http://thestar.com.my/comics/kee/kee.asp?id=080402

Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

God Gives every bird it’s food, but He does not throw it into its nest.

but (more…)

This is truly inspiring.

Breakfast at McDonald’s

This is a good story and is true, please read it all the way through until the
end! (After the story, there are some very interesting facts!):

I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college
degree.

The last class I had to take was Sociology.

The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every
human being had been graced with.

Her last project of the term was called, ‘Smile.’

The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their
reactions.

I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway.
So, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went
out to McDonald’s one crisp March morning.

It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son.

We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone
around us began to back away, and then even my husband did.

I did not move an inch… an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of
me as I turned to see why they had moved.

As I turned around I smelled a horrible ‘dirty body’ smell, and there standing
behind me were two poor homeless men.

As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was ’smiling.’

His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God’s Light as he searched for
acceptance.

He said, ‘Good day’ as he counted the few coins he had been clutching.

The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I
realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman
was his salvation.

I held my tears as I stood there with them.

The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted.

He said, ‘Coffee is all Miss’ because that was all they could afford. (If they
wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He
just wanted to be warm).

Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and
embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in
the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action.

I smiled and (more…)

Diwali or Deepavali is amongst the
most celebrated Indian festivals. The
word Deepavali originates from two
Sanskrit words ‘Deepa’ which
means ‘light’ and ‘Avali’ which
means ‘a row’. This is why Deepavali
is called ‘the festival of lights’.

It is celebrated on the 15th day of
the Hindu month of Kartik which is a
new moon day (Amavasya). Deepavali is
celebrated by lighting diyas (earthen
lamps), drawing rangolis
(multico loured designs drawn on the
ground with coloured rice flour),
cleaning and decoration of homes,
wearing new clothes, preparation of
sweets in homes, lighting of
fireworks, veneration of cows as
incarnations of Goddess Lakshmi
(Goddess of wealth) and Lakshmi Puja.

There are two main mythological
stor ies that signify the importance of
Deepavali. The first story is that
Deepavali denotes the return of Lord
Rama’s return from exile after his
victorious conquest of the evil king
Ravana. This story has greater
significa nce in Northern India. In
Southern India, Deepavali marks the
victory of Lord Krishna over the
mighty asura (demon) Narakasura.
Narak asura had become a menace to the
gods in heaven and had snatched the
magnificent earrings of Aditi (the
Mother Goddess) and imprisoned sixteen
thousand daughters of the gods in his
harem. In desperation, the gods led by
Indra requested Lord Krishna to
destroy the demon as he was wreaking
havoc. Krishna readily agreed, fought
a fierce battle and emerged
victoriou s. It was after this that He
accepted the sixteen thousand damsels
as his wives at their request.

The meaning behind these mythological
stor ies is that the villain of the
piece represents the desire-ridden
ego . In our lives, it is our egos and
desires that create problems for us.
In the story of Lord Krishna above,
the sixteen thousand damsels represent
our numerous desires. When they are
controlled by our egos, they cause
destruction and rob us of our joy.
However, when we work selflessly,
dedic ating our actions to a higher
goal, the desires remain in check, and
most importantly, get sublimated. Each
one of us has positive and negative
tendenci es. When we identify with the
good in us, work towards something
beyond our selfish interests the
lower, negative tendencies fade away.
Our desires get sublimated and through
constant sadhana (spiritual practice)
we overcome our ego and desires. The
darkness of ego and desire are
banished, replaced by the light of
wisdom. Knowledge that we are not
incomplete and limited as we think
ourselves to be. But that we are that
Divine Self that is free and
independent of all the world has to
offer.

The scented bath by pouring gingerly
oil from your head until your legs and
washing your hair with “shikakai”
powder before the break of dawn and
the cleaning of homes during Deepavali
signify the cleansing of the
personality of desires and ego. The
new clothes represent our newly
acquired state of Realisation or at a
more basic level our new spiritual
orienta tion and commitment to self-
development . This change brings
sweetness in our lives which is why
sweets are made and distributed in the
community. It represents the fact that
once we turn spiritual and begin
looking within, we experience a quiet
sense of peace that we cannot
experience while chasing objects of
the world.

Thus Deepavali or Diwali has a
tremendous spiritual significance in
our lives. And like all our festivals,
they are reminders for us to retain
and cultivate that spiritual element
in our lives. Because life is more
than just a journey, it is a search
for meaning.

Fruit and Benefits:
apples - Protects your heart prevents
constipation ,Blocks
diarrhea ,Improves lung capacity,
Cushions joints

apricots -Combats cancer, Controls
blood pressure, Saves your eyesight,
Shields against Alzheimer’s ,Slows
aging process

artichokes -Aids digestion, Lowers
cholesterol, Protects your
heart ,Stabilizes blood sugar, Guards
against liver disease

avocados- Battles diabetes ,Lowers
cholesterol ,Helps stops strokes,
Controls blood pressure ,Smoothes
skin

bananas -Protects your heart ,Quiets a
cough ,Strengthens bones, Controls
blood pressure ,Blocks diarrhea

beans - Prevents constipation, Helps
hemorrhoids, Lowers
cholesterol ,Combats
cancer ,Stabilizes blood sugar

beets -Controls blood pressure,
Combats cancer ,Strengthens
bones ,Protects your heart ,Aids
weight loss

blueberries -Combats cancer ,Protects
your heart ,Stabilizes blood sugar,
Boosts memory, Prevents constipation

broccoli - Strengthens bones, Saves
eyesight ,Combats cancer ,Protects
your heart ,Controls blood pressure

cabbage- Combats cancer ,Prevents
constipation, Promotes weight
loss ,Protects your heart, Helps
hemorrhoids

cantaloupe- Saves eyesight, Controls
blood pressure ,Lowers cholesterol,
Combats cancer Supports immune system

carrots - Saves eyesight ,Protects
your heart, Prevents constipation
Combats cancer, Promotes weight loss