Monday, March 11, 2013

The great fire and the little water



Among the Aztec people of Mexico, it is said that a long time ago there was a great fire in the forests that covered our Earth. People and animals started to run, trying to escape from the fire. Our brother owl, Tecolotl, was running away also when he noticed a small bird hurrying back and forth between the nearest river and the fire. He headed towards this small bird.
He noticed that it was our brother the Quetzal bird, Quetzaltototl, running to the river, picking up small drops of water in his beak, then returning to the fire to throw that tiny bit of water on the flame. Owl approached Quetsal bird and yelled at him: "What are you doing brother? Are you stupid? You are not going to achieve anything by doing this. What are you trying to do? You must run for your life!"
Quetzal bird stopped for a moment and looked at owl, and then answered: "I am doing the best I can with what I have."
It is remembered by our Grandparents that a long time ago the forests that covered our Earth were saved from a great fire by a small Quetzal bird, an owl, and many other animals and people who got together to put out the fire.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Helpless Love



Once upon a time all feelings and emotions went to a coastal island for a vacation. According to their nature, each was having a good time. Suddenly, a warning of an impending storm was announced and everyone was advised to evacuate the island.

The announcement caused sudden panic. All rushed to their boats. Even damaged boats were quickly repaired and commissioned for duty.

Yet, Love did not wish to flee quickly. There was so much to do. But as the clouds darkened, Love realised it was time to leave. Alas, there were no boats to spare. Love looked around with hope.

Just then Prosperity passed by in a luxurious boat. Love shouted, “Prosperity, could you please take me in your boat?”

“No,” replied Prosperity, “my boat is full of precious possessions, gold and silver. There is no place for you.”

A little later Vanity came by in a beautiful boat. Again Love shouted, “Could you help me, Vanity? I am stranded and need a lift. Please take me with you.”

Vanity responded haughtily, “No, I cannot take you with me. My boat will get soiled with your muddy feet.”

Sorrow passed by after some time. Again, Love asked for help. But it was to no avail. “No, I cannot take you with me. I am so sad. I want to be by myself.”

When Happiness passed by a few minutes later, Love again called for help. But Happiness was so happy that it did not look around, hardly concerned about anyone.

Love was growing restless and dejected. Just then somebody called out, “Come Love, I will take you with me.” Love did not know who was being so magnanimous, but jumped on to the boat, greatly relieved that she would reach a safe place.

On getting off the boat, Love met Knowledge. Puzzled, Love inquired, “Knowledge, do you know who so generously gave me a lift just when no one else wished to help?”

Knowledge smiled, “Oh, that was Time.”

“And why would Time stop to pick me and take me to safety?” Love wondered.

Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and replied, “Because only Time knows your true greatness and what you are capable of. Only Love can bring peace and great happiness in this world.”

“The important message is that when we are prosperous, we overlook love. When we feel important, we forget love. Even in happiness and sorrow we forget love. Only with time do we realize the importance of love. Why wait that long? Why not make love a part of your life today?”

Live & Work



Father was a hardworking man who delivered bread as a living to support his wife and three children. He spent all his evenings after work attending classes, hoping to improve himself so that he could one day find a better paying job. Except for Sundays, Father hardly ate a meal together with his family. He worked and studied very hard because he wanted to provide his family with the best money could buy.

Whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. But he often yearned to spend more time with his family.

The day came when the examination results were announced. To his joy, Father passed, and with distinctions too! Soon after, he was offered a good job as a senior supervisor which paid handsomely.

Like a dream come true, Father could now afford to provide his family with life’s little luxuries like nice clothing, fine food and vacation abroad.

However, the family still did not get to see father for most of the week. He continued to work very hard, hoping to be promoted to the position of manager. In fact, to make himself a worthily candidate for the promotion, he enrolled for another course in the open university.

Again, whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. But he often yearned to spend more time with his family.

Father’s hard work paid off and he was promoted. Jubilantly, he decided to hire a maid to relieve his wife from her domestic tasks. He also felt that their three-room flat was no longer big enough, it would be nice for his family to be able to enjoy the facilities and comfort of a condominium. Having experienced the rewards of his hard work many times before, Father resolved to further his studies and work at being promoted again. The family still did not get to see much of him. In fact, sometimes Father had to work on Sundays entertaining clients. Again, whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. But he often yearned to spend more time with his family.

As expected, Father’s hard work paid off again and he bought a beautiful condominium overlooking the coast of Singapore. On the first Sunday evening at their new home, Father declared to his family that he decided not to take anymore courses or pursue any more promotions. From then on he was going to devote more time to his family.

Father did not wake up the next day.

How Rich Are We?






One day a father and his rich family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose to show him how poor people can be. They spent a day and a night on the farm of a very poor family. When they got back from their trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?” “Very good Dad!” “Did you see how poor people can be?” the father asked. “Yeah!” “And what did you learn?”

The son answered, “I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of the garden; they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in the garden; they have the stars. Our patio reaches to the front yard; they have a whole horizon.” When the little boy was finished, his father was speechless. His son added, “Thanks, Dad, for showing me how ‘poor’ we are!”

Isn’t it true that it all depends on the way you look at things? If you have love, friends, family, health, good humor and a positive attitude towards life — you’ve got everything! You can’t buy any of these things. You may have all the material possessions you can imagine, provisions for the future, etc.; but if you are poor of spirit, you have nothing!

"No Recipient", Funny Signs


In a Tokyo Hotel:  Is forbidden to steal hotel towels please. If 
you are not person to do such thing is please not to read notis.  

In another Japanese hotel room:  Please to bathe inside the tub.

In a Buchrarest hotel lobby:  The lift is being fixed for the next 
day.  During that time we regret that you will be unbearable.  

In a Leipzig elevator:  Do not enter the lift backwards, and only 
when lit up.  

In a Belgrade hotel elevator:  To more the cabin, push wishing 
floor.  If the cabin should enter more persons, each one should 
press a number of wishing floor. Driving is then going to 
alphabetically by national order.

In a Paris hotel elevator:  Please leave your values at the front 
desk.

In a hotel in Athens:  Visitors are expected to complain at the 
office between the hours of 9 and 11 am daily.

In a Yugoslavian hotel:  The flattening of underwear with pleasure 
is the job of the chambermaids.  

In the lobby of a Moscow hotel across from a Russian Orthodox 
monastery:  You are welcome to visit the cemetery where famous 
Russian and Soviet composers, artists and writers are buried 
dailly except Thursday. 

In an Austrian hotel catering to skiers:  Not to perambulate the 
corridors in the hours of repose in the boots of ascension.

On the menu of a Swiss restaurant:  Our wines leave you with 
nothing to hope for.

On the menu of a Polish hotel:  Salad a firm's own make; limpid 
red beet soup with cheesy dumplings in the form of a finger; 
roasted duck let loose; beef rashers beaten up in the country 
people's fashion.

In a Hong Kong supermarket:  For your convenience, we recommend 
courageous, efficient self-service.  (Sounds like Halifax!)

Outside a Hong Kong tailor shop:  Ladies may have a fit upstairs. 

In a Bangkok dry cleaner's:  Drop your trousers here for best 
results. 

Outside a Paris dress shop:  Dresses for street walking.

In a Rhodes tailor shop:  Order your summers suit.  Because is big 
rush we will execute customers in strict rotation. 

Similarly, from the Soviet Weekly:  There will be a Moscow 
Exhibition of Arts by 15,000 Soviet Republic painters and 
sculptors.  These were executed over the past two years. 

In an East African newspaper:  A new swimming pool is rapidly 
taking shape since the contractors have thrown in the bulk of 
their workers. 

In a Vienna hotel:  In case of fire, do your utmost to alarm the 
hotel porter. 

In a Zurich hotel: "Because of the impropriety of entertaining 
guests of the opposite sex in the bedroom, it is suggested that 
the lobby be used for this purpose."

A sign posted in Germany's Black Forest:  It is strictly forbidden 
on our black forest camping site that people of different sex, for 
instance, men and women, live together in one tent unless they are 
married with each other for that purpose.  

In the office of a Roman doctor: "Specialist in women and other 
diseases."

In an advertisement by a Hong Kong dentist:  Teeth extracted by 
the latest Methodists.  

A translated sentence from a Russian chess book:  A lot of water 
has been passed under the bridge since this variation has been 
played. 

In a Rome laundry:  Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the 
afternoon having a good time.  

In a Czechoslovakian tourist agency:  Take one of our horse-driven 
city tours -- we guarantee no miscarriages.  

Advertisement for donkey rides in Thailand:  Would you like to 
ride on your own ass?  

On the faucet in a Finnish washroom:  To stop the drip, turn cock 
to right.  

In the window of a Swedish furrier:  Fur coats made for ladies 
from their own skin.  

On the box of a clockwork toy made in Hong Kong:  Guaranteed to 
work throughout its useful life.

Detour sign in Kyushi, Japan: Stop: Drive sideways,  (Sounds like 
Boston!)  

In a Swiss mountain inn:  Special today -- no ice cream.  

In a Copenhagen airline ticket office:   We take our bags and send 
them in all directions.  

On the door of a Moscow hotel room:  If this is your first visit 
to the USSR, you are welcome to it.  

In a Norwegian cocktail lounge:   Ladies are requested not to have 
children in the bar.  

At a Budapest zoo:   Please do not feed the animals.  If you have 
any suitable food, give it to the guard on duty.  

In an Acapulco hotel:  The manager has personally passed all the 
water served here.  

In a Tokyo shop:  Our nylons cost more than common, but you'll 
find they are best in the long run.  

From a Japanese information booklet about using a hotel air 
conditioner:  Cooles and Heates:  If you want just condition of 
warm in your room, please control yourself.  

From a brochure of a car rental firm in Tokyo:  When passenger of 
foot heave in sight, tootle the horn.  Trumpet him melodiously at 
first, but if he still obstacles your passage then tootle him with 
vigor.  

Two signs from a Majorcan shop entrance: 
     -- English well talking.  
     -- Here speeching American.  

This Is Good



An old story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, “This is good!”

One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation the friend remarked as usual, “This is good!” To which the king replied, “No, this is NOT good!” and proceeded to send his friend to jail.

About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took him to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake. As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone that was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way.

As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend. “You were right,” he said, “it was good that my thumb was blown off.” And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. “And so I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this.”

“No,” his friend replied, “This is good!” “What do you mean,’This is good’? How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?” “If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you.”
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.
The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.
And every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window. The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn’t hear the band – he could see it in his mind’s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days and weeks passed. One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the world outside. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it for himself.
He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, “Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.”

  You have squeezed yourself into the span of a lifetime and the volume of a body, and thus created the innumerable conflicts of life and ...