10 Ideal Habits for a Better Lifestyle

The urban lifestyle that you lead comes at a cost.

And it takes much more than your spending power. Most people caught in the urban trend of life lack a lot of things in their daily life, like time, freedom, peace and, most importantly, happiness. When your demanding lifestyle starts taking a toll on your mental, physical or emotional state of being, you know it's time for a change.

We bring 10 small but ideal habits which can help you lead a better lifestyle.

1. Opt for juice over coffee

Whether its a persistent migraine or lack of sleep or even a bad day at work, the urban man actually depends on coffee. Not everyone knows that the dependence is actually a bane and poses health hazards. Substitute your daily cup of coffee with a glass of fresh juice. It will not only bring a marked improvement in your health but might also reverse the ill-effects of your lifestyle on your body.

2. Writing over typing

With most offices embracing the concept of going paperless and the convenience of typing, people have forgotten the essence of writing. Just like an artist needs his canvas to paint, the experience of writing can only be a fulfilling one with a pen and a paper. It will be a sort of re-discovery for you and will add a freshness to your daily, boring, routine.

3. Plant a tree every birthday

Though this is not something that will bring immediate changes to your lifestyle, it is definitely something that will bring you a sense of satisfaction in the long run. By planting a tree every once a year, you pledge your support to help the environment in a small way. You might also feel a lot happier than you did before with all the heavy-duty partying or boozing.

4. Ditch your car, once a week

You've heard about the benefits of car pooling, taking the public transport, etc. If you cannot bear to take the trouble everyday, do so just once a week. Forget about the environmental factors. When you pool your car, you get the opportunity to mingle with your colleagues. Using the public transport serves as an excuse to enjoy the journey as opposed to concentrating on reaching the destination when driving yourself to work. This way, you can appreciate the little things that usually go unnoticed in the light of your busy schedule.

5. Have some 'Me' time everyday

You probably have not realized it till now that in your daily run around your job, wife/girlfriend, friends, family and dogs, you lose out on the most important part of you i.e. yourself. When your priorities are everything else but yourself, it is a desperate cal for some 'me' time. Extract at least half an hour a day for some self-introspection. You will be amazed at how refreshed your mind feels and following this everyday will contribute to your mental and emotional well-being.

6. Sunday= Holiday from gadgets

I wouldn't want to start the whole debate about how man is becoming a slave to technology, etc. You surely know that you are, indeed, dependent on gadgets to get through your day. Though I agree that they are crucial in today's fast paced world, spending one day without them isn't exactly a mission impossible. Your Sundays should not only mean a holiday from work but from gadgets too.

7. Laugh more often

Whoever said laughter is the best medicine, most definitely said it right. Laughter is an antidote to pain, stress and heartache. Go back to the time when you were a little man in a world where you could laugh your heart out without any worries. Shed those burdens that come in the way of your happiness and give in to laughter whenever it comes calling.

8. Explore the magic of classical music

I'm sure you enjoy listening to music like most people but have probably not thought about using it as a tool to find some mental peace. Of all genres, classical music is said to have the most soothing effect on the human mind. It enhances relaxation and lowers the levels of stress hormones. Perhaps, you can already imagine the importance and benefits of music in your life.

9. Walk

Walking is, perhaps, the best exercise ever because it not only helps the body but also rejuvenates the mind. Walking is said to help you more than any doctor or his medicine can. While you can choose to walk on your treadmill, I would suggest you opt for an open space. An early morning walk improves your mood, reduces anxiety, improves blood circulation and makes you more sensitive to your surroundings

10. One good deed a day

Instead of only thinking about benefitting yourself, think for the benefit of others for a change. By one good deed a day, I do not expect you to go distributing food or clothes to the needy every single day. A good deed can be something as small as offering someone a lift, helping the elderly cross the road or taking an injured animal to the vet. Anything that makes you feel humane is a good deed and will tremendously help your growth as a real man. (Health, MensXP.com)

Save precious lives!

A worried woman went to her gynecologist and  said:
'Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your  help! My baby is not even 1 year old and I'm pregnant again. I don't want  kids so close together.  

So the doctor said: 'Ok and what do you want me to do?'
She said: 'I want you to end my pregnancy, and I'm  counting on your help with this.'
The doctor thought for a little,  and after some silence he said to the lady: 'I think I have a better  solution for your problem. It's less dangerous for you too.'
She  smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request.
Then he continued: 'You see, in order for you not to have to take  care 2 babies at the same time, let's kill the one in your arms.

This way,  you could rest some before the other one is born. If we're going to kill  one of them, it doesn't matter which one it is.

There would be no risk for  your body if you chose the one in your arms.

The lady was horrified and said: 'No doctor! How  terrible! It's a crime to kill a child!
'I agree', the doctor replied.  'But you seemed to be OK with it, so I thought maybe that was the best  solution.

The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point.
He convinced the mom that there is no difference in killing a  child that's already been born and one that's still in the womb.

The crime  is the same!

"Your Language is the Reflection of your intellect"

As King Haroun and Queen Zubayda were sitting in their palace one day, a

fisherman who was selling fresh fish was brought in front of them. King

Parveez decided to buy a fish and gave  the fisherman 4000 dirham for it.

The fisherman was overjoyed. He thanked King Haroun and left.

Queen Zubayda turned to her husband in anger and scolded him for paying so

much for a fish. King Haroun let her have her say but said that the fish was

purchased and that there was nothing that could be done about it.

However, the Queen was adamant and insisted that the fisherman be brought

back.

“We will ask the fisherman about the gender of the fish,” she said. “If he

answers that it is female, we will say that we wanted a male fish and if his

response is that it is male, we will say that we wanted a female fish! Either

way, we will be able to return the fish and have our money back.”

So the poor fisherman was called back and was asked the question.

Fortunately, he was clever enough not to be caught out.

He replied, “The fish is neither male or female. It is eunuch (neutral).”

King Haroun was so impressed by the ingenuity of the man that he ordered a

further 4000 dirham to be paid to him. The fisherman thanked the King again

but as he was about to leave with the heavy bag of money, one of the coins

fell onto the floor. The fisherman immediately bent down to look for the coin.

Queen Zubayda was already upset that the fisherman had been given 8000 dirham.

“Look how miserly this man is!” the Queen exclaimed. “One coin has fallen out

of his bag full of money and he searches for it instead of leaving it for some

other poor servant to find.”

The man heard this remark and said, “O Queen, it is not out of miserliness

that I search for the coin but rather because it had the picture of generous

King Haroun on it. I would not tolerate anyone to cause dishonour to the King

by treading on the coin.”

The King was so happy with this response that he immediately called for

another 4000 dirham to be given to the fisherman. When Queen Zubayda saw all

this, she thought it was better to hold her tongue and let the man go with the

12000 dirham before the King decided to increase the amount again.

(Lessons from Life)

Speech is an Art. If one knows what, when and how to talk  then such a person

will be successful in life.

“The beauty of man/Woman is in the clarity of his tongue”.

“Your tongue is the reflection of your intellect”.

In other words, a person’s intellect and wisdom is recognized through his

speech.

GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY, GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that that lit up her entire being. 

 

She said, "Hi, handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?" I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze. 

"Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked. 

She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then retire and travel." 

"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age. 

"I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me. 

After class we walked to the student union building and share a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me. 

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up. 

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know." 

As we laughed she cleared her throat and began: "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only few secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. "You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dean and don't even know it!" 

"There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change." 

"Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets." 

 

She concluded her speech by courageously singing The Rose. She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the years end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. 

 

One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. 

 

Remember : GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY, GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.

World's Largest Machines Ever Built

1. Liebherr T 282B: Largest Earth-hauling Truck in the World This monster machine Liebherr T 282B is a large earth-hauling dump truck designed in 2004 by a German manufacturer and became the largest earth-hauling truck in the world. The top level model is driven by a 10.5 ton, 90 liter diesel engine, producing 3650 horsepower (2700 kW). Features Weight: empty - 203 tons; maximum capacity - 365 tons; maximum operating weight - 592 tons Length: 14.5 m long Height: 7.4 m tall Wheelbase: 6.6 m Top Speed: 40 mph or 65 kph Costs: US$3.5 M 2. Bagger 288: World's Largest Digging Machine This machine is the largest digging machine in the world. The bucket-wheeler excavator named Bagger 288 (Excavator 288) is built by the German company Krupp. More specifically, it is a mobile strip mining machine. It is the largest tracked vehicle in the world at 13,500 tons. However, Bagger is powered from an external source and is more correctly described as a mining machine which can be moved, while the crawler-transporter was built as a self-powered, load-carrying vehicle. Features Height : 95 m tall Length: 215 m long Weight: 13,500 tons 3. Crawler-Transporter: 2nd Largest Tracked Vehicle in the World The Crawler-Transporter is a tracked vehicle used to transport the Saturn V rocket, the Saturn IB rocket during Skylab and Apollo Soyuz, and now the Space Shuttle. It was designed by Bucyrus International and built by the Marion Power Shovel Co. at a cost of US$ 14 million each. When they were built, they were the largest in the world. The German Bagger 288 excavator is now the largest tracked vehicle in the world. Features Height: 20 ft or 6.1 m to 26 ft or 7.9 m Length: 131 ft or 40 m Width: 114 ft or 35 m Weight: 2400 tons 2,700 short tons or 2,400,000 kg; 5,400,000 lb 4. TAKRAF RB293: Largest Terrestrial Vehicle in Human History Like the Bagger 288, the TAKRAF RB293 is a giant bucket-wheel excavator made by the German industrial company TAKRAF. It holds the record for the largest terrestrial vehicle in human history. It is used in Australia for removing over- burden from a brown coal mine in Victoria . It is also recognized as the largest and heaviest land vehicle. Features Height: over 94.5 meters or 310 feet tall Length: over 220 meters or 722 feet long, Weight : over 14,196 tons or 31.3 million lbs Operation: requires five people to operate. Others: The bucket-wheel itself is over 70 feet in diameter with 20 buckets, each of which can hold over 15 cubic meters of material.It can move 240,000 cubic meters or 8.475 million cubic feet of earth per day. 5. Overburden Conveyor Bridge F60: World's Largest Machine That Can Move This is the world's largest machine that can move. It was shut down after 13 months of operation due to energy and political reasons. The cutting height is 60 meters, hence the name F60. With a length of 502 meters, it is described as the "lying Eiffel Tower ". F60 is the series designation of five overburden conveyor bridges used in brown coal (lignite) opencast mining in Germany . They are the largest movable technical industrial machines in the world. Features Length: 502 m long Width: 240 m wide Height: 80 m tall Weight: 13,600 metric tons 6. Large Hadron Collider: World's Largest and Highest-energy Particle Accelerator This is the largest machine in the world with a length of 27 km the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). It is the largest and highest-energy particle accelerator in the world intended to collide opposing particle beams. It was built by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) for testing various predictions of high-energy physics. It lies beneath the Franco-Swiss border near Geneva , Switzerland . It is funded by and built in collaboration with over 10,000 scientist and engineers from over 100 countries as well as hundreds of universities and laboratories. Features Length: 27 km or 17 mi Circumference: 175 m or 570 ft Built & Funded : 10,000 scientists and engineers from 100 countries B. World's largest machine on land, ice and water... 7. BHC SR-N4 Mk-3: World's Largest Non-military Hovercraft This mammoth machine is the world's largest hover to date. BHC SR-N4, as shown above, is the world's largest non- military hovercraft, carrying 418 passengers and 60 cars. A hovercraft, or air-cushion vehicle (ACV), is a craft, designed to travel over any smooth surface supported by a cushion of slowly moving, high-pressure air, ejected downwards against the surface below, and contained within a "skirt." Hovercrafts are used throughout the world because they are unique among all forms of transportation in their ability to travel equally well over land, ice, and water. C. World's largest machine underneath the water... 8. Typhoon: World's Largest Submarine Class Ever Built This machine is the largest submarine class in the world ever built. It is a ballistic missile carrying, nuclear-powered submarine (SSBN). This large machine was deployed by the Soviet navy in the 1980s. With a maximum displacement of 26,000 tons, Typhoons are the largest class of submarine ever built. In its day it was one of the most feared weapons of mass destruction ever made. Technically, it is capable to successfully deploy long-range nuclear weapons. The cost of operations for the Typhoon submarines was so high that the Russian Navy retired all but one of them. D. World's largest machines on the water... 9. Emma Maersk: World's Longest Container Ship Ever Built This huge vessel is the longest container ship ever built in the world and as of 2008 - it is the longest ship in use. It is able to carry around 11,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) which is about 1,400 more containers than any other ship is capable of carrying. 10. Knock Nevi's: World's Largest Ship Ever Constructed This machine is the largest supertanker. It is also the largest machine that can move long distance . The Knock Nevis is a floating storage and offloading unit (FSO) owned by the Fred Olsen Production of Norway. It was previously a supertanker and as such held the record for the world's largest ship. The vessel is longer than the Petronas Twin Towers , one of the world's tallest buildings, at 452 meters or 1,480 ft. Features Length: 458.45 m or 1,504 ft long Width: 69 m wide Height: 30 m tall Weight: 564,763 tons E. And the world's largest machines in the air... 11. Airbus A380: World's Largest Passenger Jet This is the world's longest passenger aircraft that first flew in 1991- the Airbus A380, the largest passenger jet in the world. It entered commercial service in 2007. The aircraft was known as the Airbus A3XX during much of its development phase, but the nickname Superjumbo has since become associated with it. It provides seating for 525 people in standard three- class configuration or up to 853 people in all economy class configurations. 12. Antonov An 225: World's Largest and Heaviest Aircraft Ever Built This is the largest and heaviest aircraft in the world - the An225 Mriya. As shown on the picture above, space shuttle Buran is being carried by the An-225. It first flew in 1988. It is a strategic airlift transport aircraft and is the largest airplane ever built. Currently there is only one aircraft operating but a second mothballed airframe is being reconditioned and is scheduled for completion around 2010. Features Payload: 250,000 kg (550,000 lb) Door dimensions: 440 x 640 cm (14.4 x 21.0 ft) Length: 84 m (275.6 ft) Wingspan: 88.40 m (290 ft 2 in) Height: 18.1 m (59.3 ft) Wing area: 905.0 m² (9,743.7 ft²) Cargo Volume: 1300 m³ (45913.8 ft³) Empty weight: 175,000 kg (385,800 lb) Max takeoff weight: 600,000 kg (1,323,000 lb) Takeoff run: 3,500 m (11,500 ft) with maximum payload

Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC 75 BC)

• "A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and Honest people are screwed first."

• "Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous."

• "The biggest guru-mantra is: Never share your secrets with anybody. ! It will destroy you."

• "There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no Friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth."

• "Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions - Why am I doing it, What the results might be and Will I be successful. Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead."

• "As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it."

• "Once you start a working on something, don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest."

• "The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction."

• "A man is great by deeds, not by birth."

• "Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold them. By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend. Your grown up children are your best friends."

• "Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person."

• "Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth."

One Bedroom Flat - A Bitter Reality

ONE BEDROOM FLAT...

WRITTEN BY AN INDIAN SOFTWARE ENGINEER..
A Bitter Reality

As the dream of most parents I had acquired a degree in
Software Engineering and joined a company based in USA, the
land of braves and opportunity. When I arrived in the USA , it
was as if a dream had come true.


Here at last I was in the place where I want to be. I decided I
would be staying in this country for about Five years in which
time I would have earned enough money to settle down in India .

My father was a government employee and after his retirement,
the only asset he could acquire was a decent one bedroom flat...


I wanted to do some thing more than him. I started feeling
homesick and lonely as the time passed. I used to call home and
speak to my parents every week using cheap international phone
cards. Two years passed, two years of Burgers at McDonald's and
pizzas and discos and 2 years watching the foreign exchange
rate getting happy whenever the Rupee value went down.

Finally I decided to get married.. Told my parents that I have
only 10 days of holidays and everything must be done within
these 10 days. I got my ticket booked in the cheapest flight...
Was jubilant and was actually enjoying hopping for gifts for
all my friends back home. If I miss anyone then there will be
talks. After reaching home I spent home one week going through
all the photographs of girls and as the time was getting
shorter I was forced to select one candidate.


In-laws told me, to my surprise, that I would have to get
married in 2-3 days, as I will not get anymore holidays. After
the marriage, it was time to return to USA , after giving some
money to my parents and telling the neighbors to look after
them, we returned to USA .


My wife enjoyed this country for about two months and then she
started feeling lonely. The frequency of calling India
increased to twice in a week sometimes 3 times a week. Our
savings started diminishing.

After two more years we started to
have kids. Two lovely kids, a boy and a girl, were gifted to us
by the almighty. Every time I spoke to my parents, they asked
me to come to Indiaso that they can see their grand-children.


Every year I decide to go to India … But part work part
monetary conditions prevented it. Years went by and visiting
Indiawas a distant dream. Then suddenly one day I got a
message that my parents were seriously sick. I tried but I
couldn't get any holidays and thus could not go to India ... The
next message I got was my parents had passed away and as there
was no one to do the last rights the society members had done
whatever they could. I was depressed. My parents had passed
away without seeing their grand children.


After couple more years passed away, much to my children's
dislike and my wife's joy we returned to Indiato settle down.
I started to look for a suitable property, but to my dismay my
savings were short and the property prices had gone up during
all these years. I had to return to the USA ...


My wife refused to come back with me and my children refused to
stay in India .... My 2 children and I returned to USAafter
promising my wife I would be back for good after two years.

Time passed by, my daughter decided to get married to an
American and my son was happy living in USA ... I decided that
had enough and wound-up every thing and returned to India ... I
had just enough money to buy a decent 02 bedroom flat in a
well-developed locality.


Now I am 60 years old and the only time I go out of the flat is
for the routine visit to the nearby temple. My faithful wife
has also left me and gone to the holy abode.

Sometimes

I wondered was it worth all this?

My father, even after staying in India ,

Had a house to his name and I too have
the same nothing more.

I lost my parents and children for just ONE EXTRA BEDROOM.

Looking out from the window I see a lot of children dancing...
This damned cable TV has spoiled our new generation and these
children are losing their values and culture because of it. I
get occasional cards from my children asking I am alright. Well
at least they remember me.


Now perhaps after I die it will be the neighbors again who will
be performing my last rights, God Bless them.

But the question
still
remains 'was all this worth it?'

I am still searching for an answer....................!!!

START THINKING

IS IT JUST FOR ONE EXTRA BEDROOM???

LIFE IS BEYOND THIS …..DON'T JUST LEAVE YOUR LIFE ……..
START LIVING IT …….
LIVE ITAS YOU WANT IT TO BE …….