WHO PACKED YOUR PARACHUTE?

Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important. We may fail to say hello, please, thank you, congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to them, give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason. 

Charles Plumb, a US Naval Academy graduate, was a jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent 6 years in a communist prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience. 

One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!"

"How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb. 

"I packed your parachute," the man replied.

Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man grabbed his hand and said, "I guess it worked!" 

Plumb assured him, "It sure did. If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today." 

Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb kept wondering what the man might have looked like in a Navy uniform. He wondered how many times he might have seen him and not even said good morning, how are you or anything, because you see, he was a fighter pilot and the man was just a sailor. Plumb thought of the many hours that sailor had spent in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he did not know. 

Now Plumb asks his audience, "Who is packing your parachute?" Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day. 

Plumb also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down. As you go through your week, month, and even New Year, recognize the people who have packed your parachute and enabled you to get where you are today! 

--- Author Unknown

Need Nothing

Everyone thinks they need to get something. But the truth is we don't need anything. 

We already have what we need. Trouble arises when we think we have to keep what we receive. It's the keeping that sustains our neediness. But whatever comes to us is not for keeping, it is for giving. 

And when you give, you get. 

Deep down we all know this eternal truth. It's one of those cast iron laws of the universe. But we are conditioned to think the opposite. No wonder there is a poverty of faith. Not religious faith, but the faith that the universe will bring us whatever we need, at the right moment in the right way. 

So start today -- give, give, give - time, energy, assistance, care, co-operation. On how many levels do you see the opportunity to give? It's good to be a just do it person. Even better to be a 'just give it person'. And the paradox will make itself known - when you give you will realise you already have everything you need.

The biggest service is to show others the right path.

When someone is going wrong, it is very easy to get influenced and go wrong too. 

For example, others' negativity brings anger, fear or sadness, which is negative too. 

Then, I lose the ability to show others the right path. When someone is negative, it is all the more reason to have a positive state of mind so that I can guide them towards the right path. 

Today I will take a few minutes before I react. Whenever there is a negative situation I am faced with, I'll wait for a minute or two before I give any reaction. this will help me finish negativity and I will be able to respond with positive.

Symbolism of Lord Ganesha - What does it indicates?

Generally, we find Lord Ganesha depicted as a dwarf and fatty figure with pot belly, elephant head, large ears, small eyes, long nose, mouse as vehicle etc. From an artistic angle this figure is most enchanting and blissful. But, behind this artistic symbolism hidden is, a philosophy, a moral, a management principle and a lesson for every body to learn in life. 

Big Head:

Simple living and high thinking. It depicts the wisdom, knowledge (intelligence), discrimination, clear planning, and foresightedness which are very much the principles of management.

Big Ears:

Listening is an art. A good listener is a good Manager (principle of lend your ear but be discriminative); quality of a good leader.

Small mouth:

Talk less and work more. Productivity angle.

Small eyes:

Stay focused; have a bird’s view but not a worm’s view. Be ever alert and conscious of surroundings.

Long nose and curved trunk:

There is no straight path to success. Be flexible and adaptable. Long nose also indicates the reach.

Large Stomach:

Ability to digest; Acceptability (accept both good and bad in life). Ganesha's large stomach is a treasure of Vedic knowledge.

Axe in the hand:

Exercise proper controls in the path to success.

Mouse:

Mouse symbolizes egoism which unless under control can cause havoc. Egoism is nothing but ignorance (darkness). You ride the ego and don’t allow it to over ride you. Always keep desires under check.  All our sufferings in the world are caused by our own ego centric misconception and consequent arrogance characterized by our ever multiplying demand for wealth and desires. Ego is the greatest enemy of human beings; one may understand the cosmos but never the ego.

Mouse symbolizes that “nothing is insignificant in this universe”. What is important is, one should know how to utilize them effectively. Don’t ignore the small. Size makes no difference. Mouse also symbolizes the darkness of night. Mouse can see well in the dark. As Lord Ganesha’s vehicle mouse signifies an object that leads man from darkness to light.

Commonsense and Problem solving skills: 

Using one of his tusks when his quill got broken while scripting Mahabharatha. Commonsense prevails in life.

Wisdom: 

Treating parents as God (Maathru Devo Bhavah – Pithru Devo Bhavah); He is the one who has shown to the world the significance of parents by taking a circumambulation around his parents Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi that bestowed him the position of Ganaadhipathya, Lordship over the Ganas.

Communication: 

Communication gap is the distance between the two ears. Lord Ganesha was specially chosen by Lord (Sage) Vedavyaasa to script the great epic Mahabharatha. With his listening skills, Lord Ganesha could effectively transcript narration given by Lord Vedavyaasa without any communication gap.

Strategic Management and timely decision making:

Lord Ganesha decides to take Pradakshina (circumambulation) around his parents (Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvathi Devi) during the contest with his brother Lord Kaarthikeya. Ultimately He succeeds with his time management skills and presence of mind.

Adaptability & Opportunities from constraints:

With small feet; pot belly; mouse as vehicle etc... Ganesha never ran away from constraints & obstacles. He adapted well to the circumstances. With his common sense and wisdom he converted his constraints into opportunities without any egos and went on to become Chief Lord of Ganas (Ganapathi).

Role model:

Elephant shows the path in forest which is full of obstacles and constraints. A good leader is the one who leads by example. Lord Ganesha is known as Vinaayaka (Vigathanaayaka Vinaayaka) the one who has no master over him. He is totally an independent Deity; has no overlord and is the one who leads. Lord Ganesha is a leader acceptable to all; a leader who is a role model; a path maker;the one who is there when needed by his devotees.

Lord Ganesha signifies the triumph of wisdom over ignorance and of ego-lessness over desires. Ultimate reward is only through saadhana that is Modaka in the hands of Ganesha. Lord Sri Maha Ganapathi is said to be a personification of Omkaaram (Pranava Swaroopam) which is primordial to all Veda Manthras. Thus symbolism of Lord Ganesha is embodiment of wisdom and a visible representation of the highest reality.

One should properly understand the significance of Lord Ganesha; his symbolism; messages it conveys and worship him for a hassle free life and achievement of success in endeavors without obstacles

Can Love And Freedom Co-Exist (Exist Together)?

Is it possible to love each other and be free at the same time? Yes. To reach this state in a relationship great wisdom is required. Most people love one another and tie one another down. Thus they lose their freedom. When freedom is lost, happiness goes away, and true wellbeing gives way to unhappiness. Often we look above all for love, a love we believe will change our life. 

We see it as the recognition of our inner value by another person. However, we trip over ourselves in looking for this love. Necessity is what motivates us and we try to satisfy it with an object or person who matches up to perfection. We have an immense emotional need for love, and the fear of remaining in a state of unsatisfied wanting. In our search to fill our need, we are prepared to deceive ourselves with unsuitable partners. Many people allow the love of another person to define their personality to such a point that, if they are rejected, they lose any sense of who they are and of the purpose they have in life. Often the relationship is colored, through one of the partners or both, by fear. 

To free ourselves of the tendency to depend, we should have a strong heart, without any selfishness; a heart that has nothing to hide and that, as a result, is free and without fear; a heart that does not hold on to closed beliefs, to old negative experiences; a heart that has good feelings and is free of bitterness; a heart filled with the true values of peace, love, freedom and solidarity – which as a result is stronger and fuller.

True Inner Power

True power isn't power you have over anyone else, it is a full stock of energy accumulated in your being. 

 With such power, nothing can bring you down or de - stabilize you. 

Your inner power becomes a natural protection, not just from the ups and downs of life but also from your own Achilles' heel. 

So, tap into your inner power and experience it. Use this power to contribute meaningfully and to protect yourself from your own weaknesses and from negative influences. 

DARE TO DREAM

Sitting at the Marshalls, with my time card in my hand, I started to realize where I was and what I was finally doing. Thoughts of "I'm not good enough to be here" started floating around my head. As much as I tried, I could not get this thought out of my head the whole time I was sitting with my other seven competitors.

As my race approached and I clambered up the stairs and got behind my lane, ready to race, the thought started to disappear. 

I started to look around the crowd. I saw the officials and finally my competitors. Seeing their faces, their concentration, their anguish, I finally glanced down my lane.

At the start and the end of this lane were two walls. In between the two walls was water. And in the water was my DREAM.

What came next was my realization. A dream is based on your reality, your strengths and your weaknesses. If my dream was above the ground then I just made the foundations to make it concrete, a reality. "I'm here aren't I?" - I said to myself.

I swam the race of my life. I wasn't placed anywhere, but just to be here was my dream. People often thought that I couldn't do it and I wouldn't do it. So when I got here, the best feeling I had was when I figured out that "I was good enough, not only because I made the qualifying time but mainly because I never gave up; I gave my dream a shot."

An aim, a dream, a focus; never think you have set your goals too high. You will just have the bigger challenge of achieving it. 

--- © Courtney Fagan