Her smile beckons me; it is captivating, friendly and full of warmth. She cuts the paddy stalks rhythmically with the other womenfolk labouring under the harsh afternoon sun. They giggle as i wave out to them and ask if i can join them in their work. The woman with the warm smile shyly points out that such hard work is not for the likes of me. The rest start laughing. I too join in the laughter, in response to the simple truth of my inability to swiftly cut paddy stalks with the sun burning my back. Theres so much hard work, harsh circumstances , and little leisure in this remote tribal hamlet....

Get a makeover: Believe it or not, grooming yourself can make a huge difference to your selfimage . Get a new hair cut, buy some figure-flattering clothes or simply shower and shave, and feel the difference . Dressing well and looking presentable at all times is important. Be positive: Having a negative self image can drag you down. Learn to replace your negative thoughts with positive ones. If you feel you are a pathetic dancer, take it upon yourself to learn a dance form. Take small steps to dispel your fears. Know yourself: Get to know your abilities and your shortcomings. No matter how...

Most of us would say that we do have free will. We can do anything we wish. If we want to wear a red shirt instead of a blue one, we can. If we want to eat a sandwich instead of a pizza, we can. If we want to take off from work and sit at home today, we can. If we want to marry the girl or boy we love, we can. If we have enough money, we can buy any house, car or gadget. Likewise, we can travel wherever we want to. Obviously, it looks as if free will exists. All the choices that we make are from the act of exercising the will. How free is free will Whatever we call free will or choice is finally...

SHANGHAI : The unveiling of Apples iPad tablet computer was one of the most anticipated technology events in recent years, but a similar looking device has been on sale in China for nearly six months. The touchscreen iPad look-alike marks a new milestone by Chinese manufacturers: cloning a product before it had even been announced, mused Shanghaiist.com, a city blog, and Shanzhai.com, a tech blog dedicated to Chinese copies. But Shenzhen Great Loong Brother Industrial Co makers of the Chinese device, which resembles an over-sized iPhone said Apple appeared to be the copycats. We dont understand....

When things go wrong as they sometimes will; When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill; When the funds are low, and the debts are high And you want to smile, but have to sigh; When care is pressing you down a bit- Rest if you must, but do not quit. Success is failure turned inside out; The silver tint of the clouds of doubt; And you can never tell how close you are It may be near when it seems so far; So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit- It’s when things go wrong that you must not quit. – “Don’t Quit,” Author Unknown Are you working...

A problem can give us a chance to grow, says Marty Varnadoe Dow Crisis is painful, frightening , and difficult. None of us consciously invite crisis into our lives. We do not look forward to the next life threatening event to come our way. We have never received an invitation to celebrate a crisis in the life of one of our friends. The news of a crisis brings feelings of sadness, fear, and regret. No one wants to face death, financial ruin, loss of a job, or a divorce. We do not wish these events on others. So, how is it that I can tell you, who are in crisis, that your situation is the adventure...

“I still miss those I loved who are no longer with me but I find I am grateful for having loved them. The gratitude has finally conquered the loss.” – Rita Mae Brown Losing a loved one is generally never easy. It does not matter if it is a spouse, a friend, a bother, a sister, a cousin, and especially if it was a child. Everyone grieves in their own way. In order to live, there must be death. We should be grateful that we had the opportunity to have these people in our lives. Many times the anger or resentment that we experience due to the loss of a loved one is not for...

“Courtesies of a small and trivial character are the ones which strike deepest in the grateful and appreciating heart.” – Henry Clay A lot of times people look for the “Big Wins”. They go swinging for the Home Runs and look for the Big Ticket items. In many cases, the small things are what really matters! Take time to say, “Thank You”. Smile. Appreciate the things you have. Help someone out who needs it, even if they are not looking for assistance. These Acts of Kindness will be more effective than the big things.

“It’s only a thought and a thought can be changed.” - Louise Hay When something gets you down, do you wallow in the misery? Do you let yourself feel like crud? Or do you use it as an opportunity to look for the bright side of it and grow? Both are possible outcomes and both have a place. The important thing is to learn from the incident and move ahead. When tragedy strikes I am not suggesting you ‘poo-poo’ it off. On the contrary, you should stay in the moment and grieve, feel your emotions, process your feelings. These are all necessary. But to stop there is a...