It is raining butterflies

Dear Readers,
She was sunning herself on the balcony attached to my parent's bedroom. I caught her on my blackberry's camera (now I love my blackberry). Sometimes, when you see such beautiful things early in the morning, you know that the rest of your day will be as perfect as it can be.
Have a nice day.
Best,
Lubna

At the Bangalore airport

Dear Readers,

Mum has not fully recovered after her major and long illness. So, it was not surprising to note that the trip from Mumbai to Bangalore exhausted her completely. When we got off the flight, she was walking very slowly and I was helping her. Out of the blue a Bangalore airport employee (rather Jet airways ground employee) appeared on the scene and helped us with our luggage. He wheeled the trolley right up to where Kumar, our driver was waiting.

When Mum wanted to give him a tip, he refused, saying it was his job. This was a huge pleasant surprise for us. Wish I had asked him his name, or noted his name. But, I am so glad that there are still people like him who serve with a smile.

Here is a thank you to this person.

This photograph was taken at the Lalbaug flower show some years ago.
Best,
Lubna

We had a beautiful visitor

She came...
She sat with us in our drawing room...
She was curious about us...
She cheered us with her graceful beautiful presence. Then when we opened the doors leading to the balcony, she gracefully flew away to flit among the flowers where she rightfully belonged.
Sometimes, pictures say it better than a thousand words.

A single grain of rice

Dear Readers,

Can you spare some five minutes a day? All you have to do is log on this website, Free Rice and play.

According to the United Nations, a child dies every 6 seconds from hunger related causes. You can spare some five minutes a day and contribute 1,000 grains of rice or less or more. There are various subjects you can click on from Simple Multiplication to English Grammer. Or why not refresh your French?

The website Free Rice, explains: Though 10 grains of rice may seem like a small amount, it is important to remember that while you are playing, so are thousands of other people at the same time. It is everyone together that makes the difference. Thanks to you, FreeRice has generated enough rice to feed millions of people since it started in October 2007.

No, it is not a fraud, because while you play, non intrusive banners of ads are seen. The entire project is sponsored by these corporate advertisers.

So while you are having lunch glued to your chair and have internet access, or are sipping coffee/tea, or just want a break - do contribute. Every grain of rice helps.

Brian a friend on LinkedIn has put this up on two groups and its members are playing and doing some good, so can you.

Source of the photograph: Wikipedia

Best regards,
Lubna

Standing alone

Dear Readers,

I do not know who said this: "Stand up for what is right, even if you are standing alone" it seems to be an anonymous quote, but I love it.

I also happen to like this prose on "Attitude"

ATTITUDE
By: Charles Swindoll
The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes.

Have a nice Sunday. This photograph was also taken at Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, Bangalore. This little flower was growing on one of the paths leading to the lake.

Wishing you all a HAPPY DIWALI. Do spare a thought for the flood victims in our country and donate whatever you can. One of the means is by sending a cheque to the Times of India Foundation for Andhra Pradesh and to the Times of India Foundation for Karnataka.

Best,
Lubna

Reflections

Feedback, especially negative feedback can sometimes be difficult to stomach. Well, you do need to take a step back and think rationally. Is there an element of truth in it? Better still, why wait for the 360 degree feedback process. Take a few minutes each day, to reflect on your actions that day. What were you proud of? What did you do to make the day better for someone else? What is it, that pained you and caused pain to others? Reflecting will tell you a lot of truth about yourself. These few minutes will be a valuable investment, forever.

This photograph was taken at Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, Bangalore, India.

Three cups of tea: Promoting Peace, one school at a time

Dear Readers,

I am currently reading, Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.

Many of you may have already read this book. I have deliberately not blogged about it, in my book review blog, because this post is much more than a book review. It is an appeal to do whatever little you can towards making a better tomorrow.

For those who haven't read this book, it is an inspiring story of Greg Mortenson, mountaineer, he may not have conquered the K2 summit, but he has sure conquered a lot of hearts. Till date he has built more than 50 schools in the emote regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The first donation, was by way of pennies. Yes, you heard it right, pennies. An extract from the book: ... Mortenson got a letter from his mother. She explained that her students had spontaneously launched a "Pennies for Pakistan" drive. Filling two forty-gallon trash cans, they collected 62,345 pennies. When he deposited the cheque his mother sent for USD 623.45, Mortenson felt like his luck was finally changing. "Children had taken the first step towards buidling the school," Mortenson says. "And they did it with something that's basically worthless in our society - pennies. But overseas, pennies can move mountains."

Things began to fall in place, slowly but steadily, with Dr Jean Hoerni, pioneer in the field of semi-conductors chipping in with enormous funds and enthusiasm. Dr Hoerni left behind a legacy - schools that will help promote peace in this world. If you educate a girl, you do educate a community!

The going was not easy, for Mortenson, including a fatwa for bringing education to girl students, fortunately, higher scholars after vetting his intent, supported him and his initiatives. Rightly so, the book - Three Cups of Tea has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, 2009. Yes, every little penny also counts.

You can visit, the official website of Three Cups of Tea for reading much more about this initiative including articles (media coverage) and also to know how you can help. Whether by way of starting a Pennies for Peace campaign or making a donation to the Central Asia Institue, founded by Dr Hoerni to continue the good work.

Greg Mortenson's interview is here.

There is lots which you can do in your own community. Marianne, a blogger friend of mine, has worked in Afghanistan. She continues with her good work by creating awareness. Click here to learn what she recently did. Or look at what Robin has suggested. Incidentally Robin reached out when she heard of my story book collection drive and has promised to send across a few story books for the children of the Humane Touch Trust School.


Yes, making children aware of other cultures can go a long way in creating a better tomorrow.