by Allison Whitehead
Have you ever been out to dinner and noticed a couple having their meal and not talking to each other? If you have you may have thought that the couple had been arguing. But this is not necessarily true.
When we are first trying to get to know someone, it is not unusual to feel compelled to keep talking. Periods of silence are uncomfortable because we are not use to the other person's company.
When the relationship deepens we gain comfort in these periods of silence. We know enough about one another to enjoy being together without constantly having to rely on words to convey how we feel. Have you ever seen something that amused you, only to look at your partner and know instinctively that they have seen and felt the same thing?
The longer a couple has been together the more likely it is that they will experience periods of silence together. Not because they have run out of things to say to each other, but because they understand one another and they enjoy simply being in each other's company. Love deepens over time and true soul mates communicate in many ways - not just with words.
I can spend several hours working opposite my partner (we have our own business) and we might never say a word to each other. But we share a closeness that I can actually feel - even when we don't utter a word, or share even the briefest of touches.
The most powerful feelings and emotions don't always need words to express themselves. Silence can be the loudest and most obvious communication of all.
A few days ago, a friend of mine sent me an email that had pics of Katie Kirkpatrick. I was deeply moved by the photo captions and went on to google her name and discovered lots about this young lady.
It made me think about life - its brevity, in sharp contrast to how love is infinity...
Yes, I am a dreamer. I am one of those who believe that when a person falls in love, it is for always, forever and that somewhere on this planet is someone who is predestined to love each one of us forever and is able to bring out the best in each one of us and to guide, nurture and envelope us with so much love. Sometimes, one may not meet/marry the love of his/her life and to a certain extent, it can be a tragedy because life would be so different if married to THE ONE. Nonetheless, if married to anyone else, one may or may not be happy and satisfied or fulfilled even if they are, it would be in different ways and lesser degrees, nothing compared to how happy or fulfilled they would have been if married to their to their true love.
Yet, if we consider Hollywood and Bollywood romances/marriages and even those in the upper echeleons of society, some spend a whole lifetime looking for the one they love, getting tired/bored/sick of one love after another, largely because they have yet to find their true love and/or perhaps they do not understand the meaning of love and may not know how to love or even how to receive love. Then there are others who keep searching and searching one after another and have yet to find the right one because of deep fears/hurts/disappointments/bad experiences. Be patient. When it is the right one, you will know and the certainty may even hit you from the first look!!!
When one falls in love, really fall in love not with love but with the person, it will be for forever and one would not want to look at another unless it is lust. Love lasts. Lust does not.
Love transcends time, geographical barriers, race, culture and so much more.....and I am so glad that even though Katie Kirkpatrick had a short life, she knew who was the love of her life and both of them were with each other from that point until death put them asunder....Be inspired...be thankful...and love the love of your life...and if you have yet to find him/her, you will - somewhere, someday. sometime....Blessings to you, dear reader and have a nice day!
If you prefer to look at the Katie's pics that won the Best of Photojournalism Award 2006 for Enterprise Picture Story, please click HERE. Thanks.
His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.
The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved. "I want to repay you," said the nobleman. "You saved my son's life." "No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer replied, waving off the offer.
At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel. "Is that your son?" the nobleman asked. "Yes," the farmer replied proudly. "I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my own son will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of." And that he did.
Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time, he graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.
Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia. What saved his life this time? Penicillin. The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill.
His son's name? Sir Winston Churchill.
Someone once said:
"What goes around comes around."
Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching. Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.
The following set of slides feature the top images of various categories. Hope you will feast your eyes on the wondrous artistic photography and the subject of each slide.
Have a nice day!
by Gregory M Lousignont
Today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever! There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today; but I did! And because I did I'm going to celebrate!
Today, I'm going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I have had so far: the accomplishments, the many blessings, and, yes, even the hardships because they have served to make me stronger.
I will go through this day with my head held high, and a happy heart. I will marvel at God's seemingly simple gifts: the morning dew, the sun, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the birds. Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice.
Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people. I'll make someone smile. I'll go out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone I don't even know.
Today, I'll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down. I'll tell a child how special he is, and I'll tell someone I love just how deeply I care for her and how much she means to me.
Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don't have and start being grateful for all the wonderful things God has already given me.
I'll remember that to worry is just a waste of time because my faith in God and his Divine Plan ensures everything will be just fine.
And tonight, before I go to bed, I'll go outside and raise my eyes to the heavens. I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon, and I will praise God for these magnificent treasures.
As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow, I will thank the Almighty for the best day of my life. And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child, excited with expectation because know tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life, ever!
