RAT RACE or CAT PARTY?

do you feel stuck?

leave the stress of a RAT RACE ...

instead join the fun of a CAT PARTY (Contenment And Tranquility - Personal Achievements w. Respect To Yourself) :D

i want for myself ...

... whatever i want for everyone else :)


ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु
मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah
Sarve Santu Nir-Aamayaah |
Sarve Bhadraanni Pashyantu
Maa Kashcid-Duhkha-Bhaag-Bhavet |
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||

Meaning:
Om, May All become Happy,
May All be Free from Illness.
May All See what is Auspicious,
May no one Suffer.
Om Peace, Peace, Peace.

as you sow ...

... so shall you reap :)

This is a saying I was taught early in my life ...

It is true ... Whatever seeds one plants, the corresponding fruits will grow up

Recently, i happened to ponder upon a very important understanding related to the same concept. One should not get attached to the place where one has put in their seeds ... some of the fruits take very long time to grow up ... instead, move on after planting your seeds with best intentions and rest assured you will get to enjoy even bigger/better fruits on the way (grown from seeds planted by someone else with equally great intentions much earlier than you did) ... thereby, you can enjoy new 'places' as well and get the benefits earlier (than had you waited patiently at your own 'farm') :D

It is certain that if your intentions were noble than the fruits you get to enjoy will be at least better and earlier (than your own fruits) - but you need FAITH in the GRACE!

Happy New 2013 & not-so-new ‘happy’ alphabets :)

This new year, I have once again decided to make it even more ‘happy’

I would make extra efforts to make frequest use of the following ‘happy’ alphabets

A – Abundance
B – Bliss
C – Compassion/Care
D – Divinity
E – Enthusiasm
F – Faith
G – Gratitude
H – Happiness
I – Inquisitiveness/Integrity
J – Joy
K – Kindness
L – Love
M – Motivation
N – New
O – Openness
P – Positive
Q – Q…
R – Respect
S – Spirituality
T – Thankfulness
U – Universalism
V – Vision
W – Wisdom
X – X…
Y – Yearning
Z – Zestful

Can you think of better positive/happy words for any of the letters? I am going to fill up/expand the happy alphabets and would love to hear from you (PS: this is from my 2 year old blog - but even more relevant today)

Make every moment in 2013 (& beyond) a ‘happy’ one!!!

value?

Spiritual Story by Unknown [from http://www.spiritual-short-stories.com/spiritual-short-story-70-Life+as+a+Jewel.html]

One afternoon Guru Nanak and his company were resting on the banks of the Ganges at Patna. Mardana was idly inspecting a stone he had picked up along the road, thinking of the vast throngs who had come to hear the Guru. "Master," said Mardana, "you teach a way for every person to find liberation. But many of those who listen still seem to spend much of their time in conflict, and in seeking out excitement and other idle pursuits. Why do they waste away their lives so?" "Most people don't recognize its value," replied the Guru, "although human life is the dearest treasure on this earth." "Surly everyone can see the value of life," said Mardana. "No," said Nanak. "Each man places his own value on things according to what he thinks. A different man with different knowledge will place a different value. That stone you found in the dirt will make a good example. Take it to the marketplace and see what you can get for it." Puzzled, Mardana took the stone to the marketplace and at a stall that sold sweets asked what the vendor would trade for it. The man laughed. "Go away, you're wasting my time." He next tried a produce seller. "I have paying customers to wait on," said the grocer. "I'll give you an onion for it just to get you out of here." Mardana tried several more shops with no better response. Finally he came to the shop of Salis Raj, the jeweler. Salis Raj's eyes opened wide when he saw the stone. "I'm sorry," he said, "I don't have enough money to buy your gem. But I will give you a hundred rupees if you will let me look at it a while longer." Mardana hurried back to the Guru to tell him what had happened. "See," said Guru Nanak, "how when we are ignorant we mistake a valuable gem for a worthless stone. If someone had told you its value before you knew what it was, you would have thought they were crazy. Such a jewel is human life, and whatever you've traded for it, that is what is yours."

nature is forgiving :)

recently, we were fortunate to participate in a tree planting activity ... while volunteering, it occurred to me that 'nature is forgiving' (just like mothers) - even if you make a small mistake here and there, the plants will still do well - how comforting, isn't it?

so, don't worry too much about few wrong turns you might have taken in the past - just enjoy the journey and you will have fun :)

the journey of 26.2 ... and 1000+ miles

Well, it had been more than 2 long years - that i had not experienced the GRACE during a long tiring marathon run (last time was at Boston on 17 April 2010) ... but it brought out the same humbling feeling on the FINISH line of Chicago Marathon on 7 Oct 2012

GRACE was even stronger - i would say - that not only did i get to participate (after few ups & downs during this 'roller-coaster' ride) and complete but i also improved my time by 29 minutes! AND I could meet & greet the winners from all three categories [thanks to the sponsors - TCS :)]

Below is my result table (if you are interested) followed by few pics :)

Split	Time Of Day	Time	Diff	min/mile	miles/h
05K	08:08:33AM	00:31:26	31:26	10:07	5.93
10K	08:45:41AM	01:08:34	37:08	11:58	5.02
15K	09:17:13AM	01:40:05	31:31	10:09	5.91
20K	09:54:57AM	02:17:49	37:44	12:09	4.94
HALF	10:03:13AM	02:26:05	08:16	12:08	4.95
25K	10:31:05AM	02:53:58	27:53	11:30	5.22
30K	11:12:43AM	03:35:35	41:37	13:24	4.48
35K	11:59:36AM	04:22:28	46:53	15:06	3.98
40K	12:46:44AM	05:09:37	47:09	15:11	3.95
Finish	01:02:29PM	05:25:22	15:45	11:33	5.20

I am really grateful for having finished 2 out of the 5 https://worldmarathonmajors.com

Thanks to everyone (those donated for the cause at http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR?px=7751857&fr_id=7090&pg=personal - as well as supported/motivated/helped in so many others ways) - it is all those 'small' steps that made up the 26.2 miles :)

GOD
Realizes
All
Creative (even Crazy)
Expectations

PS: Yes, I drove from L5B (Canada) to 60605 (USA) and back (which makes up for the 1000+ miles i mentioned in the title) ... i remember, when i was a kid, i used to ridicule people who would drive to a nearby park for their morning jog :)