There Is No Charge For Love‏

A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the

4 pups and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was

driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked

down into the eyes of little boy.
'Mister,' he said, 'I want to buy one of your puppies.'

'Well,'  said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, 
'These puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money.'

The boy dropped his head for a moment.
Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change
and held it up to the farmer.

'I've got thirty-nine cents.
Is that enough to take a look?'

'Sure,' said the farmer.
And with that he let out a whistle.
'Here, Dolly!' he called.
Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls
of fur.

The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced
with delight.

As the dogs made their way to the fence,
the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse.
Slowly  another little ball appeared this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp 
it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner, the little pup began  hobbling
toward the others, doing its best to catch up...

'I  want that one,' the little boy said, pointing to the runt. The farmer  knelt
down at the boy's side and said, 'Son, you don't want that puppy.   He will
never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs  would.'

With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began
rolling up one leg of his trousers.

In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg
attaching itself to a specially made shoe.

Looking back up at the farmer, he said, 'You see sir, I don't run too well
myself, and he will need someone who understands.'

With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the little pup.

Holding it carefully handed it to the little boy.

'How much?' asked the little boy.  'No charge,' answered the farmer, 'There's no
charge for love.'

The world is full of people who need someone who understands.

The Cow & The Pig

There was once a man who was very rich and very miserly at the same time. The villagers disliked him intensely. One day he said to them, "Either you're jealous of me or you don't understand my love of money-God alone knows. But you dislike me; that much I know. When I die, I won't take anything with me. I will leave it all for others. I will make a will, and I will give everything to charity. Then everyone will be happy."

Even then people mocked and laughed at him. The rich man said to them, "What is the matter with you? Can't you wait a few years to see my money go to charity?"

The villagers didn't believe him. He said, "Do you think I'm immortal? I'll die like everyone else, and then my money will go to charities." He couldn't understand why they didn't believe him.

One day he went for a walk. All of a sudden it started raining heavily, so he took shelter under a tree. Under this tree he saw a pig and a cow. The pig and the cow entered into conversation, and the man overheard what they were saying.

The pig said to the cow, "How is it that everybody appreciates you and nobody appreciates me? When I die, I provide people with bacon, ham and sausage. People can also use my bristles. I give three or four things, whereas you give only one thing: milk. Why do people appreciate you all the time and not me?"

The cow said to the pig, "Look, I give them milk while I'm alive. They see that I am generous with what I have. But you don't give them anything while you're alive. Only after you're dead do you give ham, bacon and so forth. People don't believe in the future; they believe in the present. If you give while you are alive, people will appreciate you. It is quite simple."

From that moment on, the rich man gave all he had to the poor.

Sand & Stone‏

Two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey, they had an argument and one friend slapped the other one in the face.

The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand:

'Today my best friend slapped me in the face.'

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him.

After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone:

'Today my best friend saved my life.'

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, 'After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?'

The friend replied, 'When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand, where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it.'

Learn to write your hurts in the sand and to carve your benefits in stone.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.

Do not value the things you have in your life, but value who you have in your life!

Simple Living‏ by Warren Buffet

There was a one hour interview on CNBC with Warren Buffet, the second richest man who has donated $31 billion to charity. Here are some very interesting aspects of his life.

1. He bought his first share at age 11 and now regrets that he started too late!

2. He bought a small farm at age 14 with savings from delivering newspapers.

3. He still lives in the same small 3-bedroom house in mid-town Omaha that he bought after he got married 50 years ago. He says that he has everything he needs in that house. His house does not have a wall or a fence.

4. He drives his own car everywhere and does not have a driver or security people around him.

5. He never travels by private jet, although he owns the world's largest private jet company.

6. His company, Berkshire Hathaway, owns 63 companies. He writes only one letter each year to the CEOs of these companies, giving them goals for the year.

7. He never holds meetings or calls them on a regular basis. He has given his CEOs only two rules. Rule number 1: do not lose any of your share holder’s money. Rule number 2: Do not forget rule number 1.

8. He does not socialize with the high society crowd. His pastime after he gets home is to make himself some popcorn and watch Television.

9. Bill Gates, the world’s richest man met him for the first time only 5 years ago. Bill Gates did not think he had anything in common with Warren Buffet. So he had scheduled his meeting only for half hour. But when Gates met him, the meeting lasted for ten hours and Bill Gates became a devotee of Warren Buffet.


10. Warren Buffet does not carry a cell phone nor has a computer on his desk.


11. His advice to young people, "Stay away from credit cards and invest in yourself”, and Remember:

A. Money doesn't create man but it is the man who creates money.
B. Live your life as simple as you can.
C. Don’t do what others say, just listen to them, but do what you feel good.
D. Don’t go on brand names; just wear those things in which you feel comfortable.
E. Don’t waste your money on unnecessary things; just spend them on who are really in need, rather.
F. After all it’s your life; then why do we give a chance to others to rule our lives.

The Seed

A successful business man was growing old and
knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business.
Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children,
he decided to do something different. He called all the young
executives in his company together.

He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO.
I have decided to choose one of you. "The young executives were
Shocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each one
of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant
the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with
what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then
judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be
the next CEO."

One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others,
received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the
story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted
the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had
grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began
to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.

Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew.
Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing.
By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have
a plant and he felt like a failure.
Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he
had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but
he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however.
He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - He so wanted the
seed to grow.

A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company
brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.
Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot.
But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick
to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment
of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot
to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety
of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful --
in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and
many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!

When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young
executives.

Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees,
and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will
be appointed the next CEO!"

All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with
his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to
the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a
failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"

When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened
to his seed - Jim told him the story.

The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim,
and then announced to the young executives, "Behold your next
Chief Executive Officer!

His name is Jim!" Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow
his seed.

"How could he be the new CEO?" the others said.

Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this
room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it,
and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds;
they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow.

All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and
flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you
substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the
only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with
my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new
Chief Executive Officer!"

* If you plant honesty, you will reap trust

* If you plant goodness, you will reap friends

* If you plant humility, you will reap greatness

* If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment

* If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective

* If you plant hard work, you will reap success

* If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation

* If you plant faith in God , you will reap a harvest

So, be careful what you plant now;
it will determine what you will reap later..

Good News or Bad News?

AP Photo/Eddie Kolenovsky

Roberto deVincenzo, the famous Argentine golfer, once won a tournament, and after
receiving the check and smiling for the cameras, he went to the clubhouse and prepared to
leave. Sometime later he walked alone to his car in the parking lot and was approached by a
young woman. She congratulated him on his victory and then told him that her child was
seriously ill and near death.

DeVincenzo was touched by her story and took out his pen and endorsed his winning
check for payment to the woman. “Make some good days for the baby,” he said as he pressed
the check in her hand.

The next week he was having lunch in a country club when a PGA official came to his
table. “Some of the guys in the parking lot last week told me you met a young woman there
after you won the tournament,” deVincenzo nodded. “Well,” said the official, “I have news for
you. She’s a phony. She’s not married. She has no sick baby. She fleeced you, my friend.”
“You mean there is no baby who is dying?” said deVincenzo.
“That’s right.”
“That’s the best news I’ve heard all week,” said deVincenzo.

Good news or bad news? It depends on how you see
things. You can be bitter after cheated. Or you can
choose to move on with your life..

 ***

I still remember three years ago when I was on my way to fetch my friend at Jalan Genting Klang, one Indian with his motorcycle was approaching me. He stopped my car. Of course I was afraid and started to panic because most of the time, their intention was clear. They want to rob you. Immediately, I locked my door and I was slightly open my car window to asked him what do he want.

He was begging me and said,"Mister, I'm sorry to stopped to you but could you lend me RM10. You see my motorbike's tires went flat. I need to change my tire but I don't have enough money. Can you please lend me some money."

Of course, I don't dare to go open my door to see how flat his tire was. But, I said,"I don't have so much money but I could lend you some." I opened my wallet and lend him RM5. He was so grateful and promised to return my money but I asked him to donate to the temple or charity organization. I was relieved not because I able to avoid myself been robbed but I able to helped those in need.

Well, I believe there are a lot of swindlers especially in KL but what if the Indian guy really need the money. Maybe in other people's perception, I'm a very stupid guy but you will never understand how the feeling of helping other people. Satisfaction is the best word to describe it.

When I donated RM1 to the beggar, everyone started to look at me as I was cheated by the 'kesian-ness' of the beggar. I believe not most of us are lucky enough to live in a good environment, eat three meals a day, have own transportations, surfing Internet at home for 24 hours without need to worry where to find money to buy the next meals.

You can be bitter after cheated but for me,I choose to move on with my life.

Good night.

It is easier to criticize.

Once upon a time there was a painter who had just completed his course. He took 3 days and painted beautiful scenery. He wanted people's opinion about his caliber and painting skills.

He put his creation at a busy street-crossing. And just down below a board which read -"I have painted this piece. Since I'm new to this profession I might have committed some mistakes in my strokes etc. Please put a cross wherever you see a mistake."

While he came back in the evening to collect his painting he was completely shattered to see that whole canvass was filled with Xs (crosses) and some people had even written their comments on the painting.

Disheartened and broken completely he ran to his master's place and burst into tears.

This young artist was breathing heavily and master heard him saying"I'm useless and if this is what I have learnt to paint I'm not worth becoming a painter. People have rejected me completely. I feel like dying"

Master smiled and suggested "My Son, I will prove that you are a great artist and have learnt flawless painting. Do as I say without questioning it. It WILL work."

Young artist reluctantly agreed and two days later early morning he presented a replica of his earlier painting to his master. Master took that gracefully and smiled.

"Come with me." master said.

They reached the same street-square early morning and displayed the same painting exactly at the same place. Now master took out another board which read -"Gentlemen, I have painted this piece. Since I'm new to this profession I might have committed some mistakes in my strokes etc. I have put a box with colors and brushes just below. Please do a favor. If you see a mistake, kindly pick up the brush and correct it."

Master and disciple walked back home.

They both visited the place same evening. Young painter was surprised to see that actually there was not a single correction done so far. Next day again they visited and found painting remained untouched. They say the painting was kept there for a month for no correction came in!

Moral of the story:

It is easier to criticize, but DIFFICULT TO IMPROVE!

So don't get carried away or judge yourself by someone else’s criticism and feel depressed...

JUDGE YOURSELF! YOU ARE YOUR BEST JUDGE!!!

The Story of the Three Trees

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty." Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull." Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me."

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter" ... and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest. At the second tree a woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship. When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree so I'll take this one", and he cut it down."

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because God had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.

Scattered Paper

Once upon a time an old man spread rumors that his neighbor was a thief.
As a result, the young man was arrested.
Days later the young man was proven innocent.
After been released he sued the old man for wrongly accusing him.

In court the old man told the Judge: 'They were just comments, didn't harm anyone..'

The judge, before passing sentence on the case, told the old man:
'Write all the things you said about him on a piece of paper. Cut them up and on the way home, throw the pieces of paper out. Tomorrow, come back to hear the sentence.'

The next day, the judge told the old man: 'Before receiving the sentence,
you will have to go out and gather all the pieces of paper that you threw out yesterday.'

The old man said: 'I can't do that! The wind spread them and

I won't know where to find them.'

The judge then replied: 'The same way, simple comments may destroy
the honor of a man to such an extent that one is not able to fix it.
"If you can't speak well of someone, rather don't say anything"

'Let's all be masters of our mouths, so that we won't be slaves of our words.'

Confidence Trust, Hope

CONFIDENCE:

Once all people in a village

decided to pray for rain. On

the day of prayer all of them

gathered but only one boy came

with an umbrella.... .. that's Confidence.....

TRUST:

The feeling of a one year old baby

when you throw him in the air -

he laughs and does not cry ....because he knows

you will catch him........ that's Trust.....

HOPE:

Every night when we go to bed, we

have no assurance to we will get up

alive the next morning but still we have plans for the

coming day.......that's Hope..........

HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOURSELF AND OTHERS!

TRUST OTHERS!

NEVER LOSE HOPE!

The Law of the Garbage Truck

by David J. Pollay

One day, I hopped into a taxi and took off for the airport . We were driving in the right lane when suddenly, a black car, jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed the brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. I mean, was really friendly. So I asked, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!" This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck'

He explained, "Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. NEVER take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on with the routine life." Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so...... 'Love the people who treat you right.. Pray for the ones who don't.'

A very rightly said quote: Life is 10% what you make and 90% how you take!!!!

p/s: this post is for emo boy, Orange Wee!

-I'm also not gonna let sh ppl ruin my day,cheers-

The Wood Cutter‏

One day a woodcutter took his grandson into the forest for his first experience in selecting and cutting oak trees. These they would later sell to the boat builders.

As they walked along, the woodcutter explained that the purpose of each tree is contained in its natural shape: some are straight for planks, some have the proper curves for the ribs of a boat, and some are tall for masts.

The woodcutter told his grandson that by paying attention to the details of each tree, and with experience in recognizing these characteristics, someday he too might become the woodcutter of the forest.

A little way into the forest, the grandson saw an old oak tree that had never been cut. The boy asked his grandfather if he could cut it down because it was useless for boat building - there were no straight limbs, the trunk was, short and gnarled, and the curves were going the wrong way. "We could cut it down for firewood," the grandson said. "At least then it will be of some use to us." The woodcutter replied that for now they should be about their work cutting the proper trees for the boat builders; maybe later they could return to the old oak tree.

After a few hours of cutting the huge trees, the grandson grew tired and asked if they could stop for a rest in some cool shade. The woodcutter took his grandson over to the old oak tree, where they rested against its trunk in the cool shade beneath its twisted limbs.

After they had rested a while, the woodcutter explained to his grandson the necessity of attentive awareness and recognition of everything in the forest and in the world. Some things are readily apparent, like the tall, straight trees; other things are less apparent, requiring closer attention, like recognition of the proper curves in the limbs. And some things might initially appear to have no purpose at all, like the gnarled old oak tree.

The woodcutter stated, "You must learn to pay careful attention every day so you can recognize and discover the purpose God has for everything in creation. For it is this old oak tree, which you so quickly deemed useless except for firewood, that now allows us to rest against its trunk amidst the coolness of its shade.

"Remember, grandson, not everything is as it first appears. Be patient, pay attention, recognize, and discover."

It's called the "Triple Filter Test"

In ancient Greece, Socrates was a great philosopher and
widely acclaimed for his wisdom. One day, a friend ran up
to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know
what I just heard about one of your students called Plato?"
"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me anything,
I' would like you to answer a few test questions.

It's called the Triple Filter Test".

―Triple filter?" asked the friend.

"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my student, I am going to ask you three questions.
The first Filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure
that what you are about to tell me is true?"

"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and..."

"All right," said Socrates. "So you are not sure if it's true or not."

Now let's try the second filter, the Filter of Goodness.
Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?

"No, on the contrary..." said the man.

"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, even though you're not certain it's true?"

The man shrugged, a little embarrassed.

Socrates continued. "You may still pass the Triple Filter test though,
because there is a third filter - the Filter of usefulness.
Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?"

"No, not really..."

"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good, nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?"

The man was defeated and ashamed.

Bamboo and Fern

One day the man decided to quit...
He quit his job, his relationship, his spirituality... I wanted to quit my life.
He went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
"God", he said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
His answer surprised him...
"Look around", God said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes", he replied.
When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them.
I gave them light. I gave them water.
The fern quickly grew from the earth.
Its brilliant green covered the floor. 

Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed.

But I did not quit on the bamboo.

In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful.

And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed.

But I did not quit on the bamboo. God said.

"In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed.

But I would not quit. In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed.

"I would not quit." God said. "Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth.

Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...

But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. 

It had spent the five years growing roots.
Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.
I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."
God said to man. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots."
"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you." Don't compare yourself to others .."
God said. "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern ... Yet, they both make the forest beautiful"
Your time will come, "God said to him." You will rise high! "How high should I rise?" he asked.
How high will the bamboo rise?" God asked in return.
"As high as it can?" he questioned.
"Yes." God said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
The man left the forest and brought this story.

A happy and meaningful life requires our continuous input and creativity.
It does not happen by chance. It happens because of our choices and actions.
And each day we are given new opportunities to choose and act and,
in doing so, we create our own unique journey." Keep going...

90 / 10 Principle - by Stephen Covey‏ (English and Chinese version)

Update (29 November 2010)