AFFIRMATION OF BASIC RIGHTS

AFFIRMATION  OF  BASIC  RIGHTS

o     Nobody has the right to tell me what to think , what to feel or what to do .

o     I have a right to have my own thoughts , to have my own feelings , to have my own values , and to have my own beliefs .

o     Nobody can force me to tell them about my personal life .

o     I have a right to decide what I want to tell others about my personal life .

o     If people are rude to me , I have the right to ask them to stop being rude . I also have the right to avoid them .

o     I have a need and right to love myself , to respect myself , to be fully self-expressed , and to have a straight talk with people .

o     I don’t tell others what’s right for them .

o     I have the right to do whatever I want as long as I am not violating the right of anyone else .

o     I have a right to be who I am and to live my own life in my own way whether others like it or not .

o     I accept that I have a right to commit mistakes --- otherwise I can’t learn and grow .

o     I don’t feel guilty for not being perfect .

o     I don’t want to ‘ look good ’ . I want to ‘ be good ’ to people .

o     I take my own decisions .

o     I understand that nobody is responsible for me . I am responsible for my own life .

o     I am a divine child of God .

o     I am responsible to be true to myself and to be true to others .

o     I am safe in the hands of God !

GIVING IS DIVINE

                  GIVING   IS   DIVINE
                                             
                                                            by  S.K.SENGUPTA

                                                                             

o       Be responsible in distributing an aid .

o       Understand the needs of the other person . Giving just as you wish is not a good idea .                                                                                                         Also when you help , never make the other person feel small or obligated .                                                                                                                                    Keep also in mind to pack a little of  you and your love  with the gift .

o       Real caring  is not a passing flush of emotion . Real caring is costly . It means weeping with those who weep . It means doing something after we have said , “I’m sorry .” The challenge is to  give  whatever may be possible in terms of time , efforts and resources .

While you help , keep this in mind  :

o       Think deeply for others .

o       Give them your time .

o       Give them space .

o       Give them your understanding . Give them your forgiveness . Give them your mercy .

o        Give them a dream .

o       Give them  value   in whatever you are doing for them .

o       Give them your disciplined and cultured behaviour .

o       Coach them . Work hard so that you can stand for them as an example .

o       Be slim , trim , and  well-groomed for them . Give them a good appearance .

Seven types of  giving   :

             I.      Giving for personal benefit .

          II.      Giving with the belief that it will release you from your sins .

       III.      Giving to show-off and to satisfy your ego .

     IV.      Giving because others are giving and you will feel ashamed  not  to give .

        V.      Giving thoughtlessly .

     VI.      Giving because you feel it is your duty . That is  moral  giving .

  VII.      Giving out of pure love for the other person in the spirit of Jesus . That is  spiritual  giving .

VOICE EXERCISE FOR VOWELS

VOICE  EXERCISE  FOR  VOWELS

How lively , spirited and clear your speech is depends on how your vocal organs produce the sound of words .

Though consonants give meaning and definition to words , it is the vowels which contain your vocal tone , which actually represent your voice . So shape your lips nicely as you pronounce the vowels .

Here are two exercises for practice . Breathe deep , feel the beauty of the poems , and then read slowly and with effect .

Exercise Number 1

Lull me to sleep , ye winds , whose fitful sound

Seems from some faint Aeolian harpstring caught ;

Seal up the hundred wakeful eyes of thought

As Hermes with his lyre in sleep profound

The hundred wakeful eyes of Argus bound ;

For I am weary , and am overwrought

With too much toil , with too much care distraught ,

And with the iron crown of anguish crowned .

Lay thy soft hand upon my brow and cheek ,

O peaceful sleep ! until from pain released

I breathe again uninterrupted breath !

Ah , with what subtile meaning did the Greek

Call thee the lesser mystery at the feast

Whereof the greater mystery is death !

Exercise Number 2

The splendour falls on castle walls

And snowy summits old in story :

The long light shakes across the lakes

And the wild cataract leaps in glory .

Blow , bugle , blow , set the wild echoes flying ,

Blow , bugle ; answer , echoes , dying , dying , dying .

O hark , O hear ! How thin and clear ,

And thinner , clearer , farther going !

O sweet and far from cliff and scar

The horns of Elfland faintly blowing !

Blow , let us hear the purple glens replying :

Blow , bugle ; answer , echoes , dying , dying , dying .

O love , they die in yon rich sky ,

They faint on hill or field or river :

Our echoes roll from soul to soul ,

And grow for ever and for ever .

Blow , bugle , blow , set the wild echoes flying ,

And answer , echoes , answer , dying , dying , dying .

VOICE EXERCISE FOR SONORITY

VOICE  EXERCISE  FOR SONORITY

How lively , spirited and clear your speech is depends on how your vocal organs produce the sound of words .

Here are two exercises to help you develop a deep and sonorous voice .

 Exercise Number 1

Mind you mend my mound.

Many prime ministers mean merely money-making.

Nine nice nuts in a neat green net.

The dragon will come when he hears the drum.

Mamie met a monkey munching melons.

Soon the moon will loom through the misty gloom .

Exercise Number 2

“ When a wind from the lands they had ruined awoke from sleep ,

And the water began to heave and the weather to moan ,

And or ever that evening ended a great gale blew ,

And a wave like the wave that is raised by an earthquake grew ,

Till it smote on their hulls and their sails and their masts and their flags ,

And the whole sea plunged and fell ,

On the shot-shtter’d navy of Spain . ”

VOICE EXERCISE FOR FORWARD QUALITY OF TONE

VOICE  EXERCISE  FOR  FORWARD  QUALITY  OF  TONE

How lively , spirited and clear your speech is depends on how your vocal organs produce the sound of words .

Here is an exercise to help you bring your lips into play  and develop a well-poised voice .

Exercise

Plump puffins perch upon pine palings and pick pink pippins .

Peter Potter pulled a pile of pink and purple poppies .

Bob Becket’s big baby bounces and bawls .

Feathers flying fast fall freely from fluttering festoons .

Theophilus thrust three thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb .

Irish shamrocks shine softly through the shadows of the marsh and the shelter of the shrine .

Shell-fish and shrimps should always be fresh .

The view of the valley is extensive and attractive .

Betty bought a bit of butter .The bit of butter Betty bought was bitter . Said Betty : “If I buy a bit of better butter it will make my batter better .” So Betty bought a bit of better butter and her batter was better .

VOICE EXERCISE FOR CONSONANTS

VOICE  EXERCISE  FOR  CONSONANTS

How lively , spirited and clear your speech is depends on how your vocal organs produce the sound of words .

Here are two exercises to help you improve the articulation of consonants . Use your tongue energetically. Be slow and careful when you begin. As you grow comfortable, you may increase the speed of reading .

Exercise  Number  1

Betty bought a bit of butter .

The bit of butter Betty bought was bitter .

So Betty bought a bit of better butter .

Exercise Number 2

Get out of that at once.

In and out and around about.

That is not at all what I want you to do.

Wait a minute or two till it is time to go.

It is just a bit at a time that counts.

What rain! Just hear how it falls Pitter-patter, clitter-clatter on the sooty window-pane .

He sent us a chest of tip-top tea , tied up tight with an old bit of string .

APTITUDE AND ATTITUDE FOR ALTITUDE (Globally Broadcasted Radio-Talk : COPYRIGHT RESERVED )

APTITUDE AND ATTITUDE FOR ALTITUDE

by  S.K.SENGUPTA    

To rise in life , we need to know two points : point A , that is where we are , and point B , that is where we want to reach . If I know that I am in Paris and I want to reach New York , then I can plan my trip . So , once I know what I precisely want to achieve in my life , I can begin to take necessary steps to reach there . I will need tools for my journey , and we all have the same three tools : tool number one is Time , tool number two is Human Endeavour , and tool number three is Resources that include money . We must use our resources wisely , so that with least inputs we can achieve maximum results . For example , let us suppose that a building is standing on seven pillars , and we have to pull it down . Now , for that , we don’t need to pull down all the seven pillars . To be effective , we only need to find out which are the one or two strategic pillars . If we pull down these strategic pillars , the whole building will crash and collapse . Therefore , once we know our goal , we have to find out the central pillars on which our success depends . Then we must focus all our might and attention to pull down these vital pillars . Once we do that , we will hit the bull’s eye . This in brief is the formula to make it big in life !

Now , this recipe for success has two main ingredients . They are Aptitude and Attitude . We need both to succeed , just like we need both our legs to walk . Let us understand each of these thoroughly one-by-one .

Let us take Aptitude first . Aptitudes are the potential abilities with which we are born . We can practice , develop and hone these inborn abilities over time . We are naturally good in doing certain things , while we are not really good in doing certain other things . This is true for all of us . This we must recognize and acknowledge for suceess .

A donkey cannot swim like a duck . A zebra cannot fly like a parrot . An elephant cannot run as fast as a cheetah .

A boy , who was a brilliant dancer , was forced to join an engineering course by family and friends . Unable to cope with studies , syllabus , and classes , he began to lose confidence in himself . Finally he failed and went into a serious clinical depression .

M.F.Hussein would not be so good if he were a cricketer . Pandit Ravi Shankar would not be a world-famous economist . Sachin Tendulkar would not be a celebrity if he were a banker .

Let us now look at Attitude . It is a state-of-mind . It makes a man go on and on through break-downs till he achieves a breakthrough . Attitude is how one works and proceeds towards his goal . Attitude is a way of looking at things .

As a story goes , long many years ago , a shoe company sent an employee to an African country . He was supposed to study the market-potential for the company in that country . After a thorough survey the employee reported back  : “ There is no market-potential here . Nobody in this country wears shoes .”

After a gap of a few years , another employee was again sent to the African country by the shoe-company to check whether any market-potential had developed in the meanwhile . The second employee carried out a detailed survey again and reported back : “ I have surveyed very carefully . Nobody here wears shoes , nor do they know anything about it . It is a virgin land for our company . There is no competition . Once we demonstrate the benefits of wearing a shoe to these people , there is a full hundred percent potential for our company to market and sell our foot-wear . ” A difference in attitude could spell the difference between success and failure !

In his celebrated autobiography Babarnama , Mughal Emperor Babar says : “ Wars are not won by weapons , wars are won by indomitable courage . ” Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was working twenty hours a day while he was leading Indian National Army for India’s independence . In those times ,  once he said : “ I must die , so that India may live ! ”

To scale great heights in life , we need both aptitude and attitude . We need to know what we love to do , what we can do well , and what we want to become in our life . Once we have decided that point B of our life , we need to back it up with a bull-dog determination and with full-blooded strategic action . Aptitudes and talents blossom to their full potential under a winning and unyielding attitude !

Wright brothers invented the aeroplane . They knew what they were doing , what they wanted to do , and they knew that they were competent . Besides , they were burning with a passion to achieve that could not be extinguished . Einstein’s aptitude for his work was beyond any question . Moreover , he applied himself ceaselessly and single-mindedly to whatever he was doing . Once he said : “  The stuff that genius is made of is the ability to stake and focus everything that one has on one point . ”

Altitude in life is made of aptitude and attitude . Choose a goal that you would love to attain . Choose an activity that you are good at and that you love to do . Now go all out to acquire the great altitudes of life and the world will be yours . Our aptitudes are God’s gift to us . What we do with that will be our gift to God ! Let us not forget that we are The Almighty’s greatest creation . There is nothing that we cannot do . Great Altitudes are achieved when true aptitudes are backed by ‘never-say-die’ attitude . The greatest weapon on earth is the human soul on fire !

                                                          ( 1090 words ) .

ARE YOU HAPPILY ASSERTIVE ?

ARE  YOU  HAPPILY  ASSERTIVE  ?

Are you over-assertive ? Are you argumentative ? Do you often lose your temper ? Are you unhappy about it ? Do you often repent your behaviour and feel helpless about it ? Do you want to change ?

Then , please try the following :

o      Let others do the speaking always . Listen to them .

o      Make it a point to speak very little .

o      Ask questions instead of stating your opinions .

Keep these three simple steps in mind every time you interact with people . Gradually , it will become your second nature . It will give you peace of mind , and will release a lot of positive energy to enrich your life and to make you happy .

                                                             

Are you under-assertive ? Do you feel inferior ? Do you feel dominated by others ? Are you unhappy about it ? Do you feel shy and are you losing self-respect ? Do you want to change ?

Then , please try the following :

o       Speak first . Don’t wait for others to speak .

o       Speak more and speak more spontaneously . Don’t wait to think first and then speak .

o       Give your opinions loud and clear , whether others agree or don’t agree .

Keep these three simple steps in mind every time you interact with people . Gradually , it will become your second nature . You will become naturally self-confident and assertive . It will enrich your life and you will be happy with yourself !

DETOX YOURSELF NATURALLY

DETOX YOURSELF NATURALLY

Our bodies are constantly subjected to negative effects from the environment , such as industrial chemicals , pesticides , additives in our foods , secondary smoke , pollutants , or heavy metals .

As such , it is becoming increasingly necessary to internally detoxify to keep our body systems in pristine condition . This chiefly means removal of toxic substances and cleansing of the kidneys and colon , as these are the principal organs involved in the detoxification of chemicals and toxins from our body .

You need immediate detoxification , if you have :

§        Unexplained headaches or back pain .

§        Failing memory .

§        Brittle nails and hair .

§        Frequent allergies .

§        Exposure to cleansing solvents , pesticides , diuretics , and certain drugs etc.

When you detoxify your body , many benefits occur . Liver , kidney and blood purification takes place . Immune system is stimulated . Hormonal system too is enhanced .

Here we need to understand that our bodies are naturally designed to withstand low-level toxic insults . Even in modern days when we are subjected to excessive involuntary toxic intakes , we can detox naturally . Colon cleanses and artificial detoxification processes are neither required nor recommended for a healthy lifestyle .

Anything that helps the natural system of our body to eliminate waste , helps us to detox naturally . Our body merely requires enough fiber and pure water to detox naturally . So to detoxify and eliminate build-up of toxins in our body , we simply need to increase fluids and decrease fats and proteins in our diet . Most of us are chronically dehydrated without even realizing it . If we drink when we feel thirsty , it is already very late . Therefore , we must make a regular and conscientious effort to drink plenty of water to eliminate toxins from our body . A glass of water every two hours is a good rule to go by .

DETOX  PERIODICALLY :

It is a good practice to naturally detox the body thoroughly once in a while . For that , eat an all raw food diet for just one week , and drink plenty of pure water .

Simple . Potent . Natural .

                                                  

HEADING FOR A WIN AT CHESS

HEADING  FOR  A  WIN  AT  CHESS

Opening  Principles  :

             I.      Open with  1P – K4  or  1P – Q4  . This prevents the opponent from controlling the centre . After this move advance pawns only when necessary . While capturing make your pawns move towards centre , and avoid doubling of pawns in a row . The pawn-structure must be strong .

          II.      Next move your knights towards centre . They are the most important pieces in initial game Develop all your pieces , so that there is good co-ordination and as well all pieces are free to move .

       III.      Queen is an important piece which should advance only when initial game is quite developed . Till then it should be used only as a supporting piece . Bishops should be advanced only when the board and their path are relatively free .

      IV.      Carve-out Sicilian Defence with two rocks standing in support to each other . Never lose control of the centre .

Middle Game Principles  :

             I.      Try to think in advance all the several moves to follow .

          II.      Don’t keep any part of your structure weak .

       III.      Keep your knights at centre .

      IV.      The best exchange is queen , rooks , knights and then bishops .

         V.      Find out the weak point in opponent’s structure and attack that wing with full force . Don’t exchange your pieces while attack . You should exchange pieces only when that helps to open your way for aggression .

      VI.      When attacked exchange , and also every defending move becomes necessary . But often a counter-attack on opponent’s weak structure too is helpful .

End Game Principles  :

             I.      In the end-game King becomes very powerful and should be used as a supporting and an attacking piece .

          II.      Pawns also are very important in end-game and should be wisely advanced with supports to queen them .

       III.      Bishops also gain in power in end-game ; hence they should be saved and preserved for this last part of the game .

      IV.      If you are ahead in material you can exchange pieces , so that your remaining pieces can dominate the board . But if you find that these remaining pieces won’t be able to force a mate on your opponent , then don’t go for any exchange .

         V.      If you are behind in material , don’t exchange . But if after exchange , you find that your opponent won’t be able to force a mate on you with remaining pieces , you can go for exchange .

ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND  :

With every move , deeply observe >

Ø     Which path has now opened ;

Ø     Power is relieved over which places and pieces ;

Ø     Which path has been closed now ; and ,

Ø     New power is exerted over which places and pieces .

TIPS TO DEAL WITH JET LAG

TIPS TO DEAL WITH JET LAG

    Avoid consumption of alcohol and smoking before and during the flight .

    Avoid fatty and difficult to digest food as well as acidic fruits and overdose of vitamin tablets before flying .

    If you are suffering from cold or ear infection , consult a doctor before the air-travel .

    While in air , one may also suffer from eye irritation and dehydration . So , drink enough liquid , and also carry a small bottle of mild eye-drops with you .

    Exercise for about half-an-hour before the flight . While on board , walk the aisles every half hour , and if possible , do some stretching exercises . Finally , to get over the post-flight spongy feeling , get a good aerobic workout for about 45 minutes .

    Meditate during the flight . You may do that by focusing your attention on a single color or a symbol or some soothing in-flight music .

                                               

Follow these simple tips , and you will not only feel and perform better , but will also enjoy your journey much more . Bon voyage !