Convert a lemon into a sweet drink

  

An intelligent and skillful person transforms losses into profits: whereas, the unskilled person aggravates his own predicament, often making two disasters out of one.

   If your are afflicted with a misfortune look on the bright side. If someone were to hand you a glass of squeezed lemons, add to it a handful of sugar. And if someone gives you a snake as a gift, keep its precious skin and leave the rest.

Before its violent revolution, France imprisoned two brilliant poets: one an optimist, the other a pessimist. They both squeezed their heads through the bars of their cell windows. The optimist then stared at the stars and laughed, while the pessimist looked at the dirt of a neighboring road and wept. Look at the other side of a tragedy- a circumstance of pure evil does not exist, and in all situations one can find goodness and profit and reward from God.      

   

Effective Leader

  

To be an effective leader you need to be able to clearly communicate what it is that you stand for and what you are trying to change. If you think about the most iconic leaders in history, the tendency is to automatically associate them with one particular issue – e.g. Martin Luther King and the American civil rights movement; Nelson Mandela and the end of apartheid, Aung San Suu Kyi and democracy in Burma. You need to articulate clearly what it is that you want to achieve and what needs changing. It is equally important to be able to communicate this at different levels, from short sound-bites for the media right through to a detailed explanation of what your vision for change is.

   Think about ways in which you can communicate your group’s vision to the wider community. Do people know what you stand for, what you want to achieve and how you want to achieve it?

                “A leader is a dealer in hope” – Napoleon Bonaparte

Increase Your Happiness

  

Want to lift your level of happiness? Here are some practical suggestions from University of California psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky, based on research findings by her and others. Satisfaction (at least a temporary boost) guaranteed:

1. Count your blessings:

One way to do this is with a “gratitude journal” in which you write down three to five things for which you are currently thankful—from the mundane (your peonies are in bloom) to the magnificent (a child’s first steps). Do this once a week, say, on Sunday night. Keep it fresh by varying your entries as much as possible.

THE ANGEL

   Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. One day the child asked God, “They tell me you are going to send me to earth tomorrow but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?” God replied, “Among the many angels I have chosen one for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care of you.”

Said child, “But tell me here in Heaven I don’t do anything else but sing and smile. That’s what I need to be happy!” God replied, “Your angel will sing for you every day. And you will feel your angel’s love and be happy.” And, said the child, “How am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me, if I don’t know the language that men talk?” “That’s easy”, God said, “Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.” The child looked up at God saying, “And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?” God smiled at the child saying, “Your angel will teach you how to pray.”

   The child said, “I’ve heard on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me?” God replied, “Your angel will defend you, even if it means risking life!” The child looked sad, saying, “But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.” God replied, “Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you.” At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard.

The child in a hurry, asked softly, “Oh God, if I am about to leave now please tell me my angel’s name!” God replied, your angel’s name is of no importance… you will simply call her:

    MOTHER!

What is Ki?

  

Ki is the energy that each practitioner of aikido attempts to develop an understanding of for themselves. The concept of ki is central to discussions of Aikido and yet the word defies an exact definition. Ki (ch’i in Chinese) is loosely translated to mean spirit or energy. Its essence is mental discipline. The application of ki in the martial arts is not unique to Ki Aikido, but it is given special emphasis in our training. O Sensei said “Aikido is realizing the original power of life, ki, by harmonizing with the throbbing rhythms of the universe and the laws of nature. They are the textbook of Aikido techniques and practice…The spirit that moves an atom, waves the sea, and lifts the flames of a fire is also circulating in each human being”

The History of Ballet

  

Ballet is a form of dancing performed for theatre audiences. Like other dance forms, ballet may tell a story, express a mood, or simply reflect the music. But a ballet dancer's technique (way of performing) and special skills differ greatly from those of other dancers. Ballet dancers perform many movements that are unnatural for the body. But when these movements are well executed, they look natural.

   The beginnings of ballet can be traced to Italy during the 1400's at the time of the Renaissance. During the Renaissance, people developed a great interest in art and learning. At the same time, trade and commerce expanded rapidly, and the dukes who ruled Florence and other Italian city-states grew in wealth. The dukes did much to promote the arts. The Italian city-states became rival art centers as well as competing commercial centers. The Italian dukes competed with one another in giving costly, fancy entertainments that included dance performances. The dancers were not professionals. They were noblemen and noblewomen of a duke's court who danced to please their ruler and to stir the admiration and envy of his rivals.