Feeling Lost After a Breakup? 5 Tips to Find Balance and Bounce Back

Does a relationship breakup have you feeling like you’re teetering on a tight rope about to fall off at any moment? A bad relationship slowly chips away at your self esteem and a bad breakup can destroy it with only a few words. Even once the initial shock subsides, your head can feel so fuzzy that you don’t know where to start to bounce back to your formerly happy self.

We sat down with Brett Blumenthal of Sheer Balance to get her expert tips for helping you find balance in the chaotic aftermath of a relationship breakup.

1.     See yourself as an individual, not as half a person

While it’s terrifying to let go of the past, you need to detach from your former flame in order to find the person you lost in all that kissing, baby talk and hand holding. YOU! Get out of town for the weekend. You can’t make yourself healthy until you remove yourself from the destructive grasp your ex has on you. Break the spell by starting with your mind. Relationships naturally force you to neglect yourself by sacrificing your likes and making compromises. You’re used to being around your ex all the time so it might be scary to set out on your own, but this alone time will allow you to take a step back to sort out your feelings without falling under someone else’s influence. Then you can discover what’s really important to you in starting the next chapter.

2.     Take small steps to make big changes

If you’ve neglected your own well being in a bad relationship, taking a step by step approach to better yourself mentally and physically is key. When you’re feeling down and everything seems out of place it can be overwhelming to figure out where to start. The first step is to make a list of everything you want to change. Then you can prioritize which goals are most important to you. By making this list it will become clear to you how to go about making these changes. Break down each goal into pieces that aren’t so intimidating. By taking small steps you can actually tackle multiple goals at once. If you try to make a big change overnight, you’re most likely going to fail which will only discourage you from trying again. Allow yourself the time to make these changes.

3.     Accept that you’re going to slip up

Of course you’re going to be hard on yourself when trying to make positive changes in your life. But if you acknowledge in advance that you’re going to experience setbacks, you can keep them from really getting to you. It’s okay to take a step back as long as you then take two or three forward. One step back isn’t a big deal if you can catch yourself before it multiplies so don’t let it throw you completely off course.

4.     Seduce yourself

It sounds cliché, but when you love yourself and you’re secure as an individual you’re more likely to have a healthier, happier relationship. Consider being single as dating yourself. Your top priority becomes making yourself happy. This shouldn’t change when you dive into your next relationship. Make sure your new flame takes care of you the way you take care of yourself. If they don’t live up to your standards, recognize this as a red flag.

5.     Think ahead to the next chapter

You have the ability to write it any way you want. Even when a relationship is bad we tend to want it to work so we give up parts of ourselves. This is your chance to rediscover what defines you and what you want in a future partner. It’s crucial to not lose sight of those interests when you start dating again. If you get so caught up that you neglect friends, family and hobbies, it causes your world to spin out of control when it ends. Always carve time for yourself to nurture these relationships and talents separate from your partner. That’s what’s going to carry you through, no matter what happens in your love life.

Womens Casual Clothing Fashion Tips

Whether you're considered a soccer mom chic or college dorm student comfort is always on the forefront of your mind, the trick to dressing in womens casual clothing everyday with style is to know how to keep from looking sloppy. 

For those lucky enough to dress in womens casual clothes everyday, the challenges could be many, but a few larger ones are, how to build a core wardrobe of basics with enough variety to keep it from getting boring and how to match these varieties without looking like a slob. 

Here are some tips to help women build their casual attire: 

Buy your casual clothes the same way you would buy career clothes: always thinking about building your best womens casual attire wardrobe. For example, when choosing your casual wear for women, choose cohesive pieces and build them around basic styles. For casual clothing the best approach is three colors for the best mix-and-match wardrobe - khaki, denim, tan; black, khaki, white; etc. 

And please don't forget about a great casual shoe because nothing kills a chics sporty casual attire like a pair of white running shoes. Stick with a pair of boots or sandals, etc. You probably won't get stopped by the "bad wardrobe police" with boots and they go with almost all casual clothing. 

Use casual accessories and handbags -- especially when it comes to casaul wear for women. No two worlds are more distant from one another than the classic look and womens casual attire. Please don't try to mix a gold and diamond watch with a sweatshirt unless you're Queen Latifah. Try to stay away from mixing styles. 

Keep your casual clothes in good shape -- don't be lazy if they need to be ironed then iron them, if they need to be cleaned then clean them, you get the point. 

Stay far away from womens casual wear cliches - like baggy sweats. Baggy sweats is for lounging around the house only and if you are certain no one will see you out of your standard casual clothes. Remember today you might have a reputation to up hold. Instead, opt for some in style womens attire, a great track suit that comes with a strong fitted look in fun colors and rich fabrics like velour or terry. 

Don't get ridiculous or outrageous about casual attire for women. Remember it is just a style which can be fun and look good at the same time. So, if you're working in the garden or cleaning the house, then wear whatever works for you and leave your casual clothes for those right days. 

The Photography Portfolio: Building Your Reputation

If you have hopes of becoming a professional photographer, or even just of trying to get your work published in a public forum, you will need to create a photography portfolio. So what’s so important about a photography portfolio anyway? 

There are many reasons why having a portfolio of your work available for others to view. If you are seeking employment as a photographer, then the need for a portfolio is obvious. If you are not seeking a photography job, there are still good reasons to have a portfolio. For one, you love photography and you take a lot a pride in your work. They are important to you. Most likely, some of them are very good. Why not create a portfolio that showcases your best work so you can show it to others (even if it’s just friends or family that comes over for a visit)? 

Building a Photography Portfolio 

Before we get into what goes into your portfolio, let’s discuss the portfolio itself. What should it be made of? How big should it be? You may have seen portfolios with covers made of all types of materials such as plastic, leather and even stainless steel. These fancy covers are usually much more expensive and may not be practical for a beginner. If you are competing for high-price jobs and want to stand out from the crowd, these expensive covers may be a nice touch. But for most people, a regular black plastic cover will work just fine. It’s what’s inside the portfolio that is most important, right? 

So, you are probably best to stick with a plain black plastic cover and work hard on beefing up what’s inside. Don’t decorate your portfolio with cutesy stickers and such; this will look amateurish and unprofessional. It’s not a scrapbook; it’s supposed to represent your high-quality work. 

Now, as for size, this is going to depend on the size of your largest pictures. An 8 X 10 is probably going to be your largest. If your pictures are not this big, you don’t need a portfolio this big. Your biggest will most likely be an 11 X 14 and it could be as small as a 4 X 7. 

The most important thing for you to remember is convenience – both for you and for the person who will be looking at your portfolio. You want to keep it professional and easy to hold, carry and look over. 

Using a Photography Portfolio 

So now that you know what a portfolio is and what type to get, how do you actually use it? Well, we mentioned you are going to fill it with your best work. This means you want a portfolio that can easily be changed. You may want to pull out old ones and add in new ones. You don’t want to go for a job carrying along every picture you’ve ever taken. You’re going to want to have 15-20 of your best work. You are also going to want to be sure your pictures are relevant to the job. If you are trying out for different types of assignments, you may want to create portfolios that work for each of the types of work you are doing. 

Of course, you only want to show your best work but you want to give the impression that you can handle any type of assignment given to you ad not that you are “stuck” in only one type of photography. 

You want to showcase your best work; this is best technically as well. You may have a photo that is really important to you because of the image it represents or the memory it brings but if it is not technically perfect, it doesn’t belong in a business portfolio. Save that one for your coffee table. 

Heylog.com - Glam2Fame

Heylog.com - Glam2Fame

The 3 Dolls

Priya was the cynosure of everyone’s eyes. Her parents favourite and her grandmothers special. Everyone loved Priya, her relatives, her teachers, the shopkeepers, the maid servant, everyone. 

Because Priya was a very humble girl who gave love and respect to all whom she mingled with. She had no bias for dark and fair, rich and poor. She loved them all and she spoke with them all. Spoke to everyone – that, was the only cause of uneasiness her parents shared about Priya. She could talk to just about anyone at length, she would talk about the sun and the moon, the stars and the sky. She could talk for hours unending. 

Priya would treat everyone equal, she had created no stereotypes. But this also proved to be a disadvantage as she could not distinguish between good and bad, the drunk and the sober, the evil and the good hearted. Many a times she would get fooled because of her kind heartedness. Either she would end up giving a few more rupees to the market vendor or be robbed by an urban beggar. 

Priya’s loss with money and belonging were on the rise. Once every week she would come home crying and wailing about being a victim, giving away Rs. 100 for an item not worth more than Rs. 10. Once when her mother told her to give a few sweets and clothes to hers aunts house a few kilometres way, she came back home empty handed. She had given it all to a stranger she had met who told her that he had not eaten any sweets for months and his children had not been gifted any new clothes since a long time. 

But Priya’s mother was furious of the encounter. She had lost her patience with the girl who spoke too much to anyone and lost her belongings. Outraged she raised her hand on Priya but only Grandma’s interference stopped her short. 

Broken from within, Priya stepped into her grandmother’s room. Why is mama so annoyed with me, she asked. I do not mean to hurt her, yet she is so cross with me. Grandma brought out 3 dolls and gave it to Priya. She asked her to pass a thread through the ears of the dolls. 

Priya actioned it right away. To her surprise the thread passed through and through the ears of the first doll. This is the type of person who listens from one ear and lets it pass from the other. Now try the next one said grandma. The thread went through the ear and curled outside the mouth. This is the type of person that speaks whatever he heard. Priya was anxious to know what happened to the last doll. Curiosity bounced back in her face because the thread just did not come out from the doll. This is the type of person that only listens and seldom speaks. 

Then what kind of person is the best human being asked perplexed Priya? Grandma brought out a fourth doll. Priya forced in the thread though the ear, it popped out from the other. Try again said grandma. Priya inserted the thread through the ear again, it came out form the mouth. Once more said grandma, so Priya shipped the thread through the ear and it did not come out at all. 

This is the best kind of a person said grandma. One who knows when to hear, when to talk and when to keep silent. Grandma starred at Priya and there was a moment of silence. Priya’s eyes twinkled as she got the message her grandmother was trying to tell her. 

From that day on Priya spoke only when required, kept strangers at bay and lost nothing to anyone anymore. 

Moral : one must know when to speak, when not to. What to hear and what not to.

HOW YOU THINK IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS

Do you consider yourself successful? Do you want to be more successful? How do some people achieve success while others fail constantly? Let's take a look at how to become successful and the true secret of success.

HOW YOU THINK IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS

Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, success to a large extent is all in the mind.

Take the famous movie actor and A-list celebrity, Brad Pitt. Now, it's difficult to argue that Brad Pitt is nothing less than a huge success: in terms of money, fame, marriage, fatherhood, looks, health, recognition and reward. What does Brad Pitt claim to be his biggest success? His ability to make his twin little newborn's burp. That to him created a deeper sense of achievement and satisfaction than anything else.

So success means different things to different people. If you had a million dollars in the bank would you consider yourself successful? Maybe. Ten million dollars? A hundred million? If Bill Gates were to look in his bank account now and see ten million dollars, he would probably be worried and wondering where the other 49.9 billion had gone.

The key to being successful? It's feeling successful. Celebrating who you are, what you have achieved and not measuring yourself to anyone else.

DO YOU STILL THINK THAT YOU NEED TO BE BORN RICH, LUCKY, TALENTED, BEAUTIFUL, CONNECTED TO BECOME A SUCCESS?

Quincy Jones once said "Sometimes your biggest disadvantage can be your biggest advantage". Legendary music producer and multi-Grammy award winner, Quincy Jones lived a life of poverty, conflict and constant stress and deprivation growing up, but he says that his home life and loneliness caused him to practice piano for hours and hours on end as an escape. Without those thousands of hours of practice, he would not have become the accomplished musician he is today. It's a much told story, but Oprah Winfrey grew up in an abusive and harsh environment. She used to bury herself in books and educated herself that way to become one of the richest people in the entertainment world.

An African-American man who was not born in a high profile political family, with the middle name "Hussein" and the last name which sounded like "Osama" and who didn't even spend his formative years in the United States...Barack Obama is one of the unlikeliest American Presidents you would ever meet.

So, do not blame your lack of success (or perceived lack of success) on your background or innate talents (or perceived lack of talents). Successful people have come from all walks of life and from all levels of talent, looks and physical capabilities. Would you ever have thought that Nicolas Cage, Gerald Depardieu or James Gandolfini from The Sopranos would become romantic leading men?

The true secrets of success:

HAVE PASSION. Do something for love, not money. You might say "yeah okay, I get that, but I don't have any particular passions. Unless you count sleeping or doing nothing" Well, if you look hard enough or try enough things out, you will find something that you truly love.

CHALLENGE YOURSELF. Do not let self-doubt and other people get in the way. Try new things and set yourself challenging and unusual goals. Don't beat yourself up if you don't achieve them, be proud of the fact that you tried to push yourself

JUST DO IT. AND DO IT. AND DO IT. JUST KEEP DOING IT. The artist Michelangelo said, "If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful after all."

And finally, from the words of Bill Cosby "I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody."

Here's to your success. Do it.

Modeling Posing Tips

It’s a common misconception that naturally beautiful models take naturally beautiful photographs. The truth is—without modeling poses and modeling tips, perfect photographs are harder than you think.

If you are a professional model, a photographer will most likely guide you through a variety of model poses throughout the photo shoot. But if you are an inspiring model and are still working your way up to the top—you may have to control your poses to ensure great headshots and sample modeling photographs.

Live show models, promo models, photographic models, and runway models all rely on professional model poses to succeed. Whether you aspire to appear in print magazines or fashion shows and Hollywood movies; if you want to be a model, pay special attention to this insider guide to modeling poses.

Breathe
Although sometimes concentration enhances a good photograph, obvious concentration can distract and often ruin a good photograph as well. Do not hold your breath for a modeling pose; always remember to breathe and appear at ease.

Posture
Bad posture is an unrecognized flaw in many people. However, for models, posture is a harmful flaw. Always remember to keep your back straight and your shoulders up. Slouching affects the mood of the photograph and enlarges the appearances of your stomach. In addition to your back and shoulders, always remember to flex your stomach muscles. Despite your weight or state of shape, your abdomen will appear more toned if you flex.   

Limbs
Symmetry is officially out in the modeling world. When posing, make sure to differentiate your arms and legs with asymmetrical poses. If you have one arm long and straight by your side, make sure the other arm is bent. Whether a big or small angle, the bend will make the modeling pose look more real, less artificial. Continue the asymmetry to your legs. If one leg is locked straight, give the other leg a casual bend.

Camera
Although the camera is the ultimate focal point of a modeling photo shoot, great models do not look directly into the camera. To enhance the quality of your photo shoot, look away from the camera with a mix of head and eye poses. Looking off to the right or left side, or tiling your neck to either side can help you avoid direct eye contact with the camera. In many cases, your head and neck can remain stationary in your modeling pose—and your eyes can do all the work. Head and eye positions, coupled with personable facial expressions make for great model poses.

Sitting Poses
If you are sitting down during your photo shoot—don’t think it’s ok to slack off. In fact, sitting photo shoots require a lot of extra work. If you are sitting down or reclining, it’s important to put your eight on the back of one thigh, rather than distributing your weight equally on both thighs. If you roll one hip up from the ground or surface, shifting your weight will be simple. This pose results in a slimming effect that you don’t want to miss out on. 

Cleavage
To make sure your best assets shine, there are a few basic guidelines to follow. Based on two distinct poses, a forward lean and a backward lean, any model with any breast size can maximize cleavage. When leaning forward, either bring your arms together at your waist, keep your arms straight at the elbows and clasp your hands together below your waist, or simply cross your arms. When leaning backward, raise your arms about your shoulders and head, keep your arms apart, and always slouch for the best cleavage results.

Smile
If you have a naturally beautiful smile—show your pearly whites with pride, just not every time. If you smile in each modeling pose, modeling agents will notice your lack of versatility, not your smile. To add variety to your modeling poses, try switching up your smile with a cute frown, a bratty bout, a friendly laugh, or even an edgy scowl. Your facial expressions can make or break your modeling poses. Let your smile show, but make sure to show what else you can do.

In addition to these personalized tips for modeling poses, every model should be aware of the basics of posing. There are 4 main types of model poses: lifestyle pose, movement pose, portrait pose, and body pose.

Lifestyle
The lifestyle pose evokes a sense of everyday living with common body movements and facial expressions. Throughout the day, moments of happiness, love, anger, and hope arise. To succeed at the lifestyle pose, each model must be able to recreate these everyday emotions.

Movement
The movement pose captures a specific action, such as running or jumping. Because this pose is most often used for a marketing photo shoot—the model is used to promote a product. Each model must be able to smile and laugh when using the products in the photo shoot.

Portrait
This modeling pose emphasizes the face of the model—and relies purely on facial features. The model will be in modest makeup and relaxed hair and should pose with a casual, genuine smile. Many portrait photographs are close up and emphasize details of the model’s face. If you are scheduled for a portrait photo shoot, make sure to pay extra attention to your skin and drink at least 8-12 glasses of water a day.

Body
Full-length photographs require body poses. Models are encouraged to shift weight between hips and make arms and lengths into asymmetrical stances. Although many body poses do not require specific facial expressions, putting your entire body into character during full-length poses helps your body find a natural balance.

Keep these insider model posing tips in mind during your next professional model photo shoot to ensure you blow the photographer away. Whether you’re a trained expert or an ambitious beginner, all models have the ability to excel in photo shoots. Focus on your posture, attitude, and facial expressions to succeed beyond your wildest expectations.

Tips and pointers every aspiring model should hear

Sometimes aspiring models want to know what they need to do to become a successful super model from an insider's perspective. Unfortunately, when you're starting out in the modeling business it can be very difficult to get that opinion. But here are a number of tips and pointers that will help you toward becoming a successful male model or female model. First of all, you need to remember that modeling agencies and their clients are looking for professionals. Yes it is totally possible for them to pull a random off the street and set out on a professional shoot but the chances are this is going to require a lot of time and money. Instead, clients hire skilled and knowledgeable models that are going to provide consistently high quality photos. For this reason, it is very important that you make yourself aware of the ins and outs of the modeling industry. This will make you a highly desirable candidate for modeling agencies.

Your ability to pose for photos is going to be one of your most important attributes. You want to develop a model's ability to develop and demonstrate a variety of expressions and poses. You'll often hear directors and photographers speaking about a model's ability to communicate with her eyes or lips. Basically, as a model you will be directed to express a particular emotion and if you can successfully demonstrate a variety of emotions or expressions on cue then you will be a favourite of modeling agencies. Keep in mind though; the key word here is variety. Male models and female models alike often become outdated because they have a limited repertoire of expressions and poses. Creativity, flexibility, and communication are the keys to posing for a photograph. Also, models need to not underestimate the power of knowing their own body. If you want to become a successful top model then you need to know your best angles, you need to know how your body moves and what poses are most flattering, and you need to know how to quickly adapt these qualities in a photo shoot scenario.

Modeling agencies will often recommend that aspiring models take some dance classes or even rhythmic gymnastics. These sports are focused on body movements so will help you in a couple of ways. First of all, you learn new positions which can likely be adapted to poses and expressions. Plus, you learn the ways your body moves and how to approach these movements gracefully. In order to develop yourself as a model you need to have a wide range of experiences that contribute to the skills required for models. Simply put, you need to practice the things a model does. Poses and expressions are as important to modeling as beauty and physique. If you don't have the right body or look or the ability to draw from a repertoire of poses and expressions, you can't be a model. Being a successful fashion model is more than having a pretty face and smile.

Basic Requirements for Being a Fashion Model

Fashion modeling is somewhat different from runway modeling in the sense that both male models and female models of all sizes and ages can potentially find work. Since fashion is not just about the very thin, there are some opportunities for plus-sized models. That being said, most modeling agencies are going to be looking for that typical model and body measurements are crucial. Depending on the type of modeling you are interested in there are different body sizes and measurements that must be met. Bikini models for example are going to need to be thin but curvier than catwalk models. You'll need to do some research into the type of modeling toward which you feel most suited. That being said, there are some basic requirements for being a fashion model.

First of all, a healthy appearance without being overly muscular is important. Fashion models are fit but should look somewhat average. Too many muscles on a female model can seem too masculine and on male models may distract from the fashion. There are also a number of physical characteristics that modeling agencies are looking for before signing a fashion model. Height becomes very important for fashion modeling. A top model will fit within strict height guidelines. Male models really need to be at least 5'11" and no taller than 6'4". Female models should fit somewhere between 5'7" and 5'11". If you're wondering if you should be a model but do not fit in this height range then you may want to reconsider.

In addition, there are waist, bust, and hip sizes for female models that are also quite strict. Female fashion models are usually on the small side compared to the average population. Bikini models for example will have slightly larger hips and busts than runway models while super models will usually have characteristics that lend well to all types of modeling.

Besides physical characteristics, there are also a number of personality requirements to become a fashion model. Modeling agencies are looking for individuals who fit well into a variety of settings and have excellent people skills. Part of being a top model is about selling yourself and without a great personality this can be quite difficult. If you're wondering how to become a model because you know you have the right look but can't land any jobs then you might need to work on your people skills. The finest fashion models quickly adapt to new people in new settings and are able to easily form solid working relationships. Along the same lines, modeling agencies are also looking for people with a strong work ethic. Modeling is not as easy as it seems and top models typically have gruelling schedules that include a lot of travel and long working hours. When hiring a new model, agencies are concerned about your look, for certain, but also want to ensure you have the right mind set to be a successful model. Flexibility and a great personality are essential characteristics of super models.

So you want to be a model? Here’s what to do...

Becoming a model takes dedication, hard work, and natural talent. Many people make the mistake of thinking that modeling is all about having a pretty face and excellent body. This is naive thinking that often results in failure. In order to become a successful model, both male models and female models must be able to take excellent pictures. Capturing a look on film requires a skilled model who can convey a number of expressions and emotions. Remember, practice makes perfect and the more time you have in front of the camera or on the runway the better model you will become.

Also, the most successful super models have a magnetism about them. Their look and personality is easily transferable via photographs and for that reason consumers are drawn to them. This often means that super models have a drastic look about them but their irresistible nature cannot be easily defined. Confidence and experience are keys to developing this magnetism. In addition, you must be able to walk the runway. Male models often think this skill is only for female models that have to learn to walk in stiletto heels but the truth is all models need to learn to walk the runway. A truly impressive runway walk is one that allows a model to stand out from a pack and standing out is paramount in modeling. Modeling agencies are looking for that one-in-a-million model and perfecting your runway walk will only help.

Complexion is also very important for successful models. If you want to be a top model that is the envy of all modeling agencies then you must have beautiful skin. This means a daily cleansing regime and for some of us means a visit to a dermatologist. While the occasional blemish can be easily air brushed out of photos, most up-and-coming models will not get a second look if they have less than perfect skin. Proper skin care is therefore crucial. Similarly, an excellent smile is also important for top models. Your teeth must be straight and white. Knowing the modeling industry is also very important for becoming as successful top model. You must get in touch with the best modeling agencies in your area as well as who are the best people to work with. Just as with any job interview, interviews with top modeling agencies will go much more smoothly if you know what you're talking about. You also must be able to avoid scams and fake model agencies.

Finally, you must be both physically and mentally fit. Of course, physique is a crucial factor in modeling and all the best models have excellent bodies. But many aspiring models underestimate the importance of determination and perseverance. Modeling is a very difficult industry that for even the most famous super models involves extensive rejection and judgment. If you cannot handle people picking you apart and rejecting you for seemingly insignificant reasons then you need to question whether you should be a model.

The Hare With Many Friends

A Hare was very popular with the other animals, who all claimed to be her friends.

One day she heard the hounds approaching her and hoped to escape them by the aid of her Friends.

So, she went to the horse, and asked him to carry her away from the hounds on his back. But he declined, stating that he had important work to do for his master. "He felt sure," he said, "that all her other friends would come to her assistance."

She then applied to the bull, and hoped that he would repel the hounds with his horns. The bull replied: "I am very sorry, but I have an appointment with a lady; but I feel sure that our friend the goat will do what you want."

The goat, however, feared that his back might do her some harm if he took her upon it. The ram, he felt sure, was the proper friend to ask for help.

So she went to the ram and told him the case. The ram replied: "Another time, my dear friend. I do not like to interfere on the present occasion, as hounds have been known to eat sheep as well as hares."

The Hare then applied, as a last hope, to the calf, who regretted that he was unable to help her, as he did not like to take the responsibility upon himself, as so many older persons than himself had declined the task.

By this time the hounds were quite near, and the Hare took to her heels and luckily escaped.

A Thief In The House

One night Nasrudin was sitting on the street outside his house. He suddenly saw a burglar entering his house from a side window. The burglar did not see Nasrudin in the dark. The Mulla was scared to go and fight the thief. He watched as the thief loaded almost all his possessions onto a donkey and set off. Nasrudin ran into his house and began unload the donkey. Nasrudin went into the man’s house quietly and pretended to go to sleep under his blanket.
Soon the thief came in and asked, "What do you think you are doing in my house?"
"Your house?" asked Nasrudin. "I thought you were shifting houses for me!"

MAY YOU ALWAYS FEEL LOVED

May you find serenity and tranquility in a world you may not always understand.

May the pain you have known and the conflict you have experienced give you the strength to walk through life facing each new situation with courage and optimism.

Always know that there are those whose love and understanding will always be there, even when you feel most alone. 

May you discover enough goodness in others to believe in a world of peace.

May a kind word, a reassuring touch, a warm smile be yours every day of your life, and may you give these gifts as well as receive them.

Remember the sunshine when the storm seems unending.

Teach love to those who know hate, and let that love embrace you as you go into the world.

May the teaching of those you admire become part of you, so that you may call upon them.

Remember, those whose lives you have touched and who have touched yours are always a part of you, even if the encounters were less than you would have wished. It is the content of the encounter that is more important than its form.

May you not become too concerned with material matters, but instead place immeasurable value on the goodness in your heart.

Find time in each day to see the beauty and love in the world around you.

Realize that each person has limitless abilities, but each of us is different in our own way.

What you may feel you lack in one regard may be more than compensated for in another.

What you feel you lack in the present may become one of your strengths in the future.

May you see your future as one filled with promise and possibility.

Learn to view everything as a worthwhile experience.

May you find enough inner strength to determine your own worth by yourself, and not be dependent on another's judgments of your accomplishments.

Classic Friendship Fable

Once upon a time a Dog used to go into the stable where the king's Elephant lived. At first the Dog went there to get the food that was left after the Elephant had finished eating.

Day after day the Dog went to the stable, waiting around for bits to eat. But by and by the Elephant and the Dog came to be great friends. Then the Elephant began to share his food with the Dog, and they ate together. When the Elephant slept, his friend the Dog slept beside him. When the Elephant felt like playing, he would catch the Dog in his trunk and swing him to and fro. Neither the Dog nor the Elephant was quite happy unless the other was near-by.

One day a farmer saw the Dog and said to the Elephant keeper: "I will buy that Dog. He looks good tempered, and I see that he is smart. How much do you want for the Dog?"

The Elephant keeper did not care for the Dog, and he did want some money just then. So he asked a fair price, and the farmer paid it and took the Dog away to the country.

The king's Elephant missed the Dog and did not care to eat when his friend was not there to share the food. When the time came for the Elephant to bathe, he would not bathe. The next day again the Elephant would not eat, and he would not bathe. The third day, when the Elephant would neither eat nor bathe, the king was told about it.

The king sent for his chief servant, saying, "Go to the stable and find out why the Elephant is acting in this way."

The chief servant went to the stable and looked the Elephant all over. Then he said to the Elephant keeper: "There seems to be nothing the matter with this Elephant's body, but why does he look so sad? Has he lost a playmate?"

"Yes," said the keeper, "there was a Dog who ate and slept and played with the Elephant. The Dog went away three days ago."

"Do you know where the Dog is now?" asked the chief servant.

"No, I do not," said the keeper.

Then the chief servant went back to the king and said. "The Elephant is not sick, but he is lonely without his friend, the Dog."

"Where is the Dog?" asked the king.

"A farmer took him away, so the Elephant keeper says," said the chief servant. "No one knows where the farmer lives."

"Very well," said the king. "I will send word all over the country, asking the man who bought this Dog to turn him loose. I will give him back as much as he paid for the Dog."

When the farmer who had bought the Dog heard this, he turned him loose. The Dog ran back as fast as ever he could go to the Elephant's stable. The Elephant was so glad to see the Dog that he picked him up with his trunk and put him on his head. Then he put him down again.

When the Elephant keeper brought food, the Elephant watched the Dog as he ate, and then took his own food.

All the rest of their lives the Elephant and the Dog lived together.

True Confession

I heard the "My True Confession" song at a karaoke bar the other night and it started me thinking about my life and the pain I caused a certain female.

That woman worshipped the ground I walked on and did anything I asked her to do. She was young, and for her love meant giving your man whatever he demanded of you. And she did that as a matter of course.

In return, all I did was to enjoy her, abuse her, then treat her like a doormat. Because she was so easy to deal with I took her for granted.

To be truthful, I used to ignore her needs and dismiss her feelings. I did it because she was just 20 and I never took her seriously. She was basically a pretty young thing that I could bend into any shape and have sex with wherever and whenever I wanted. So, I considered her glassy-eyed love for me as mere infatuation.

Anyway, after three years of trying to please me with her unconditional love, she left me and would not let me come near her again. When I went by her house, her mother or one of her sisters used to tell me she didn't want to see me.

Whenever I called her she would even hang up. I went by her workplace twice, and each time she refused to speak to me.

So, like the bad-minded person that I was then, I began talking about what I did to her and what she likes to do. In other words, I tried to degrade her in every way by blackening her name – the way people who were intimate with each other can talk. What I wanted to do was to make people laugh at her and make her "shame" because she left me.

And my strategy worked. People used to drop remarks to her wherever she went. She was so ashamed of what she was told that one evening while in a minibus going home, a group of men reduced her to tears because of the things they teased her about.

When I heard about that incident, I felt so good. I was proud that I had hurt her. But that incident was the final straw for her. Determined that no one would ever treat her so again, she managed to get out of the city and never came back here. In that time she educated herself and got married too. Today she is successful and has a big job with a company car.

She seems genuinely happy in her marriage as well, because every time I see her she looks better and more cheerful. She really looks totally contented.

On the other hand, I am miserable.

I am 25 years old and have no one in my life. Apart from being single, I am lonely in that I have no friends that I can trust. Everybody I know only talks to me because they want something from me. They don't like me for who I am, or care what happens to me. Even my family are like that. So I am really alone and lonely.

That's why the other night when I heard that song I had to talk about my life. I chased away a woman who cared about me for me by my actions, and when she got the strength to walk away from me, I dirtied her name for spite.

I was wicked to her and now I'm paying the price for that. If only I could have seen the future, I never would have treated her so. I am really sorry for what I did to her.

Anatomy Of Friendship

My mother used to ask me what is the most important part of the body. Through the years I would take a guess at what I thought was the correct answer. When I was younger, I thought sound was very important to us as humans, so I said, "My ears, Mommy."

She said, "No. Many people are deaf. But you keep thinking about it and I will ask you again soon."

Several years passed before she asked me again. Since making my first attempt, I had contemplated the correct answer. So this time I told her, "Mommy, sight is very important to everybody, so it must be our eyes."

She looked at me and told me, "You are learning fast, but the answer is not correct because there are many people who are blind."

Stumped again, I continued my quest for knowledge and over the years, Mother asked me a couple more times and always her answer was, "No. But you are getting smarter every year, my child."

Then last year, my grandpa died. Everybody was hurt. Everybody was crying. Even my father cried. I remember that especially because it was only the second time I saw him cry. My Mom looked at me when it was our turn to say our final goodbye to Grandpa. She asked me, "Do you know the most important body part yet, my dear?"

I was shocked when she asked me this now. I always thought this was a game between her and me. She saw the confusion on my face and told me, "This question is very important. It shows that you have really lived in our life. For every body part you gave me in the past, I have told you were wrong and I have given you an example why. But today is the day you need to learn this important lesson."

She looked down at me as only a mother can. I saw her eyes well up with tears. She said, "My dear, the most important body part is your shoulder."

I asked, "Is it because it holds up my head?"

She replied, "No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend or a loved one when they cry. Everybody needs a shoulder to cry on sometime in life, my dear. I only hope that you have enough love and friends that you will always have a shoulder to cry on when you need it."

Har Sham...

Har Shaam-e-roz Dil Ko Behla Leta Hoon..
Tanhai Mein Khud Ko Hi.. Dost Bana Leta Hoon..

Kabhi Yaad Unko Kar.. Muskura Leta Hoon..

guzre Lamho Ko Phir.. Kareeb Bula Leta Hoon..

Shyam Jab Aati Hai.. To Pooch Jaati Hai..

Kyaa Aaj Bhi Aasoo Bahaoge? Mein Has Deta Hoon.

Har Shyam-e-roz Dil Ko Behla Leta Hoon..
Tanhai Mein Khud Ko Hi Dost Bana Leta Hoon..

Zindgi Ko Jeenewala..Aaj Kyun Chup Baitha Hai..
Jab Maa Yeh Poochti Hai.. To Sir Jhuka Leta Hoon.

Pooche Gar Koi..Ke Meri ye Haalat Ka Zime-daar kon,
To Aayine Mein Dekh Khud Pe Ungli Utha Deta Hoo..

Har Shyam-e-roz Dil Ko Behla Leta Hoon..
Tanhai Mein Khud Ko Hi Dost Bana Leta Hoon..

Fly Sighting

I saw a fly this week! I’m not sure a fly sighting in February ranks up there with spotting the first robin of spring, but in a strange way it was still nice! Normally, when I find a fly in the house I “dispatch” him, but not in this case. Two mornings in a row I saw the fly in the bathroom. I just let him fly! I let him fly because he reminded me of warmer weather. He was a sign of better days, weather wise, to come. Where had he been these last several months while the temperature plummeted and the snow piled up? Hiding in some crack in the window or woodwork, I assume. All the time he was there, through Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, and I didn’t know it, all the time within swatting reach, waiting in a crack for warmer weather. I did not see the fly’s shadow, so I’m not sure what that says about how many days of winter…

Winter, it seems to me, is a time for hidden things, and not just for flies. The blanket of snow covers a lot this time of year. The trees seem to lack life but on any given February day when the daytime temperature climbs above freezing gallons of sap are being pumped dozens of feet up the trunks and branches, making plump the buds for spring.

It appears from His creation that God enjoys doing a lot of what He does out of sight. He does not always call attention to Himself or to what He is doing. Why? I’m under the impression that He wants us to live more attentively! He wants us to look more closely, listen more carefully, think more thoughtfully.

What is God trying to say to us today, to remind us of, to call us to do, to help us to see? He could hit us over the head with it but most often He doesn’t. He calls us to the obedience of attentiveness! What might God be hiding in plain sight for us today?

Trust In A Relationship

It takes a lot of effort to nourish healthy and long lasting relationships. You may feel that packing a lot of surprises, variety and fun into the relationship is a must to make it work. But this is not entirely true. Consistency builds strong bonds between you and your partner. Read on to know about 7 effective ways by which you can incorporate trust in your relationship.

Firstly you need to maintain a steady behavior in your relationships. Nothing can be so damaging to a relationship than erratic and unpredictable nature of a partner. Occasionally you can stir up the romance in your relationship with gifts and entertainment but reliability builds trust and keeps the relation alive for long.

Another way to develop trust in a relationship is to ensure that what you say conveys the same meaning as your body language. Your facial expressions and tone of your voice speak louder than your words. Saying that you are joyous when you are frowning wont help as your partner will be able to sense that you are not speaking the truth. Be honest with your partner and your words will automatically match your true feelings and expressions.

Trust in a relationship stems out of your confidence in your partner’s competency. If you doubt your partner’s capabilities you are cheating in your relationship. It is better to lovingly communicate the truth and exit the relationship instead of breaking your partner’s faith in you in the future.

All your efforts must be directed at strengthening trust in a relationship. For this you have to ensure you don’t hide anything from your partner. Secrets will be revealed some time or the other. You should be honest to the core with your partner. Be open and transparent. Don’t waste your energy in being secretive.

You must make your partner understand what you want from him/her in a clear and assertive manner. Don’t be vague and ambiguous and leave him/her guessing. This will be extremely suffocating for your partner. Do not be selfish but at the same time do not ignore your own needs.

You can earn the trust of your partner by refusing to fulfill the needs of your partner which you don’t want to satisfy. Saying no when you want to refuse shows yours strength of character and helps you receive respect from your partner. This will also prevent domination by one partner over the other.

Finally you need to allow your relationship to change and grow. This may involve identifying problems and solving them to improve the relationship. This process might cause swirling emotions and crisis situations but you have to face them boldly for the sake of your priceless relationship.

Building trust in your relationship is a daunting task that is filled with tears and pain all along. But the effort is worth it, because trust makes a relationship stronger and will also enhance the mental strength of you and your partner.

Fatwa

A fatwa is issued by a recognized religious authority in Islam. But since there is no hierarchical priesthood or anything of the sort in Islam, a fatwa is not necessarily "binding" on the faithful. The people who pronounce these rulings are supposed to be knowledgable, and base their rulings in knowledge and wisdom. They need to supply the evidence from Islamic sources for their opinions, and it is not uncommon for scholars to come to different conclusions regarding the same issue.As Muslims, we look at the opinion, the reputation of the person giving it, the evidence given to support it, and then decide whether to follow it or not. When there are conflicting opinions issued by different scholars, we compare the evidence and then choose the opinion to which our God-given conscience guides us.

Effect Of Western Culture On India Youth.

The effect of western culture has changed Indian youth a lot. It has its own positive & negative side. To live in this completive world we have to make our self compatible to adopt the changing life style if it seems to be very comfortable.

        The effect of Western culture in Indian youth can be seen in most of the actives as dressing, food habits, the way of moving with others and even western dance has gained its popularity among Indian youth.

         We people usually underestimate our country and overestimate foreign countries. Usually we prefer to buy foreign products from perfume to car bcos we think those products were more quality than ours. There is something to learn from the foreigners as keeping the environment clean & not to throw the waste on the roadside. But we Indians follow these rules & regulations in their country but forget to implement in our country.

    And in this mechanical world we r slowly forgetting our traditional culture which may not be known to our future generation.

    So, it is in the hand of Indian youth to suck only the needed things from the western culture and leave the waste that is not needed.

We Are Wayne

Wayne had waited all of his life to begin loving, to enter into communion with all beings. It seemed to him that there was always something more to atone for before he could feel himself worthy of Love. Another act of forgiveness to go through, another bad habit to overcome, another day of meditation, one more retreat, more solitude, always, always, though, there was the waiting.

The call had resonated so deeply with him, he knew he had to follow. Where would it lead? He wasn't sure he could handle another journey and it's always accompanying dark night of the soul. He didn't want to head out again only to always be with himself, only to return to where he always is, to that place where all find themselves. Here. And that's when it deepened. It broadened, sweeping him up in waves of Love and Understanding. It was a felt sense of completeness, total and without exclusion. "Is that it", he thought? "That's all? You mean I need not go anywhere, need not do anything? And all this searching, all this time spent chasing my tail like a dog, only to find out, now, that, It never not Is, that, It Is ALL, even me, with all my insane judgements and chattering voices, sweeping emotions and compulsive desires.

At that moment time ceased. At that moment the Reality of Eternity was no longer some fancy intellectual concept but known beyond a shadow of a doubt as the only Real experience he had ever had. The doors of perception flung openly madly revealing previously hidden dimensions of the Real that he now knew were the fundaments of all Createdness. Like so much ice melting in the sun of spring his once rigid boundaries were soon to be no more. The expansion of self to Self was merely his own Essence unfolding like a thousand petaled Lotus. A fragrance, an aroma wafted all around his boundless nature. Music, celestial tones emitted from his very Self, for he was the music of the spheres, the infernal Stars, the exploding Galaxies, the plains and rivers of Light and Love that rolled through them, the Awareness was him, was All. He could now chase down dreams with the innocence of a child, wherever and whatever---even whomever--- he would place his Awareness on he would become the Essence of.

"What Love", he thought, and it would increase. "What bliss and joy, what peace and understanding, what connectedness", and it was so. The separation ceased to be. He now knew that it was his travels, his journeys, his beliefs that he had to do in order to be worthy of that had prevented him from Being his Real Self, from embracing the Totality that simply IS, that he know knew to be ALL, from the heights of joy to the depths of despair. He was never, is never, not Divine. He was never, is never, not at One with All That Is. And so long as he believed he needed to go here or there, do this or that, in order to become worthy of being Who We Always Already Are he would fail to recognize his most Real Self; the Self that is One with All, that is not separate, but is of the same substance, the same Spiritual Prescence, that constitutes all of manifest reality.

Was it a coincidence that at precisely the moment he realized it would only happen here, only happen now, It did? Was it merely an irony that when he ceased the search, the search ended, and not only ended but revealed to him what always already is the case, is the Condition of Reality? All he could do was laugh. There was no punishment needed, no judgement called for. In fact he now knew that as an Eternal One he co-created this game, this searching, these dramas, so that All might not be so bored with ItSelf.

Time wasn't an issue. Time doesn't matter to those who know Eternity. So what's the rush when you will never not Be? What's the headlong fury for when the Truth is that we have all time at our disposal, that our games have no whistle that is going to blow, that the only end to the drama comes when we choose to enact another role or choose to detach from all roles and enter once again into the Unified Field of Oneness? Judgement dropped with this understanding and Wayne knew that as he would re-enter the world of Game-players and Mask-wearers he would now allow all to play the part they believe is their's to play, he was beyond judging others, for to him he now saw the Truth; that it would merely be judgement of Self, the Self that is unassailable, the Self that is you, him and her, this and that, those and these, us and them, here and there, One and All.

We are Wayne.

Happy Holi

Holi, the festival of colors, is another seasonal festival associated with Hinduism. At this time, everybody splashes colored water or powder all over each other. It is wonderful because it reflects exactly what is occurring in nature at that time – when all the beautiful flowers of different colors are blossoming. By celebrating this event we feel a greater oneness with nature. This splashing of colors was also a famous ‘lila’ in Shri Krishna’s life.
Holi is not only about colors and sweets. It reminds of the divine and eternal love of Krishna and Radha. It also reminds one of Narashima, Prahlada and Hiranyakashyapa and thus the fact that ‘Truth and Humanity are invincible forces in the Universe’.
From the lanes of Mathura and Vridavana, the colors of Holi have spread all over the country. These colors also carry the message of love, brotherhood, and truth. So whenever you splash Holi colors on somebody, you give him a promise of being truthful towards him always, maintain brotherhood with him lifelong and shower him with all the possible love throughout your life.
Happy Holi to all.

Tendulkar's glory untouched by fame

Sachin Tendulkar sugar-coated the recent reality of India and gave its people something to cheer about. It is not easy to possess the mandate to lift the spirits of such a large nation, but he has done that consistently. The comparison with Sir Donald Bradman is not restricted to his batting alone. Like the great man who brought cheer to post-war Australia, Tendulkar allowed India to momentarily forget fires and bombs and inflation and terrorist threats. It was like that with the century he made after England so graciously agreed to tour after the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. It has been like that for a long time. For better or worse cricket is more than a sport in India; Tendulkar is more than just a cricketer. Where our elected representatives callously fritter away the mandate people give them, Tendulkar has stayed true to it.

And he has never forgotten why he started playing the game in the first place. The best have lofty ambitions when they begin but soon commerce, like a tenacious worm, gnaws into them. Fame surrounds them and prevents the fresh air of reason from breaking through. They acquire sycophants, that great curse of success. Playing the game becomes a means to a seemingly superior, but in reality hollower, end. Tendulkar has kept those demons at bay. He has made more money than anyone else in the game, acquired greater fame than is imaginable, but you could never guess that from the way he plays his cricket. He remains the servant, pursues the game with purity. Through the last decade India have been well-served by like-minded giants.

And he works as hard as anybody has. Lance Armstrong once said that he wins the Tour de France not when he is cycling down the Champs Elysees but when he is out in the mountains facing icy winds while others are cosying in their blankets for an extra hour. Two years ago Tendulkar realised that his future lay in the way his body coped; that eventually his body rather than a bowler would get him. During the first IPL, as he struggled with a groin injury, he admitted that he found continuous rehab very difficult to live with. Once fit, he was like the child again, able to do what he wanted without worrying about whether his body was accomplice or traitor. And so he trained harder and rested well. You could see the effect as he scampered between wickets. Tendulkar's delightful second wind is the result of what you and I have not seen: hours in the gym and in training.

As a result, Tendulkar's endgame is nowhere in sight. He is peeling off centuries like he did in his prime. The old air of predictability is still around; he is grinding his way through when needed, clobbering the ball when required. In this extraordinary long-distance race he is running, this looks like a mid-race burst rather than the finishing kick his age suggests it should be.

So why has no one else scored a double-century in limited-overs cricket so far? Well, because it is very difficult for a start. Assuming 300 balls, you should expect to get no more than 150, which means you need to bat at a strike-rate of 133. You need to be mentally alert, because one casual shot, one moment of disrespect, could be your undoing. But, let's admit, the combination of pitches, outfields and boundary ropes has rarely tilted the balance so much in the batsman's favour. In Gwalior the groundsman told one half of the class they were not wanted. The bowlers were the extras in a movie, seeking, at best, a talking part. The stage had been prepared for Tendulkar but he still had to deliver an unforgettable performance.

Inevitably the question will be asked: what next? I know there is only one thing he genuinely covets, and that is not in his hands. In 12 months Tendulkar hopes to play his sixth and last World Cup. So far his relationship with the World Cup has been like that of a child who scurries to the rossogulla shop only to find it shut every time. If he was a golfer seeking a Masters win or a tennis player hoping to win another Grand Slam, he could plan for it but he doesn't hold the key to a win in a team sport. It must happen, he cannot make it happen. But what else? Frankly, I don't care.

Tendulkar's journey is about joy and purity and a landmark is merely a comfort stop.

Harsha Bhogle is a commentator, television presenter and writer