Meanings of the Given Names (B)

People often ask me about - what does my name mean. Sometimes, I also ask other peoples if their names mean something.

These are not important but it is good to know about each other in our cultures of mankind.

For my friends who want to know, if something means in a name:


Men’s Names (B)

Baldwin: (Germanic) Bold, friend
Barnabas: (Hebrew) Son of prophecy; son of encouragement
Barrett: (Germanic) Bear, ruld
Barry: (Celtic) Looking straight at the mark; spear
Bartholomew: (Hebrew) Son of Talmai (furrow)
Basil: (Greek) Kingly
Benedict: (Latin) Blessed
Benjamin: (Hebrew) Son of my right hand; son of the south
Bentley: (Old English) Bent grass clearing
Berman: (Old English) Bearkeeper
Bernard: (Germanic) Bear, stern
Bert, Bertram: (Germanic) Bright
Blaine: (Celtic) Thin or lean
Blair: (Celtic) A plain or level land
Blake: (Old English) Black
Boris: (Slavonic) Stranger
Bradley: (Old English) Broad meadow
Brant: (Norse) Sword
Brent: (Old English) Steep hill
Brian: (Celtic) Strong
Bruce: (Old French) From Brieuse in Normandy
Bruno: (Germanic) Dark-complexioned; brown
Bryan: (Celtic) Strong
Byrne: (Germanic) Bear
Byron: (Germanic) From the cottage


Women’s Names (B)

Barbara: (Greek) Stranger
Beatrice: (Latin) She who blesses
Bella: (Latin) Beautiful; oath of God
Benita: (Latin) Blessed
Bernadette, Bernadine: (Germanic) Bear, firm
Bernice: (Greek) Bringer of victory
Bertha: (Germanic) Bright
Beryl: (Greek) From the jewel beryl
Betty: (Hebrew) Oath of God
Beulah: (Hebrew) Married
Beverly: (Old English) From Beverley, England
Blanche: (Latin-French) White or fair
Blossom: (Old English) Flower or bloom
Bonita: (Latin-French) Good
Brenda: (Norse) Sword
Bridget: (Celtic) Strength
Buena: (Spanish) Good


Source: The World Book Dictionary

Picture: http://www.theflowerexpert.com/media/images/mostpopularflowers/morepopularflowers/cherryblossom/cherry-blossom.jpg

Have and No-Use I

My sharing article ‘IQ scale and thought power’ that was from my reading, which I posted in my blog recently, was fundamentally based in the problem of having and no-using. We all have good brains, good thinking skills, styles and experiences. There is no too much difference between one and another of us. Nevertheless, the huge difference has existed between usages of one another. It is main reason of how we are different each other. And it was theme of that article.

Then, I am thinking there are many stories, which are based upon have-and-no-use, in our community, in our country and in our world.

Here is a true story that I have heard from a village-man when I was young.

It was fine summer of my high-school final year. U Maung Lu Gree, one of my Pa Pa’s close friends who often visited our house told about his dream son-in-law.
At that time, he had two daughters and one son. His eldest daughter was a couple years younger than I was. He was also one of the richest persons in our village.
On that day, U Maung Lu Gree said the following example story about his regards on his dream son-in-law.

He could give to the two young men $100,00 per each to invest on something and send to the city.
One of the two young guys could look around the goods, prices, transportation systems, costs, wages, security, condition of competitors, etc. Then, he decided that he could not invest in anything because he thought nothing was good to invest. He came back to home with $100,000 that he took.
The second young man also looked around to buy something but he also did not find any appropriate goods but he found a casino. He played. At first he won a lot of money but later he lost all his $100,000. He came back home with nothing.

According to U Maung Lu Gree, he could choose the second one as his son-in-law because he could prefer that guy for his doing / acting something, though he lost the money. He said that at least, that young man invested on something; he did something. If he did not lose, he could win. He also said that he gave money to invest, to buy something, to do something, to not come back with tightly holding that money. He thought the first young man who came back home without did anything was not too different from someone who had no money at all.

There is no much difference between ‘no-having’ and ‘no-using.’


Picture: http://www.dpreview.com/Learn/Articles/Glossary/Optical/images/123di_perspec_tele_far.jpg

Meanings of the Given Names (A)

People often ask me about - what does my name mean. Sometimes, I also ask other peoples if their names mean something. In my name, Oo means ‘Mr’ or ‘the First born’ or ‘Earliest.’ Thein means ‘Hawk’ or ‘Occupy’ and Maung represent for ‘Young male.’

Then, I found this list in The World Book Dictionary, which was copyrighted in 1967. The section, ‘Vocabulary of Given Names,’ was written by Elsdon C. Smith and most common names of western culture are included.

These are not important but it is good to know about each other in our cultures of human beings.

For my friends who want to know, if something means in a name:

Men’s Names (A)

Aaron: (Hebrew) Lofty mountain
Abel: (Hebrew) Vanity; son
Abner: (Hebrew) Father of light
Abraham: (Hebrew) Exalted father; father of multitudes
Adam: (Hebrew) Man of read earth
Adolph, Adolf: (Germanic) Noble, wolf
Adrian: (Latin) Of the Greek city Adria
Alastair: (Greek-Scottish) Helper of men
Albert: (Germanic) Noble, bright
Alden: (Old English) Old, friend
Aldric: (Germanic) Old, rule
Alexander, Allister: (Greek) Helper of men
Algernon: (Norman-French) Bewhiskered
Allan, Alan: (Celtic) Comely or fair; harmony
Alonzo, Alphonso, Alfonso: (Germanic) Noble, ready
Aloysius: (Germanic) Hear, fight
Ambrose: (Greek) Immortal
Amos: (Hebrew) A burden-bearer; carried
Andrew: (Greek) manly
Angus: (Celtic) One choice; unique choice
Anthony: (Latin) Inestimable; strength
Archibald: (Germanic) Simple, bold
Argus: (Greek) Vigilant
Arno, Arnold: (Germanic) Eagle
Arthur: (Celtic, Norse) Noble bear-man; Thor’s eagle
Asa: (Hebrew) God has given
Asher: (Hebrew) Bearer of salvation
Ashley: (Old English) Ash tree meadow
Aubrey: (Germanic) Elf, rule
August, Austin: (Latin) Exalted, majestic
Avery: (Old English) Boar, battle



Women’s Names (A)

Abigail: (Hebrew) My father rejoices
Adah, Ada: (Hebrew) Ornament
Adelaide, Adeline (Germanic) Noble, kind
Adriana: (Latin) Of the Greek city of Adria
Agatha: (Greek) Good
Agnes: (Latin) Lamb; scared and pure
Aileen: (Greek) Light
Alberta: (Germanic) Noble, bright
Alethea: (Greek) Truth
Alexa, Alexandria: (Greek) Helper of men
Alice, Alison: (Germanic) Noble, kind
Allegra: (Old French-Latin) Springhtly; cheerful
Alma: (Latin) Kind; from the river Alma
Alva: (Latin) White
Amada: (Latin) Lovable
Amity: (Latin) Friendly
Anastasia: (Greek) Arise again
Andrea: (Hebrew) Manly
Angela: (Greek) Angelic
Ann, Anna, Anne: (Hebrew) Grace, God has been gracious
Annabel: (Scottish) Lovable or amiable
Antoinette: (Latin) Inestimable
April: (Latin) Open; from the month
Arabella: (Germanic, Scottish) Eagle, heroine; lovable
Ariadne: (Greek) Most holy
Arlene: (Celtic) Pledge
Athena: (Greek) From Athena, the goddess of wisdom
Audrey: (Germanic) Noble, strength
Augusta: (Latin) Exalted or venerable
Aurora: (Latin) Dawn
Ava: (Latin) Bird

Picture: http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/capt.ohcp10203070353.arnold_returns_ohio_ohcp102.jpg

Independence Day of Bangladesh

Today is the independence day of Bangladesh. Bangladesh gained its independence from Pakistan on March 26, 1971.

Official Name: People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Area: 147,570 sq km. (55,813 sq. miles)
Cities: Capital – Dhaka. Other cities – Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi
Population: 158.6 million (UN, 2007)
Religions: Muslim 88%, Hindu 11%, Christian, Buddhist, others 1%
Languages: Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English.
Type of Government: Parliamentary Democracy
GDP: $ 370 billion (2000 projected)
Monetary Unit: 1 taka = 100 paisa
President: Iajuddin Ahmed
Internet domain: .bd
International Dialing Code: +880
Official Web Pages:
http://www.bangladeshgov.org/
http://www.cao.gov.bd/


Sources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/country_profiles/1160598.stm
http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/
http://www.scopesys.com/anyday/
Countries of the World and Their Leaders Yearbook 2004

Picture: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bg.html
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/bg-flag.html

An Interesting News: 'Praying' dog at Japanese temple

Attendance at a Buddhist temple in Japan has increased since the temple's pet, a two-year-old dog, has joined in the daily prayers.
Conan, a Chihuahua, sits on his hind legs, raises his paws and puts them together at the tip of his nose.
"He may be showing his thanks for treats and walks," says a priest at Jigenin temple on Okinawa island.
To read more, please click here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7310993.stm

Independence Day of Greece

Today is the independence day of Greece. Greece gained its independence from Turkish Ottomans on March 25, 1821 (actually, the war between Greece and Ottomans ended in 1830).

Official Name: The Hellenic Republic
Area: 131,957 sq km. (51,146 sq. miles)
Cities: Capital – Athens. Other cities – Thessaloniki, Greater Piraeus, Patras, Larissa, Iraklion
Population: 11.1 million (UN, 2007)
Religions: Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, Other 0.7%
Languages: Greek (official); English.
Type of Government: Parliamentary Republic
GDP: $ 120 billion (2001 est)
Monetary Unit: 1 euro = 100 cents
President: Karolos Papoulias
Internet domain: .gr
International Dialing Code: +30
Official Web Pages:
http://www.primeminister.gr/
http://www.parliament.gr/


Sources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1009249.stm
http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/
http://www.scopesys.com/anyday/
Countries of the World and Their Leaders Yearbook 2004

Picture: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gr.html
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/gr-flag.html

Difference between IQ Scale and Thought Power

Today, I am reading ‘The Magic of Thinking Big’ by David J. Schwartz, Ph.D. There are many interesting chapters and lessons in this book. Then, I would like to share one of very interesting scenarios of the book, which is about the difference between higher brain and managed brain, with you as below. Enjoy the reading and be a person who earns a thoughtful power!

Why some brilliant people are failures. I’ve been close for many years to a person who qualifies as a genius, who has high abstract intelligence, and is Phi Beta Kappa. Despite this very high native intelligence, he is one of the most unsuccessful people I know. He has a very mediocre job (he’s afraid of responsibility). He has never married (lots of marriages end in divorce). He has few friends (people bore him). He’s never invested in property of any kind (he might lose his money). This man uses his great brainpower to prove why things won’t work rather than directing his mental power to searching for ways to succeed.

Because of the negative thinking that guides his great reservoir of brains, this fellow contributes little and creates nothing. With a changed attitude, he could do great things indeed. He has the brains to be a tremendous success, but not the thought power.

Another person I know well was inducted into the Army shortly after earning the Ph.D. degree from a leading New York university. How did he spend his three years in the Army? Not as an officer. Not as a staff specialist. Instead, for three years he drove a truck. Why? Because he was filled with negative attitudes toward fellow soldiers (“I’m superior to them”), toward army methods and procedures (“They are stupid”), toward discipline (“It’s for others, not me”), toward everything, including himself (“I’m a fool for not figuring out a way to escape this rap”).

This fellow earned no respect from anyone. All his vast store of knowledge lay buried. His negative attitudes turned him into a flunky.

Remember, the thinking that guides your intelligence is much more important than how much intelligence you have. Not even a Ph.D. degree can override this basic success principle!

Several years ago I became a close friend of Phil F., one of the senior officers of a major advertising agency. Phil was director of marketing research for the agency, and he was doing a bang-up job.

Was Phil a “brain”? Far from it. Phil knew next to nothing about research technique. He knew next to nothing about statistics. He was not a college graduate (though all the people working for him were). And Phil did not pretend to know the technical side of research. What then, enabled Phil to command $30,000 a year while not one of his subordinates earned $10,000? (The book was copyrighted in 1959).

This: Phil was a “human” engineer. Phil was 100 per cent positive. Phil could inspire others when they felt low. Phil was enthusiastic. He generated enthusiasm; Phil understood people, and because he could really see what made them tick, he liked them.

Not Phil’s brains, but how he managed those brains, made him three times more valuable to his company than men who rated higher on the IQ scale.


Picture: http://pewresearch.org/assets/social/ladder-interior.gif

Quote of the Week: Peace comes from Realization and Respect each other!

“We no longer stand alongside or in opposition to one another. Thus faith is a force for peace and reconciliation in the world: Distances between people are overcome, in the Lord we have become close.”

Pope Benedict XVI

Note: The Pope said this after he poured holy water over Magdi Allam’s head in a baptism at a Vatican Easter service in Latin. Magdi Allam is an Egyptian-born, non-practicing Muslim who is married to a Catholic, and he converted to Catholicism on Saturday.


Source: Chicago Tribune (March 23, 2008)

Picture: http://romancatholicblog.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/06/06/pope_benedict_xvi_7.jpg

Words From Free Skating

In the afternoon, I watched world ISU skating championship Goteborg 2008 contests at TV channel abc7. As far as I noticed, the competitors are mostly teen girls. It was very nice to see their beauty and skating. In the final, I saw a girl from Japan won the first prize, a girl from Italy was in the second place and for third place was from South Korea. (I am sorry. I don’t remember their names.)

While I was watching, I was also writing the words those I heard from the TV announcers or commentators of the contest. Then, the words might give you something; such as a story, a life, a success or you may dream or imagine something whatever you want. Please take a chance to get something from these words. These words may make you to be a good skater, or a good competitor, or a good athletic, or a successful person, or in the bottom line, they will tell you a story.

Enjoy with reading the words as below:

Confidence
Skill
Softness
Strength
Determination
Presentation
Gentle
Flow
Spin
Combination
Landing
Energy
Jump
Experience
Friendship
Healthy
Luck
Elegant
Music
Emotion
Speed
Position
Cross
High
Fly
Open
Talent
Light
Dance
Existence
Performance
Heroic
Nit
Costume Design
Triple Axel
Triple Flip
Triple Toe Loop
Double Toe
Smile

Have Fun!


Picture: http://spn.chosun.com/site/data/img_dir/2007/03/23/2007032300707_1.jpg
http://www.starsonice.com/ASSETS/FD22A47655124E24B35F75BB2157C2A5/SCohenActionLrg.jpg

Independence Day of Namibia

Today is the independence day of Namibia. Namibia gained its independence from South Africa on March 21, 1990.

Official Name: The Republic of Namibia
Area: 823,145 sq km. (320,827 sq. miles)
Cities: Capital – Windhoek. Other cities – Keetmanshoop, Luderitz, Oranjemund, Oshakati, Otjivarongo, Swakopmund, Tsumeb, Walvis Bay.
Population: 2 million (UN, 2007)
Religions: Predominantly Christian; also indigenous beliefs.
Languages: English is the official language of Namibia; Afrikaans, German, and various indigenous Languages also are spoken.
Type of Government: Republic
GDP: $ 7.6 billion (2000)
Monetary Unit: 1 Namibian dollar = 100 cents
President: Hifikepunye Pohamba
Internet domain: .na
International dialling code: +264
Official Web Pages:
http://www.grnnet.gov.na/
http://www.opm.gov.na/
http://www.parliament.gov.na/



Sources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1063245.stm
http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/T
http://www.scopesys.com/anyday/
Countries of the World and Their Leaders Yearbook 2004

Picture: http://www.flags.net/NAMB.htm
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/wa.html

Coffee Ain't So Bad After All!

By Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., CNS
"People who already drink a lot of coffee don't have to feel 'guilty' as long as coffee does not affect their daily life." So says Harvard researcher Frank Hu, MD. In fact, he adds that folks with a coffee "habit" may actually benefit from it in the long run.

At least six research reports show that people who drink coffee are up to 80 percent less likely to develop Parkinson's, have a 25 percent drop in their risk for colon cancer, an 80 percent drop in their risk for liver cirrhosis, and an almost 50 percent lower risk for gallstones. Not only that, research from Harvard shows that drinking six or more cups of java cuts the risk for Type II diabetes by 54 percent for men and 30 percent for women.

Coffee actually provides more than just the legendary caffeine jolt. It's a big source of antioxidants, containing such compounds as chlorogenic acid and tocopherols and even minerals like magnesium. The trick is not to over-consume it. For some people, excess coffee can increase heartbeat and jitters. However, the increase in blood pressure that many worry about is largely temporary.

Before you stock up on coffee, keep in mind that unless you drink it black, you could be drinking a lot of extra sugar with your cup of joe. And, as Craig Ballantyne says, watch out for "mega-coffees" that pack in extra caffeine.

One more word of advice: Don't drink coffee after about 4:00 in the afternoon. The caffeine stays in your system for a long time and can interfere with the length and quality of your sleep.
[Ed. Note: Dr. Jonny Bowden is a nationally known expert on weight loss, nutrition, and health. He's the author of the new book The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth. For more information, go to http://www.jonnybowden.com/. To read more of his articles on healthy living in ETR's natural health e-letter, click here.]

Source: The E-newsletter of Early To Rise (ETR)

Picture: http://www.tailored.com.au/uploaded_images/girl-coffee-798714.jpeg

Independence Day of Tunisia

Today is the independence day of Tunisia. Tunisia gained its independence from France on March 20, 1956.

Official Name: Republic of Tunisia
Area: 163,610 sp. Km. (63,378 sq. miles), slightly smaller than the state of Missouri of the United States.
Cities: Capital – Tunis; Greater Tunis urban area
Population: 10.3 million (2007 UN)
Religions: Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish less than 1%.
Type of Government: Republic
GDP: $12.6 billion (2001)
Monetary unit: 1 Tunisian dinar (TD) = 1,000 millimes
President: Zine El Abidine Ben Ali

Internet domain: .tn
Official Web Page: http://www.ministeres.tn/


Sources:
http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/official.htm#T
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/country_profiles/791969.stm
Countries of the World and Their Leaders Yearbook 2004

Picture: http://www.issafrica.org/AF/maps/tunisia.jpg
http://www.flags.net/TUNS.htm

N.L.N.

In Thailand, people usually asked me what was my last name (Nam Scul in Thai language), after they knew my name. It was the first experience with the last name or family name or married name in my life that someone asked me my last name.

We, Arakanese, Burmese, do not have last names. Someone’s name is just name. No last name. No family name. No married name. In our village, there are many people with the same names. Even we have another Oo Thein Maung (exactly my name) in our village. Sometimes, there are three people in a soccer team but we usually call specific names to those who have the same name. For example, people called me the East Oo Thein Maung because our house was situated in the eastern part of our village. To another Oo Thein Maung, people called KoYong (novice) Oo Thein Maung because he was a novice in a Buddhist temple for long time. So, we know who is what. Fun!

When I got married with my wife, who is an American, she supposed to change her name to my last name, which is Maung. I said she did not have to change her last name because it was not our culture. Instead, I may change my last name to her family name, Hill. I may become Mr. Hill, later.

Any way, one of my friends joined the U.S. Army and he got the name N.L.N. in the U.S. Army, during the training period. What does N.L.N mean, do you know? No Last Name!
Today, my friend, N.L.N became a U.S. citizen. Happy St. Patrick's day and Congratulations N.L.N!


Picture: http://www.baby-names.name/images/baby-name-girl-boy-logo.jpg

Quote of the Week: Look before you leap

“Once you accept the idea of a ‘good dictatorship’ in another country, you are creating a precedent.”

Andres Oppenheimer
U.S. political columnist

Note: Andres criticized Mexico’s “dangerous romance” with Cuba.

Source: Chicago Tribune (March 14, 2008)
Picture: http://www.chgblog.com/images/andresoppenheimer.jpg

The Easiest Readers’ Advisory

Today, there were many discussions in our RA class about readers’ advisory service, nature of the job, relationship with patrons, techniques of the service and so on.
Then, I remember my former readers' advisory service with one of my patrons when I opened my own little bookshop in our village. It was not a bookshop to sell the books, but to borrow (50 Pyar per day for a book). (100 Pyar = 1 Kyat, Burmese currency).
Usually, when people come to borrow the books, they will ask about the names of books or favorite author/s or subject to borrow a book.
Nevertheless, one of regular borrowers was strange. He came to the bookshop and read hours in the shop or in some places near our house. He did not have specific or favorite list. He was also a slow reader and sometimes, he took about three days to finish a book. After he read the whole book, he could say, “I like it. I’ll borrow,” and he really borrowed it. If he did not like, he could say, “I don’t like this book. I will read another book,” and he did not borrow it. He left the book in the shop.
Therefore, to give advice for him, I only had to make the list of his favorite books those he already read the whole book and could borrow it for the second time. Then, he could take the book to home.
It was true story and piece of my experience about readers’ advisory services. Have Fun!


Picture: http://www.ssdesign.com/librarypr/download/odds_and_ends/reader.bmp

Good, Evil and Real Human Being

Today, I am reading one of the Buddha’s teaching books. It was about the discussion or Q&As between the Buddha and a king in the past lives of them before the Buddha became the Buddha.
There are many interesting discussions between the two and one of those questions is about ‘good and evil,’ which I would like to share about it with you as below.

King: Which one can be always improving between ‘good’ and ‘evil’?
The Buddha: Only the ‘good’ can be improving.
King: Why?
The Buddha: Because – the bad thing only gives you regret, bad feeling, bad result and sorrowful consequences after you did it. Therefore, people try to forget about their bad events, feelings, happenings and results in their lives. Nobody wants to be thinking, feeling and doing about it over and over again.
On the contrary, when you do the good things, you felt happiness even before you did it. While you are doing the good things, you are feeling terrific. After you do it, you are very glad again. You get sweet fruits because of your investment, which is the good seed. Hence, you get happier and happier. You are also enjoying to be thinking about it, doing about it over and over again.
That’s why, only ‘good’ can be always improving. More importantly, the best product, which the ‘good’ produces, is – giving ‘peace’ in mind and heart of the good doer.
Since you have ‘peace,’ you get the stable mind. After you have the stable mind, you can straightforwardly focus on anything you want or you need. Moreover, since you have peace, stable mind and focusing power, you also get more opportunities to wisely distinguish between ‘good’ and ‘evil.’

Then, it makes you ‘real human being!’


Picture: http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2005/060405/Erythronium%20oregonum.jpg

Why we cannot see the long past lives?

I am currently reading one of the Buddha’s teaching books, which is about the Q&As between the Buddha and a king in their past lives before the Buddha became the Buddha.
One of the questions was about ‘why we cannot see the long past lives?’ which is I am going to share it with you as below.

King: If we all have the past lives, why we cannot know about those past lives?
The Buddha: Life is just like the circle. For example, from the seed, we get the tree. From the tree, we get the branches, the buds, the flowers, the fruits and the seeds. Where is the beginning? Can you tell the beginning of a tree or a seed? Life circle is the same.
King: Well, I am not clear yet. Can you give me clearer example, please?
The Buddha: Alright. Where did the hen come from?
King: From the egg.
The Buddha: Where did the egg come from?
King: From the hen.
The Buddha: Where is the beginning and where is the ending of this circle? Our life circle is the same: we are going and going again with no beginning and no ending. Many things are happening in the same ways over and over again in this circle. A line was erased by another line by another line by another line. That’s why we cannot see the past lives. Our lifelines were erased by the other our lifelines.

What do you think?


Picture: http://www.springboardmagazine.com/SpringImages/lifecycle_apple.gif

The Key to Happiness

Your ability to achieve your own happiness is the key measure of your success, of how well you are doing as a person.You learn the key to happiness that has been the same through all of history. You learn how to dispel the two myths that may be holding you back and how to achieve more happiness in everything you do.

Dedicate Yourself to Your Best Talents

The key to happiness is this: dedicate yourself to the development of your natural talents and abilities by doing what you love to do, and doing it better and better in the service of a cause that is greater than yourself.

This is a big statement and a big commitment. Being happy requires that you define your life in your own terms and then throw your whole heart into living your life to the fullest. In a way, happiness requires that you be perfectly selfish in order to develop yourself to a point where you can be unselfish for the rest of your life.

Imagine if you could become a millionaire today!

Your life would be easier and more fun. You could be taking more vacations, and spending the kind of time with your family that you really want.If you're like me you want financial success, and you want to know the secrets of how all these millionaires made their money.

Please Yourself First

In Edmond Rostand's play Cyrano de Bergerac, Cyrano is asked why he is so intensely individualistic and unconcerned with the opinions and judgments of others. He replies with these wonderful words: "I am what I am because early in life I decided that I would please at least myself in all things."

Your happiness likewise depends upon your ability to please at least yourself in all things. You can be happy only when you are living your life in the very best way possible. No one can define happiness for you. Only you know what makes you happy. Happiness is an inside job.

Your Happiness is Up to You

The biggest myth about happiness is when people say that it is not legitimate or correct for you to put your happiness ahead of everyone else's. Throughout my life, I've met people who have said that it is more important to make other people happy than it is to make yourself happy. This is nonsense.

The fact is that you can't give away to anyone else what you don't have for yourself. Just as you can't give money to the poor if you don't have any, you can't make someone else happy if you yourself are miserable.

The very best way to assure the happiness of others is to be happy yourself and then to share your happiness with them. Suffering and self-sacrifice merely depress and discourage other people. If you want to make others happy, start by living the kind of life and doing the kind of things that make you happy.

Action Exercises

Here are three steps you can take immediately to put these ideas into action.

First, define for yourself the activities that you really love and enjoy, at home and work, and then organize your life so you do more of them.

Second, believe in yourself and trust your own feelings. Then, please at least yourself in all things.

Third, determine what it is that you do that brings the most happiness to others and then organize your life so that you can do more of it.

Source: From Brian Tracy’s Newsletter and for more information, please visit here:
http://www.briantracy.com/

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Of Love and Rules

About twenty years ago, I have read an article, which was about a 50 years old single man, in a magazine.
According to the article, that man had a master-degree. He was a handsome man and manager of a business company. Many girls have approached him as well.
So why was he being a single man till his 50? Did not he want to get marriage?
A pressman was curious about the manager with the above questions. He found very interesting answers from the single man. The story was as below.
He had the rules about his love or spouse. He said that since he was in the college, he had exact and detail list of qualifies that his lover must have.
His girlfriend must have -
- Height – at least 5 ft and 2 inches
- Education – at least, finished high school
- Neatness and cleanness
- Love to have children
- Love to saving money / income
- No smoke
- No drink, and so on.

Then, the pressperson asked him if he has found the dreamed partner or not. He said that he did found few girls who had exact qualities those he needed. So how was going on? Did not he approach those girls? He did approach them, too. So, what? Unfortunately and coincidently, those girls also had their own rules about the guy who will be their boyfriends, and their rules did not fit with him. He was rejected.

What a pity! I have a couple of questions here on this story. Do you think we should have that much exact principles and needs for our lovers? Do you think the manager’s love will be true love from heart or facts from his head? I guess - probably, through his work experience that to interview the new applicants for company; he set those principles up for his lover, too.

Any way, how about you, my reader? Are you a single?
Do you also have your own fixed rules for your partner?
Did you find someone who fit with your needs? Good Luck!


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