When all of life hangs in the balance we’re suddenly brought before a truth that we hardly ever contemplate. It all comes down to this, the culmination of it all.

Whether it’s the birth of our babies, the moment we heard tragic news or starting the race of our lives with only the finish line in sight and mind, life for that exact instant has changed and we withdraw into ourselves, primed only to perform.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Bracing the gate,

Turning the stile,

Not a moment late,

Forward the dial.

Focused attention never to abate,

Sight right now saved for the drive,

Ending we’ll know our breath-held fate,

The moment attends and will not deprive.

Fears deceasing capacities enabled,

Reserves found just in time,

Our state’s hardly dishevelled,

Performing we do right down the line.

Beyond the border,

Fires the round,

Time slows to order,

And adrenalin’s found.

Speeding down that runway,

Ears pinned back,

This is our one day,

Our destined track.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It might be a racing metaphor we contemplate here but it has as much relevance to our everyday lives as any image. We’re all in a race called ‘life’ and though it’s not traversed at break-neck speed like a one-hundred metre sprint there are so many parallels to performance it beckons our attention.

The Moment of Decisiveness

Performance in the ‘race of life’ is probably best illustrated in the moment of our decisions; braced are we for whatever the consequences of our decisions are likely to involve.

Our decisions alone will have their part in shaping our immediate and even our longer term destinies. And even if these decisions are simply to accede to the moments themselves as we roll with those punches.

Performance upon decisiveness is as much about reaping the wisdom that the moment requires as anything; most times this is about the inaction of faith as anything, a faith that remains prudent in discretion – the nobility of reservation.

2010 S. J. Wickham.

The article was inspired by Whitney Houston’s One Moment In Time song, one that she sang at the Grammy Awards years ago.

School days should be a happy time in a young person’s life. What can make people’s lives a misery during this time, then? In my opinion, there is one word which answers this question – bullying.

Unfortunately, bullying is quite common in schools where I live. It can affect students of any age, and both boys and girls. A friend of mine had a very negative experience at school last year as an older boy continually called him names and sometimes used to post nasty messages about him on Facebook. Obviously, my friend felt very upset about this and it affected his self-confidence. Some days, he didn’t want to come to school at all.

What can people do to stop this problem? Personally, I think teachers need to be aware that bullying may be happening in their classes and be very strict when they have a case of bullying. Another thing teacher could do is prepare lessons to talk about the problem with their pupils, which might make bullies realize how badly they hurt their victims. As for students, if they find out a classmate is being bullied, they should support them as much as possible and let a teacher know.

There are many students who call other students names, or others that try to put somebody in conflict. They find it like a game, but they don’t know how that have effected in the psychology or self-confidence. I think that teachers should be very strict with this problem and should try to solve the problem and inform the parents of both bullied and bully’s students. However, even we should do something to make the bullied to feel better. We can stay with them and help them to pass these difficult situations. If we all were against the bullying, then I think the bullies wouldn’t repeat this behavior. Bullying is a nightmare, as is written in the end of the magazine, so we should get up immediately. (in a figurative way)

Online bullying has a lot in common with bullying in school. Both behaviors include harassment, humiliation, teasing and aggression. Bullying presents unique challenges in the sense that the perpetrator can attempt to be anonymous, and attacks can happen at any time of day or night.

Bullying can be a nightmare but there are things we can do to prevent it. Hopefully, one day all students will be able to go to school without fear of being bullied.

Located in Gujarat India, Sayaji is a beautiful garden in Vadodara dedicated in 1879 to the local community by Maharaja Sayaji Rao Gaekwad III.

Also known as Kamati Bau, Sayaji Garden occupies a total land area of 113 acres and lies by the pleasant river Vishwamitri. It has earned a reputation as being the biggest garden in Western India. This attractive garden boasts an extensive range of flora of over 98 species of trees.

Sayaji Garden is not merely a garden to wander about; it is a place where one can enhance knowledge and enjoy at the same time. The garden features a zoo, museum, gallery, a museum for health and hygiene, a toy train for children, a floral clock, and various types of fun rides, artificial ponds, a planetarium, a bird’s avenue, a bridge and numerous stone structures.

Inspired by the Victoria and Albert Science Museum of London,   Baroda Museum and Picture Gallery at Sayaji Garden was built in 1894. This well known museum preserves a large collection of important sculpture, art, ethnography and ethnology. The museum’s highlights include work created by the renowned British painters Turner and constable, the Egyptian mummy and the remarkable skeleton of a blue whale. The air conditioned planetarium positioned near the main entrance of Sayaji Garden can accommodate a total number of 200 people. Apart from Thursdays, this unique planetarium offers 3 shows in the evenings throughout the week.

The toy train at Sayaji Garden has become a favourite amongst its younger visitors. Running on a relatively small track, the train ride covers a distance of 3.5 kilometres. The distinctive Floral Clock, Zoo and Aquarium are also some of the most loved attractions at Sayaji Garden. This charming garden and its amazing attractions can be explored at ease by staying at any of the nearby Hotels in Vadodara. Ideal for business meetings or even private events the well situated The Gateway Hotel Akota Gardens Vadodara is a perfect choice for those who wish to further explore the delightful Sayaji Garden.

Death is a natural part of life. Every living thing in the world dies at some point. However, for humans, it’s something very painful. In fact, it’s so depressing that there are still so many who consider it a taboo. 

You may be going through some tough time right now. A relative or a friend may be suffering from a terminal illness, and any moment from now, he or she is going to die. As a loved one, you should prepare yourself for the inevitable. 

Though there’s no definite way to deal with the possible loss, there are some things you can do to soften the blow: 

1. Don’t treat them any different. A lot of people tend to change their ways around a dying individual. Perhaps it’s because they want to show their great love and devotion. However, it’s actually recommended that you don’t treat the dying any differently, but that doesn’t mean you should not make them feel as comfortable and as happy as possible. The one thing they are looking for in the last chapter of their lives is companionship and care, not really a lot of special attention and sacrifice at your end. 

2. Give them time to be alone. Many of the dying patients want to give themselves time to be alone with their thoughts. Maybe they are also trying their best to come to terms with their own deaths. As much as you want to be with them all the time, it’s only right that you respect their wishes. That’s how you can make them very comfortable. Moreover, when you can see their fine with the idea of death, it becomes much easier for you to accept the impending process. 

3. Be with someone. Usually, you want to act strong and firm when you’re with the dying. That’s actually good. The dying will certainly want to see that you can definitely cope with the possible loss. Nevertheless, never keep everything to yourself. If you feel like you’re ready to burst, go run and talk to someone. It can be a friend or a family member. Pour your hearts out. By doing this, you begin the grieving process, and it will be a lot faster for you to accept the loss. Moreover, you can gain renewed strength from others. 

4. Make use of affirmations. Affirmations or subliminal messages can be utilized to help deal with a lot of personal issues, including loss and grief. Subliminal messages, when used wisely, can help change certain perspectives, especially if they are negative ones. Every morning you may recite the following lines:

I accept the process of death.

I acknowledge my own grief.

I treasure the memories.

I value my life, and it compels me to move forward.

At first the words may sound hollow to you, but as they penetrate into your subconscious, slowly you will learn to accept them as truths. When you’re depressed or lonely, you can tap on your subconscious and be reminded by these subliminal messages.

Everyday life makes it challenging to appreciate the preciousness of everyday moments. However, every now and then, the beauty and specialness of the moment hit us. And we momentarily realize that these moments, like our small children crawling into our beds in the middle of the night, aren’t going to last forever. Eventually, these special moments with our young children will be lost to the past. And then we can only hope that we did a good enough job where these special moments can be revived again in our grandchildren.

You see, the present really is a precious present. We need to be aware of that gift and create as many memories as possible. We need to practice self-awareness and meta-cognition. We need to work on our social-emotional intelligence so we can more thoroughly recognize these fleeting moments so we can enjoy them like we’re supposed to.

Every day we’re watching life unfold as we watch our kids grow more and more as our hair greys more too. Amidst this growth, wisdom usually accompanies our greyness. Hopefully, we become more aware of these special everyday moments that are right there in front of us but are hard to see. You see, unfortunately, these special fleeting moments are tough to recognize sometimes because they are wrapped up in the everyday paper of life. But, regardless, hidden or not, they are still there.

But, remember, these special parenting moments are fleeting and getting ready to pass us right by never allowing us to catch up with them again. So, I say, let’s notice them again; let’s see them right now. And let’s enjoy them once again; let’s enjoy them right now while we still can. Unfortunately, it can become too late way too soon.

Now, as my Granddaddy always said, “Go learn, lead and lay the way to a better world for all of us. Grab onto and hold the passing moments of parenting tightly. They will prove to be great experiences and beautiful memories. And once again parents, thanks in advance for all that you do, and all that you will do…

For the adventurous traveller Hyderabad is a city that will provide much entertainment. Showered in restaurants, museums, clubs, pubs and theatres, it’s a relaxed and laidback place to be in for a night out on the town.

Having a generous smattering of art galleries, resorts, theme parks, amusement parks, sports clubs, wildlife sanctuaries, puppet shows, theatres that show both Hollywood and Bollywood cinema and cultural centres help attract tourists to this city. It seems like fun and frolic have been part of the lifestyle in Hyderabad since the days of old. Jagdish and Kamala Mittal Museum and Salar Jung Museum are among the places to go to get a scope of the history of this sprawling city. Whereas if you are in a mood for some popcorn entertainment Public Gardens, Bansilal Pitti Auditorium, Gandhi Gyan Mandir, Galaxy, Amba and Hitech are a very few of the long list of auditoriums and cinemas that provide daily entertainment with discerning taste.

There are over 7 libraries to choose from for the bookworm and if staying indoors is really not your style the amount of pubs and discotheques that are there will make your head spin. Some of the best to go to are 10 Downing Street, Escape, Ebony Lounge, Marco Polo, Atrium Bar and Liquids Et Cetera. For the outdoor adventurer, there are a number of sports that can keep you entertained – parasailing being one of them. Angling is also a popular sport pursued by the people of Hyderabad.

When looking for hotels in Hyderabad it can be seen that there are a variety to choose from. For the discerning traveller it’s always a wise choice to stay at a luxury hotel Hyderabad. Redefining the concept of luxury and seamlessly blending traditional concepts with unique styles is the Ista Hyderabad. A truly modern and buoyant hotel in Hyderabad, this is one place to stay that will leave you with a sense of comfort, relaxation and pampering.

The ego can be very clever and can manipulate in more ways than you could ever imagine possible. And that in itself is the secret to living with the ego. What is presented by the ego is always imagined and never true reality. The stories contrived by the ego will always be focused on past or future moments, but never the present moment. The ego knows that if you are living your life based upon the present moment it will lose control over you.

Ego will come and go in your daily thinking, however, the sooner you convert your Four Body System to alignment with the Universe, whereas the Spiritual Body is in the forefront of your daily life, the sooner you will be able to identify the times the ego is manipulating you. The key is to merge the ego into your true higher-self by staying in constant communication with your higher-self guidance system.

When the ego interrupts your higher-self being in daily life, simply smile and acknowledge what is happening. Allow the ego to have its fun and then get back to true reality in the present moment. Until you have fully merged the ego into a higher state of energy vibration it will always crop up to disrupt your right thinking and attempt to manipulate your choices in life to the advantage of lower-self, or role placement thinking. You are much better than that and can easily dismiss the constant interruptions of the egos need to be in control of your life-situations.

Whenever discussions surface based upon fear generated dogma, allow your feelings to guide you back to the true essence of your higher-self perspective of the situation at hand. You will know when you are thinking correctly and when you are wrong thinking. The feels you sense are the triggers to knowing if you are in harmony with the Universe. If you find yourself feeling anything other than happy, joyful and at peace, it is a surely a sign that you are out of harmony with your Original Source Agreement.

Always remember, you are here for the purpose of advancing the energy vibration of the world as we know it. Your gifts are the tools you brought with you to assist humanity in the next step of evolution. When you are living from this higher state of awareness you will always do what is best for everyone, instead of being focused on what is best only for your personality. If the personality is standing in the way of doing what you know in your heart to be correct, there may be ego dominated consequences to pay for your actions. Let this be whatever it is…it matters not whether or not you get what you “think” you want. What really matters is what is best for the collective Oneness.

You are not the ego or the role being played in life-situations; your are the Universal embodiment of the greater whole as seen through the eyes of a Spiritual Being having a human experience. Your greatness will always shine through when you are in alignment with this higher level of energy vibration. Have faith that you will endure any ego based situations that have been placed in front of you on your journey. There will always be times that the ego will attempt to sabotage that greatness. However, if you allow the higher-self to guide you, it will always overpower the limited thoughts the ego contrives to control you life-situation.

The ego will always dissolve when you are focused on the present moment; and, only you can decide, based upon your free will choices, to live as captive to the ego or in harmony with all that is limitless. There are always ways to put ego in its proper place and you will discover them as you progress in your self-discover-process.

It was my first time of having a chat with a woman of her caliber. She was such a nice but a liberated sort by all indications. It was my thirst for knowledge that exposed me to this woman known by everybody as the greatest linguist in one of Africa’s largest professional institutions, the NTA Television College Jos, Nigeria. I had the privilege of meeting with this fellow whom everyone knew to have studied many languages scientifically. Though a polyglot, yet this fellow had a special interest for the English Language.

In my closer interactions with her, she actually proved a multilingual, but I was fast enough to discover her real identity. Her names which betrayed her strange manner of speech and the gait with which she carries herself, speak louder than could be imagined. For no other reasons, this fellow is a true daughter of Igboland. Her first and last names are Igbo words that mean “God is Mindful of Me” and “The King Reigns”. When I heard the name, it was not difficult to unravel the puzzle this icon poses to her admirers. It was also not difficult for me to find the point of connection between what she does and what her name represents. God is truly mindful of this young lady who doubles as my Speech and Communication Director. I was not in the right mood that day of our meeting but I learned something that nearly erased my former understanding and belief about the womenfolk. I came to a fresh understanding that no matter how far men try, a woman’s role is very important. In fact, I learned something new about language, its peculiarity and why people speak it differently.

In one of her definitions about language, she sees it as a systematic and harmonious use of mutually understood arbitrary signs and symbols by a speech community for the expression of their thoughts, feelings and ideas. It is understandable from some of the key concepts of her definition that language is a human affair, which tells us that it is only human beings that use language as a means of communication. Though animals may have their ways of communicating or expressing their feelings like anger, hunger, desire for sex or joy, yet no animal has ever expressed itself verbally as human beings do. It is only in the Bible that we heard about a donkey that was divinely empowered to communicate to its owner (Numbers 22:22-35). Ever since, no other animal has been able to do that, no matter the level of man’s technological advancement towards that angle.

Another key concept in her definition is the use of the word “mutual”, which tells us that those who speak a particular language should be able to understand it whenever it is spoken, for the simple expression of their thought. She however uses a variety of techniques in her English and creative writing classes, but one that seemed to surface again and again is the power of a compelling story to capture attention and encourage learning.

Apart from being thrilled by her understanding of languages, her new method of instruction re-awakened my already relaxed mood. I quickly remembered that she was not alone in her new method of instructions. Jesus Christ, the greatest Teacher of all, in His own time used this method. The parables of Jesus endure because they showcase matters of the heart. Through the story of the Pharisee and the Tax collector (Luke 18), we learn about God’s grace and forgiveness. We also learned about God’s love for repentant sinners in the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15). From the inspired parables of Jesus, we learn so many things about Him and the life He wants us to live. Just as Jesus taught us, this linguist was able to capture attention and encourage learning.

However, as Christians, it is incumbent on us to use our faith-stories to point others to the ultimate Storyteller and Teacher, whose own life is the greatest story ever told. Remember that a good way of learning God’s truth begins by teaching it to others.

If you are looking to attain nonduality and oneness, you first have to come face to face with your experience of duality, your experience of conflict.

If you are lucky enough in meditation, you will come to the point where you cannot take it anymore. You will come right up against your resistance to this moment and will feel that you have to get up, you have to distract yourself from this moment. Meditation will become too uncomfortable.

If you don’t stand up and run to the kitchen to eat a cookie, you will scratch your nose. If you do not scratch your nose, you will wiggle around in your seat. If you do not wiggle in your seat, you will distract yourself with your thinking. You will judge the meditation as a failure; that you did not get the bliss that you got yesterday and you will run away from it.

It is the natural response, because it is not just that you are resistant to this moment, you are the resistance to this moment. You exist as the resistance to this moment.

And so the challenge is in meditation when you find yourself in resistance, can you find a way within yourself to surrender yourself completely to this moment. Can you find a way to give yourself up so that there is only this moment.

Because stress and conflict can only exist between two separate things. Stress can only exist in duality. There has to be you and this moment for stress to exist.

If you can find a way at a subtle level to surrender this “you” that is separate from this moment, this “you” that is in conflict with this moment, then all that will be left is the nonduality of this moment. All that will be left is awareness. There can be no stress in nonduality. There can be no conflict if there is only oneness here.

Then you learn to remain as this nondual formlessness. You learn how to be without having to contract into being you.

It is in this oneness that you learn real intimacy with this moment.

If you approach this moment with your spiritual beliefs and knowledge and all the judgments that come with that, if you approach this moment as a person trying to get something out of this moment, you will never reach this moment. You will never attain nonduality and oneness.

Like two oppositely charged magnets you will forever repel your own self realization.

But if you are willing to give it all up even just for this moment then you will discover true peace. If you are willing to let go of yourself and let yourself fall into nonduality then you can experience oneness and the freedom that comes with that.

Often teachings of nonduality and oneness come with the false notion that having an enlightened teacher is wrong. And this is a false understanding. If you can find an enlightened teacher who is already living in a state of oneness, then just by sitting with that teacher, their own state of oneness is transferred to you through Shakti/deeksha- the energy vibration that is felt as bliss that arises out of nonduality. This is by far the easiest way to experience oneness and attain self realization.

There has been an incredible breakthrough recently in sound technology where this Shakti has been recorded and turned into sound. So simply by listening to a unique meditation CD, Shakti/Deeksha is transmitted to you allowing you to experience your natural state of oneness. You can hear free samples of this by visiting Oneness Awakening CD link below.