Do we need to care?

Do we need to care?

Every day, we hear about the problems

of our friends, neighbors and relatives. How should we react to problems that don’t affect us directly? Let me tell you a story: A mouse looked through a crack in a wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package. He was shocked when he found it to be a mouse trap. The mouse warned the farmyard animals, “There is a mouse trap in the house! There is a mouse trap in the house!” The chicken said, “I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me.” The goat told him, “I am so sorry, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured that you are in my prayers.” The cow made fun of him: “A mouse trap? I am in grave danger!” So the mouse returned to the house to face the mouse trap alone. That night, when everybody was sleeping, a sound was heard throughout the house. The farmer’s wife rushed to see what happened. In the darkness, she did not see that the trap had caught a poisonous snake. The snake bit the farmer’s wife, and the farmer rushed her to the hospital. She returned home with a fever. Everyone knows you treat a fever with chicken soup, so the farmer slaughtered the chicken. His wife’s sickness continued, and friends and neighbors came to sit with her. To feed them, the farmer butchered the goat. The farmer’s wife did not get well. In fact, she died, and many people came for her funeral. So the farmer killed the cow to provide meat for them to eat. So the next time someone is facing a problem and you think it does not concern you, remember that when the least of us is threatened, we are all at risk.

Attitude: A Matter of Choice

Think of your attitude as the mental filter through which you experience the world. Some people see the world through the filter of optimism. Others see life through a filter of pessimism. Although attitude plays an important role in everyone’s life, many people don’t know its meaning or realize the influence it has on their performance at work and on their relationships. We have two choices: a “good attitude” that invites good people, harmonious surroundings and projects optimism, or a “bad attitude” that sends negative feelings to others and sets a bad mood for oneself. The attitude you carry around makes an incredible difference in your life. It can be a powerful tool for positive action, or it can be a poison that cripples your ability to fulfill your potential. Sometimes, we are not aware as we go along that we show more bad attitude than good attitude.

I’d like to share some simple tips to transform your bad attitude into a good one:

• Smile – Research has shown that smiling has both psychological and physiological effects. So put a smile on your face, and you’ll be on your way to a change. It’s free, so give it away.

• Change your actions – It is hard to change your attitude if you keep doing the same things the same way. To start thinking differently, do things differently. Be creative in your own way.

• Help others – One of the fastest ways to change your attitude is to take your mind off yourself and help others in need.

• Immerse yourself – Read informative materials that help you understand and adopt the new attitude. Watch films or listen to music that inspires you and encourages you to change. We can enjoy life with a good attitude, but with a bad one, I don’t think so.



Which one do you prefer? It’s a matter of choice

Let's Learn to Live in Peace & Harmony

People are killing people everywhere. The drums of war are loud and clear. Violence, vengeance, exploitation, discrimination, grudges, hostilities and international terrorism and political unrest (especially in Arab world) are everyday vocabulary. Where is the good news? Has humanity lost its way? Have we failed to tame the beast within us? Have we given over control of our actions and responses to evil? Aren’t we entrusted with this earth and asked to keep it safe and secure? Humanity has not forgotten the two wars it once waged that left untold sorrow, pain and suffering for years. History tells us, if we read it right, that fanning flames of prejudice, hatred and arrogance leads to destruction.

How beautiful is the language of the U.N. Charter’s preamble! It captures the dreams of all humans, regardless of nation, color, race or religion: “We the people of the United Nations have determined to save succeeding generations from the scourges of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind … to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors, to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security.” Many problems could be done away with if we think like one global family, under one sky, sharing one earth. Why can’t we replace hate with love, conflict with harmony and war with peace? Instead of escalating hostilities, let’s escalate tolerance and forgiveness. Those who have should help those who have not to drain the swamps of poverty and exploitation that breed bitter feelings of hatred and maybe terrorism. Dr. Martin Luther King famously said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hatred cannot drive out hatred; only love can do that.” Let the cries of the dying bring mercy to hearts, awaken consciences and help handcuff the brute within us. Let peace prevail.