Positive News :: Edition XXXXV

‘This daughter is god’s gift to me’ ……

For 70-year-old Sarojini, Mini is her own daughter who does her hair and helps in wearing clothes. As she comes out of the house, holding Mini…

The GREAT and good of inspirational businesses during the coronavirus pandemic

A Newtownards-based company that specialises in baby products changed tack to produce face shields

Plans to celebrate inspirational Jeanne’s life with love and respect

EVERYONE is aware of her achievements as an artist of national and international standing, but an online condolence page shows how the Dublin-born but Ballylickey-based sculptor Jeanne Rynhart was valued, above all else, for being wise and kind.

Read more ,,,

PIPS-Hope and Support and Marie Curie want to hear about your Covid experiences

Calling for entries for their Voices of Covid 2020 book are from left: Patricia Trainor, Chairperson, PIPS Hope and Support; Gavin McGuckin, Community Fundraiser, Maire Curie and Bronagh McKeown, Chairperson, Voices of Covid Project. Photograph: Columba O’Hare/ Newry.ie

Zen Story: Hidden Meanings

A young Zen student was on his way to buy vegetables at the market for his monastery. On the way, he encountered a student he had seen occasionally, from a monastery some distance from his own.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“Where my legs direct me”, replied the other fellow nonchalantly.

Our young fellow turned this answer over in his mind – surely there was some meaning hidden in its depths? Back at the monastery, he recounted this conversation to his elderly master, who said: “You ought to have asked the boy what he’d do if he didn’t have any legs.”

The next day, the student chanced upon the other boy again. “Where are you going?” he asked, and before the boy could reply, he continued, “Oh, I know…wherever your legs direct you, I suppose!”

“Nope!” came the unexpected response. “Today, I am going to follow the wind!” This reply threw the student into so much confusion that his mind went blank. Back again at the monastery, he related the incident to his teacher.

“You should have asked him what he’d do if no wind was blowing,” remarked the old man.

A few days later, the student came upon the other boy once more in the market. Aha! Here was his Zen moment!

“So where are you off to this time? Where your legs go or where the wind blows, I suppose. But, what if…”

“Neither of the two,” replied the boy, with a cheeky grin. “Today, I am here to buy vegetables!”

Interpretation

We don’t really need to interpret everything all the time. We can just be going wherever life takes us.

Positive News :: Edition XXXXIV

Thank You, Neighbor: 50+ Good News Stories From All 50 States

We celebrate Americans from all 50 states who are spreading peace, lending a helping hand and building community.

‘Keep up the fantastic work’ – Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp praises ‘inspirational’ Derry Girl for on street exercises

Liverpool may be on the brink of clinching the Premier League but they’ve already won fans in Londonderry’s Creggan Estate, by sending a message to a special little girl.

8-year-old Grace Morrow became the star of the on-street exercise routines – featured on UTV during the lockdown.

‘Keep up the fantastic work’ – Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp praises ‘inspirational’ Derry Girl for on street exercises

H-1b visa rejection: Kunal Bahl’s inspiring story should be a lesson for everyone

Read the inspirational story of a 36-year-old Indian entrepreneur who founded a unicorn startup when his H-1B visa got rejected

Inspirational young Ellesmere Port brothers’ words of kindness feature in Amazon best-seller

AN Ellesmere Port fundraising family are celebrating after two youngsters have become best-selling authors.

Six-year-old Andrew and brother Aaron, five, both wrote a story for the book Kindness as part of the Child Author Project.

Domino scientist honoured by RSC for African Initiative

A senior scientist at Cambridge inkjet technology business Domino Printing has been honoured by his peers for his outstanding contribution to proactively and inclusively supporting colleagues and the wider scientific community.

Farm Labourer’s Daughter Beats Poverty, Gender Stereotypes to Become Deputy Collector

A brother who dropped out of college to earn and a mother who toiled under the harsh sun to support Wasima Shaikh’s dreams. How this family fought stereotypes to educate their little girl.

Sufi Tale : What is gain and loss ?

Mula came upon a frowning man walking along the road to town. “What’s wrong?” he asked. The man held up a tattered bag and moaned, “All that I own in this wide world barely fills this miserable, wretched sack.”

“Too bad,” said Mula, and with that, he snatched the bag and ran down the road. Having lost everything, the man burst into tears. Meanwhile, Mula quickly ran around the bend and placed the man’s sack in the middle of the road where he would have to come upon it.

When the man saw his bag sitting in the road before him, he laughed with joy and shouted, “My sack! I thought I’d lost you!” Watching through the bushes, Mula smiled. “Well, that’s one way to make someone happy!”

Interpretation

We often don’t realise all that we have. It is only when we lose something, we realise its value. This is what is being shown with wit in this tale.

Positive News : Edition XXXXIII

Four Scouts receive organisation’s highest honour

Four dedicated Scouts from the Swansea valleys and Brecon are set to receive Scouting’s highest honours.

The volunteers are set to receive the Award for Merit and Chief Scouts’ Commendation for Good Service awards thanks to their commitment to ScoutsCymru over the decades.

They are among 82 inspirational Welsh Scouts who are set to be recognised as part of this year’s Roll of Honour celebration.

Dreaming of being your own boss?

These inspirational business owners prove it can be done – and reveal their surprisingly simple tips for going it alone

The coronavirus pandemic hasn’t just attacked our health, but our livelihoods, too.

Millions of British people have been furloughed, while many more have lost their jobs entirely as businesses have succumbed to the impact of the lockdown.

However, some have managed to weather the storm.

These savvy eBay business owners share their inspirational stories as to how they became their own bosses, and how they’ve been able to stay in the green during these bleak times…

Survey shows Covid-19 inspiring innovation in SA short-term insurance sector

DURBAN – Results of a survey conducted amongst 1200 Old Mutual Insure (OMI) and Elite brokers provides rich data on just how significantly the Covid-19 crisis and, especially, the national lockdown has impacted the short-term insurance industry.

Of interest is a range of positive innovations that brokers believe lockdown is likely to leave in its wake. These unexpected learnings are likely to benefit the industry long after lockdown is lifted.

Significantly, Covid-19 lockdown has bought home, now more than ever, the need to save. Black swan events like the current global pandemic illustrate, that nothing can be taken for granted. The unforeseen is ever present. And the best preparation for the unforeseen is savings.

Survey results also indicate how Covid-19

Rapid City Correctional Officer works to help and inspire incarcerated youth

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN-TV)- A correctional officer in Rapid City grew up in Detroit. She’s lived all around the globe while serving in the military, and now works with some of the most violent incarcerated kids around.

Correctional Officer Anesha T. Morton at the Juvenile Services Center traveled all over the world in the U.S. Air Force. Now she works to inspire troubled youth.

But she’s not just working with them, she’s inspiring them, ”Along the Way” at the Juvenile Services Center.

As we watch Anesha T. Morton unlock her keys for the highly secure Juvenile Services Center, there’s a sort of beep, beep, beep, and a buzz, before the key box door will open.

Zen Story: Perfect Silence

Four pupils used to practice meditation in the time before Zen came to Japan.
These close friends vowed to each other to observe silence for seven days.

The first day passed well.
But as the evening progressed and the oil lamps became dim, one student couldn’t help himself.

“Attend to the lamps!” he shouted impatiently to an assistant.

His friend turned to him, surprised.
“You are not supposed to speak! Have you forgotten?”

The third friend piped up, “You fools! Why are you talking?”

“Hah, I’m the only one who’s kept silent!” exclaimed the last.

Before judging others, pause for a moment and ask – how perfect am I?

Interpretation : We need to know how to never judge anyone else in the journey of our lives to lead a holistic, complete life.

Positive News : Edition XXXXII

Creating a Positive Working Environment – 8 Ways to Motivate Your Employees

To have happy and content employees who are productive and effective, it’s not enough to tell them to stay positive. Creating a happy and inspiring working environment involves several aspects. As a manager or the owner, you will have to do more to motivate your workers to contribute more and to help them be healthier and more content.

Hoda Kotb gives first look at follow-up book to ‘I Really Needed This Today’

The uplifting book comes out Oct. 13.

I Wanted to Help During COVID-19 & Here’s How I Found the Right Way to Do It

This online platform will help you make an informed choice about the cause or NGO you want to help while giving you tax benefits

Understand people to motivate them

There was once a small boy who banged a drum all day and loved every moment of it. He would not be quiet, no matter what anyone else said or did. Various people who called themselves Sufis, and other well-wishers, were called in by neighbors and asked to do something about the child. The first so-called Sufi told the boy that he would, if he continued to make so much noise, perforate his eardrums; this reasoning was too advanced for the child, who was neither a scientist nor a scholar. The second told him that drum beating was a sacred activity and should be carried out only on special occasions. The third offered the neighbors plugs for their ears; the fourth gave the boy a book; the fifth gave the neighbors books that described a method of controlling anger through biofeedback; the sixth gave the boy meditation exercises to make him placid and explained that all reality was imagination. Like all placebos, each of these remedies worked for a short while, but none worked for very long.

Eventually, a real Sufi came along. He looked at the situation, handed the boy a hammer and chisel, and said, “I wonder what is INSIDE the drum?”

Interpretation : We need to understand people to make them do what we wish them to do. This is what good management of companies and even our lives is all about.

Positive News : XXXXI

Inspiration is Just a Podcast Away

Science has shown that, “Thinking positive, happy, hopeful and optimistic thoughts decreases Cortisol [the body’s stress hormone] and produces Serotonin [the body’s natural anti-depressant], which creates a sense of well-being. This helps the brain function at peak capacity.”

These Books Can Help You Explain Racism and Protest to Your Kids

The conversation about race needs to start early and keep happening.

Myka Stauffer and the Aggressively Inspirational World of “Adoption Influencers”

Huxley Stauffer had been turned into content before he even met the people who would become his parents. As early as July 2016, YouTube influencer Myka Stauffer was posting videos to YouTube about the long, complex process of adopting a boy from China. She talked about convincing her husband to adopt, cried while describing administrative delays, and exulted when the process inched forward. Over the years, Stauffer and her husband, James, posted 27 videos on their “adoption journey,” including a heartwarming montage of the family’s trip to China to retrieve their 2½-year-old son in 2017. Afterward, they kept their hundreds of thousands of viewers updated on the boy’s growth and his relationships with their biological children. That is, until earlier this year, when attuned fans began noticing that Huxley had quietly stopped appearing in the couple’s videos.

Soldier-Turned-IRS Officer Rallies Efforts, Aids Hundreds of Migrants in Bengaluru

The 47-year-old Additional Commissioner of Income Tax of Mumbai is a Shaurya Chakra awardee, for his bravery in an encounter with terrorists along the LoC in 2017.

Learning from others about honouring nature

Management Seminar. He was traveling in Uttar Pradesh with his wife for a picnic while he was the Chief Election Commissioner. On the wa, they saw a large mango plantation filled with sparrow nests. Seeing this, they went down there and his wife wanted to take two nests home. The police escort called a young boy who was grazing cows in the fields and demanded to bring the nests down and offered to pay him Rs10. He refused, so Seshan raised the offer to Rs.50. The policeman asked the boy to do it as Seshan was a big officer. The boy told Seshan and his wife ‘Saabji I will not do it for whatsoever you will give.’ He continued, ‘inside those nests, there will be baby sparrows, if I give you those nests to you, in the evening when mother sparrow returns with food for the babies and do not find them there, she will cry. I do not have the heart to see that’. Hearing this Seshan and his wife were shocked. Seshan says my position and the IAS melted away in front of that little boy. I was in front of him like a mustard seed. They gave up their wish and after returning, this incident continued to haunt him with guilt for days. Education, position or social status in never the yardstick for the measure of humanity. Knowledge is to know nature. We don’t achieve anything by gathering a lot of information. Life becomes blissful when you have knowledge, sense & wisdom.

Interpretation : We do need to learn how to respect nature and learn lessons from those who do, irrespective of their background

Positive News : Edition XXXX

Kind gesture: Concord sisters aid Greater Boston Food Bank

Artist pair find lockdown inspiration in ‘hopeful’ book project

Aritsts Mike Pert (left) and John Midgley with their concertina-style book featuring more than 40 original paintings, drawings and collages. Picture: ARCHANT

A pair of artist friends have completed their second book featuring 40 original paintings, drawings and collages, two months after being forced to put the project on hold by lockdown.

Some good news to take you into the long weekend

According to one study, the lockdown has taken a psychological toll on the people. On the other hand, the months of April and May have seen the nicest weather since records began.

The Good News Collective – May 28 edition

The Good News Collective is a handful of short, positive news blurbs designed to remind us that there is still a lot of good going on out there in the world amidst the COVID pandemic.

Finally, a bit of good news: some national parks are reopening

As they straggle forth from long weeks of isolation, Canadians seeking a path headed toward something resembling sanity were thrown a lifeline on Wednesday.

Federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkerson told The Canadian Press that 29 of the country’s 48 national parks will reopen for day use this coming Monday.

Fable : Team Work

A Businessman gets stranded on a lonely highway in the US.

The tyres of his car get stuck badly in a mud pool.

He looks around for help and finally finds an old farmer.

The businessman goes to him asking for help to get his car out of the mud.

Farmer gauges the situation, and agrees to help him and says, let us take the help of warwick, an old bull at the farm.

The farmer ties the bull to the car and start shouting loudly, “FRED, PULL!… JACK, PULL!… JOHN, PULL… WARWICK, PULL…”

As the farmer keeps shouting these words, the bull Warwick gets the car out of the pool of mud.

The Businessman is relieved but has a doubt in his mind.

He thanks the farmer and asks him, “You said the bull’s name was Warwick, and he was alone, then who were Fred, Jack & John?”

The Farmer answered, “See, Warwick is old and is also blind. He does not know he is pulling this car alone. The moment he hears the other names, he thinks he is in a team, and he gives his best”.

So is the case with all of us.

The very thought that there are others in this same situation as us, gives us a great deal of comfort, hope, confidence and enthuses us to put our heart and soul into any task that we undertake.

It’s not without reason that the very word *TEAM* is said to stand for *”Together Everyone Achieves More”*.

This too shall pass…

Let’s work as a team to overcome the crisis …

Interpretation

Like it is shown in the tale, we are born to work in teams to lead a complete and holistic life.

Positive News : XXXVLIX

Tributes flood in for ‘inspirational’ Cathie Sabin OBE

‘Inspirational’, ‘Thoughtful’, ‘A national tennis treasure’ – the tennis world came together yesterday to pay tribute to the the incredible contribution of former LTA President and Councillor, Cathie Sabin OBE to our sport. Cathie’s infectious positive attitude and ability to engage with people from all walks of life meant she had a unique impact on the lives of many within the sport and helped shape tennis in Britain as we know it.

Good News: Five Positive Stories Spreading Smiles Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

With surging coronavirus cases worldwide and stay-at-home orders in place to stem the novel coronavirus, some positive news can have an encouraging effect mood.

Letter from the Editor: Coronavirus can’t keep good people down, and we’re here with the uplifting stories

Portage high school student Ashleigh Hoag holds a poster she painted. She has now painted four posters to hang in the front window to share positivity with her neighbors during the coronavirus outbreak. (Photo courtesy of Jodi Hoag)Photo courtesy of Jodi Hoag

More Good News: Man Travels World for Good News, Essential Workers Tribute Video

Dillon Hill of Sacramento earned international attention in 2018 when he dropped out of UC Davis to help his childhood friend Chris Betancourt complete a bucket list.

200 Indian Singers Create an Anthem to Honour Frontline Heroes Fighting COVID-19

“One Nation One Voice is not just an anthem but a movement that reflects the current emotions of the people.”

200 Indian Singers Create an Anthem to Honour Frontline Heroes Fighting COVID-19

Fable : Combatting ego

The great Zen Master, Bankei, was renowned for his talks. People of all sects and ranks came to listen to him because he spoke from his heart. Bankei was much-respected and his preaching was embraced by all.

Bankei’s popularity angered a priest of another sect whose followers left to listen to Bankei. The priest wondered what it was that made Bankei gain so many supporters, especially when Bankei did not even quote from any scholarly references! The more the priest thought about it, the more it enraged him. Vowing to end the matter conclusively with a debate, the priest stormed to the temple where Bankei lectured.

Upon reaching the temple, the priest called out to Bankei.

“Hey Zen Master!” the priest shouted. “You think you have a hold on these people because they come listen to you. They obey you because they respect you,” he claimed. “But me, I don’t respect you!” the priest declared. “Can you make me obey you?” he demanded of Bankei.

Bankei was amused by the priest’s anger. He retorted, “In order to have this discussion, you must come up here beside me.”

The proud priest made his way through the crowd to Bankei’s seat.

“Come to my left so I can see you better,” Bankei told the priest.

The priest walked over to Bankei’s left side.

“No, that’s no good,” stated Bankei. “It would be better for you to be on my right.”

The priest once again made his way to the Zen Master’s right side.

Bankei smiled and said, “You see, you are doing as I say now, which makes me believe that you are a good-natured and benevolent person.”

The priest was ashamed of his outrageous behavior and sat down to listen to Bankei talk.

Interpretation

Most of the time, it is our ego that stops us from learning. If we overcome this, we shall urely be on the path to growth and a holistic life.

Positive News : Edition XLVIII

Group – Mission Feed Hungry – Mira Bhayandar

Corona Warriors HELP for Poor and Daily wage earner

15may2020_coronawarrier

The Corona virus pandemic does not differentiate according to skin colour, religion or gender. Corona affects us all.

Click here to read more…

Five Best Stories Of The Day Amid The Coronavirus Crisis

15may20205stories With surging coronavirus cases worldwide and stay-at-home orders in place to stem the novel coronavirus, some positive news can have an encouraging effect.

Click here to read more…

Good news: Global Medical Relief Fund to host Pop-Up Food Pantry in which anyone can partake

14may2020foodpantry A Pop-Up Food Pantry will be hosted by the Global Medical Relief Fund on Wednesday, May 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Click here to read more …

Patient, amusing, inspirational… teachers are aceing lockdown

14may2020teachers The Upside weekly newsletter celebrates the teachers who have made a difference to our lives in lockdown

Teachers have shifted to remote teaching during the coronavirus lockdown with admirable self-assurance.

Click here to read more …

Inspirational story of blind Pakistani girl who’s stormed to Britain’s Got Talent

14may2020blindpakgirl LONDON: A 14-year-old British Pakistani girl who lost sight at the age of 10 has become a huge sensation in ITV’s famous hit show – Britain’s Got Talent – hoping to make it to the final of the popular show.

Click here to read more …

12 inspirational quotes from literature that capture a mother’s love

This Mother’s Day, we take a look at literary quotes that reaffirms a mother’s love for her child.

14may2020mothersquotes

Click here to read more …

World Athletics Day: Awe-inspiring stories of para athletes

This World Athletics Day, we bring you stories of five para athletes who used their grit and determination to be an inspiration to others around them

Click here to read more…

Fable.. All Questions Answered…..

buddhaimage

A man approached the Buddha and asked, “Venerable Sir, how come my mind constantly wanders and yours does not? How come I indulge in gossip and back-biting and you don’t? How come I don’t have patience or compassion for others, while you have? I am filled with such questions. Please guide me.”

The Buddha replied, “Your questions are good, however it appears to me that in twenty four hours you will die.”

The man was shocked to hear this. He immediately got up, ready to leave.

The Buddha asked, “What happened? You came with such enthusiasm and now you seemly utterly dismayed.”

The man said, “Sir, my mother told me that your words are true and are to be held in high regard. Please let me go so that I may meet my family members, friends and others for the last time before I die.”

The Buddha said, “But there are still twenty four hours. Sit, we will talk more.”

The man said, “Sir, please excuse me. I must meet my loved ones before I die.”

So he left and went home. He met his mother and started crying. The word spread. His friends came; other relatives came; neighbors came. Everyone was crying with him. Time flew.

He was busy either crying or counting the hours. When only three hours were left, he got into bed and lay down. Although death had not yet arrived, he was already kind of dead.

When only an hour was left, the Buddha walked in and said to him, “Why are you lying down with closed eyes? Death is still an hour away. That’s a lot of time. Get up, let us talk.”

He replied, “Sir, what is there now to talk about? Please let me die peacefully.”

The Buddha said, “There is still time. Our talk will get over before then.”

“Okay, Sir. Say what you have to say.”

The Buddha asked, “In the past twenty four hours, did your mind wander and think about inconsequential things?”

“How could I think of meaningless things? I was constantly focused on death.”

“In the past twenty four hours, did you think or speak ill of anyone?”

“How could I do that? I was all the time preoccupied with death.”

“In the past twenty four hours, were you mean or hurtful towards anyone?”

“Sir, how can you even ask that? I was only thinking of death, nothing else mattered.”

Finally the Buddha said, “Do not worry. This was a way of teaching you. The truth is we are dying each moment, not just in twenty four hours. No one knows when their time will be up, yet we are inevitably racing towards death. Understanding this truth can be very liberating. All the questions you asked me have been spontaneously answered because of the heightened awareness of death you experienced in these twenty four hours. The difference between you and me is that you were aware of death for a few hours, I am aware of it as a living reality each moment.

Interpretation : As it said in the tale itself, it is only when we realise death that come to us anytime that we begin to lead a complete life.

Positive News :: XLII

The world after COVID: the good news

7may2020_worldaftercorona What happened to balanced budgets, austerity, tight money, cut-backs in public spending, restructuring, streamlining, debt? – the entire architecture of fiscal and financial orthodoxy?

Looking for an inspirational story? 10 feel-good books to read right now

7may2020books Have nothing to do? Read these inspirational books to pass the time and boost your mood.

https://www.today.com/shop/10-best-inspirational-books-2020-t180362

Readers Have Reported So Many Good Deeds, We Can Barely Keep Up; Here’s 10 to Get You Through the Day

Good News Sunday: Nothing like the Batmobile to turn heads

The Batmobile and several other cars wind through the Remington Pointe neighborhood in Volo Friday. The short parade of show cars drove through several neighborhoods.

Smiley Relaunches Good News Website – Dedicated to Community Heroes

Chinatown-Market-X-Smiley Smiley, the good news brand powering positive propaganda since 1972, through good news stories, championing community heroes & charitable causes has launched its Good News website.

CEO Nicolas Loufrani spoke about this, “We believe that good news today is about those doing good in their local communities. That’s why our editorial focus has been on championing the everyday heroes who work or volunteer for charities and social enterprises. We believe their stories are not only uplifting but will engage more people to do like them.”

Smiley X Chinatown Market continues to set the benchmark for products that are creative and positive. (PRNewsfoto/The Smiley Company)

Mumbai Start-Up Designs Hands-Free Sanitizing Station; Installs 1050 Across City

“The idea of normal is set to change now. Even after the lockdown is over, people will be more cautious about their hygiene. These pedal-operated stations will come handy even then.

The Empty Boat :: A Zen fable

fableemptyyboat

A monk decides to meditate alone, away from his monastery.

He takes his boat out to the middle of the lake, moors it there, closes his eyes and begins his meditation.

After a few hours of undisturbed silence, he suddenly feels the bump of another boat colliding with his own.

With his eyes still closed, he senses his anger rising, and by the time he opens his eyes, he is ready to scream at the boatman who dared disturb his meditation.

But when he opens his eyes, he sees it’s an empty boat that had probably got untethered and floated to the middle of the lake.

At that moment, the monk achieves self-realization, and understands that the anger is within him; it merely needs the bump of an external object to provoke it out of him.

From then on, whenever he comes across someone who irritates him or provokes him to anger, he reminds himself, *“The other person is merely an empty boat. The anger is within me.”*

Take time for introspection & search for answer:

Interpretation

“Empty boat” is a famous & fabulous metaphor. The value is when when we understand all the anger is within us so we then know we can control it also.

Positive news XL

Roadside Mechanic rescued 1,180 injured Wild Animals

Peera Ram was born into a family of marginal farmers in a border village of Western Rajasthan, with Gujarat on one side and Pakistan on the other.

During his childhood when he came with his parents to the farm, he saw peacocks, rabbits, deer and other wildlife creatures come to their fields from the dense forest.

He says that he still remembers how the animals would run around the fields, devour the crops and sometimes just rest there.

With a decade of experience Peera Ram saved the lives of rare species like the Chinkara, Blackbuck, Hanuman Langur, Indian Hare, Migratory Demoiselle Crane, Common Crane, Small Indian Civet, Peacock, and Desert Fox among others.

24april2020_cambridge Gestures of goodwill and kindness have been in full supply across the region.

Helping those in need, a show of thanks to key workers and appreciation to those going above and beyond in the community have demonstrated how the current crisis is also bringing society together.

We brought a round-up of donations, fundraising and acts of kindness last week, but want to shine a light on more stories of how people are making an impact across the region.

These Inspiring Quotes Can Keep Us Positive During the Pandemic

They have the power to improve our mental well-being.

24april2020inspirationa Inspirational phrases can always help to shift our energy and boost our mood. In times of crisis like we’re experiencing now, meaningful and memorable words of wisdom can have even more resonance, giving us a fresh perspective or insight when we are feeling stressed or fearful and need it most. Keep them by your bedside. Tape them to the mirror or desk, write them down, and look at a couple whenever you feel in need of a little mental, emotional, or spiritual inspiration. Here is a collection of positive and powerful quotes that speak to what we’re going through now.

Rising Star Ai-Chan Carrier: “Encourage people to follow in your steps and be positive as you.”

If you post positive content and hang out with positive people, it will help other people to be more positive. And it will fight all of the negative in the world. That encourages people to follow in your steps and be positive as you. I had the pleasure to interview Ai-Chan Carrier. Ai-Chan Carrier, best […]

I had the pleasure to interview Ai-Chan Carrier.

Ai-Chan Carrier, best known for her roles on CBS’ “Training Day” and Disney’s “The Lion Guard,”

Food, Water & Banks on Doorstep: Nagaland IAS Aces Social Distancing With 5 Steps

From doorstep delivery of fresh vegetables, providing banking services to activating a preventive strategy, here’s how the IAS officer is ensuring as much normalcy as possible amidst a lockdown in this Nagaland district near Indo-Myanmar border.

Fable :: Yudhishtra and the Yagna

24april2020_yudhistra A Brahmin requested the Pandavas who were in forest on exile to retrieve the “Arani” (Wood to make fire) that had got entangled to the antlers of a deer. Pandavas went after the deer.

During the chase they were tired and thirsty Yudhisthira, the eldest of Pandavas asked his brother Nakula to fetch water from the nearby pond. Nakula left to fetch water. Time passed but Nakula did not return. Yudhisthira asked Sahadeva his other brother to go and enquire; he too did not come back. Then Yudhisthira sent Arjuna and Bhima one after the other and the same thing happened, nobody returned back. Yudhisthira became worried and decided to go and have a look himself. No sooner had he reached the lake inside the forest, he found all his brothers were lying dead.

Yudhisthira who was known for his patience decided to drink some water before investigating further on his brothers, as he approached the lake, he heard a voice, “Wait Yudhisthira, this lake is mine, I have some questions to ask if you answer them you can drink the water. I am warning you that without answering my questions if you dared to drink, your fate too will be the same as your brothers. I told the same to your brothers but they ignored me and now they are dead.”

Yudhisthira immediately could grasp the situation and asked the voice to go ahead with those questions. Probably this was the first quiz on knowledge.

The question and answers were thus:

Q: Who makes the Sun rise? Who travel with him? Who leads him to set? In what is he firmly anchored?

A: It is Brahman, the Absolute Consciousness which makes the Sun rise. Devas’ travel with him. Dharma leads him to set and he is firmly anchored in Truth.

Q: How does one become learned? How does he become great and who helps him? O King! By what means one becomes intelligent?

A: One becomes learned by knowledge of scriptures; one achieves greatness by penance, gets help from his own intelligence and becomes intelligent by serving elders.

Q: When is a man who is alive considered to be dead?

A: When he does not share his wealth with guests, servants, animals and ancestors.

Q: What is faster than wind?

A: Mind.

Q: More numerous than grass?

A: Thoughts.

Q: What is more valuable than gold?

A: Knowledge.

Q: More desirable than wealth?

A: Health.

Q: Most desired form of happiness?

A: Contentment.

Q: What is the greatest deed?

A: Non-violence.

Q: What measures a man?

A: Conduct.

Q: What is forgiveness?

A: Tolerating the worst of enemies.

Q: What is mercy?

A: Wishing happiness to all.

Q: What is simplicity?

A: Equanimity (The quality of being composed and steady, especially under stress or pressure).

Q: What is the only thing man can conquer?

A: His own mind.

Q: What when renounced makes one agreeable?

A: Pride.

Q: What when renounced makes one wealthy?

A: Desire.

Q: Who is man’s most dreaded enemy?

A: Anger.

Q: What is the worst disease?

A: Greed.

Q: What is charity?

A: Helping the helpless.

Q: What is the most amazing thing about the world?

A: Everyday creatures die, yet the rest live as if immortal.

Q: How does one know the true path?

A: Not through arguments-they never reach conclusions, not from teachers,-they only give opinions, to know the true path, one must, in silence and solitude, reflect on one’s own life.

The Yama, the owner of the voice was impressed and asked Yudhisthira, “I shall let one of your brothers alive, and who shall it be?”

Without hesitation Yudhisthira answered, “Nakula.”

“Why him? He is your step brother?” said the voice.

Yudhisthira calmly replied, “My father had two wives, me the son of Kunti, still alive, surely a son of Madri, should be alive.”

Yama was happy with his son Yudhisthira; he restored all the four Pandavas to life.

This episode is found in the Aranya Parva of the epic, the Mahabharata.

Interpretation :

Many of the questions that we often struggle with are answered in this fable. We could definitely learn our lessons through these.