Good Thoughts F

कालिदास बोले :- माते पानी पिला दीजिए बङा पुण्य होगा.

स्त्री बोली :- बेटा मैं तुम्हें जानती नहीं. अपना परिचय दो।
मैं अवश्य पानी पिला दूंगी।

कालीदास ने कहा :- मैं पथिक हूँ, कृपया पानी पिला दें।

स्त्री बोली :- तुम पथिक कैसे हो सकते हो, पथिक तो केवल दो ही हैं सूर्य व चन्द्रमा, जो कभी रुकते नहीं हमेशा चलते रहते। तुम इनमें से कौन हो सत्य बताओ।

कालिदास ने कहा :- मैं मेहमान हूँ, कृपया पानी पिला दें।

स्त्री बोली :- तुम मेहमान कैसे हो सकते हो ? संसार में दो ही मेहमान हैं।
पहला धन और दूसरा यौवन। इन्हें जाने में समय नहीं लगता। सत्य बताओ कौन हो तुम ?
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(अब तक के सारे तर्क से पराजित हताश तो हो ही चुके थे)
कालिदास बोले :- मैं सहनशील हूं। अब आप पानी पिला दें।

स्त्री ने कहा :- नहीं, सहनशील तो दो ही हैं। पहली, धरती जो पापी-पुण्यात्मा सबका बोझ सहती है। उसकी छाती चीरकर बीज बो देने से भी अनाज के भंडार देती है, दूसरे पेड़ जिनको पत्थर मारो फिर भी मीठे फल देते हैं। तुम सहनशील नहीं। सच बताओ तुम कौन हो ?

(कालिदास लगभग मूर्च्छा की स्थिति में आ गए और तर्क-वितर्क से झल्लाकर बोले)
कालिदास बोले :- मैं हठी हूँ ।
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स्त्री बोली :- फिर असत्य. हठी तो दो ही हैं- पहला नख और दूसरे केश, कितना भी काटो बार-बार निकल आते हैं। सत्य कहें ब्राह्मण कौन हैं आप ?

(पूरी तरह अपमानित और पराजित हो चुके थे)
कालिदास ने कहा :- फिर तो मैं मूर्ख ही हूँ ।
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स्त्री ने कहा :- नहीं तुम मूर्ख कैसे हो सकते हो।
मूर्ख दो ही हैं। पहला राजा जो बिना योग्यता के भी सब पर शासन करता है, और दूसरा दरबारी पंडित जो राजा को प्रसन्न करने के लिए ग़लत बात पर भी तर्क करके उसको सही सिद्ध करने की चेष्टा करता है।

(कुछ बोल न सकने की स्थिति में कालिदास वृद्धा के पैर पर गिर पड़े और पानी की याचना में गिड़गिड़ाने लगे)

वृद्धा ने कहा :- उठो वत्स ! (आवाज़ सुनकर कालिदास ने ऊपर देखा तो साक्षात माता सरस्वती वहां खड़ी थी, कालिदास पुनः नतमस्तक हो गए)

माता ने कहा :- शिक्षा से ज्ञान आता है न कि अहंकार । तूने शिक्षा के बल पर प्राप्त मान और प्रतिष्ठा को ही अपनी उपलब्धि मान लिया और अहंकार कर बैठे इसलिए मुझे तुम्हारे चक्षु खोलने के लिए ये स्वांग करना पड़ा।
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कालिदास को अपनी गलती समझ में आ गई और भरपेट पानी पीकर वे आगे चल पड़े।

शिक्षा :-
विद्वत्ता पर कभी घमण्ड न करें, यही घमण्ड विद्वत्ता को नष्ट कर देता है।
 दो चीजों को कभी व्यर्थ नहीं जाने देना चाहिए.....

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"BETWEEN 65 and DEATH"


1. It’s TIME to use the MONEY you SAVED UP. Use it and ENJOY it.  DON'T just keep it for those who may have NO NOTION of the SACRIFICES you made to get it. Remember there is nothing more DANGEROUS than a SON or DAUGHTER- IN- LAW with BIG ideas for your HARD-EARNED capital.

Warning: This is also a BAD TIME for INVESTMENTS, even if it seems wonderful or fool-proof. They only bring problems and worries. This is a time for you to ENJOY some PEACE and QUIET.

2. STOP WORRYING about the financial situation of your CHILDREN and grandchildren, and don’t feel BAD spending your MONEY on YOURSELF. You’ve taken care of them for many YEARS, and you’ve TAUGHT them what you could. You gave them an EDUCATION, FOOD, SHELTER and SUPPORT. The RESPONSIBILITY is now theirs to EARN their OWN MONEY.

3. Keep a HEALTHY LIFE, without great physical effort. Do moderate exercise (like WALKING every day), EAT well and get your SLEEP. It’s easy to become SICK, and it gets HARDER to remain HEALTHY. That is why you need to keep yourself in GOOD SHAPE and be aware of your MEDICAL and PHYSICAL needs. Keep IN TOUCH with your DOCTOR, do TESTS even when you’re feeling WELL. Stay informed.

4. Always buy the BEST, most BEAUTIFUL items for your significant other. The key goal is to ENJOY your MONEY with your PARTNER. One day ONE of YOU will MISS the OTHER, and the MONEY will NOT provide any COMFORT then, ENJOY IT TOGETHER.

 5. Don’t stress over the little things. You’ve already overcome so much in your life. You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present. Don’t let the past drag you down and don’t let the future frighten you. Feel good in the now. Small issues will soon be forgotten.

6. Regardless of AGE, always keep LOVE ALIVE. Love your PARTNER, love LIFE, love your FAMILY, love your NEIGHBOR and remember: “A man is NOT OLD as long as he has INTELLIGENCE and AFFECTION.”

7. Be PROUD, both inside and out. DON'T STOP going to your hair salon or barber, do your nails, go to the dermatologist and the dentist, keep your PERFUMES and CREAMS well stocked. When you are well-maintained on the outside, it seeps in, making you feel PROUD and STRONG.

8. Don’t LOSE sight of FASHION TRENDS for your AGE, but keep your own SENSE of STYLE. There’s nothing WORSE than an OLDER person trying to WEAR the current fashion among YOUNGSTERS. You’ve developed your own sense of what looks good on you – keep it and be PROUD of it. It’s part of WHO YOU ARE.

9. ALWAYS stay UP-to-DATE. Read NEWSPAPERS, watch the NEWS. Go ONLINE and read what people are saying. Make sure you have an active email account and try to use some of those SOCIAL NETWORKS. You’ll be SURPRISED what old friends you’ll meet. Keeping in touch with what is going on and with the PEOPLE you know is IMPORTANT at any AGE.

10. RESPECT the Younger Generation and their OPINIONS. They may NOT have the SAME IDEALS as YOU, but they are the future, and will take the WORLD in THEIR direction. Give ADVICE, NOT CRITICISM, and try to remind them that yesterday’s WISDOM still applies TODAY.

11. NEVER use the phrase: “IN MY TIME.” Your time is now.... As long as you’re ALIVE, you are PART of this TIME. You may have been YOUNGER, but you are STILL IN now, having FUN and ENJOY LIFE.

12. Some people embrace their GOLDEN YEARS, while others become BITTER and SURLY. Life is too SHORT to waste your days on the latter. Spend your time with positive, cheerful people, it’ll rub off on you and your days will seem that much better. SPENDING your time with BITTER people will make you OLDER and HARDER to be around.

13. Do not SURRENDER to the TEMPTATION of LIVING with your CHILDREN or GRANDCHILDREN (if you have a FINANCIAL CHOICE, that is). Surely , being surrounded by FAMILY sounds GREAT, but we all NEED our PRIVACY. THEY NEED theirs and you NEED YOURS. If you’ve LOST your PARTNER (our deepest condolences), then FIND a PERSON to move in with you and help out. Even then, do so only if you feel you really need the help or do not want to LIVE ALONE.

14.  Don’t ABANDON your hobbies. If you don’t have any, make new ones. You can TRAVEL, HIKE, COOK, READ, DANCE. You can adopt a cat or a dog, grow a garden, play cards, checkers, chess, dominoes, golf. You can paint, volunteer or just collect certain items. Find something you like and spend some real time having fun with it.

15.  Even if you DON'T feel like it, try to accept INVITATIONS. Baptisms, graduations, BIRTHDAYS, WEDDINGS, conferences. Try to go. Get OUT of the HOUSE, meet people you HAVEN'T seen in a while, experience something NEW (or something OLD). But DON'T get UPSET when you’re NOT invited. Some events are limited by resources, and NOT everyone can be HOSTED. The important thing is to LEAVE the HOUSE from time to time. Go to museums, go WALK through a field. Get out there.

16. Be a CONVERSATIONALIST. TALK LESS and LISTEN more. Some people go ON and ON about the PAST, NOT caring if their LISTENERS are really INTERESTED. That’s a great way of REDUCING their desire to SPEAK with you. LISTEN first and answer questions, but DON'T go off into long stories unless asked to. Speak in COURTEOUS tones and try not to COMPLAIN or CRITICISE too much unless you really need to. Try to ACCEPT situations as they are. Everyone is going through the same things, and people have a LOW tolerance for hearing complaints. Always find some good things to say as well.

17.  PAIN and DISCOMFORT go hand in hand with getting OLDER. Try NOT to DWELL on them but ACCEPT them as a part of the CYCLE of LIFE we’re ALL going through. Try to MINIMISE them in your MIND. They are NOT who you are, they are something that LIFE added to YOU. If they become your ENTIRE FOCUS, you LOSE sight of the person you USED to be.

18. If you’ve been OFFENDED by someone – FORGIVE them. If you’ve OFFENDED someone - APOLOGISE. Don’t drag around RESENTMENT with YOU. It only serves to make you SAD and BITTER. It DOESN'T matter who was RIGHT. Someone once said: “Holding a GRUDGE is like taking POISON and expecting the OTHER person to DIE.” Don’t take that poison. Forgive, forget and move on with your life.

19. If you have a strong belief, savor it. But don’t waste your time trying to convince others. They will make their own choices no matter what you tell them, and it will only bring you FRUSTRATION. Live your faith and set an example. Live true to your BELIEFS and let that MEMORY sway them.

20. LAUGH. Laugh A LOT. Laugh at everything. Remember, you are one of the LUCKY ONES. You managed to have a LIFE, a LONG one. Many NEVER get to this AGE, NEVER get to EXPERIENCE a FULL life. But you did. So what’s NOT to laugh about? Find the HUMOUR in your situation.

21. Take NO NOTICE of what others say about YOU and even less notice of what they might be thinking. They’ll do it anyway, and you should have PRIDE in YOURSELF and what you’ve ACHIEVED. Let them TALK and DON'T Worry. They have NO IDEA about your history, your memories and the life you’ve lived so far. There’s still much to be written, so get busy WRITING and don’t waste time thinking about WHAT OTHERS MIGHT THINK. Now is the time to be at REST, at PEACE and as HAPPY as you can be!

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER that: “Life is TOO SHORT ...."

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बायकोच्या आग्रहावरून लाडानं वाढवलेला एकुलता एक मुलगा आपल्या बापाला वृद्धाश्रमात सोडायला घेऊन जातो. हा अनाथश्रम कम वृद्धाश्रमएक सेवाभावी वृद्ध मालक अनेक वर्षे चालवत असतो.

मुलगा तिथल्या सोयींबद्दल चौकशी करत असतो. सून तोपर्यंत सासर्याला सणावाराला सुद्धा घरी यायची काहीही गरज नाहीये, हे पटवून सांगत असते. मुलगा वडिलांना विचारतो, "तुम्हाला एसी, टिव्ही असलेली रुम घेऊया का?"

वडील म्हणतात, "नको बेटा! काही गरज नाही मला. साधीच रुम चालेल."

मुलगा फॉर्म भरण्यात व्यग्र असतो. तोपर्यंत आश्रमाचा मालक आणि वडिलांच्या जुन्या गप्पा चालू होतात. अगदी फार जुनी ओळख असल्यासारखे ते बोलत बसलेले असतात.

ते पाहून मुलगा विचारतो, "तुमची दोघांची आधीपासून ओळख आहे का?" वडील काहीच बोलत नाहीत.

ते पाहून आश्रमाचे मालक म्हणतात, "हो रे.. आमची ३० वर्षे जुनी ओळख आहे."

मुलगा आश्चर्याने म्हणतो, "कशी काय?"

आश्रमाचे मालक म्हणतात, "अरे, तीस वर्षापूर्वी त्यांनी आमच्या इथूनच एक अनाथ मुलगा दत्तक घेतला होता!!"

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I had spent an hour in the bank with Uncle, as he had to transfer some money. In a small SBI branch in a sleepy area of a small town. I couldn't resist the urge.

''Uncle, why don't we activate your internet banking?''

''Why would I do that?'' He asked

''Well, then you wont have to spend an hour here for things like transfer. You can even do your shopping online. Everything will be so easy!'' I was so excited about initiating him into the world of Net banking.

He asked ''If I do that, I wont have to step out of the house? I wont have to come to the bank?''

''Yes, yes''! I said. I told him how even grocery can be delivered at door now and how amazon delivers everything!

His answer left me tongue-tied. Our parents, have somewhere found the perfect balance. They enjoy seeing the photos we send them on Whats App but they have not broken their human ties. They have adopted technology on our insistence but not forgotten where it all began.

He said ''Since I entered this bank today, I have met four of my friends, I have chatted a while with the staff who know me very well by now. My kids are out of town and visit me now and then but this is the company that I need. I like to get ready and come to the bank. I have enough time, it is the physical touch that I crave. Two years back I got sick, very sick. The butcher from whom I buy meat, came to see me and sat by my bedside and cried. The man who comes every month to collect my bills and goes and physically pays them for a nominal charge from me, has only that mean of earning and the only thing that keeps him busy in his retired life. My wife fell down few days back while on her morning walk. My local grocer saw her and immediately got his car to rush her home as he knows where I live. Would I have that 'human' touch if everything became online?

Why would I want everything delivered to me and force me to interact with just my computer? 

I like to know the person that I'm dealing with and not just the 'seller' . It creates bonds. Relationships. Does Amazon deliver all this as well?'''

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एका राजाने दोन गरुड आणले आणि त्यांना शिकवण्यासाठी माणूस ठेवला .

काही दिवस गेले . एक गरुड उंच भराऱ्या घेऊ लागला, अगदी बघत रहावे असे.

दुसरा मात्र उडेचना.

राजा काळजीत पडला,

अगदी सारखे दोन पक्षी एक भरारी घेतोय दुसरा थंड.

काय करावे.. काय करावे..???

राजाने दवंडी पिटली, गरुडला कोणी उडवून दाखवावे म्हणून.

दुसऱ्या दिवशी पहाटेस राजा बागेत आला, बघतो तो दुसरा गरुड पहिल्या पेक्षाही उंच गेला होता आणि हवेत सुंदर संथ गिरक्या घेत होता .

राजाच्या आश्चर्यास पारावार उरला नाही. हे अजब घडले कसे आणि केले तरी कोणी!

एक सामान्यसा दिसणारा शेतकरी अदबीने पुढ्यात आला आणि म्हणाला "महाराज मी केले"

राजा : अरे पण कसे?

शेतकरी : मी फक्त तो गरुड ज्यावर बसला होता ती फांदी कापली, दुसऱ्या क्षणी तो आकाशात

झेपावला बाकी तुम्ही बघत आहातच.

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तात्पर्य :

आपली फांदी कधीतरी सोडून बघा.

सतत सुखद मर्यादित कवचांमध्ये स्वतःला गुरफटवून ठेवू नका.

कदाचित बाहेर अधिक सुंदर खुले समृद्ध आकाश तुमची वाट बघत असेल.

विचार बदला, आयुष्य बदला !!!

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