THE BRICK

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared . Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, 'What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?' The young boy was apologetic. 'Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do,' He pleaded. 'I threw the brick because no one else would stop...' With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. 'It's my brother, 'he said. 'He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up.'
Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, 'Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me.'
Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. 'Thank you and may God bless you,' the grateful child told the stranger. Too shock up for words, the man simply watched the boy! push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home.

It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: 'Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!' God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.

Couples and Money

Money can be one of the most important factor in any relationships. There is also a saying that money is the cause of all evils.These money woes can lead to divorce to marriage couples. Couples must learn to solve their money problems and not pretend that the situation would turn for better. There are always solutions and ways and work it out among both of you. Have open and frank communication and meeting between both of you about your wants and needs.

Money talks
Begin to have regular money talks. Whether you had been married 30 years or are just starting to plan on moving in together, the first money talk you have should be when you are not stressed and are both fairly relaxed. Sit down with your partner and share what money was like in your family growing up, what money messages you may have inherited and what your money personality may be, Also share money secrets,including any debt or student loans you may have.

Never merge all your money.
This is especially important for women in order to retain a sense of self image. Women who tend to over-give and over-merge and tend to lose themselves in relationships. They need to safeguard themselves so as to have a healthy sense of belonging and self confident.

Work out a system for joint expenses.
Each partner is recommended to make their own list of what they think should be joint expenses, joint savings, joint emergency funds, etc. Then, merge the lists, make contributions to the joint accounts proportional to your income, and keep the rest separate. Always have some merged money and some separate money.

Know when to seek outside help.
Look to an expert when you cannot talk to your partner about money, if you are losing sleep over it or when you start hiding things from your partner. Couples will feel distress and hopeless which will eventually lead to divorce.

Consider a prenuptial agreement.
Try to draw up an agreement about finances before marriage. However,there is no standard rule that can suits both of you. At least, there will not be any objections or any unwanted argument later on. No harm, so what not.. it is better safe than sorry later.

Money and happiness

Money and happiness are two of the most powerful forces in our lives, but what is so interesting is how we have convinced ourselves that there is a powerful connection between them: We seem to think that if we were rich, our lives would be perfect.However most of the time this proved otherwise.
People who have lots of money does not create or sustain happiness. That is not to say that money is not an important factor in our emotional state...if we cannot pay our bills and support our families, we carry a great deal of stress on our shoulders and in our hearts. But it is seriously no logic to jump to conclusion that "money is power and much more important" to "money is the key to happiness."
It is a proven fact that some lottery winners or those who suddenly become rich (with whatever method) tend to lavish themselves with all kinds of everything after they hit the jackpot, but within a few years, went out of control with this situation and ended up being miserable with their lives.
This is also applicable to how some people have this weird relationship with food. When they are unhappy, they will turn to food for comfort which they believe, either consciously or subconsciously, will make them feel better. Sure, that very nice and tasty food might give them just a nice temporary lift, just like buying a great new handbag or outfit...but it is temporary.

Truth and Consequences
The message is that happiness is not tied to how much money you have—how much you had in the past or hope to have in the future...but how you deal with what you have right now.

Obviously, It is understood that it is far more difficult to live on $20,000 a year than $200,000. But we all have the capacity to take control of our lives,regardless of our bank accounts... to commit to making the right decisions for ourselves and our family. When we do that, we are on the road to happiness. When you are happy, you create your own financial stability by living within your means.

Power moves
Most people are unhappy because they are not being honest with themselves. Being truthful with yourself, you have to have that power in you, whether it is your relationship with money or with a partner. You are not going to be contented with lives. To be successful means you have to connect heart and manage your finance with all your energy. It is within you to make the right choices rather than fall to your weakness. In this way, you will feel better because your finances are in good shape, and also because you took the initiative to create a life based on honesty. This is a sure and priceless route to ultimate happiness.

Life cycle

A friend email me about the different stages of accomplishment of being so-called success through life.
How true! At young age of 4 yrs old it is indeed a successful task of not wetting your pants..At 6 yrs old, I remember my son is so delighted to be able to travel on a bus all by himself..(although I was spying on him all the way home from school) Friends used to be so important to him when he was 12 years old.
Then it is the "oo aa" of wanting to get his driver license the minute he turns 17 years old. However, I am still having doubts about this next one.. It says at age 20, success is having sex? Be it 35, 45 or 55 yrs old, most of us would think to be successful means you have lots of money.
The doubtful age of being 60 yrs old;same when you were 20 yrs... success is having sex? Maybe so..reaching age 65 yrs is like when you were 17...success is also about driving license.Somehow,the difference is trying hard to keep it instead of getting it...
Looking back, where friends means so much to you when you were 12..This time around when you reach 70 yrs old you value friends too because the numbers is eventually diminishing if you outlived the others.
It would be as delightful as when you were at 6 yrs , to be able to find your way home at age 75 yrs old. Indeed considered a success being still alert and not suffering from any serious memory losses.
Finally, there goes the age cycle all over again.. if you are 80 yrs old, the triumph of of able to control your bladder and not wet your undergarments just like when you were 4 yrs old!!

Debt diet

It is time to get rid of your debt! A step-by-step action plan to help set you on the path to financial freedom.

Step 1: How much debt do you really have?
It's time to get real about your debt. Do you know how much living with debt is costing you?

Step 2: Track your spending and find extra money to pay down debt
Time to cut back on the extras. It is time to start savings on the unnecessary expenditures you are paying.

Step 3: Learn to play the credit card game
Think $10 a day won't make a big difference in your debt? Think again! you can pay off $8,000 in credit card debt in just 3 years.

Step 4: Stop spending
Making small changes can help in a big way. Use these tricks to help you spend less and save more.

Step 5: Create a monthly spending plan
Use the monthly spending plan worksheet and calculator to create a budget that you can stick to—and save with—every paycheck.

Step 6: Take big steps to grow your income
Whether it is selling your assets or getting a second job, sometimes you have to make big choices to get out of debt.

Step 7: Prioritize your debts and raise your credit score

Step 8: Understand your spending issues…and save!
Resist temptation and build an emergency fund.

Hot Springs

Ever wonder why there's hot water coming up from the earth? Why there can be so hot that you can are able to get raw eggs turned into hard boiled eggs in just 5 minutes!
It is a fascinating phenomena to have hot stream/springs out of nowhere or out of somewhere..I gathered that there are some chemical compound (sulfur) underneath the ground. Seems hot springs and thermal spas are excellent to people with skin problem and have special healing powers.
Somehow, this is extremely hot for me and I would not stay on any longer then 5 minutes or else my legs will be hard-boiled like the eggs!

Long Neck Women

Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholders. Indeed who cares what others would think of you so long as you are what you believe yourself to be... THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ONE!
In these era of modern technology, it is amazing how these people still cling on to the traditional ways. To most of us, these long neck women have been subject to harsh and painful way to be of what they think is beautiful. The heavy load worn round..really very heavy about 3-5kg! prevented their faces from growing longer as compared with normal beings.So almost all the womenfolks would have long necks but short faces.
However, we had been told that original version is not so much of being beautiful..
Those primitive days, tribesmen have to go hunting for a living while the women would stay behind in their villagers. Then tigers would always attacked the womenfolks biting them on their necks, hands and legs. Therefore, they had iron coils or hard metals rings worn around themselves as some sort of protection.

Bisexual orchid??

While human had seek help for trying to conceive through 'test tube' babies..these so called 'seeds' of orchids have been placed into bottle with some chemical compounds with the required nutrients and then corked up. Funny they do not need further monitoring except to let it grow slowly..do not even need to open up the bottle and let sunlight or air in.It is only after they have spouted leaves long enough, then the bottle will have to be broken carefully and transfered to bigger pots.This is something I have not seen before!!
This trip to the Orchid farm in Chiangmai,Chiangrai was an eye opener for me.
The interesting part is that there are both 'male and female' flowers in the same species of orchid flowers!! It is until recently that I came to understand that there are 2 species of flowers...the male flowers and the female flowers.
Estimated by some specialists to include up to 35,000 species, which often have highly specialized flowers used to attract insects and facilitate pollination. The stamens have so strangely modified itself to produce pollen in clusters. which are attached to insects when crawling into the flower. The flower shapes are modified to force insects to pass by the pollen, which is "glued" to the insect. Some orchids are even more highly specialized, with flower shapes that mimic the shape of insects to attract them to 'mate' with the flowers, a few even have scents that mimic insect pheromones.

Education

It is really amazing how education played such important role not only to human lives but also to the lives of the animals. Yes...I said it right..Its animals lives!!.
This recent holiday visit to the elephant camps in Chiangmai, Chiangrai proves that elephants are indeed great! Great not only in size but great in so many ways. Just like our kids who attend kinder gardens or kids schools, these elephants are being sent to schools too!! Their syllabus included learning to paint/draw , learn to play football,
perform simple massage, learn to dance, learn to listen to instructions, do various jobs to generate income!! Its only trough real hard work/training to have such a splendid performances. And their paintings are quickly reserved by spectators or those art admirers.

Holiday

We had a real fun time on holiday to Chiangmai/Chiangrai in Thailand. Our trip coincides with their Songkran (water festival). Loads of people on top of vehicles,trucks, cars, motorcyles or tricycles etc, etc go cruising along the road with tanks filled with water.Splashing each other, pouring with buckets, shooting with water guns, cannons whatever they could get hold of...
The weather is very hot so it is okay with this water. However, sometimes, there are ice being added to the water. Then you would really get a chilly sensation.
The fun part is everyone is happy and do not mind being wet and should say thank you for being bombarded..You could see everyone smiling and having havoc time. It's a good way to release stress and fun way to enjoy with total strangers..people you do not know. This is something we will not be experiencing over here in our country.

Weight

Stepping on a scale is the primary way that people measure the success of their diet. it's easy to do, however, it's actually misleading in many ways."

For one thing, muscle weighs more than fat. By turning fat to muscle, you'll weigh more even though you'll be healthier. Also, weight doesn't tell you where the fat is. Fat around your legs and thighs is relatively harmless, but fat around your waist can lead to serious medical problems.

Instead of focusing on the number on the scale, focus on the number around your waist. There's an organ inside all of us that plays a key role in making us fat—the omentum. "This organ literally pumps chemicals into your body and it holds the secrets … to los[ing] weight."

The omentum is the fat organ connected to your stomach that's only purpose is to catch and store fat. When the fat is stored in your stomach, your body has easy access to it. The fat then creates an inflammatory process that irritates your arteries and puts you at risk for blocked arteries.

Free Will

We have various options in this world. The universe is not as rigid and dull as you might think. So it's really up to you to decide what you want to do and how much of a load and responsibility you want to handle. You can do it as long as you don't hurt other people. God has a few wishes, but we make the choices ourselves. It would be too boring if everything were predestined. We can change things, but we must make good changes, and then it is okay. So we have to choose to do good deeds because they will benefit us and also others. Otherwise, we'll have to shoulder a heavy responsibility that makes us feel uncomfortable and is very tiresome. Therefore, feel free to choose but do bear in mind not to make it as an excuse for us to act irresponsibly

Fear and worry

Fear and worry are born of the imaginings of the mind that is influenced by worldly conditions.Life is like a motion picture in which everything is constantly moving and changing.
Youthful and strong ones have fear of dying young whilst those old and suffering worry about living too long. Locked in between are those who craze for merriment all the year round.
Joyful expectations of the pleasant seem to pass off too quickly.But fearful ones do not seem to go away.Such feelings are natural. This is the ups and downs of life.
Whether you are old or young, no body is exempted.
Many teenagers have growing pains...understandably inexperience and unstable dealing with members of the opposite sex. They often worry about what impression of others on them, fear rejection, scared of losing their egos. Love unattained will often 'break' their hearts because they feel they have made fools of themselves. Some are even driven to commit suicide. But such traumas could be avoided if life is seen as it really is...
The choice rests entirely with ourselves because every human being has the ability to control his own mind. Nature has endowed man with absolute control over one thing, and that is thought.

The little emperor

This little emperor is under my care since he was born. When he was just about 20 months old, I discovered that he had got this amazing memory to be able to recognize and point to you the exact position of various countries from the world map.He can correctly point to more than 20 countries which I had taught him earlier! A very smart and adorable kid.

There was a time when he will always wake up in the middle of the night asking for his milk. It's like an addiction to this midnight milk! He would says,"I want milk, I want milk".The next day, I told him that he would not get to drink his milk if he is so rude and demanding. Then that night, he would address me politely and ask, " Can I please have my milk?.. so nice and well mannered.

I was trying not to be awaken for his milk addiction. I told him not to say the word 'milk' and I do not want to hear anything about 'milk' Sure enough, that night he did not mention the word 'milk' But in a very polite manner, he woke me up as usual and told me, "I am SO VERY hungry now,please??"...sounded so convincing....
Soon, slowly he grow up and sleep though the night without asking for his milk.

He like to creep onto my bed and sleep in between me and my husband. We would always carry him back to his own bed later. One day, I told him, I had sprained my hand. Very happily he answered, "Then you do not need to carry me to my bed, you will hurt more so just let me sleep here??

He will be 6 years old come this August. His name is KOH KEN JIN.

A Needle can save the life of a stroke victim

Don't know whether this works...haven't checked the authenticity. But definably worth a read. If it really does help that would be good. From a Chinese professor. Keep a syringe or needle in your home to do this... It's amazing and an unconventional way of recovering from stroke,read it through it can help somebody one day. This is amazing. Please keep this very handy. Excellent tips. Do take a minute to read this. You'll never know, ones life may depend on you When stroke strikes, the capillaries in the brain will gradually burst. When a stroke occurs, stay calm. No matter where the victim is, do not move him/her. Because, if moved, the capillaries will burst. Help the victim to sit up where he/she is to prevent him/her from falling over again and then the blood letting can begin. If you have in your home an injection syringe that would be the best. Otherwise, a sewing needle or a straight pin will do.

1. Place the needle/pin over fire to sterilize it and then use it to prick the tip of all ......10 fingers.
2. There are no specific acupuncture points, just prick about an mm from the finger nail.
3. Prick till blood comes out.
4. If blood does not start to drip, then squeeze with your fingers.
5. When all 10 digits is bleeding, wait a few minutes then the victim will regain consciousness.
6. If the victim's mouth is crooked, then pull on his ears until they are red.
7. Then prick each ear lobe twice until two drops of blood comes from each ear lobe.

After a few minutes the victim should regain consciousness. Wait till the victim regains his normal state without any abnormal symptoms then take him to the hospital. Otherwise, if he was taken in the ambulance in a hurry to the hospital, the bumpy trip will cause all the capillaries in his brain to burst. If he could save his life, barely managing to walk, then it is by the grace of his ancestors.

It is said that letting blood out is a traditional Chinese way of treatment to save life and it is 100% effective.
There were no ill after effects.On the other hand, the usual stroke victim usually suffers irreparable bursting of the brain capillaries on the way to the hospital. As a result, these victims never recover.
Therefore, stroke is the second cause of death. The lucky ones will stay alive but can remain paralyzed for life. It is such a horrible thing to happen in ones life. If we can all remember this blood letting method and start the life saving process immediately, in a short time, the victim will be revived and regain 100% normality.

Strange Numbers

Think of a number. Double it. Add eight. Divides by two. Subtract the first number.
Your answer is always 4!

Write down any three-figure number. Reverse this number, and subtract the smaller number from the larger. Reverse that number and now add these last two numbers together.
Your answer is always 1089!

8 min yoga for better sleep

8-Minute Workout: Yoga for Better Sleep Try this 5-move yoga routine to relax your body and mind before sleep. The best part? Each pose can be done in bed!

Forget counting sheep. Ease your way into dreamland with this five-move yoga routine from Edward Vilga, creator of the DVD Yoga in Bed: 20 Asanas to Do in Pajamas (yogainbeddvd.com, $19.95). The moves will relax your body and mind, but the best part is that you can do them all in bed! Minutes: 0:00-2:00 Upside-Down Relaxation Sit facing a wall (or your headboard) with your butt about 6 inches away from it. Lie back and extend your legs up the wall. If this is too intense a stretch for your hamstrings, slide your butt farther away from the wall. If it's not enough, scoot closer. Let your arms rest by your sides, palms facing up, and breathe gently, feeling the stretch in the backs of your legs. Minutes: 2:00-3:00 Winding Down Twist Sit cross-legged on the bed and exhale as you place your right hand on your left knee and left hand on the bed behind your tailbone. Gently twist your torso to the left. Allow your gaze to follow, looking over your left shoulder. Breathe deeply, then return to center and repeat on opposite side. Minutes: 3:00-5:00 Nighttime Goddess Stretch Lie on your back with knees bent. Place the soles of your feet together, then let your knees fall open, forming a diamond shape with your legs. Rest your arms on the bed. If you feel any strain, elevate your legs by placing a pillow underneath each knee. Minutes: 5:00-7:00 Child's Pose Sit up comfortably on your heels. Roll your torso forward, bringing your forehead to rest on the bed in front of you. Lower your chest as close to your knees as you comfortably can, extending your arms in front of you. Hold the pose and breathe. Minutes: 7:00-8:00 Rock-a-Bye Roll Lying on your back, hug knees in to chest. Cross your ankles and wrap both arms around your shins with clasped hands. Inhale and rock your body up to sit; exhale as you roll back. Continue for 1 minute, then roll back, extend arms and legs, and drift off to sleep.

Tell their Age!

Here's a fun way to trick your friends into telling you their age - and without knowing they're doing it. In the answer, you'll find the month of their birthday, too! Give them a pencil and paper and ask them to do this sum:
Write down the number of the month in which they were born
- (e.g. April is 4 , July is 7, Oct is 10..and so on)
Here are the 6 steps:
a) ......multiply this by 2
b) ......add 5
c) ......multiply this by 50
d) .....add their age
e) .....subtract 365
f) .....add 115.
The last two numbers of the final total will give their age, and the first number or numbers the month in which they were born.

Let's see what someone aged 12 and born in June would put down:-
a)..... 6 x 2 = 12
b)...... + 5 = 17
c)...... x 50 = 850
d)...... + 12 = 862
e)...... - 365 = 497
f)...... + 115 = 612

There in the answer is the "6" for June, and the "12" for his age.

Days of the week

Time flies by very quickly..
There was a time when the only division of time was a month, because days and weeks were not known to man. When cities were built and they began to flourish, the need for fixing the days for trading, festivals, holidays arose.
The Jews fixed every seventh day of the week for religious purposes. The Babylonians fixed every seventh day for trading and so on..
Then came the need to name these days, the Egyptians named the days after the planets, the Jews gave them numbers beginning with the Sabbath day and finally the Anglo-Saxons named the days after the names of their gods.
They called their Sun god 'Sunnan' and so they named Sunday as Sunnandaeg,
The day of the Moon was called Monandaeg,
Tuesday was named after their god of war call Tiw,and was called Tiwesdaeg,
They named Wednesday after their god Woden,
Thursday was named after the god of thunder 'Thor'
Friday was named after Frigg, the wife of the god Odin
Finally Saturday after the planet Saturn.

Nowadays many of us add colors to our days of week.
Monday is usually black
Tuesday becomes grey
Wednesday turns green
Thursday will slowly be blue
Friday changed to red hot
Saturday becomes yellow
Sunday colors faded??
Comes the cycle of colors all over again...

Recipe to a happier world

Recipe to a happier world is that of living a purposeful life:

"Seek to radiate love and happiness to others around you,
so that they too may be inspired to do the same to those
around them.