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Thursday 16 January 2014

Motivational Quotes










We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate.  The world is all gates, all opportunities.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible.
Arthur C. Clarke

Well begun is half done.
Greek Proverb

Believe with all of your heart that you will do what you were made to do.
Orison Swett Marden

The more difficulties one has to encounter, within and without, the more significant and the higher in inspiration his life will be.
Horace Bushnell

Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great.
Orison Swett Marden

We become happier, much happier, when we realize life is an opportunity rather than an obligation.
— Mary Augustine 

When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.
Helen Keller

Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.
Jim Rohn

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
Eleanor Roosevelt

Live as if you were to die tomorrow.  Learn as if you were to live forever.
Mahatma Gandhi

Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.
Martin Luther King Jr.

I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.
Albert Einstein


Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.
Neil Gaiman, Coraline

Life is like a mirror. Smile at it and it smiles back at you.
— Peace Pilgrim

Your time is limited, don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma, which is living the result of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinion drowned your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition, they somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
— Steve Jobs

Always do what you are afraid to do.
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

There is more to life than increasing its speed.
— Mahatma Gandhi

You have a very powerful mind that can make anything happen as long as you keep yourself centered.
— Dr. Wayne W. Dyer


Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.
— Mahatma Gandhi

People do not lack strength; they lack will.
— Victor Hugo

The world suffers a lot; not because the violence of bad people, but because of the silence of the good people.
— Napoleon Bonaparte

Until you value yourself, you won't value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it. ”
M. Scott Peck


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Tuesday 20 November 2012

Doing the Right Thing

Do you have a friend you would risk taking a bullet for?

Harry and Bill were childhood buddies who went through school and college and even joined the army together.  War broke out and they were fighting in the same unit.  One night they were ambushed.  Bullets were flying all over and out of the darkness came a voice, “Harry, please help me.”  Harry immediately recognized the voice of his childhood buddy, Bill.  He asked the captain if he could go.  The captain said, “No, I can’t let you go, I am already short-handed and I cannot afford to lose one more person.  Besides, the way Bill sounds, he is not going to make it.”

Harry kept quiet.  Again the voice came, “Harry, please help me.”  Harry sat quietly because the captain had refused earlier.  Again and again the voice came.  Harry couldn’t contain himself any longer and told the captain, “Captain, this is my childhood buddy. I have to go and help.”

The captain reluctantly let him go.  Harry crawled through the darkness and dragged Bill back into the trench.  They found that Bill was dead.  Now the captain got angry and shouted at Harry, “Didn’t I tell you he was not going to make it? He is dead, you could have been killed and I could have lost a hand. That was a mistake.”  Harry replied, “Captain, I did the right thing. When I reached Bill he was still alive and his last words were ‘Harry, I knew you would come.’”
Everyone hears what you say. Friends listen to what you say.  Best friends listen to what you don't say. – Anonymous

Did you know: “Someday, someone will walk into your life and make you realize why it never worked out with anyone else.” – Anonymous

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Monday 5 November 2012

Reading Techniques

In today's world, we have easy access to information on almost all subjects through internet, books, journals, newspapers, and so on and we all are required to read a lot of stuff on a daily basis.  While there is easy accessibility to information, most people are finding it difficult to read because they do not have time.  They read half of the information or do not read at all.  Many books lie on the shelves waiting their turn to be read.  In order to overcome this problem, many reading techniques have been developed and followed by many, which they claim to be helpful.

Some techniques are given below for readers like you through which, I am sure, you will be able to increase your reading speed and save a lot of time.


To begin with, when you first get your class books, read them like a storybook, from beginning to end.  Do not stop in between the paragraphs or chapters if you do not understand something, and do not try to remember anything, just keep reading and finish in a few days' time, preferably in three to five days' time depending upon the size of the books.  This will help you to get an overall idea about what the chapters are all about, and believe me, most of the things will get stored in your subconscious mind without even you realizing it.  Finish all your books reading like a storybook.


After you are done with reading the whole book, come to the first page of the first chapter or other chapter per your choice and read it at your normal pace.  As you read on, tick the important facts with a pencil, like dates, names, phrases, anything that you feel are important.  In short, underline the "keywords" that make up the body of the paragraph.  Always use a pencil to do that so that you can erase it later if you like.  After obtaining the keywords on the first page, go to the next page and do the same and close the book.  After a few hours, open the page you read but do not look at it.  Just try to recollect the keywords that you had marked.  I am sure you will be able to recall quite a bit of information, if not all.  See the paragraph below and assume the underlined words you have marked as your keywords.

Napoleon Bonaparte was born on August 15, 1769 in Ajaccio on the Mediterranean island of Corsica, the son of Carlo and Letizia Bonaparte.  Napoleon Bonaparte was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815. He trained as an artillery officer in mainland France. He rose to prominence under the French First Republic and led successful campaigns against the First and Second Coalitions arrayed against France. He led a successful invasion of the Italian peninsula.  The Peninsular War and 1812 French invasion of Russia marked turning points in Napoleon's fortunes. His Grande Armée was badly damaged in the campaign and never fully recovered. In 1813, the Sixth Coalition defeated his forces at Leipzig; the following year the Coalition invaded France, forced Napoleon to abdicate and exiled him to the island of Elba. Less than a year later, he escaped Elba and returned to power, but was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815. Napoleon spent the last six years of his life in confinement by the British on the island of Saint Helena and he died on May 5, 1821.

In the above paragraph, important facts have been marked.  As you can see there are about 180 words in that paragraph and you cannot remember all and there is no need also as you are not going to write them all in your exam papers.  You can go through the marked portions or keywords whenever you want to in a very short period of time instead of going through the whole paragraph.  This will save you a lot of time as you are not reading the unnecessary things.  To make it further easier, follow the following point.

Shorten further the facts that you have marked by using them as abbreviations.  For example, you can abbreviate "Napoleon Bonaparte was born on August 15, 1769" to NB B Au 15, 1769.  Here, NB means Napoleon Bonaparte, B means born, and Au means August.  You can write down these abbreviations in your notebook or on the empty space of the book on the left hand side and read them occasionally, writing them in full sentences in your exam papers.

Try speed reading techniques.  When you first started going to school, you were taught to read letter-by-letter.  Gradually, as you grew older, you learned to read word-by-word and probably you are still continuing the same style of reading.  Avoid word-by-word reading as it takes a lot of time and has many disadvantages, instead incorporate speed reading techniques into your study plan to step up your reading speed.  Below are two techniques you can follow for speed reading:

1.         Use your middle finger as a pointer while reading.  Make sure the word that you are reading is directly above your middle finger.  Read at your normal pace.  Do not read out loud or read them in your mind.  Just see the words as a picture.  First day read only two pages applying this method, next day 3-4 pages and then increase your speed and read more pages.  At first, it may be difficult for you to follow what you are reading, but gradually with practice, you will have better finger-eye coordination and your reading speed will definitely improve and you will have good comprehension too.  Remember, this is the most efficient method of speed reading and everyone can follow this technique while reading class books, newspapers, novels, storybooks, web pages, and so on.

2.         Use eye-span method to read faster.  In this method, 3-4 words are seen or read together with one eye span.  Look at the first 3 or 4 words of a sentence with one eye span, then 3 or 4 words with next eye span.  See the example below,

"We are delighted to seal a deal with James and see him as an important part of our club."

First eye span              We are delighted
Second eye span         to seal a deal with James
Third eye span             and see him as
Fourth eye span           important part of our club

To follow this method, instead of your middle finger as a pointer, now you will be using your four fingers together, excluding the thumb, as a pointer.  Place your four fingers together below the first set for 3 to 4 words and move your fingers together as you read the next set of words and continue doing so and finish at least 1-2 pages on the first day, gradually increasing over the next few days.  This method will prove beneficial if you practice regularly.

Apart from the above, always keep in mind the following points:
  • If you are a student, read the chapters beforehand marking the important facts with a pencil that your teacher is going to teach on that day.  Listen carefully to what your teacher is explaining.  As you already have a general idea what the chapter is all about, it will be easier for you to follow and remember things. 
  • Read through the paragraphs as quickly as possible to get the general sense.
  • Read a page or an answer to a question thoroughly, get up from your chair, walk in your room for some time, and try to visualize what you have just read.  Do not try to remember anything word by word, just try to have a gist of what you have read.  This will not only help you to remember things but also to write the information in your own words and this in turn will help you develop your writing skills. 
  • After reading a page or a chapter, do not try to recollect what you have read immediately, instead try it after 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Repetition is essential to remember things as it helps the brain to store things for a long time.  Repetition means retention.  More you repeat more you will become conversant with the topic.
I myself have taught the above techniques to my students and the result is astonishing.  Many of the students have taken it seriously and have been able to score good marks.  The main benefit is that they are also able to write the subject matter in their own words and also remember a lot of information easily.

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Monday 29 October 2012

Joy of Reading

                                                Let books be your dining table,
                                                   And you shall be full of delights
                                                Let them be your mattress
                                                   And you shall sleep restful nights.
                                                                                   ~Author Unknown


Childhood memories are special for everyone and almost everybody delves into the world of their childhood once in a while and you know what - everybody has something to tell about what really they did in their childhood.  Some liked to play their favorite sports, some liked their friends, and some liked their grandparents.  But for me "reading books" is what I say when someone asks me about the most enjoyable thing that I did in my childhood and I suppose I inherited this habit from my father and elder brothers who were avid readers.  There were plenty of books of all sorts lying on the bookshelf.  When we were very young, my father used to read out story books and comics to us like fairy tales, Phantom, Tintin, Tarzan and we (my brothers and sister) all used to sit beside him and listened with great interest and enthusiasm and often we found ourselves entering into the world of imagination.  My father never said no when we approached him to buy books.  When I was about 7 or 8 and able to read and write independently, I started picking up books from the shelf to read and since then went through so many books that now it is impossible for me to recollect all.  Some of the books that I liked most and went over and over again over the years are A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol, Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen and so son.  I also got to read a lot of books that were shared by my friends and it was real fun and those sweet memories I still reminisce with nostalgia.

Reading books has many benefits and can prove beneficial for children both mentally and morally.  Reading is a fun and great way to reduce the stresses of life and just unwind.  With more reading comes better reading skills, thus allowing easier comprehension.

I also used to read a lot of travel books and got to know a lot about different geographic locations, places, religions, and people of different cultures around the world.  I urge today's parents to allow their children to read a lot of good books, the reason being it can teach them a lot.  Through reading, children can learn to read, think, and communicate appropriately and fluently and books can help a child to develop these skills.  Whether they know it or not, children are always hungry for knowledge.  Their capacity for learning is tremendous.  I think parents should recognize that it is important to arm children with knowledge.  The more they know, the better chance they stand of growing into successful and happy adults.  Those who read extensively can become good writers too, have a strong vocabulary, be able to express themselves and communicate effectively, and have good grammar and spelling skills.  Books can help children to continuously inspire and promote creativity.  In today's chaotic and confusing world with so many negative elements around them, children are often stressed and confused, though they are not able to fully express these feelings and I think some good books should be made available to them as a healthy choice for distraction, but do not force them to read, just keep the books in a place where they can see them easily and I am sure they will soon start picking up those books to read as I did in my childhood.

I feel very sad when I see today's children sitting in front of the TV and watching cartoons all day long.  Before 90s, when people saw a student with specks, they used to say, “This boy/girl must be intelligent.”  But now, people say “He/she must be watching TV all day long.”  Well, there is nothing wrong with watching TV for an hour or two; however, if it gets to the point where all they are doing is sitting on the couch all day, then there is a problem.  With the popularity of computers and video games in recent times, habit of reading has taken a backseat.  I am very thankful that the idiot box and video games were not there in my home when I was a child and books were my real friends (still they are) as they helped me as true friends by providing knowledge as well as sharpening my knowledge skills.

"A house without books is like a room without windows.  No man has a right to bring up his children without surrounding them with books, if he has the means to buy them."
  —  Horace Mann

"There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world. Love of books is the best of all."
— Jacqueline Kennedy

"There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island."

Monday 22 October 2012

Improve Your Memory

Everyone wants to have a good memory, but most people do not know how to achieve it.  A good memory will help improve your status in life.  It will come in handy both in your personal life and in your business dealings.  Do you know that most successful people are the ones who can easily remember things like names, phone numbers, events easily?  There are some practices through which anyone can gain the ability to memorize a tremendous amount of information.  Following are some steps which I have personally followed to improve my memory and believe me they have really worked.

Believe in Yourself


The first thing you should do is believe in yourself that you do have a good memory and that it will improve gradually.  Many people think that they do have a bad memory that they cannot remember names, they forget things easily, they compare themselves with those who have good memory and do academically well, etc., etc.  You need to eliminate those thoughts and vow to improve your memory.  At the beginning, it is hard to keep motivated but do not let yourself down and always believe in yourself as it is the foundation of self-confidence.


Always Keep Your Brain Active


But how to keep the brain active?  Well, you do not have to join a classroom for that.  Just try Sudoku puzzles, crossword puzzles, read books and articles that interest you, write about your childhood or anything that you can think of.  Brain games and mental activities can keep your brain young and active and improve its physiological functioning and help you improve memory.


Try to Exercise Daily


Regular physical exercise improves blood circulation throughout the body, including the brain.  If you exercise regularly, there is a good chance that you are helping to boost your immune system and can thereby improve your memory.  Always remember - a healthy mind dwells in a healthy body – so, never neglect to do physical exercises regularly.


Eat Good and Eat Right


If you are trying to improve your memory, then eat the proper memory enhancing foods.  Foods that contain antioxidants are good for your brain, such as broccoli, red kidney beans, blueberries, strawberries, tomatoes, red grapes and garlic.  Antioxidants help the flow of oxygen to the brain.  You also need to check your eating habits.  Make sure you do not eat large portions at one go, instead try to frequently eat several small meals a day.  Studies have shown that eating less actually makes the brain young and active even in old age.


Sleep Well


Getting a consistent seven to eight hours of sleep each night will increase your memory.  On the other hand, erratic sleeping habits will interfere with your internal biological clock and as a result you would not awaken feeling refreshed in the morning and it can hamper your memory also.  If you want to improve your memory, you need to sleep better.


Focus Well


Focus your attention on the materials you are studying.  Attention is one of the major components of memory.  The brain cannot store information if you are not giving proper attention to the subject.  Try to study in a place free of distractions such as television, music, and other diversions.


Try to Repeat Things


Repetition literally means retention.  After learning a new word, try repeating it out loud three to four times.  Likewise, after you meet someone new, try using his or her name as many times as possible immediately after the introduction.  Repeating a word or a name will help you to remember it.


Meditate Regularly


Meditation can increase blood flow in the brain and improve memory.  It also reduces stress.  If you want your memory to work the best it can, then reducing the stress through meditation will help.


Concentrate on a Flame


One of the most effective ways to improve your concentration is to sit in front of a candle in a moderately dark room and concentrate on the flame for five to ten minutes.  It will definitely increase your powers of concentration considerably.


Enjoy Life


Stress relieving and engaging in fun activities are needed by the brain.  Doing fun activities increases the chemicals that protect the brain from diseases and thereby can improve your memory.  You will enjoy every little thing if you are in a good mood.  Keep away from things that make you unhappy or cause you to have a low mood.  Always be positive and try to be in a happy and cheerful mood.


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Wednesday 22 February 2012

Lead A Stress-Free Life

In today's world of growing competition, we require to work real hard to meet the goals we are assigned to.  Steady performance, time management, competitions, etc., are fast becoming our main focus and in this process, at the end of the day, we are totally exhausted, fatigued, and to some extent irritable and we tend to overlook the importance of maintaining a fitness regime.  In order to keep up with the competitive world, one not only requires mental energy but also needs to have physical ability.  Majority of the young professionals are suffering from lifestyle diseases.  Long morning walks are a good exercise option, but one should take them seriously.  It is necessary that the activity an individual is pursuing should be enjoyed by them.  Similar is the case with exercising; you should enjoy the exercise you do and not just do it for the heck of it.  One should understand the meaning of exercise and the reason behind doing it.  It is necessary that even if you have a hectic schedule, you should be able to manage your time and give your body an adrenaline rush it requires.  To overcome this so called job-created mental stress, most people are turning to relaxation techniques, exploring them and trying to apply them in their daily life.

Below are some of the techniques that you can follow to calm yourself down, attain good health, have a sound mind, improve your personality and believe me they are really helpful.


Afternoon Nap

         It is a well-known fact that one's level of alertness is very high in the morning and gradually decreases as the day goes on.  You feel more fatigued and sleepy especially in the afternoon right after lunch and you keep on yawning.  Power nap at this moment in time is really helpful, but when you are in the office, can you really take a power nap?  The answer is NO, as your boss is not providing you a bed in the office.  But do not curse yourself for not being at home to be able to take a nap.  Take my advice and follow this simple technique.  Sit in your chair with your back straight, place your hands on your lap or on top of your knees, close your eyes, concentrate on the tip of the nose or at the center of the eyebrows, inhale and exhale deeply and as slowly as you can and keep doing this for 10 to 15 minutes or more if you can.  You can use a timer if you want and set it for a specific period of time per your choice.  In this period of calmness, feel that your tiredness is slowly moving away from your mind and body, feel that each and every part of your body is relaxed and you feel a sense of calmness within yourself.  After that, slowly open your eyes, go to washroom, wash your face and eyes properly.  By now, I am sure you are much refreshed, energized, and rejuvenated and will be so for the rest of the day till late evening.  If you work from home, you can do the same by sitting in a chair or you can do it by lying flat on your bed.  When you do it in bed, you may also actually go into a deep slumber for a minute or two but that is not a problem.  Many famous people like Winston Churchill, Napoleon Bonaparte, John F. Kennedy, and Thomas Edison used to take a nap during the day.  Napoleon could take a nap right before battle and even when cannons were booming nearby.  Thomas Edison slept only three or four hours at night and took a couple of three-hour naps during the day.  He could go to sleep anywhere, anytime, on anything.  Indeed, he would often curl up for his naps on a workbench or in a closet.  So, by now you must have realized the importance and benefits of taking a short nap during the day.

Physical Exercise and Meditation

         Try to exercise and meditate regularly.  Early morning exercise and meditation can make you go whole day long without feeling tired or fatigued.  Physical exercises like jogging, walking, crunch, lifting weights, etc., are good for physical health.  But from my experience, I can tell you for sure that mental exercise is also as important as physical exercises.  After doing physical exercises, always meditate for at least 15 minutes and your fatigue caused by physical exercises will vanish immediately and it will make your mind and body rejuvenated.  To mediate, just sit on a cushion with your back straight and your legs crossed.  You can sit in any comfortable position, just make sure your back is always straight.  Now, keep your hands on your lap or on top of the knees, close your eyes, concentrate on the tip of the nose or at the center of the eyebrows, inhale and exhale as deeply and slowly as you can.  Keep doing this for at least 15 minutes, but to start with, you can do it for 2 minutes, then gradually increase your time.  This combination of physical exercise followed by meditation works really well and if practiced regularly it will definitely make you not only energized, well rested, and revived but also cheerful, zealous, happy, and merry minded.

Sleep

         Early to bed and early to rise makes you healthy, wealthy, and wise.  So true!!, isn't it?  Most people remember to get up early and to do so they also set the alarm clock accordingly, but they forget to go to bed early and when the alarm clock rings in the morning, they simply put it off and go to sleep immediately.  I find many people doing this mistake.  I think first they should make the habit of going to bed early so that they can get up early.  At least, 8-10 hours of sound sleep is necessary for you to feel calm and well rested for the entire day.

Laughter

         Laughter is a wonderful stress reliever and helps the body to relax tense muscles.  It releases chemicals in the body that reduce tension and pain.  Always try to be in a jovial mood.

Music

         Listening to calming music helps to calm and focus the mind regardless of age.  Load your cellphone/laptop with music and songs that you love and listen to them as often as you can.  It will help release your mental stress.

Physical Checkup

        Regular physical checkup is also important.  You may feel low and not refreshed due to some physical ailment or some irregularities in your blood level.  A while ago, one of my friends' wives was suffering from morning sickness for a long time.  Physically she looked fit and healthy, but when she visited a doctor, he gave her some blood tests to be performed and when the results came back, it was noted that her hemoglobin level was far below normal.  The doctor prescribed her some medicine to take for a month and within 15 days the morning sickness was gone and she was much happier than ever.  So, if you are suffering from some physical ailments like indigestion, gastritis, insomnia, even cough and cold, stomach pain, etc., do not hesitate to consult a doctor.

Avoid Smoking/Drinking

         Always refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol.  Smokers argue that smoking helps them relax, but in reality it does just the opposite.  It is observed that stress level in smokers and drinkers are higher than those in nonsmokers and nondrinkers.  Cigarettes are well known to increase the heart rate and the blood pressure, which exacerbates stress.  Too much alcohol consumption causes cirrhosis - a fatal liver disease.  Quitting these habits is not easy but try to gradually decrease the consumption of these in order to attain good physical health and to feel relaxed.  Nowadays over-the-counter nicotine gums are available in the market and are helpful for the smokers to kick this habit for good.  Always remember - a sound mind dwells in a sound body.  Smoking kills and if you are a smoker you are killing the other family members too as you have made them passive smokers by smoking at home.  Sooner you realize this truth better for you.

Eating Habit

         Good eating habit plays a vital role in keeping the body and mind sound and active.  Follow what you have been hearing from your childhood - the famous proverb - Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dine like a pauper.  Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so try never to skip it.  Include lots of fruits, green leafy vegetables, cereal, milk, egg, etc., in your diet.  Do not eat too much at one go, watch your portion sizes, always eat small amounts.  Studies have shown that eating less actually can boost brain power and help remember more.  Drink a lot of water during the day but in an empty stomach, always.  Do not drink much fluid while having food or right after food as it causes constipation and takes a lot of time for the body to digest foods that you have consumed.

Fasting

         Fast at least once or twice in a month.  Fasting cleanses your liver, kidneys and colon, purifies your blood, helps you lose excess weight and water, flushes out toxins, clears the eyes and tongue, and cleanses the breath.  For fasting, following this method: After waking up in the morning, drink a glass of water, do not eat anything for at least 8-10 hours, drink only water every 2 hours.  Break the fast by drinking a glass of juice in the evening and eat a very light meal.  At dinner also, take a very light meal and go to sleep.

Do What You Like Most

       Do whatever makes you feel happy.  You are spending most of your time in office, to earn of course, but that is a monotonous activity that you always do.  Spare some time for yourself.  Do every little things that can make you happy - traveling, taking photographs, reading, cooking, hanging out with friends, calling them, and so on.  As for myself, I enjoy photography a lot and it really eases my stress and anxiety.  Life is very short, so take the most out of it whenever, wherever, and whatever way possible.  Always be positive and always take the good things that come in your way.  The best way to make yourself happy is to make others happy too.  If they are smiling, you are smiling.  If they are sad, you are sad too.  A little gift on occasions like birthday, marriage anniversary, religious holidays, etc., can make your parents, siblings, and others happy and in that process the surrounding you stay will also bloom with happiness, joy, and bliss and your life will become more happier, merrier, and more contented than ever.

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