JEWEL BOX
Hi friends,
Welcome to JEWEL BOX , my page of random posts, thoughts,musings,poems,stories, articles, movies, riddles, jokes,pictures, songs & quotes etc collected over the years and still collecting….. Oh how I love to treasure hunt!
These are precious stones that I’ve not been able to share through either of my BLOGS posts and so am glad to finally have found a way to do so. They may be lengthy or brief, funny or sunny. They may be inspiring and may even cause a tear but definitely each of them is a real GEM good enough to be here!
This is a special page and I would’nt suggest for you to read at one stretch, but consider it a treasure chest that you can keep coming back to over and over again whenever you have the luxury of time at hand or when you just need the magic potion of cheer or a powerful lift when you feel the blues. They have done wonders for me!
Happy treasure hunting ! and do feel free to share, if you have a precious jewel to spare!
Love always,
Sparky Laurie.
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JEWEL # 1 THE ANT & THE HOUSE OWNER:
An ant knocks on the door of a house.
The house owner opens the door.
“I want a place to stay,” said the ant.
“I have a vacant room which you can occupy for free of cost,” said the owner.
The ant went inside and occupied the vacant room.
After some days, the ant brought in another ant and requested to the owner,
“Can you please allow this ant to stay with me?”
“Oh sure, you can do so without paying any rent,” said the owner.
After some more days, the ant brought one more ant
and requested the owner to allow the ant to stay with it.
The owner agreed to it without asking for any rent.
This continued as the ant brings in one more and and the owner agrees for it.
One fine day, the ant brought in a tenth ant and requested the owner to allow him also to stay with it.
The owner said, “OK, you can all stay here but you all need to pay rent.”
Now the question is:
Qs :Why did the owner ask for rent when the last ant came in?
SIMPLE!
Ans : Because they are now tenants!
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JEWEL # 2 I AM AWAKE : BUDDHA STORY
One day, soon after Buddha’s enlightenment, a man saw Buddha walking toward him. The man had not heard of Buddha, but he could see that there was something different about the man who was approaching, so he was moved to ask, “Are you a god?”
Buddha answered, “No.”
“You’re a magician, then? A sorcerer? A wizard?”
“No.”
“Are you some kind of celestial being? An angel, perhaps?”
“No.”
“Well, then what are you?”
The Buddha replied, “I am awake.”
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JEWEL # 3 WORDS
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JEWEL # 4 INVICTUS
Invictus is the Latin word for “unconquered”. I first came across this word through the Movie Invictus which is one of my favorites , a must see if you haven’t already!
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
– William Ernest Henley
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JEWEL # 5 HAPPINESS QUOTE
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JEWEL # 6 BE WHO YOU MUST BE (POEM)
Be Who You Must Be- Diarmuid Cronin
I don’t know where you are on your path
I have never stood in your shoes
I see not with your eyes.
I know not what your purpose is here
In this stage of your evolution
But I feel blessed to know you
As you are not in my life by chance
And you are my teacher
As I hope you learn from me
I pray I show reverence to you
I pray not to judge you
I wish to let you be
Who you are
Who you dream of being
I will just be beside you
And watch you grow
And the day will come for sure
When we will know why
Our paths crossed this way
And until then my friend
Be who you must be
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JEWEL # 7 LIFE IS TOO SHORT
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JEWEL # 8 Poem by Mother Teresa – (taken from ‘Meditations of a Single Path’)
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JEWEL # 9 LIFE IS A GIFT
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JEWEL # 10 Poem- KINDNESS
KINDNESS – Naomi Shihab Nye
Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
the passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.
Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness,
you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho
lies dead by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
how he too was someone
who journeyed through the night with plans
and the simple breath that kept him alive.
Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.
Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to mail letters and purchase bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
It is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you everywhere
like a shadow or a friend.
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JEWEL # 11 TODAY
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JEWEL # 12 AND I GIVE THANKS
I am thankful for the teenager who is not doing the dishes
But is watching television because it means he is not out in the streets
I am thankful for the taxes that I pay because it means that I am employed
I am thankful for the mess to clean up after a get-to-together because it means that I have been surrounded by friends
I am thankful for the clothes that are a little just too tight because it means that I have had enough to eat.
I am thankful for the lawn that needs mowing, the windows that need cleaning because it means that I have a home
I am thankful for the parking spot that I found at the far end of the Hypermarket because it means I am capable of walking and I have been blessed with transportation
I am thankful for the huge electricity bill that’s just arrived because it means that I am cool
I am thankful for the sister that sings off-key because it means that I can hear
I am thankful for the pile of laundry and ironing because it means that I have clothes to wear
I am thankful for the weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means that I have been capable of working hard
And I am thankful for the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I am alive.
And So I Give Thanks !
-Author Unknown
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JEWEL # 13 WHEN U THOUGHT I WASN’T LOOKING (POEM)
A message every adult should read because children
Are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.
When You Thought I wasn’t looking – Mary Rita Schilke Korzan
When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw you hang my
First painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw you feed a
Stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.
When you thought I wasn’t looking I heard you say a
Prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.
When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.
When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.
When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn’t feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it’s all right to cry.
When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn’t looking I learned most of life’s lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn’t looking I looked at you and wanted to say, ‘Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn’t looking.’
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JEWEL # 14 LOVE THE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE (STORY)
I love this touching story.
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JEWEL # 15 DON’T BE AFRAID TO BE URSELF QUOTE
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” -by Marianne Williamson
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JEWEL # 16 LET GO QUOTE
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JEWEL # 17 THE DATE (Story)
Another touching story which reminds us to love our parents
After 21 years of Marriage, my Wife wanted me to take another Woman out to Dinner and a Movie.
She said I Love You but I know this other Woman loves you and would Love to spend some Time with You.
The other Woman that my Wife wanted me to visit was my MOTHER, who has been a Widow for 19 years,but the demands of my Work and my three Children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally.
That night I called to Invite her to go out for Dinner and a Movie.
‘What’s wrong, are you well,’ she asked?
My Mother is the type of Woman who suspects that a Late Night Call or a Surprise Invitation is a sign of bad News.
‘I thought that it would be pleasant to be with you,’ I responded. ‘Just the two of us.’
She thought about it for a moment, and then said, ‘I would like that very much.’
That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit Nervous.
When I arrived at her House, I noticed that she too seemed to be Nervous about our Date.
She waited in the Door with her coat on.
She had Curled her Hair and was wearing the Dress that she had worn to celebrate her last Wedding Anniversary.
She smiled from a face that was as Radiant as an Angel’s.
‘I told my Friends that I was going to go out with My Son, and they were impressed, ‘
She said, as she got into the Car.
‘They can’t wait to hear about our meeting’.
We went to a Restaurant that, although not Elegant, was very nice and Cozy.
My Mother took my Arm as if She were the First Lady.
After we sat down, I had to read the Menu. Large Print.
Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me.
A Nostalgic Smile was on her Lips.
‘It was I who used to have to read the Menu when you were Small,’ She said.
‘Then it’s Time that you Relax and let me Return the Favor,’ I responded.
During the Dinner, we had an Agreeable Conversation, nothing extra-ordinary, but catching up on recent events of each other’s Life.
We talked so much that we missed the Movie.
As we arrived at her House later,
She said, ‘I’ll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you.’I agreed.
‘How was your Dinner Date?’ asked my Wife when I got Home.
‘Very nice. Much more so than I could have imagined,’ I answered.
A few days later, my Mother died of a massive Heart Attack.
It happened so suddenly that I didn’t have Time to do anything for her.
Sometime later, I received an Envelope with a Copy of a Restaurant Receipt from the same place Mother and I had dined.
An Attached Note Said: ‘I paid this Bill in Advance. I wasn’t sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates One for You and the Other for Your Wife. You will never know what that Night meant for Me. I Love You, My Son.’
At that moment, I understood the Importance of saying in Time: “I LOVE YOU”
and to give our Loved Ones the Time that they Deserve.
Nothing in Life is more important than your Family.
Give them the Time they Deserve, because these Things cannot be put Off till ‘Some Other Time.’
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JEWEL # 18 The Canine Applicant
A local business was looking for office help. They put a sign in the window saying:
HELP WANTED Must be a good typist and be good with a computer. Successful applicant must be bilingual. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.
A short time later a lovely golden retriever dog trotted up to the window, saw the sign and went inside. He looked at the receptionist and wagged his tail, then walked over to the sign, looked at it, whined and pawed the air. The receptionist called the office manager. He was surprised, to say the least to see a canine applicant. However, the dog looked determined, so he led him into the office.
Inside, the dog jumped up on a chair and stared at the manager expectantly. The manager said, “I can’t hire you. The sign says you must be able to type.” The dog jumped down, went to the typewriter and proceeded to quickly type a perfect business letter. He took out the page and trotted over to the manager, gave it to him, then jumped back up on the chair.
The manager was stunned, but told the dog, “That was fantastic, but I’m sorry. The sign clearly says that whoever I hire has to be good with a computer.”
The dog jumped down again, went to the computer and proceeded to demonstrate his expertise with various programs, produced a sample spreadsheet and database, then presented them to the manager.
The manager was dumbfounded! He said to the dog, “Hey, I realize that you are a very intelligent applicant and have fantastic talent, but you’re a dog — no way could I hire you.”
The dog jumped down and went to the sign in the window and pointed his paw at the words, “Equal Opportunity Employer.”
The exasperated manager said, “Yes, I know what the sign says. But the sign also says you have to be bilingual.”
The dog looked him straight in the eye and said, “Meow!!!”
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JEWEL # 19 TEN WORDS YOU NEED TO KNOW
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JEWEL # 20 MOTHER
When I was small and came home in the rain,
My brother asked why didn’t you take an umbrella?
My sister advised, Why didn’t you wait till the rain stopped?
My Father angrily warned, only after getting a cold, you will realize.
But Mother, while drying my hair, said, “Stupid rain! Couldn’t it wait, till my child came home ?
That’s a MOM’s love!
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JEWEL # 21 The Difference Between Dad & Mom
Mom and dad were watching TV when mom said, “I’m tired. It’s getting late. I think I’ll go to bed.” So she went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day’s lunches, rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons in bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning.
She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the wash, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button. She picked up the games pieces left on the table and put the telephone book back into the drawer. She watered the plants, emptied the waste basket, and hung up a towel to dry.
She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom. She stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the field trip, and pulled out a text book hiding out under the chair. She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store. She put both near her purse.
Mom then washed her face, put on moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth, and did her nails. Dad called out, “I thought you were going to bed.” “I’m on my way,” she said. She put some water into the dog’s dish and called the cat in, then made sure the doors were locked. She look in on each of the kids, turned out a bedside lamp, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks in the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one up still up doing homework.
Back in her own room she set the alarm, laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her list of things to do for tomorrow. About that time, dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular, “I’m going to bed,” and he did without another thought.
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JEWEL # 22 YOU ARE UNIQUE!
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JEWEL # 23 TIME MANAGEMENT GRID
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JEWEL # 24 A Violin With Three Strings – Jack Riemer (Inspiring Story)
On Nov. 18, 1995, Itzhak Perlman, the violinist, came on stage to give a concert at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City.
If you have ever been to a Perlman concert, you know that getting on stage is no small achievement for him. He was stricken with polio as a child, and so he has braces on both legs and walks with the aid of two crutches. To see him walk across the stage one step at a time, painfully and slowly, is an awesome sight.
He walks painfully, yet majestically, until he reaches his chair. Then he sits down, slowly, puts his crutches on the floor, undoes the clasps on his legs, tucks one foot back and extends the other foot forward. Then he bends down and picks up the violin, puts it under his chin, nods to the conductor and proceeds to play.
By now, the audience is used to this ritual. They sit quietly while he makes his way across the stage to his chair. They remain reverently silent while he undoes the clasps on his legs. They wait until he is ready to play.
But this time, something went wrong. Just as he finished the first few bars, one of the strings on his violin broke. You could hear it snap – it went off like gunfire across the room. There was no mistaking what that sound meant. There was no mistaking what he had to do.
We figured that he would have to get up, put on the clasps again, pick up the crutches and limp his way off stage – to either find another violin or else find another string for this one. But he didn’t. Instead, he waited a moment, closed his eyes and then signaled the conductor to begin again.
The orchestra began, and he played from where he had left off. And he played with such passion and such power and such purity as they had never heard before.
Of course, anyone knows that it is impossible to play a symphonic work with just three strings. I know that, and you know that, but that night Itzhak Perlman refused to know that.
You could see him modulating, changing, re-composing the piece in his head. At one point, it sounded like he was de-tuning the strings to get new sounds from them that they had never made before.
When he finished, there was an awesome silence in the room. And then people rose and cheered. There was an extraordinary outburst of applause from every corner of the auditorium. We were all on our feet, screaming and cheering, doing everything we could to show how much we appreciated what he had done.
He smiled, wiped the sweat from this brow, raised his bow to quiet us, and then he said – not boastfully, but in a quiet, pensive, reverent tone – “You know, sometimes it is the artist’s task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left.”
What a powerful line that is. It has stayed in my mind ever since I heard it. And who knows? Perhaps that is the definition of life – not just for artists but for all of us.
Here is a man who has prepared all his life to make music on a violin of four strings, who, all of a sudden, in the middle of a concert, finds himself with only three strings; so he makes music with three strings, and the music he made that night with just three strings was more beautiful, more sacred, more memorable, than any that he had ever made before, when he had four strings.
So, perhaps our task in this shaky, fast-changing, bewildering world in which we live is to make music, at first with all that we have, and then, when that is no longer possible, to make music with what we have left.
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JEWEL # 25 THE TRUE SUCCESS CHECKLIST
“To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. “
-Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882) American Essayist & Poet
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JEWEL # 26 QUOTE BY THE LATE STEVE JOBS
Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
~ Steve Jobs
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JEWEL # 27 Quote from the movie THE GREAT DEBATERS
I just watched the movie THE GREAT DEBATERS and enjoyed it. Here’s the famous life-changing quote from it.
“Who is the Judge? The Judge is God.
And Why is He God? Because He decides who wins or loses.Not my opponent.
Who is your opponent? He doesn’t exist.
Why doesn’t he exist ? Bcoz he is merely a dissenting Voice to the truth I speak.
Speak the Truth.
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JEWEL # 28 The Voice of Patience – Leo Babauta
There are moments when other people just set you off, and you lose your patience.
It is the downfall of many of us — coworkers, children, spouses, other drivers, irritating people on the subway — they can grate, they can anger.
And it can ruin your day. You clench your jaw, you replay imaginary arguments in your head, or worse, you snap. And then you feel like crap.
How can we find the patience?
I will admit that I’m no saint. Just like everyone else, I get annoyed, and I will say things in a less-than-kind tone. I’m learning.
Here’s what helps me:
First, I learn to be aware of the emotions that rush up from nowhere.
I learn to accept those emotions as perfectly fine.
And I watch them, but don’t act.
I will talk to those emotions, like they’re a little child: it’s OK to be mad, but breathe. Talk to the other person, after you’ve calmed down, about the problem.
And then I breathe.
I remind my childlike emotions: other people are different, and that’s good. Celebrate humanity and all its glorious varieties. When people live and work together, there will be friction, and that is a part of the mix of humanity.
I remind: life is too short to waste my days in irritation and anger. Don’t let other people’s problems become my own.
I then give thanks. Gratitude solves all problems. I am grateful for having this friend, or stranger, in my life, and I’m grateful for the chance to even be here, and for the incredible life I have.
I talk to the other person, when I’ve calmed down, with compassion. I respond with love. It often will melt the other person’s jagged edges, and things will go better.
Patience isn’t an easy thing, but the alternative is much worse. Love will triumph if you let it.
From Zen Habits (7th Oct)
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JEWEL # 29 News Article : BE AWARE ! FANTASY TV HAS BECOME MODERN DAY PACIFIERS?
Hi, just came across this useful news article in today’s paper.
Click here to read :http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/the-reality-of-fantasy-television-has-become-modern-day-pacifiers-1.887464
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JEWEL # 30 DUBAI MALLS RAP SONG
I’m sure you have heard of Dubai in the UAE. My home for the past 3 years now, it is a fantastic place and I have come to love the culture and people here. It is indeed a Tourist’s paradise when it comes to shopping for there are so many wonderful places to choose from. I’ve been waiting to share this awesome and popular Rap Song by Rohit Iyengar which will gives us a bird’s eye view of some of the Malls in Dubai!
DUBAI MALL- THE LARGEST MALL IN THE WORLD
Click here to enjoy it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJDZrw8TUm8
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JEWEL # 31 DROP OUTS WHO MADE IT BIG
You must NEVER settle for anything less than all that you want to be. You are not entitled to write yourself off as through. Keep on believing as long as you live and your effectiveness will be prolonged.
Do not be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better. What if they are a little course, and you may get your coat soiled or torn? What if you do fail, and get fairly rolled in the dirt once or twice. Up again, you shall never be so afraid of a tumble. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
When in doubt, make a fool of yourself. There is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth. So what the hell, leap. ~Cynthia Heimel, “Lower Manhattan Survival Tactics”
You must allow your ideas to grow, no matter how far- fetched or non conformist they may seem in the beginning. You must give wings to your ideas and let them fly high. You must allow your thoughts to take root, no matter how others choose to regard them.
“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.” – Think Different, narrated by Steve Jobs
Here’s a list of 11 Drop Out Biggies: (Source :Yahoo News)
1) SACHIN TENDULKAR :
- Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar never attended college. Photograph: Manjunath Kiran/AFP/Getty Images
2) STEVE JOBS:
Steve Jobs got himself enrolled in Reed College in Oregon, but one semester later, he dropped out. Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
3) BILL GATES :
After scoring a near-perfect 1590 on his SATs, Bill Gates enrolled in Harvard but left without a degree to start Microsoft Corporation. Photograph: Scott Olson/Getty Images
4) LARRY ELLISON:
Larry Ellison, Oracle co-founder, attended the University of Illinois but left at the end of his second year, as he skipped the exams following the death of his adoptive mother. He then went to the University of Chicago, but didn’t stay beyond a term. Photograph: Kimihiro Hoshino/AFP/Getty Images
5)JULIAN ASSANGE:
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange attended the University of Melbourne, majoring in physics and mathematics. He received only a minimum grade for math and left the university soon to start his own venture. Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images
6)MARK ZUCKERBERG:
After the wonder effect of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg packed his dreams and left Harvard to relocate to Silicon Valley. Photograph: Kimihiro Hoshino/AFP/Getty Images
7) QUENTIN TARANTINO:
Hollywood film director Quentin Tarantino is a high school dropout who went to work in a video store for his love for movies. Photograph: Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images
8)STEVEN SPIELBERG:
Hollywood director Steven Spielberg was not known for his academic excellence. Interestingly, he even failed to get admission into a film-making institute! Photograph: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
9) SIR RICHARD BRANSON:
English business magnate, Sir Richard Branson, best known for his Virgin Group, had a difficult time in school because of his dyslexia. He left school when he was only 16. Photograph: Mark Wieland/Getty Images
10)RALPH LAUREN:
- Fashion designer Ralph Lauren, the founder of Polo, left the City College of New York business school to design ties for Beau Brummel. He launched Polo later that same year. Photograph: Peter Michael Dills/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
11) SIMON COWELL :
- Former American Idol judge Simon Cowell dropped out of school at age 16 and landed a job in the mailroom at EMI. At 23 he left to start his own record label, Fanfare. Photograph: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
Nugget of Life : ALWAYS BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND ONE DAY OTHERS WILL TOO!
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JEWEL # 32 BLOGGER RESPECT – Irene
Hi friends,
Just want to share a real Jewel by IRENE – the SOFT VOICE OF A SPIRIT. A blogger who has made so many of my days very special with her poems, random thoughts and refreshing honesty .
Here’s the GEM that I’d like to share with you today:
Pls click : Valuable Lessons Blogging Has Taught Me: You And I Are Different But We Both Deserve Respect
Double thumbs up Irene… !!!
Cheers,
Sparky Laurie
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JEWEL # 33 ROSHANEE SONG FROM MOVIE ARAKSHAN
Movie – Aarakshan (2011) Director – Prakash Jha
Hi friends, I just watched Aarakshan and loved it. A movie with a strong message- one that inspires as well as makes us think- a movie for both head and heart! An eye opener which tell us how India’s policy of Reservation impacted the Indian Educational System. It also exposes the corrupt influences of unscrupulous sharks who try to commercialize and convert the sacred educational system into a money making enterprise.
The Jewel I found was this Song- ROSHANEE– It is about the Light of Education which should be given to Everyone. The tune catchy and the lyrics so inspiring, I just had to share it with you! I’ve added the meaning of the lyrics also.
ROSHANEE – (LIGHT)
Music Director – Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani, Loy Mendonca
Song – “Roshanee”
Singer – Shankar Mahadevan
Lyrics – Prasoon Joshi
Stanza 1:
Tearing Walls Down, Breaking New Ground
Is this light leaving behind shackles that held it tight.
The darkness will surround you, make it your inkpot.
And script a brand new day.
Chorus :
Smash the locks, let the sun shine
Hold the light in your hands, make it thine.
Break the walls, the river will flow.
Inhale it, share it and let it glow.
It is the light, it belongs to everyone.
It’s shining bright all around.
Stanza 2:
May there be paths for everyone,
Lined with hope on either side
And the light shines along through the ride.
There was a void, but now it’s filled
There was a barrier, but now it’s gone
The sun and the sky are right here.
Chorus
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JEWEL # 34 One-Liners to Ponder
Living on Earth is expensive, but it does include a free trip around the sun every year.
Birthdays are good for you; the more you have, the longer you live.
How long a minute is depends on what side of the bathroom door you’re on.
Ever notice that the people who are late are often much jollier than the people who have to wait for them?
If ignorance is bliss, why aren’t more people happy?
Most of us go to our grave with our music still inside of us.
You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
Don’t cry because it’s over; smile because it happened.
We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors … but they all have to learn to live in the same box.
Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.
A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
Happiness comes through doors you didn’t even know you left open.
–Author unknown.
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JEWEL # 35 WISDOM QUOTE
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JEWEL # 36 MY FAVORITE STRESS BUSTERS
Nothing like watching these Children’s Songs……Inspiration from my two year old? Maybe, but trust me….they really work! 🙂
http://youtu.be/eKG08z85DtY?t=3s
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JEWEL # 37 THE 9 INSIGHTS MOVIE
Click here to enjoy the 9 insights of the Wealthy Soul Movie:http://9insights.com/
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JEWEL # 38 BE TRUE TO YOURSELF VIDEO
Click to enjoy this amazing Video which gives us the message to be true to ourselves. http://youtu.be/n0GbEVAf_K4
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JEWEL # 39 POTPOURRI FOR THE CHILDREN
As we celebrate Nov 14th as Children’s Day, I just thought of putting together this potpourri dedicated to all children…..enjoy!
1) Book Excerpt :
Hi friends, As we all know, parenting is no piece of cake and though all of us strive to be the best parents that we can be, all of us often need assurance that we are doing okay. There are no end of opinions especially when it comes to discipline of the child and I think each parent knows what’s best for his/her own child but no matter what our way of parenting / disciplinary approach, this write up below ask us a question we need to ask ourselves more often : Am I responding or am I reacting here?” –Read on to understand the difference: I hope it encourages you as much as it did for me. Happy Parenting! Cheers, Sparky Laurie
Source: Stop Reacting, Start Responding : Sharon Silver
“Responding begins in your heart. Responding allows a parent to remain calm and firm at the same time, which is the key to unlocking the “I’m Not Listening Barrier.”
Reacting forces compliance. Responding wins cooperation.
Reacting is born from anger. Responding is created from empathy, not sympathy.
Sympathy is feeling sorry for a child, empathy acknowledges the feelings a child has about getting busted for the misbehavior, yet still insists that a correction happen anyway.
Reacting skips over the emotions a child has about the situation. Responding addresses the emotions that caused the misbehavior in the first place.
Reacting doesn’t address the needs of the situation-it uses punishment. Responding fully focuses on the needs of the situation showing parents what a child needs to learn.
Reacting usually causes a parent to have to apologize for behaving badly. Responding require a child to apologize because they’re the only ones that misbehaved.
Reacting repeats the parenting methods of past generations. Responding is a new way to parent that uses calm, yet firm techniques that create balanced parenting.
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2) QUOTE:
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3) MOVIE : 
Click to watch : IF I HAD MY CHILD TO RAISE AGAIN MOVIE
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4) CHILD IS THE FATHER OF MAN? Watch these amazing movies to find out :
a) LOVE from a Child’s point of view: http://youtu.be/Evcygu_rSGk
b)FUNNY KIDS VIDEO QUOTES :http://youtu.be/ooTvV6RPTbQ
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5) Some amazing PARENTING MANIFESTOS :
1) Joyful parenting : http://www.aholyexperience.com/10-points-of-joyful-parenting-printable/
10 + Helps for a really busy parent : http://www.aholyexperience.com/7-gifts-free-printable-10-helps-for-moms/
2) 25 things to tell my kids : http://wonderfullywired.wordpress.com/25-things-to-tell-my-kids/
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6) FIND YOUR WINGS SONG & MOVIE :
Click : http://youtu.be/-4NS7gChzvk
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7) JOKES : CHILDREN AND CHURCH !!!
Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl whispered to her mother, “Why is the bride dressed in white?” “Because white is the color of happiness, and today is the happiest day of her life.” The child thought about this for a moment, then said, “So why is the groom wearing black?”
A little girl, dressed in her Sunday best, was running as fast as she could, trying not to be late for Bible class As she ran she prayed, “Dear Lord, please don’t let me be late! Dear Lord, please don’t let me be late!” While she was running and praying, she tripped on a curb and fell, getting her clothes dirty and tearing her dress. She got up, brushed herself off, and started running again. As she ran she once again began to pray, “Dear Lord, please don’t let me be late…But please don’t shove me either!”
Three boys are in the school yard bragging about their fathers. The first boy says, “My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem, they give him $50.”
The second boy says, “That’s nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a song, they give him $100.”
The third boy says, “I got you both beat. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon, and it takes eight people to collect all the money!”
An elderly woman died last month. Having never married, she requested no male pallbearers. In her handwritten instructions for her memorial service, she wrote, “They wouldn’t take me out while I was alive, I don’t want them to take me out when I’m dead.
A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to “honor thy father and thy mother,” she asked “Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?” Without missing a beat one little boy answered, “Thou shall not kill.”
A Sunday School teacher asked her class why Joseph and Mary took Jesus with them to Jerusalem. A small child replied: “They couldn’t get a baby sitter.”
At Sunday School they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings. Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam’s ribs. Later in the week, his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and said, “Johnny, what is the matter?” Little Johnny responded, “I have pain in my side. I think I’m going to have a wife.”
Two boys were walking home from Sunday school after hearing a strong preaching on the devil. One said to the other, “What do you think about all this Satan stuff?” The other boy replied, “Well, you know how Santa Claus turned out. It’s probably just your Dad.”
Source: Fun N Faith For the Soul
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8) Sparky Laurie blog posts :
1) Lessons we can learn from Little Children
2)Life lessons from a Special Person in Life
3)The hands that rock the cradle rule the world
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9) MOVIE : I recently watched this Eddie Murphy movie IMAGINE THAT which innocently sends across a much needed message. A Must- see for those of you who are in for a FUN children’s movie : Click below for snippets: 
a) Trailer: http://youtu.be/3BxNzMy9ZTA
b) ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE SONG:
Watch the face of this sweet little girl light up as she sees her dad walk in the auditorium for her School Program, simply priceless! 😉
Click : http://youtu.be/XubpNvw7BC0
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10) SONG : In conclusion, I don’t think there is a better song that says it: “HEAL THE WORLD MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE ; FOR YOU & FOR ME & THE ENTIRE HUMAN RACE” – Michael Jackson
Click to watch this much loved Video http://youtu.be/w8j6gO1WNks
HAPPY CHILDREN’S DAY!
Cheers,
Sparky Laurie
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JEWEL # 40 CAUTION : You may just need to change your Password
WORST PASSWORDS 2011 Revealed :
If you see your password below, STOP!
1. password
2. 123456
3.12345678
4. qwerty
5. abc123
6. monkey
7. 1234567
8. letmein
9. trustno1
compiled by SplashData: ….. contd ( Click here for full list!)
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JEWEL # 41 NO MORE SHOPPING FOR ME & HOW I DID IT – by a Retired Husband!
Hi friends,this one was simply hilarious! I just couldn’t stop laughing…;)
After I retired, my wife insisted that I accompany her on her trips to Target Shopping Mall. Unfortunately, like most men, I found shopping boring and preferred to get in and get out. Equally unfortunate, my wife is like most women – she loves to browse. Yesterday my dear wife received the following letter from the local Target store:
Dear Mrs. Harris,
Over the past six months, your husband has caused quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and have been forced to ban both of you from the store. Our complaints against your husband, Mr. Harris, are listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras:
1. June 15: He took 24 boxes of inner garments and randomly put them in other people’s carts when they weren’t looking.
2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in House wares to go off at 5-minute intervals.
3. July 7: He made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the women’s restroom.
4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice, ‘Code 3 in House wares. Get on it right away’. This caused the employee to leave her assigned station and receive a reprimand from her Supervisor that in turn resulted with a union grievance, causing management to lose time and costing the company money.
5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&Ms on layaway.
6. August 14: Moved a ‘CAUTION – WET FLOOR’ sign to a carpeted area.
7. August 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told the children shoppers he’d invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department to which twenty children obliged.
8. August 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him he began crying and screamed, ‘Why can’t you people just leave me alone?’ EMTs were called.
9. September 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it as a mirror while he picked his nose.
10. September 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked the clerk where the antidepressants were.
11. October 3: Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the ‘ Mission Impossible’ theme.
12. October 6: In the auto department, he practiced his ‘Madonna look’ by using different sizes of funnels.
13. October 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through, yelled ‘PICK ME! PICK ME!’
14. October 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumed a fetal position and screamed ‘OH NO! IT’S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!’
And last, but not least:
15. October 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile, and then yelled very loudly, ‘Hey! There’s no toilet paper in here.’ One of the clerks passed out.
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JEWEL # 42 THE 3 PARTS OF AN APOLOGY :
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JEWEL # 43 KEEPING THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE
Hi friends, just want to share a real jewel I came across that could save us a lot of unnecesary inconvenience/ regret that our hasty actions may cause us when it comes to career/ relationships. Many times we (and I’m definitely included) are all so quick to judge people by what we see on the surface and even write them off in a hurry hardly ever knowing what the other person is really going through. I think this post on keeping the right perspective can actually help us to avoid this natural tendency of ours. Click here to read how.
Cheers,
Sparky Laurie
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JEWEL # 44 TWO VERSIONS OF HOW THE HUMAN RACE APPEARED
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JEWEL # 45 THE 7 DEADLY SINS OF CREATIVITY
Hi friends, do you know what the 7 deadly sins of Creativity are ? Click here to find out ! 😉
Cheers,
Sparky Laurie
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JEWEL # 46 Leadership (JON ACUFF )
Hi friends, just came across this JEWEL in today’s mail; Read this excellent piece in Leadership by National Best Selling Author JON ACUFF.He is totally my kind of writer: SIMPLE LIVING ,HIGH THINKING.Click here to read the post.
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JEWEL # 47 THIRTY DAYS CHALLENGE FOR 30 DAYS OF GROWTHJEWEL # 48 QUOTE
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JEWEL # 49 NEW YEAR WISHES
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to be continued…..
sparkylaurie 
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