A Smile

The Value of a Smile at Christmas

It costs nothing but creates much.

It enriches those who receive it, without impoverishing those who give.

It happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.

None are so rich they can get along without it,
and none so poor but are richer for it's benefits.

It creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in a business and is the countersign of friends.

It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and Natures best antidote for trouble.

Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen, for it is something that is no earthly good to anybody until it is given away.

And if in the last minute rush of  life, some salespeople should be too tired to give you a smile, why not leave one of yours?

For nobody needs a smile so much as those who have none left to give.

Poor Richard's Almanac 1746

Poor Richard’s Almanac 1745

Published by one

Benjamin Franklin

Founding father of the United States of America!

·        Beware of little expenses, a small Leak will sink a great Ship.

·        

     Wars bring scars.

·        

     A light purse is a heavy Curse.

·        

     As often as we do good, we sacrifice.

·        

     Help, Hands;

     For I have no Lands.

·        

     It's common for Men to give 6 pretended Reasons instead of one real one.

·        

     Vanity backbites more than Malice.

·        

     He's a Fool that cannot conceal his Wisdom.

·        

    Great spenders are bad lenders.

·       

     All blood is alike ancient.

·        

     You may talk too much on the best of subjects.

·        

    A Man without ceremony has need of great merit in its place.

·      

           No gains without pains.

·     

            Had I revenged wrong, I had not worn my skirts so long.

·     

         Graft good Fruit all, or graft not at all.

·      

         Idleness is the greatest Prodigality.

·      

        He who buys had need have 100 Eyes,

    but one's enough for him that sells the Stuff.

·     

        There are no fools so troublesome as those that have wit.

·        

    Many complain of their Memory, few of their Judgment.

·      

         One Man may be more cunning than another, but not more cunning than every body else.

·        

    To God we owe fear and love; to our neighbours justice and charity; to our selves prudence and sobriety.

·      

        Fools make feasts and wise men eat them.

·       

   Light-heel'd mothers make leaden-heel'd daughters.

·      

        The good or ill hap of a good or ill life,

    is the good or ill choice of a good or ill wife.

·        

     Tis easier to prevent bad habits than to break them.

·       

     Every Man has Assurance enough to boast of his honesty, 

     few of their Understanding.

·     

          Interest which blinds some People enlightens others.

·      

          An ounce of wit that is bought,Is worth a pound that is taught.

·        

    He that resolves to mend hereafter, resolves not to mend now.

Father forgets

Father Forgets
W.Livingston Larned

I am saying this as you lie asleep, one little paw crumbled under your cheek and the blond curls stickily wet on your dump forehead.
I have stolen into your room alone. Just a few minutes ago, as I sat reading my paper in the library, a stifling wave of remorse swept over me.
Guiltily, I came to your bedside. There are things I was thinking, son: I had been cross to you. I scolded you as you were dressing for school because you gave your face merely a dab with a towel, I took you to task for not cleaning your shoes. I called you angrily when you threw some of your things on the floor, at breakfast I found fault, too.
You spilled things. You gulped down your food. You put your elbows on the table. You spread butter too thick on your bread. And as you started off to play and I made for my train, you turned and waved a hand and called, "Good-bye Daddy!" and I frowned, and I said in reply, "Hold your shoulders back!".

Then it began all over again in the late afternoon. As I came up the road, I spied you, down on your knees, playing marbles. There were holes in your stockings. I humiliated before your boyfriends by marching you ahead of me to the house. Stocking Were Expensive -and if you had to buy them you would be more careful! Image that, son, from a father!
Do you remember, later, when I was reading in the library, how you came in timidly, with a sort of hurt look in your eyes? When I glanced up over my paper, inpatient at the interruption, you hesitated at the door. "What is it you want" I snapped.
You said nothing, but ran across in one tempestuous plunge, and through you arms around my neck and kissed, and your small arms tightened with an affection that God had set blooming in your heart and which even neglect could not wither. And then you were gone pattering up the stairs.
Well, Son, it was shortly afterwords that my paper slept from my hands and a terrible sickening fear came over me. What has habit been doing to me? The habit of finding fault, of reprimanding - this way my reward for being a boy.
It wasn't that I didn't love you; it was that I expected too much of youth. I was measuring you by the yardstick of my own years.
And there was so much that was good and fine and true in your character. The little heart of you was as big as the dawn it self over the wide hills. This was shown by your spontaneous impulse to rush in and kiss me good-night.

Nothing else matters tonight, son. I have come to your beside in the darkness, and I have knelt there ashamed!
It is feeble atonement; I know you would not understand these things if I told them to you during your waking hours. But tomorrow I will be a real daddy! I will chum with you, and suffer when you suffer, and laugh when you laugh. I will bight my tongue when impatient words come. I will keep saying as if it were a ritual: "He is nothing but a boy - a little boy!" am afraid I have visualized you as a man. Yet as I see you now, son, crumpled and weary in your cot, I see that you are still a baby. Yesterday you were in your mother's arms, your head on her shoulder. I have asked too much, too much.

Buying time

SON: "Daddy, may I ask you a question?"
DAD: "Yeah sure, what is it?"
SON: "Daddy, how much do you make an hour?"
DAD: "That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?"
SON: "I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?"
DAD: "If you must know, I make R100 an hour."
SON: "Oh! (With his head down).
SON: "Daddy, may I please borrow R50?"
The father was furious.
DAD: "If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I work hard everyday for such this childish behavior."

The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.
The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy's questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?
After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think:
Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that R50 and he really didn't ask for money very often. The man went to the door of the little boy's room and opened the door.

DAD: "Are you asleep, son?"

SON: "No daddy, I'm awake".
DAD: "I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier. It's been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the R50 you asked for."

The little boy sat straight up, smiling.
SON: "Oh, thank you daddy!"
Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills. The man saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his father.

DAD: "Why do you want more money if you already have some?"

SON: "Because I didn't have enough, but now I do.

"Daddy, I have R100 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you."
The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little son, and he begged for his forgiveness. It's just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts. Do remember to share that $100 worth of your time with someone you love? If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days. But the family and friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives. And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than to our family.

Some things are more important.

Blessed am I

Blessed am I to be Alive 

Blessed am I to be Muslim

Blessed am I to have been brought up by such great parents 

Blessed am I to be loved as I do by a caring wife

Blessed am I to be healthy 

Blessed am I to have survived a grave illness 

Blessed am I to have learned about live in the fast and slow lanes 

Blessed am I to have found a new way of living less selfishly 

Blessed am I to have a understanding support structure 

Blessed am I to have been born with an advantage 

Blessed am I to be wanted By Allah to help people 

Blessed am I to have a my prayers answered all the time

Blessed am I to have the gift of sight and sound 

Blessed am I to have my limbs in tact 

Blessed am I for everything in fact...

The life I chose: First Accused

The life I chose: First Accused: My Lord, today I am the first and only accused, Proving my love to my mother, will be an objective I wish to live for and achieve, but if ne...

First Accused

My Lord, today I am the first and only accused, Proving my love to my mother, will be an objective I wish to live for and achieve, but if need be, it is an ideal for which I am willing to die...

I have been a disappointment in many ways and there are many days that I weep at the sever pain I have caused her over the lifetime that I have known her. 

I admit my role and I wish that you would help me to begin to understand a way I can erase all my bad and once again get that approval from her, I am a weak slave of yours and you know that I have never done any of these things with an intention to hurt her, I live for her. 

I have neglected alot of my responsibilities, but surely that in itself being a human trait that alot of men have fallen prey too, I pray that you will guide me and I will once again have life in my soul. 

I am a hated man, but all I tried to share, was the tenderest of care, but look what I have put her through!!!
I am confronted daily, by her keepers, who tell how bad of a person I am, and how much I put her through. 

I was even told that I am a disappointment to my late father's legacy because of the clothing I do not wear??? 

I ask for your Mercy, I ask you to rectify my mistakes, I am nothing but what you allow me to be. 



Sarfaraaz Mukuddem

Live simply :The life you choose is the life you going to have to live with

Fight your oppressors with all you have, for all that have is hatred and should you have love in your armor you will overcome that.

Dress in what makes you feel happy, not what they deem appropriate

Conduct yourself in a way that is becoming of a good person, hardly anything else matters

Feeding people brings life and barakah (blessings) to your home and heart

Keep company with those who lift your spirits not those who push you down

Love to be loved by other people, and allow yourself to be loved without strings

Love and appreciate your family, if they nice and treat you kindly

Give yourself time to see, hear and understand how the world and people works and I guess people are very different, simply smile and accept but never let people put you down

Appreciate everything, small things first, then the bigger ones

Living simply is probably the best way to go about you life, never mind what they people may say

Give more, take less

I never understood what my mother meant when she repeatedly said, give more take less, because frankly
more is better then less right?

Everybody wants more

Money
Friends
Resources
Love
Food

But I have learned these simple lessons from giving more and taking less

Somehow you 

Get more if you ask for less
More loved if you give more love and demand less
Receive more blessings in your wealth if you don't hate to part with what you owe people
Can sleep better at night if you know you have make a positive impact to someone you love
More at ease if you cause less trouble

Life is not about keeping up with the Kardashian's, it's about keeping up at your own pace, and improving
at that pace. The best things in life are free, Family, Friends, The air you breath, learn to understand that and
you will never be in need.


Always remember, love yourself if you don't who will???

I'M A CUNNING VENDING MACHINE

THE CUNNING VENDING MACHINE by Pam Ayres I am a cunnin' vending machine lurkin' in the hall So you can't kick me delicate parts I'm bolted to the wall. Come on, drop in your money, don't let's hang about, I'll do my level best to see you don't get nothing out. I sees you all approachin', the fagless and the dry, All fumblin' in your pockets and expectant in the eye. I might be in your place of work, or on the High Street wall, Trust in me, in theory, I cater for you all. Within these windows I provide for every human state, Hunger, night starvation, and remembering birthdays late. Just read the information, pop the money in - that's grand, And I'll see nothing ever drops down in your hand. I might be in your swimming bath, and you'd come cold and wet, With a shilling in your hand, some hot soup for to get. And as you stand in wet anticipation for a sup, I will dispense the soup, but I will not dispense the cup. And then it's all-out war, because you lost your half-a-nicker. Mighty kicks and blows with bricks will make me neon flicker. But if you bash me up, so I'm removed, me pipes run dry, There's no way you can win, I'll send me brother by and by. Once there was friendly ladies, years and years before, Who stood with giant teapots saying, "What can I do you for?" They'd hand you all the proper change, and pour your cup of tea, But they're not economic so.. hard luck! You're stuck with me.

Damaged People

                                                             "Damaged People"

We're damaged people
Drawn together
By subtleties that we are not aware of
Disturbed souls
Playing out forever
These games that we once thought we would be scared of

When you're in my arms
The world makes sense
There is no pretense
And you're crying
When you're by my side
There is no defense
I forget to sense
I'm dying

We're damaged people
Praying for something
That doesn't come from somewhere deep inside us
Depraved souls
Trusting in the one thing
The one thing that this life has not denied us

When I feel the warmth
Of your very soul
I forget I'm cold
And crying
When your lips touch mine
And I lose control
I forget I'm old
And dying

A Depeche Mode Song 

A brand new kind of me

Here I stand again, with the world in my hands
Grateful That Allah has made me understand
That I am in debt with him more and more by the day
And grateful that you showed me the way

Of paying my debt
And how great this fate that I have met
Being nice to folks and kind of heart
What a great way to start

A new life starting now
A life of hatred and anger parting now
Life rarely affords us the privilege of making a new start
Now I have a chance to play a greater part

I live knowing I could lose it all in an instant
But content with what I have
I guess being grateful affords you more
This is THE LIFE I CHOSE!!!

I love my Job By Dr Seuss

I love my job, I love the pay.
I love it more and more each day.
I love my boss; he/she is the best.
I love his boss and all the rest.
I love my office and its location.
I hate to have to go on vacation.
I love my furniture, drab and gray,
And the paper that piles up every day.
I love my chair in my padded cell.
There's nothing else I love so well.
I love to work among my peers.
I love their leers and jeers and sneers.
I love my computer and its software;
I hug it often though it don't care.
I love each program and every file,
I try to understand once in a while.
I'm happy to be here, I am, I am;
I'm the happiest slave of my Uncle Sam.
I love this work; I love these chores.
I love the meetings with deadly bores.
I love my job-I'll say it again.
I even love these friendly men,
These men who've come to visit today
In lovely white coats to take me away.

The life I chose: The speech that officially ended Apartheid

The life I chose: The speech that officially ended Apartheid:           FW de Klerk’s speech to Parliament                         2nd February 1990 Mr Speaker, Members of Parliament. T...

Want to climb the ladder???

Have Faith

Faith has always and will always be a driving force to going somewhere, believe in your God and yourself

Work Hard 
Nobody ever sailed to success, without rowing in the wind

Be Nice
Everybody needs people to support them, when you nice to people, they respect you

Don't do it to be seen
Work as hard when nobody is watching

Be aware 
Be aware of your surroundings and your performances, failing happens fix it and move on

Don't cheat 
Don't cheat on your wife, your boss and yourself, it will just bring negative energy your way

Luxury is not your friend 
Living it up can be nice, but luxury is not your friend, it steals from your and makes your forget how hard you have worked for what you got

No commercial breaks
Don't take breaks in life study breaks, breaks from working and breaks from your family are all not constructive ways to lose time and motivation

Compliment 
When you down on your luck, don't put others down, pick them up and chances are, you will have many people to pick you up

A 

Sarfaraaz Mukuddem 

Original 

2013 

Quotes that inspires positive living!!!

Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but the moments that take our breath away
 -George Carlin 

Only as high as I can reach, I can grow, only as far as I seek, I can go, only as deep as I look, can I see, only as far as I reach I can go
- Karen Ravn 

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail
-Ralph Waldo Emerson 

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them
- Walt Disney 

The reason adults should look as if they having fun, is to give kids a reason to grow up
- Patch Adams 

There isn't a person anywhere, that isn't capable of doing more then he thinks he can
- Henry Ford

We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are
- Anais Nin

Some men see things as they are and say why, other men see things that never were and say why not
- George Bernard Shaw 

 Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome
- Samuel Johnson

You must be the change you wish to see in the world
Mahatama Ghandi 

The life I chose: Conflicting emotions

The life I chose: Conflicting emotions: Conflicting emotions run deep as the oceans, Life of pain caused by hatred and blame. 18-year-old bride is constantly crying,  She ta...

Conflicting emotions

Conflicting emotions run deep as the oceans,

Life of pain caused by hatred and blame.

18-year-old bride is constantly crying,

 She takes the abuse but slowly she’s dying.

“Shut up or I’ll smack you, he says mad as hell,

Another bottle goes down, and all is well.

Drinking herself to bed,

Liquid diet replaces the tears she sheds.

Her life is a dead end,

No one on whom she can depend.

Lost all her friends when she became an unlucky bride,

When mother comes around she decides to hide.

Popping pills and drinking becomes her life,

Only escape from her strife.

 Husband & wife has another fight, one of them grabs a knife,

Husband so mad he kills his wife.

She finally escapes her world of pain,

Pity she died in vain.

Composed By

Sarfaraaz Mukuddem

2003

Conflicting Emotions

The life I chose: Changing your brain for the better!!!

The life I chose: Changing your brain for the better!!!: Making work and Home optimistic I f you like to have a more positive outlook, it is suggested that you fill your  home and work spac...

Changing your brain for the better!!!

Making work and Home optimistic

If you like to have a more positive outlook, it is suggested that you fill your 

home and work space with upbeat reminders of happy times, like pictures of family or vacations. So that you don't habituate to them, it is also suggested it helps by rotating pictures every few weeks!!! 

Expressing Gratitude

Expressing gratitude regularly will help you feel more optimistic. Make the effort to look someone in the eyes and say "thank you". Keep a journal to remind yourself of what you have to be thankful for!!!

Compliment others 

By finding and making opportunities to compliment others, you'll train your brain to see more good in people, in life and in yourself!!! I guess that's what the world needs more of.

Do mindful meditation 

If you'd like to become more self aware, it is suggested that doing regular mindful meditation helps, chose a time when you feel most awake and alert and sit up and meditate, concentrate on your breathing and notice the sensations in your body and if you become distracted, simply bring your mind back to focus on your breathing!

Sleeping is good, but on the right times

There are countless reports that link stress, depression and may other common threads of poor health to bad sleeping habits, going to sleep too hate at night and waking up late in the morning/afternoon is seriously bad and takes the best part of the day away from you. also important to note is that sleeping at night is considered 100 times more potent then sleeping during the day!

Demand less, get more 

It is not common knowledge but common sense to know that the less you demand of people and life, the more you will get out, recent studies show that teenagers who are less demanding get more out of life and do better at tertiary level.

 

Pain that I'm used too....

I'm not sure what I'm looking for anymore

I just know that I'm harder to console

I don't see who I'm trying to be instead of me

But the key is a question of control

Can you say what you're trying to play anyway

I just pay while you're breaking all the rules

All the signs that I find have been underlined

Devils thrive on the drive that is fueled

All this running around, well it's getting me down
Just give me a pain that I'm used to
I don't need to believe all the dreams you conceive
You just need to achieve something that rings true

There's a hole in your soul like an animal
With no conscience, repentance unknown
Close your eyes, pay the price for your paradise
Devils feed on the seeds that are sown

I can't conceal what I feel, what I know is real
No mistaking the faking, I care
With a prayer in the air I will leave it there
On a note full of hope not despair

All this running around, well it's getting me down
Just give me a pain that I'm used to
I don't need to believe all the dreams you conceive
You just need to achieve something that rings true

All this running around, well it's getting me down
Just give me a pain that I'm used to
I don't need to believe all the dreams you conceive
You just need to achieve something that rings true



A DEPECHE MODE ORIGINAL 

Three Red Marbles

During the waning years of depression in a small Southeastern Idaho community, I used to stop by Mr Ashraf's road side stand for farm fresh produce as the season made it available. Food and money were still extremely scarce and bartering was used extensively. 

One particular day, Mr Ashraf was bagging some early potatoes for me. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a bucket of freshly picked green peas. 

I paid for my potatoes, but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas I could not help but overhear a conversation between Mr Ashraf and the ragged little boy. 

Yusuf, how are you today? 

I am fine.Just admiring the peas... They look good

They are good, Yusuf. Hows your Ma? 

Fine, getting stronger all the time

Good anything I can help you with? 

No Just admiring the Peas

Would you like to take some home? 

No, got nothing to pay for them with

Well what do you have to trade for them? 

All I got is my prize marble 

Let me see it

Here it is 

I can see that, Hmm, only thing is, this one is blue and I sort of go for red, Do you have a red one like this at home? 

Not exactly, but almost

Tell you what. take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way, you let me look at the redone? 

I sure will Mr Ashraf

Mrs Ashraf, who had seen me watch this events came over to help me.With a smile she said "There are two other boys in the community like him very poor, Mr Ashraf likes to bargain with them for apples, peas or tomatoes, when they come back, and they always come back with red marble, he decides he does not like red and sends them with a bag of peas, apples or tomatoes for a green, or oranges marble instead...

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado nut I never forgot the story  of this man, the boys and the bartering. Several years went by, each more rapid then the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community, while I was there I learned that Mr Ashraf had died. Knowing my friends wanted to offer their condolences, I agreed to accompany them. 

Our turn came to meet Mrs Ashraf and I told her who I was and the story she told me about the marbles "those three young men who just left were the boys i told you about, they just told me how they appreciated how Mr Ashraf traded with them. Now at last when Mr Ashraf could not change his mind about colour or size... They came to pay their debt.We have never had a great deal of wealth and with Mr Ashraf's declining health, we have run into some serious financial problems, but right now, he can be considered the richest people in Idaho... 

The three men undertook to give me a monthly allowance for my groceries, electricity, water and other household expenses. They also undertook to pay the education of my grandson. With loving gentleness she opened his (Mr Ashraf's) hand, revealing three, exquisitely shined, red marbles, left by the three young men!!!