Knowledge Storm

B. LIVING IN THE PRESENT MOMENT

12. Enjoy the Beautiful Day.
What is the weather like? Is it hot? Rainy? Windy? Enjoy getting where you are going. Are you walking, driving, riding a bus? Are people talking, music playing, birds singing? Take notice of the colors, smells, textures, buildings, sounds, people . . . everything around you. Take pleasure in the freedom you have to go from place to place. Stop and smell the roses. This day will not happen again. Experience it. Take pleasure in the moment. It’s great to be alive. (JE)

13. Enjoy Feeling Fine.
Remember when you had a toothache, the flu, or a migraine. Remember the relief you felt when you first started to feel better? Until we are sick, we rarely appreciate how good it feels to feel well. Be glad you are well.

14. Having a Rotten Day?
Things not going as planned? Try another approach, or do something else for a while. Have a good laugh over it. It’s the wacky days that make the best stories, not the smooth days. Often, something more valuable comes out of unplanned experiences. Maybe this is the day you will meet a special new friend, gain a new insight, or learn to relax and not have to be in control.

15. Lighten Up and Put Things in Perspective.
Having a mini-crisis? Is the world crashing down around you? Hey, relax. First of all, panicking never solved anything. Second, most things are not that bad in hindsight. You’re tougher than you think. You’ll get through this, and you’ll probably learn something valuable in the process. You’ll be okay!

16. Take Action to Make Your Dreams Happen.
What do you want to do that you haven’t made time for? Do you want to take a painting class, write a book, dye your hair, take a trip, run a marathon? What’s stopping you? Probably you. Too busy? Hey, with that attitude, you’ll never get around to it. So make time. Make yourself a priority for once. Make a list of things you’d like to try, and sign yourself up for something or call and make reservations. Just do it! Now get going. (And if you think it’s too late to start something new, Grandmas Moses was in her eighties when she started painting. But don’t you wait that long.) (JE)

LONDON: Next month’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan has been postponed, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Sunday. “The ICC board on Sunday agreed unanimously to postpone the ICC Champions Trophy…until October 2009,” the world governing body said in a statement. ( Watch )

“Pakistan will retain the right to host the tournament but it was agreed that if other members continued to express reservations over issues of safety and security then the ICC board would have the right to decide about the tournament’s location,” the statement added.

The decision followed a teleconference of the ICC’s executive board. South Africa pulled out of the eight-nation tournament scheduled from September 12-28 on Friday despite assurances from an ICC task force that acceptable security arrangements were in place.

England, Australia and New Zealand had also expressed their concerns about security after a series of suicide bombings.

On Thursday, 67 people were killed in a suicide bombing outside a defence industry complex 30 kms northwest of Islamabad.

ICC president David Morgan said in the statement: “There was complete support and sympathy for the Pakistan Cricket Board and the situation it finds itself in, which is not of its making. However, there was also a realisation that, under the current circumstances, some of the teams due to compete in the ICC Champions Trophy had reservations about touring there which could not be removed. In those circumstances it was considered prudent to postpone the event to October 2009, a time when we all hope conditions may be more acceptable for all the competing teams.”

Two things happen every four years.  One that I love and one that, by the end, is completely on my nerves.

I LOVE THE OLYMPICS.

Not in the “I only watch Track, Gymnastics, and Swimming” type of way, but in the “I’ll watch synchronized diving and love every minute” type of way.  I’m an Olympic freak.  I get excited at the idea of an opening ceremony, I cry at the closing ceremony, and I have built my own makeshift version of the Olympic torch.  I am also known to randomly bust out with a mean humming version of “The Olympic Song” and sing the national anthem with pride every time one of our guys wins a gold medal.  It is my own since of pride and patriotism at its finest.

I became a big fan of Michael Phelps.

I HATE THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

Let me clarify, I don’t love it the way I love the Olympics and I feel I should.  This is a special event and a special time in Pakistan.  I should live off its patriotic nature.  I should get excited at the idea of a National Convention, I should immediately cry upon thinking of casting my vote, and I should “bust out” into a mean humming version of National Anthem.  But, I don’t do any of these things.  It is one of the greatest events Pakistan has to offer and I could really care less.  It is almost too much for me to handle.  I take that back, it is to much for me to handle.   It’s like baseball season where 100+ games is to many.  I don’t want to see you struggle, change up your batting order, and work on “figuring out how to win in Septmeber.”  CALL ME WHEN YOU’RE WINNING IN September.

And no, I haven’t fallen madly in love with either of these guys yet.

1. Whose Life is This, Anyway?
It’s time to define your own reality and create the life that will make you happy. This is your life. Create your own standard to measure your success. Many of us have been brainwashed into believing society’s definition of success: lots of money, a high-powered job, a picture-perfect family, a big extravagant home and a beautiful body. This might work for some people, but all too often we are left feeling dissatisfied, restless and sad. We can’t all squeeze ourselves into the same mold, and we shouldn’t want to. Take some time to figure out what you really want out of life and then develop a strategy to achieve it. Now let’s begin with a few basic premises.

2. You Are a Unique Human Being. You Matter.
No one else is more important, worthy, or special than you. Just because someone is richer, more famous, or more attractive does not make them more valuable than you are. There is goodness and love in you. Do not treat your own physical, emotional, and spiritual health as an afterthought. Make your own well-being a priority. You deserve all the bounty this world has to offer. You are worth it.
3. Erase Negative Programming.
Do away with all the old, negative messages you were given about yourself. If someone has told you that you are worthless, undeserving, dense or unattractive, that is their problem. No one has a right to judge you or belittle you. We are all struggling to get by in this world, and no one else has all the answers. Honor your own truth. In your own heart, you know who you are . . . don’t let another take that power away from you. Love yourself.
4. Forgive Yourself . . . and Move On.
Okay . . . so maybe you did screw up on a few things, maybe even on most things. Some of us have to learn the hard way. There are really no failures or mistakes, just opportunities for growth. Usually something good does come out of our mistakes. So learn from them, don’t repeat them, forgive yourself, and move on.
5. Make Amends.
If you’ve hurt someone else in the process of learning your life lessons, make it right. Reach out to them, and tell them you are sorry. Or just start being nice. You are accountable for your behavior. Own up to it.

6. Nurture Yourself.
Be good to yourself. Be kind to yourself. Love yourself. If you are hurting or sad or lonely, honor that. Make time for yourself. Let yourself heal. Don’t expect so much of yourself. Life can be downright brutal. Let the love within you and others carry you through. In time, you will see how much you have learned. It is worth the journey.

7. Everything in Life Happens for a Reason.
Life is full of peaks and valleys. Even though they are more difficult, you learn more during the valleys or the challenging times. When you are in a valley, you might not see the value of it; but later, when you look back, you will realize that you have learned a great deal. Know that nothing you experience is an accident. Everything you experience and everyone you meet teaches you something or holds a lesson for you.

8. Know That When One Door Closes, Another Opens.
Change is good. This is how you grow. Eventually you will see that sometimes you have to lose something to gain something else. Even illness, death, and financial loss have a purpose. Did a tragedy bring you closer to your family and friends? Did the community reach out to you? Were you forced to switch gears? Faith is knowing that everything is okay and works out. You will grow stronger from all that you experience.
9. Trust Your Instincts.
All your life, you have been taught to invalidate your feelings. This is wrong. Your subconscious mind continually picks up and processes cues from your environment and from other people. This is valuable information that you should not disregard. Don’t let people talk you into doing something that doesn’t feel right to you. Trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right to you, then it probably isn’t. And you don’t have to justify how you feel. Just say, “No thank you,” or “I’d rather not,” or “I’m busy.” Everyone else does not know more than you.

10. Being Alive Is Enough.
Just ask people who almost lost their lives and they will tell you that most of the stuff we fret over isn’t that important. Being alive is a great gift. Don’t define yourself in such narrow terms as your work, your body, your house, your kids, or your relationships. Learn to see what is precious around you each day. Do not take your good fortune for granted. Be thankful and humble. You do not have to justify your life with a big list of accomplishments. Try to experience just being alive.

11. Love Your Body.
It houses your spirit; it gets you what you need. Appreciate what your body can do and stop focusing on what it can’t. No one else’s body would be better for you. (Being thinner or better looking is not more valuable.) If you are not the most stunning person in town, then perhaps this makes you more approachable to others. Even if you have a physical disability, there is a reason for this. It is not to cause you suffering, rather it is an opportunity for you to grow or to understand or appreciate something in life. Perhaps this will be the vehicle through which you meet a kindred spirit or discover some hidden talent within you. Be at peace and trust that your soul is beautiful and so are you. (GBZ)