Inspirational Stories #101 - Rose for Mother

A man stopped at a flower shop to order some flowers to be sent to his mother who lived two hundred miles away. As he got out of his car he noticed a young girl sobbing near the doorstep of the flower shop. He asked her what was wrong and she replied, “I wanted to buy a red rose for my mother. But I only have seventy-five cents, and a rose costs two dollars.” 

The man smiled and said, “Come on in with me. I’ll buy you a rose.” He bought the little girl her rose and ordered his own mother’s flowers. As they were leaving he offered the girl a ride home. She said, “Yes, please! You can take me to my mother.” She directed him to a cemetery, where she placed the rose on a freshly dug grave.

Inspirational Stories #100 - Are Birthday parties really needed?

This is purely my personal opinion. I have always hated to waste food, and I somehow cannot tolerate food being wasted in parties, weddings, etc.

I feel all this is just an ugly display of one's ego and wealth.

I have lived in big apartment complexes (still do) where almost everyday, there is one birthday celebration or the other. The kids and the parents start preparing atleast a week in advance - inviting friends, neighbours, organizing games, selecting the huge cake, choosing gifts for the other children attending the party, and ofcourse, buying lots and lots of food and drink. As always, children don't eat all the food that is served, and most of it is thrown into the garbage.

Inspirational Stories #99 - Why do we shout when we are angry?

I read this story somewhere and found it really made sense.  Here it goes:

A Hindu saint who was bathing in river Ganges saw a family on the bank, shouting at each other. The saint turned to his disciples with a gentle smile and asked, "Why do people shout when they are angry at each other?'.

The disciples thought for a while, and one of them said, ‘We shout because we lose our calm.’

"But, why shout when the other person is just next to you?’ asked the saint. ‘Isn’t it possible to speak to him or her softly? Why do you shout at a person when you’re angry?’

The disciples gave some  answers, but none satisfied the saint. Finally he explained, ‘When two people are angry at each other, their hearts are far apart and distant from each other, and in order to cover that distance, they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the louder they will have to shout to hear each other and cover that great distance.’

Then saint then asked, ‘What happens when two people are in love? They don’t shout at each other but talk gently and softly because their hearts are very close to one another. The distance between them is either imaginary, non-existent or very small.

He then continued, ‘When they love each other even more, what happens? They do not speak, only whisper and they get even closer to each other in their love. They need to only look at each other to understand what the other person has to say. That is how close two people are when they love each other.’

MORAL : When you argue do not let your hearts get distant, do not say words to add more fuel to the flame that distances each other further apart, else there may come a day when the distance is so great that you will not find the path to return.

Inspirational Stories #98 - 30 Seconds Speech by Bryan Dyson – Former CEO of Coca-Cola

“Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them – Work, Family, Health, Friends and Spirit and you’re keeping all of these in the Air.

You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four Balls – Family, Health, Friends and Spirit – are made of glass. If you drop one of these; they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for it.”

Work efficiently during office hours and leave on time. Give the required time to your family, friends and have proper rest.

Value has a value only if its values is valued.

Collected From 

http://sumi-ooty.blogspot.in/

Inspirational Stories #97 - The Secret of Happiness (Collected From The Alchemist)

A merchant sent his son to learn the secret of happiness from the wisest of men.
The young man wandered through the desert for forty days until he reached a beautiful castle at the top of a mountain. There lived the sage that the young man was looking for.
However, instead of finding a holy man, our hero entered a room and saw a great deal of activity; merchants coming and going, people chatting in the corners, a small orchestra playing sweet melodies, and there was a table laden with the most delectable dishes of that part of the world.
The wise man talked to everybody, and the young man had to wait for two hours until it was time for his audience.

With considerable patience, the Sage listened attentively to the reason for the boy’s visit, but told him that at that moment he did not have the time to explain to him the Secret of Happiness.
He suggested that the young man take a stroll around his palace and come back in two hours’ time.
“However, I want to ask you a favor,” he added, handling the boy a teaspoon, in which he poured two drops of oil. “While you walk, carry this spoon and don’t let the oil spill.”
The young man began to climb up and down the palace staircases,