Before it's too late...

A man stopped at a flower shop for ordering some flowers to be sent as a gift to his mother who lived two hundred miles away.

As he got out of his car he noticed a young girl sitting on the curb sobbing. He asked her what was wrong and she replied, "I wanted to buy a red rose for my mother. But I only have seventy-five cents, and a rose costs two dollars."

The man smiled and said, "Come on in with me. I'll buy you a rose." He bought the little girl her rose and ordered his own mother's flowers.

As they were leaving he offered the girl a ride home. She said, "Yes, please! You can take me to my mother."

She directed him to a cemetery, where she placed the rose on a freshly dug grave. The man returned to the flower shop, canceled the gifting order, picked up a bouquet and drove the two hundred miles to his mother's house.

At times we take many such relationships with our family and friends for granted. Learn to value them.

This was one of the useful forwards I got in recent times! What a powerful
message!

2009 in progress

The first quarter of 2009 is over and how! It just zipped past at such an amazing speed. Suddenly amidst the financial year end activities, it dawned upon me that yes, three months have already gone! That's what our mind does to our world. It shows the world through our actions. All said and done, I am really sorry that in these three months there was no time for any of my leisure time activities. Hoping to catch up with friends and personal activities soon..

The Tata Nano has launched. It's all over the newspapers..and the debate about it has undoubtedly shifted towards the positive. Interest free loans, new outlets...the whole city is abuzz...Auto drivers want to upgrade to Nano...citing increased safety at the same cost per kilometer...and above all..they smell the possibility...thanks to the vision of one man who engineered their dreams into reality. Quite obviously, it is one of the momentous launches in Indian automobile industry. Where are those critics? Any news?

Sadly, Maruti 800 may not be available in some months time. That is a good car for all it's worth; it was a revolution when launched. It was my first car and I am still fond of it. It pained a lot when I sold it; it had travelled half way across India with me, many times taking me to home sweet home. I will miss the faithful 800. Omni will also be stopped for production, but then, only the call taxi operators would miss it. Even they have almost upgraded to the Logans.

Come on Nano, a million Indian and a few more forign dreams are waiting for you.

The recent ads on the TV are increasingly goading people to switch off their cars at the traffic signals. How about a signal less junctions so people don't stop unnecessarily at all?

Shoes have started taking off in deadly trajectory's aimed at politicians. Foreign as well as Indian. It's in vogue now..and looks like it is not stopping any sooner. Talk about symbolic protests! This is disgusting irrespective of the target.

The weather is getting hotter by the day. The city feels a lot hotter than it was the same time last year. Not good at all.

Appreciating the days in between

Here comes another year which unleashes a deluge of emotions ranging from nostalgia to sense of achievement or a resentment. It's also the time for the annual ritual of looking back and looking forward.

I was looking for a positive thing to start this year when a very simple message landed in the inbox. It is so simple yet hits hard. I am sure to come back to this again and again just to get reminded to appreciate the in-between days.

Sometimes I need to see my life differently. Like stepping outside it and seeing it from a different angle. Maybe walking around it, underneath it or climbing on top. Better yet, through the eyes of a child. There is nothing complex about what I am about to share with you. In fact, the beauty of it lies in the simplicity.

I was talking to a friend about all the things I've been going through lately. We were sitting at a table in an open coffee shop located in the center of a mall.

I love coffee and I love conversation.

Just as we began speaking a woman with two teenage girls took the table just behind us. They were rowdy and unsettled as they were talking about all the shopping they were doing. Mom reminded them to sit quietly while she placed their order at the counter.

Remarkably, they quieted down immediately.

"All I want to do is to get through it," I said as we continued our chat.

"I know what you mean," my friend replied.

Then I said, "When I look back over my life all I see is me dealing with a problem and sooner or later another one pops up."

Without hesitation I heard, "What about all the days in between?"

I looked at my friend and he shook his head as he said, "I didn't say that."

"I did!" a young voice replied.

Then from behind him one of the girls turned around, smiled, and repeated, "What about all the days in between?"

I smiled. I thought it wonderful that she felt she had something to offer us.

"Explain." I said.

"Well, this is just my opinion, but people always think about their problems. What about all those days in between? Those days we throw away worrying about what happened and what might happen," she said.

"Those days are good days, probably more of those than the bad ones!" the other girl added.

Just then the woman returned. "Are they bothering you?" she asked.

"No, they helped me see my life differently," I said. "Now I see the days in between."

"More of those than the bad ones!" my friend added.

What do you see?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bob's signature story, "I Wish You Enough," has circled the globe via the Internet. His inspiring true stories are based on the people he meets in his travels. In the mall, the airport, the park, or sitting in a restaurant, a simple word or phrase will often catch his attention; hook onto his heart-and from it a story blooms. Bob's unique perspective on life makes him "the philosopher of everyday moments."

http://www.IWishYouEnough.com
perksblog@hotmail.comSent as a courtesy of...Jeff KellerAttitude is Everything, Inc.Motivational resources to help you succeedhttp://www.attitudeiseverything.com