A sense of a goose

Next Autumn, when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying in a "V" formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.
People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily, because they are travelling on the thrust of one another.

When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.
If we have the sense of a goose, we will stay in formation with those people who are heading the same way we are.

When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point.
It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs, whether with people or with geese flying south.

Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
What message do we give when we honk from behind?

Finally - and this is important - when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshot, and falls out of the formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies; and only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their own group.
If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that.

The Fence

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily, gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said “you have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.” You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there. Make sure you control your temper the next time you are tempted to say something.

Moral: World is not fair there will be many things which tempt you to be in anger, what matters is how you handle the same. It’s a Art ,that everyone has to learn, to attain peace in life.

True Winner

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:

"When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?" The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. "I believe,that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes, in the way other people treat that child."Then he told the following story:

Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, “Do you think they'll let me play?" Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play, not expecting much. The boy looked around for guidance and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."

Shay struggled over to the team's bench put on a team shirt with a broad smile and his Father had a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field.

Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing the other team putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least be able to make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over, but the pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the head of the first baseman, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!" Never in his life had Shay ever ran that far but made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!" Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to second base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball, the smallest guy on their team, who had a chance to be the hero for his team for the first time. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions and he too intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay" Shay reached third base, the opposing shortstop ran to help him and turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third! Shay, run to third" As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams and those watching were on their feet were screaming, "Shay, run home! Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the "grand slam" and won the game for his team.

That day, said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world. Shay didn't make it to another summer and died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his father so happy and coming home and seeing his mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

Moral: Winning is not everything ,true love and humanity is beyond everything.

Weakness or Strength

The boy began lessons with an old Japanese Judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn’t understand why, after three months of training the master had taught him only one move.

“Sensei,” the boy finally said, “Shouldn’t I be learning more moves?”

“This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you’ll ever need to know.” – the sensei replied.

Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.

Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals.

This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened.

“No,” the sensei insisted, “Let him continue.”

Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.

On the way home, the boy and sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind.

“Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?”

“You won for two reasons,” the sensei answered. “First, you’ve almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grap your left arm.”

The boy’s biggest weakness had become his biggest strength. Sometimes our biggest weakness can become our biggest strength. Get Inspired … Inspire others ……. Share with loved ones

Appreciate little things

This story you're about to read has an important lesson for you to learn. So, read it carefully...

A young married woman whose husband was a wealthy man was expecting a birthday gift from her husband. For quite a number of months she had admired a very beautiful diamond ring in a showroom, and she knowing that her husband could afford it, if he would, told him that was all she wanted for her birthday, and nothing more. As her birthday was drawing nigh, this lady awaited signs that her husband had bought the diamond ring.

At last, her birthday finally came. On the morning of her birthday, her husband called her into his room. He told her how proud he was to have such a good wife as her and told her how much he loved her. After telling her all sort of sweet talks, he finally handed her a beautifully wrapped gift box. Very excited and curious, the wife opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the her name embossed in gold. Angrily, she raised her voice to her husband and said, 'With all your money, a Bible was all you could give me?!!' And stormed out of the house, leaving her husband.

Many years passed and the lady was very successful in all her dealings and business. She managed to settle for a more beautiful house ,more luxury, but realized her husband was very old, and thought perhaps she should say him a visit because she had not seen him for so many years. But before she could make travelling arrangements, she received a text message telling her that her husband had died, and willed all of his possessions to her. She needed to come back immediately and take care of things. When she arrived at her husband's house, sudden sadness and regret filled her heart. She began to search through her husband's important papers and saw the Bible, still as new as when it was presented to her, she had left it years before. With tears, she opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. Her husband had carefully underlined a verse, Matt 7:11, which reads 'And if you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father, who is in heaven, give what is good to those who ask Him?' As she read those words, a tiny package dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a diamond ring, with her name engraved on it-the same diamond ring which she saw at the showroom! On the tag, the date of her birth, and the words. 'LUV U ALWAYS' were inscribed. How many times do we miss God's blessings, because they are not packaged as we expected? Do not spoil what you have, by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.

Moral of the story: Always appreciate little things, irrespective of how small they seem to be. 

Important things in Life

A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on the table in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, about 2 inches in diameter.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “Yes.”

“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your Life Partner, your health, your children – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter – like your job, your house, your car.

The sand is everything else. The small stuff.”

“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued “there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life.

Thought to Ponder: If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Spend time with your life partner. Take your parents out. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, and do your daily work.

Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

Unfulfilled Journey to Udupi

Place Name: Udupi

Distance from Bangalore: approx 400 KM from Majestic

Route: Via Dharmastala or via Mangalore

Duration: 2 day Trip

Road Condition: Good

Best time to visit: October to Feb

places nearby to visit: Dharmastala, Mangalore

 

It was a pleasant surprise to receive the call from my long time buddy. His voice seemed excited as he revealed that he was to get married and the venue was in Udupi, his hometown. This invite brought the much awaited trip to Udupi. We started our journey on a Saturday, with the plans roadmap of the places to explore, along with the marriage celebrations of my friend.

 

As we reached our destination in the wee hours of morning, we checked in the hotel nearby and freshened up to greet the dawn. We set out to the very popular shrine – Udupi Krishna Matt. The overwhelming devotion of the devotees and the mesmerizing idol of Sri Krishna held us spell bound. The Pooja is offered to the lord which is placed opposite to the entrance which is called the Kanakana Kindi, which goes after the story of the ardent devotee – Bhakta Kanaka Dasa. Finishing our prayers, we headed straight to the Manipal University. The vast campus, with lush greenery and well maintained gardens, the famous “End Point” was the key highlights of this place. It is definitely a respite from the blazing sun. We next set out to the famous Kapu Beach, the place where sea speaks. The roaring waves and the beauty of the beach is enchanting to the eyes of the beholder. There is a lighthouse around which was built in 1901. However, we could not manage to get atop the lighthouse. Enjoying there for a while and with the intention of capturing the sunset at its best, we travelled to the Malpe beach which is 7 Km from Udupi. We reached there by 5 pm and visited the Malpe harbor and saw steamer boats and variety of fishes, which added on the fishy odour of this place. Strikingly this beach is opposite to the roaring Kapu beach, with silent waves hitting the shores. I was filled with nostalgic memories of the Kite festival, as I saw Many people flying kites on this beach. One can spot the St. Mary’s island from the coast of Malpe Beach. But unfortunately, it was closed during the time of June-October. As we waited for the sun to set, to capture the scenic beauty, the clouds played havoc, dampening our spirits. With the dusk setting in, we started to join the celebrations of my friend’s wedding. Relishing the best Udupi food and enjoying the function, we started our way back to Bangalore the next day.

 

Udupi was a refreshing journey, but the contentment of my soul was yet to be satiated, because of the pending visit to the St. Mary’s Island, and the Annegudde Ganesha Temple. I am eagerly looking forward to the next journey to Udupi.

manipal campus

View from End point manipal

Light house at Kapu beach

Roaring Kapu

Silent malpe beach

St.marys island

Temple at malpe beach