரு கடினமும் இல்லாமல், எந்த ஒரு கடினத்தையும் சந்திக்காமல் வளர்கிறதோ அது தன் தன்மையை இழந்துவிடும். அதன் காரணமாகவே இந்தப் பயிர்களில் விதைகள் வரவில்லை என்று கூறி அவ்விடத்தை விட்டு சென்றார்.

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ஒரு மனிதன் தன் வாழ்வில் எந்த அளவுக்கு கடினங்களை சந்திக்கிறானோ, அந்த அளவுக்கு அவன் பக்குவப்படுவான். அவனுடைய ஆற்றல்களும், அனுபவங்களும் அதிகரிக்கும். அது அவனை ஒரு சிறப்பானவனாக மாற்றும்.

சொல்லப் போனால் மனிதன் பிறரை எதிர்பார்த்தே வாழ்ந்து கொண்டிருக்கிறான். ஆனால் எப்பொழுது அவன் தனக்குத் தேவையானதை தானே செய்து கொள்கிறானோ, அதிலிருந்து அவன் பல விடயங்களை கற்றுணர முடியும். தன்னுடைய உண்மையான ஆற்றல்களை அவன் அறிந்து கொள்ள முடியும்.

உங்களிடம் ஒரே ஒரு கேள்வி மட்டும் கேட்க ஆசைப்படுகிறேன்.

உங்களில் எத்தனை பேர், உங்களுக்கான வேலையை, பிறருடைய உதவி/சிபாரிசு இல்லாமல் நீங்களே தேடிக் கொண்டீர்கள்? 😊😊.

The Wise King

Story of a Wise King: Once, in a small country, there lived a barber. He worked hard but spent less to save a good portion of his hard earned money. For keeping his money secured, he covered all his possessions in a jute bag and buried it deep under the soil behind his house. After covering the burrow with soil, he planted a Vasaka plant over it.

Every morning he visited the plant and nurtured it. One morning, as he visited the plant, he found that the plant was uprooted. He rushed towards his savings and saw that the money bag was missing. He was so upset and sad. The poor barber approached the king and explained all what happened to him.

The King, who had carefully listened to the story of the barber thought for a while and said, “Don’t worry my dear! I will get your money back.” Though sad, the barber was hopeful as he left the palace.

After the barber left his courtyard, the King acted as if he was very sick. His ministers invited physicians from different places of the country. The King listened to each physician to learn their method of treatment before undergoing any medication. At last the King chose a physician who treated his patients with Vasaka roots.

“I would like to go for your treatment. But, you need to prove that how efficient you are. Bring your last patient who used your Vasaka treatment and let him vouch”, the King asked the physician.

Thus the physician summoned his last patient to the court. Seeing the patient, the King got off from the bed and asked him to bring the money he got when he removed the Vasaka plant.

The patient accepted that he got a treasure when he was searching for Vasaka root and brought the money bag to the King. The King called the barber and returned his savings. Everyone in the country praised the wisdom of the King.

Poor Dog

Once upon a time there lived a farmer in a village. The farmer had a cute little dog. The dog was so pampered by the farmer that it rarely stepped out from the farmer’s house. The farmer made all needed arrangements for the dog within his house. Staying within the house, without any work, the dog grew its weight.

Days passed and the farmer decided to start a business. For starting the business the farmer sold his farm. He invested the money for buying silk from a Chinese friend and started selling in the Indian markets. His investment was productive; he sold all his cloths and gained a huge profit.

Being successful in his first investment, he decided to go a bit large scale. Next time he decided to buy diamonds from Africa and sell them in China. With all his money he traveled to Africa. While going off to Africa he kept the dog with one of his friends – a poor farmer.

The poor farmer was not so passionate about pets. He didn’t have enough earnings to serve his own family and that made the farmer to send the dog outside for finding its food. The dog that was overly pampered was not trained to hunt. He found a place for himself right outside the farmer’s house and slept the whole day.

For the first day, the dog neglected its hunger. However, on the second day it couldn’t stay idle. It started sniffing here and there for food. It was then he saw a piece of bone on the roadside. He walked towards the bone but before the poor dog could reach for it, a crow grabbed it and flew away. For his next chance he had to wait for a whole day; until he saw a boy trowing away his half-eaten bun.

This time he ran after the bun, yet he was late. There was a cat who got it before the poor dog. The dog that was over-weighed couldn’t chase the cat. The fate of the poor thing was same for another day. After several attempts of food-hunt, he got a slice of bread which was too small for him to be filled. Slowly, the dog learned the ethics of outside world. He made a space for himself and learned the basics of existence.

After several days, its master returned from Africa. On his arrival, the dog was so happy. Though its master invited the dog to its old luxurious stay, the dog decided to stay outside.

Moral of the story: Learn from your experiences.

The Greedy Fox

The Greedy Fox: Once upon a time there lived a fox in a jungle between two villages. The fox was good at hunting and she lived happily in the jungle.

There was road passing through the jungle that connected the two villages. One day, the fox failed to find any food and she was extremely tiered. She was sleeping under a tree and then she heard the sound of humans. Suddenly she hid herself behind the tree.

They were two humans. They carried a bag of food which they kept in a small hole on the tree before taking their mid-noon nap. The fox saw the food bag and she sneaked in to the hole. She ate the food just to fill her stomach and quickly escaped from the site.

The next day she got another few travellers from whom she theft and enjoyed her food. On the third day, the greedy fox was a bit more daring. She sneaked into the hole, ate her food until her stomach was overly filled. With her puffed-up belly she couldn’t get out of the hole. Soon the travellers woke up and found the greedy fox. They gave her a sound thrashing.

Moral of the story: Excess of anything can harm

The farmer and the magical pot

The farmer and the magical pot

mom: What is wrong tofu ?

Tofu: I don't want to go to school today. Jim and Jerry took all the tokens I had collected for the charity and submitted it as their own. Now they are going to win the appreciation sticker.

Mom: Don't worry about it Tofu sometimes it's ok to let go of things and just hold on to the joy they brought you.

Tofu: I don't know dear do you know a nice story to help me believe.

Mom: Sure I'll tell you a story .

Once upon a time a poor farmer was plowing his field.

When he hit something hard it was a large metal pot.

Farmer: "What's this!! a metal pot. I wonder if there is something more valuable underneath". In the hope that he could find something more valuable the farmer dug deeper and wider. Tired after hours of searching. The farmer decided to rest. He left his faith in the pot and lay down under the tree.

A while later when he got up and went back to the pot. He was surprised. How is this possible??

The pot is full of hundreds of spades.

Farmer:" I had left only one in it

Looks like this is a magical pot. Let me see what will happen if I put a mango in it??

And just as the farmer had thought...The one mango turned into hundreds of mangoes when he left it in the pot.

This is truly a magical pot.

Farmer: "I will take it home and use it to tide over our troubles". The farmer went home and hid the pot at a safe place. He then went to the market and sold the mangoes. He earned a handsome sum for them. On the way back he brought some grapes. He went home and put each one of them in the pot one by one.

Soon he had enough of grains to last his family for the rest of the years. The farmer called his wife and told her everything that has happened.

Farmer's wife: "This is a blessing we should use it wisely to become rich but also keep it safely hidden"

The farmer agreed with his wife. Over the year he slowly started putting things in the pot. Fruits, vegetables, textiles and in some years he turned around his family's fortune. Though they had been secretive and very careful about the magic pot, people started noticing how they had become rich and soon the secret was out. It even reached the Kings ear.

King: "Such a powerful magical pot should be a part of the King's Treasury. The farmer has no right to keep it. Only I have the right to own that pot". The king ordered the soldier to bring the pot to the palace. The soldiers stormed into the farmers house and confiscated the pot. They produce it to the king.

King: "Let me see what is inside the pot that makes it so magical. Once I find what it is I will become a hundred times more powerful." The King peered over the pot and looked into it. As he did he lost his balance and fell into the pot. As he fell he hit his head on the edge of the pot and became unconscious. When he woke up,.he saw that there were hundreds of kings like him. They all fought each other to get to the throne.And died soon.

The news reached the farmer and his wife.

Farmer's.wife: "Should we get the pot back now?"

Farmer: "The king was foolish and his curiosity killed him. But it is not safe to keep the pot anymore. We have enough money and riches to take care of us and our many next generations. Let us leave the pot with in the Kings Treasury."

Oh

Thank You Mom, said Tofu, that was indeed an inspiring story and I feel much better now. Letting go off those tokens.

Mom: Good to know that tofu now will you please finish his cereal so that we can go for your favorite crimes stories.

kids story

As you mentioned, for kids only. Below are few I found very interesting for kids

1. Ganesha Story - Playing with cat

Ganesha was a kid and always like to play. One day he saw a cat in the garden. He started playing with cat which was initially going in a sober way, but later he started playing hard with cat, causing injuries to cat. Cat tried to escape but was unable to do so. She got scratched on her face and body. Ganesha left her and went home to his mother Parvati (parvati is mother goddess and goddess of earth and creatures). When Ganesha saw his mother, he was shocked. Her mother's face was in blood and scratch on her body. She was in very pain, Ganesha got angry and asked who had done it. Parvati replied that he is only responsible for it. Ganesha then recalled what he had done to cat, which in turn was suffer by her mother. Ganesha felt sorry for what he had done and promised never to do it again.

1. Arjuna story - Archery competition

Dronacharya was guru of all Kauravas and Pandavas. One day, he set a archery competition of hitting a puppet birds eye which was a fear distance above in a tree.

Few of its students tried but we're not able to do so. Then, when one of student was trying, he asked to pull the thread and then tell what he sees. Student pull the thread of bow and tells that he is saying his guru, trees, sky. Guru then tell to hit and was obviously missed by the students. He repeated the scenario with other students and they all have nearly the same answer. Guru Dronacharya then called Arjuna, his favorite student and told him the aim at the bird. Arjuna then pull the thread and wait for his guru command. Dronacharya asked him what he is seeing. Arjuna said, he can see only the birds eye. Dronacharya asked whether he is able to see leaves and other things. Arjuna denied and said he is just able to see birds eye and nothing else. Drona then command to release the bow and obviously it hit the birds eye.

Focusing on you targer and not getting distracted from other things can achieve your goals.

1. Krishna story - Brahma ego

Krishna was a small kid in Vrindavan and had done unimaginable task and was great saviour. When lord Brahma(the creator) came to know about it, he was surprised as how a small kid can do such things which is difficult for an army or great warriors.

Brahma then decided to test Krishna. As Krishna use to take cow's in forest for grazing along with other kids from Vrindavan everyday. When Krishna and his friends were taking nap in afternoon, lord Brahma kidnapped all boy's along with cow's. He took them to Brahmaloka and hibernate them in long sleep.

Krishna when woke up was surprised not find his friends and cow's. With his divine vision he came to know who's conspiracy was it. Krishna didn't retaliate but he took form of kids and cow's that were taken by Brahma. When all returned to village, all parent and calf feel a special holistic affection. Parents were feeling special about kids and calf were more affectionate towards mother cow. They didn't came to know what had happened. Brahma was happy guessing for what he had done will make problems for Krishna. But nothing happened. Life was as normal as it was in Vrindavan for many many days. Brahma got frustrated and went to see Krishna when he was in forest. Lord Brahma saw each kid and cow he had taken. With his divine vision, he saw Krishna in every form of cow and other kid. Krishna was everywhere. He got to know what mistake he had done. Krishna then called Bhrama of all universe. The sky was filled with Brahma’s like stars in sky at night and he was just one of them. Bhrama then begged to Krishna to pardon him. Krishna pardon him and Bhrama got all kids and cow's back on earth. Everything was back to normal and nobody came to know what happened.

Hope you like the stories…

Are you a carrot

                      Are you a carrot

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling.

It seemed that, as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans.

She let them sit and boil, without saying a word. In about twenty minutes, she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what do you see?"

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," the young woman replied. The mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water - but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened! The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" the mother asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?" Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong but, with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit but, after a death, a breakup, or a financial hardship, does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor.

If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another level?

How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

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Socrates and the triple-filter test

In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem.

One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said, "Do you know what I just heard about your friend?"

"Hold on a minute," Socrates replied. "Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be good idea to take a moment and filter what you’re going to say. That’s why I call it the triple filter test. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

"Well, no," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and…"

"All right," said Socrates. "So you don’t really know if it’s true or not. Now, let’s try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?"

"Umm, no, on the contrary…"

"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about my friend, but you’re not certain it’s true. You may still pass the test though, because there’s one filter left—the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?"

"No, not really."

"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither true, nor good, nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"

Tell the story - The Magical Necklace

The Magical Necklace

A 11 yr old girl was tensed severely inside her room. Books scattered all around her. She had her final exams in few days. She still remembered how the parents meeting wen't few days back at her school.

Teacher: Sir your daughter is very weak in studies. She forgets everything she learns. If this continues I'm afraid she might fail the up coming examinations.

The dad however supportive as they always are assured the teacher, that his daughter would do well in her up coming exams.

She didn't want to dis honor her father's word. But she also feared what the teacher said might crawl up to be true. A fresh panic gripped her spine. She took one of the scattered book in to her cold hands and started reading in fact memorizing everything. But to her utter shock she would forget everything she learnt. She tried harder, only to receive the same out come. She carried it for a long time and happened to miss the time which swiftly raced to form 12:05 AM on the clock. Finally she did the only thing that helped her, she cried. Just then a miracle happened, a fairy appeared at her window. She was white as snow with the most beautiful face the girl had ever seen.

Fairy: What happened young one. What troubles you so much this night?

The young girl in her earnest spoke out her emotions to the fairy, her eyes wet all the time.

Fairy: That's nothing to be worried about dear one, and held out a pretty white necklace. Wear it form now on. It has got all the magic to help you remember everything you read.

The girl who was aghast all the time forced a cute smile for the first time.She was relieved and a fresh confidence raced deep within her. She studied thoroughly for the next leftover days and the magic seemed to work for real. She happened to remember everything she had studied.

Exams were done with and results were announced. To teachers surprise the girl did exceptionally well in her examinations. She secretly thanked the fairy, as she would every single night before she went to sleep.

However the night, fairy appeared at her window again. The girl was strikingly happy and narrated everything that happened. The fairy who was calm until now smiled at the girl's achievement.

Fairy: Well dear one, it's time you return back that necklace. You don't need it anymore.

Girl: I will never remember anything if I give this magical necklace back (she was red with fear)

Fairy: My child, it's an ordinary necklace. The real magic is you. The necklace was just to restore your faith. It doesn't have any magic as such. It was you, all this time. When teachers said you tend to forget everything you read, you actually believed them and that belief was what stopped you. All I did was, restore your faith back. Remember this, you'll never fail as long as you have faith and confidence in yourself.