Love is Life

 Love is the most vital ingredient of our life. Without Love, Life will be a Big zero and empty. It helps to iron out our problems. All Religions also exist to nourish the spread and growth of love among us.

Love generally refers to the affection and association for anything. Many of us love our family, friends and neighbors. On and so forth. Some are strange to love animals and some others love flowers ...so on.

Life without love has no charm. It is like a lonely tree in a desert. Similarly, a person without love is a skin-clad bone cage only.

Love consists of  two types as "Specific" and "Pure."

Specific type refers to the normal love and affection among human beings. This is generally restricted to the members within a group. Example is Family.

Pure love looks beyond and extends to other life forms like Animals, Insects, Birds, etc...

Pure love has no limitations like selfishness, region, creed or caste. It has no boundaries and in fact integrates with Nature.

Pure love shares with others.

Pure love helps others in times of grief and sorrows.

Pure love breeds enduring peace and happiness.

True love brings out the divinity in you.

This is what Jesus, Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi preached and practiced when they lived on this planet.

Time Lost is Life Wasted

My definition for TIME is Tricky Irreversible Moment Ever: Because time is elusive, faster and never retractable. We can buy anything but not Time. Such is the value of time. So Time is precious and invaluable. The significance of Time is realized by many people only after they suffer from it.

Any action that is not done in the right time is bound to have unfavorable or even adverse impact. For instance, kids should concentrate in their activities of study and play during the childhood. Youngsters must learn and exercise more during their teen age. Grownups should strive to sharpen their skills and talents by taking up a job or profession. When you become economically independent, get married.

"Punctuality" generally denotes “the timeliness "adherence to the time schedule”. The concept is related to the short term events. However, it should be used to signify the long term happenings also like stages of human life.

Scheduling various works based on your priority is the vital aspect of planning for a stress-free and happy life. Such scheduled format is called as Time Table. Can you imagine what will be the consequences if Railways or Airways don't draw schedules for the arrival and departures?

Napoleon the Great had the habit of riding his horse for hours together. But he carved a 10 minutes interval for a nap to recharge himself. He claimed this nap as a secret of his efficiency.

Only those who understand the value of time and that value time as  money are the shrewd and practical people and they always shine and  lead a happy life. That is business firms encourage their staff to do  overtime work: more productivity means more profit or earnings to all.

Hear what Great People felt about “Time”

The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time - Abraham Lincoln

We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right - Nelson Mandela

We must use time as a tool, not as a couch - John F. Kennedy

Remember: Everybody has only 24 hours  in a day: even the great scholars, scientists, leaders.

Insurance Protects

Many of us think taking insurance is a cost and utter waste. But, remember, this cost is very least when you compare the benefits that accrue to you in the event of an unfortunate event . Moreover, the money spent in insurance contracts can be a good savings -cum- investment for your life and the family. You make a choice of good plans to cover the basic risks of your living like Life, Health, Home, Vehicles, etc..

Insurance takes care of the welfare of your family. For your business or profession, go for the policies that will insure the risks associated with your products, fixtures and fittings like plant and machinery, etc..

Even insurance for human organs or body is available at a special price. Celebrities do have such insurance for their body assets: Julia Roberts for her smile, Daniel Craig for his body, Jennifer Lopez for her derriere.

Do's & Don't s

- Always read the contract notes when received after committing to an insurance cover. Possibilities are there, that even after taking all precautions prior to buying the insurance product, some exclusions to the risks coverage.

- Always keep the policy in force by paying the premium regularly. Your claim will be rejected if you have not paid the premium.

- Always Keep the insurance company informed if you make any changes in the Address, change in the nature and composition of assets covered, etc.. This issue crops up in the case of business assets and movable assets like vehicles. When you buy a second hand asset, the risk is more: you have to ensure the title is transferred in your name before taking the insurance.

- Always buy Life insurance covers from the reputed companies which have a good name in the market.

New insurers tend to be inclined towards more business and profit , rather than the payment of the claims under their policies.

So, Insurance cost is a Not a Liability but an Investment for Future asset.

You get more benefit from Accident and Term insurance at a low cost. BE INSURED FOR HAPPY LIFE.

Goodwill Enriches Life

 Goodwill refers to an attitude which reflects friendly, helpful, or cooperative feelings.

We tend to help and cooperate with only those who are known to us as Relatives, Friends, Colleagues and Neighbors.

What about those around us.....strangers, trees and plants, animals, birds and insects.

Do we care for them when they are in trouble or distress?

Honestly many of us ignore them as we mind our business only.....No goodwill is shown to them.

There are several occasions of this sort, that we come across in our daily life. We will study a few cases.

1) Bus Travel: When a person wearing dirty clothes boards the bus, most of the passengers express displeasure on his outward look and ask him to occupy a back seat. But this is an incorrect way of treating a fellow human being. On the contrary, if the same person happens to be a friend, you make him sit near to you.

2) Accident case: Again if the person involved in the accident is known to you, all kinds of help will be rendered to him. But the opposite behavior occurs if it is an unknown face.

3) Puppies: Sometimes we notice puppies standing in the middle of a road and screaming for their lost mother. Actually, these young ones are looking for a kind heart to help them with care and feed. Again, nobody is bothered about this tender life and we just walk past them.

4) Birds: Many birds are fast becoming extinct from our world due to the selfishness of human beings. Take the case of the chirping and small house sparrows which are gradually disappearing from their commonplace. People ignore when the sparrows are found in their region . We shall try to help these birds to multiply in their population, by providing the grains, water, etc... to them.

So GOODWILL actually means showing compassion for those who badly need some care and attention: the help provided to such needy is actually.....God's will or Goodwill.

Friends, A Must

 Friendship is the best relationship next only to the Family system that a person should have to lead a more meaningful life in this world. The quality and quantity of your friendship also determine the level of your success and happiness of your life. Quantity refers to the number of friends you have and the Quality represents the support and contribution made by your friends.

Abraham Lincoln said " I destroy my enemy when I make him my friend."

People boast of having a huge network of friends as a symbol of social status but the quality will be lacking as reflected by the formal interactions .Only lip service with bad intentions lying inside their mind.

Many people think friendship is only for gaining or earning money .Sorry, they are of selfish and self-centered nature: such friendship cannot long last and are bound to come to an end at any moment. Some people take the friendship for granted and they anticipate their friends to help them without reciprocation. But, true friendship is the one that always gives out and doesn't expect anything in return. One step further, a Good friend tolerates all the pains in making the Bad friend into a Good fellow.

The Chinese proverb says " Even two can sleep on a tamarind leaf if they are true friends."

My haiku on Friendship is

"East or west, the Best Friendship
bears and beats the of Life's hardship"

People always make friends of equal status. Poor with poor. Affluent with rich. Enemies to enemies. Drunkards with drunkards. Thieves and thieves. Passengers with passengers. Workers with workers. Officers with officers. Scholars seek scholars. Saints like saints.

The friends who stand with you during times of turbulence are the real one. Others actually get you tough times.

Very rarely, people of unequal status become friends. Such relationship is either short-lived or long lasting.

But true relationship of mutual trust and help leads to ever lasting bond.

The one for temporal gains will break away sooner than later.

4th August is celebrated as Friendship Day.

Remember to be a Good friend even to your Opponent.

Common Sense - Scarcest Commodity

 Generally, with the rise in literacy and income levels, the standard of living should go up. This is not so with the present society.  Most people boast of having senses like the Knowledge sense, Money sense, Digital sense, Health sense, Dress sense, Civic sense, etc. However, they have little or no idea of Common sense, the vital aspect of the life. In fact, they will rebuke as " What is it, Nonsense? Some might even search this on the Internet while few would equate it with the Google.

The educated people tend to display less of this sense than the illiterates. The human mind has become blunt with the advent of computers to the extent that people have almost lost their memory and mental capacities. For anything and everything, they seek the help of computer and Internet. A stage will come when man will not have any thinking and  reasoning powers and will become slave of the digital devices(robots).

What is 'Common Sense?

Merriam-Webster's dictionary calls it as a sound judgment based on the mere perception of a situation or fact. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, it is the basic level of practical knowledge and judgment required to live in a reasonable and safe way. In short, it is a practical application of knowledge and mind to decide anything. This sense is different from the common or general knowledge. A graduate might be good at general knowledge but lacking in the common sense. However, there are school dropouts that exhibit great depth of common sense and  administration skills.

Reasons for the poor level of Common sense.

Ignorance about its value. In public places like the library, club, airport lounge, etc., some people have the habit of grabbing and keeping all the newspapers and magazines with them, least bothered about how other visitors will avail the common facility.

Selfishness for personal interest and convenience. When an individual changes  the TV channels endlessly in search of his preference, the rest of the audience get frustrated. A money-conscious person will switch off the fans and lights in his home, but ignores the same at the office where he is not the owner. Politicians give attractive promises that cannot be implemented.

Casualness leads to a carefree approach. Acts like throwing the lit cigarettes, and spitting in the public places affect the safety of pedestrians. Rash driving, Using the cell phones while driving and walking, and the haphazard parking of the vehicles not only pose the traffic problem but endanger the lives of the self and others moving on the road.

Craziness for thrill and fame induce some towards adventurous things. Taking selfies in dangerous conditions such as the building rooftops, mountain cliffs, and running trains show the neglect for common sense. Walking on the steel ropes hung between the two buildings, Eating the poisonous insects are some examples of this.

Competition and responsibilities make many people forget the common sense. When his father suffered a heart attack, the son hastily drove the car ignoring the traffic signal. To present a rosy picture of the business, the boss of a company tweaked the financial reports without a second thought, that the truth will be exposed one day. Some individuals mix the problems of office and home affecting the productivity and peace of mind.

Laziness is another reason behind the absence of common sense. Many people do not replace the objects in the place from where they picked up. In a housing society, some households leave their motorcycles in the buildings' entrance blocking the common passage.

How to develop the Common sense? 

Some reliable methods are given here to improve the common sense. 1) Launching a curriculum on Common sense at all levels of educational system 2) Sensitizing the masses about its importance through widespread publicity 3) Learning from the experiences of others by reading the write-ups like this article and the thoughts of others shared through print and digital media, and 4) Self-practice in all situations is the best of all.

The benefits of Common sense. It results in safety and security of life and helps in saving money, resources, efforts, and time. The  most noteworthy benefit  is the gain of peace and happiness to everyone in the second society.

Let wiser counsel prevail with the common sense.

Laziness - Mother of All Problems

 Success in life depends on several aspects like education, friendship, intelligence, sincerity, etc. However, the lack of initiative spoils the life, even though a person possesses good education and other attributes. A famous business firm was wound up due to the indolence and apathy of the stake holders. Laziness is actually a disorder borne out of selfish attitude. One that gets rid of this is said to be wise and awaken. A person should work hard throughout life excepting in situations like sickness, fatigue, etc. Even the animals and birds remain busy, but the six-sensed man prefers to be lazy and casual. Observe the Ants, Bees and Squirrels for understanding the activeness. 'How the laziness affects our life' is described here below.

Health: Constant work keeps a person healthy and happy. If the heart stops functioning due to laziness or fatigue, our life comes to an end. Failure to maintain our body leads to the decay and damages to the visceral parts. An erratic intake of medicines complicates the health. Non-adherence to regular physical exercise revives the sickness. Excessive sleep from laziness upsets the plans of self and others. Languor to undergo the periodical medical check-up has a disastrous impact. Alcohol abuse is found to induce laziness.

Wealth: Lack of alertness produces pilferage and embezzlement. Inaction to maintain the estates makes the unscrupulous people squander the assets. Waywardness and sloth bring liabilities and disrepute to the legacy. Great Kingdoms saw the downfall owing to the irresponsible and dull heirs indulging in fun and frolic. Abundance also instills the habit of casualness and tendency to remain idle. 

Development: Though endowed with all resources and support, a society or country remains backward or underdeveloped primarily .due to the inertia of the people. On the contrary, some societies display extraordinary resilience and courage to grow faster in spite of the frequent natural hurdles like volcanoes, dry weather, etc. experienced in their regions. The inaction and sluggish attitude of the rulers have led to the poor living standards of people residing in a country. What else can be attributed to the pathetic conditions like Malnutrition, Poverty, etc..! Laziness prevented an athlete from attending regular coaching and thus, lost the prospects of winning championship and fame. Students who did not practice adequately failed in the exams. 

Spirituality. With persistence and sincerity only, great saints and scholars achieved the self-realization and the divine powers. Yoga and meditation produce harmful effects if they are not practiced regularly.

If everyone was lazy, we wouldn't have had the great towers, forts, bridges, automobiles, Internet, etc. Pope Paul VI said, "All life demands struggle. Those who have everything given to them become lazy, selfish, and insensitive to the real values of life. The very striving and hard work that we so constantly try to avoid is the major building block in the person we are today."

Do These For Happy Life

  1. Remember The Roots

Forgetting one's past and roots amounts to pride and ignorance unless the person is affected by amnesia or lunacy. This is the reason we need to know the history and heritage of our family and world in particular, and the evolution of life in general. Even animals and birds remember their bases to return home after day-long trips, but human conveniently ignores those who shaped his career so far. The fruits can't take credit for their nicety neglecting the underground roots. An elegant and mammoth tower rests on the strong foundation only. Our body sans the bones will look like a deflated tube. A person should not forget the parents and others after achieving his or her growth and prosperity. A real incident will amplify the point.

A childless couple adopted and brought up a poor boy with all comforts and goodness of life. The lad became a talented engineer and secured placement in a reputed company. The caring couple duly got him married to a beautiful girl and gifted their estate retaining a tiny apartment. Unfortunately, the foster son deserted the old couple to live with his new wife. The systems of family and society are in place to avert waywardness and create involvement in life.

Adherence to the customs and rituals of a family cannot be branded as orthodox or outdated. Actually, such practice leads to peace and happiness in the society. For example, the heirs of erstwhile kingdoms strictly indulge in charity to distribute gifts to the public on special occasions like birthday, festivals, etc.. In fact, they share their wealth with others. All over the world, people celebrate festivals to remember and thank the Nature for the good rainfall and harvests. In the same way, a person should never forget the teachers who taught the lessons for life, the farmers providing the nourishment of growth, and the profession or employment for livelihood. Sharing the benefits of what we gained so far with others is the right way of expressing gratitude to the society at large.

Our life revolves around the Nature for sustenance and posterity. The advent of science and technology coupled with the ever-growing greediness of human beings have caused the irreversible damages to Nature affecting our own existence. Deforestation, Inorganic farming, excessive dependence on machines, genetic alteration techniques, etc. are a few examples that show man's departure from the Nature. The consequences are already visible as climatic change, drought, emergence of new diseases and disorders, etc.. Newton's law 'Any action has a reaction' is bound to apply if we don't mend our ways immediately. None will respect the one that fails from appreciating the past. An honest soul always reverberates with good thoughts and deeds.

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2. Never Ignore Small Things

Life is short but ridden with a plethora of issues of varying nature and intensity. A person gains experience and expertise through age and encounter with problems. One small step alone makes us reach several destinations. One small idea only opens the way for establishing great kingdoms and landmarks. Anything small is beautiful and easy to handle also. Everything has a small beginning: Kid, Puppy, Cub, and so on. The significance of many small aspects is overlooked and unknown to many of us. A few examples of them are illustrated hereunder to drive the point home.

Food: A pinch of salt makes the food tasty and palatable. An invisible yeast helps the Baker and the distillery. Small seed produces the fruit, vegetable and nuts. Tiny bait traps a big fish. A chilli might be short, but its pungency adds taste and flavor. Minuscule mustard gives strength and taste. Diminutive clove has a great aroma and medicinal value.

Machinery: Any vehicle starts by pressing a small button only. A small hole sinks the huge ship. Tiny screw ensures the flight's safety. Application of a little grease keeps a machine running smoothly.

Workplace: An erroneous punctuation renders the whole sentence meaningless and awkward. A clerical error costs a huge loss to the bank. Small password opens a computer. Small cog wheel runs a clock. A little smile relaxes the tense situation. Tiny chip controls the computer. A slim SIM card enhances our life. Small spark destroys the whole business. Minute aperture in a camera captures the panoramic scene.

Resources: Several raindrops make the valuable water and a devastating deluge as well. Piggy savings help in an emergency. Small bricks constitute a palace. Little candle brings life to a dark place. A needle enables to stitch and wear clothes. Each cell makes our physique. A gene carries an individual's personality.

Health: An obscure virus challenges the giant life. A food bit trapped between the teeth bothers the face much. A nap recharges the fatigued mind. Small stone irritates the feet more than a big rock. Little joy makes our life charming. Medicine cures the disease when given in a small dose. Any food harms if consumed in large quantity. Do not neglect a bruise that may otherwise spoil your health.

Warfare: An inch of incursion ignites the duel between nations. A remote button fires the missiles across the frontiers. A destructive explosion occurs due to the release of enormous energy from a relatively small matter (nucleus).

Morality: Never allow small mistakes to repeat. They embolden us to commit grave crimes. A black patch makes the whole cloth dirty. A honest person loses the name when a small offence is exposed.

Small grass stands firm, but the tall tree gets uprooted during a storm. Likewise, even a long relationship breaks up when a little suspicion creeps in. Therefore, never ignore or underestimate anything as small or trifle.

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3. Delay is Dangerous

Procrastination is like a disease that spoils a person’s life.

We all suffer from it at varying degrees throughout our lives and hence, I consider it a disease for the impact it has on lives. Lost opportunities, regrets, depression  are to name a few.

There’s always the feeling that what is due now can be done later and feels better-doing later. Better kill that thought immediately, prioritize your tasks and get them done without much fuss and rush.

Our habits and thoughts have to be trained like a bodybuilder or athlete to cultivate the habit of doing continuous work on time.

When an amazing idea or a cool new thought popped in your mind, don’t put it off, get it done then and there. Here also when more than one occurs, jot down them in a piece of paper or smart phone or tablet for execution or implementation subsequently....but remember......to be done without much delay.

As you go through the motion of putting your plan in action, all sorts of doubts about the idea and your abilities will pop up in your mind, ignore them and push on. Ignore the fear of failure as there is no such thing as failure if you keep moving.

Many a times, we are confronted with the shortage of time or inability to focus on issues that warrant our  attention. This sort of situation arises mainly due to our improper planning and execution.

Here Ten vital ideas are listed for enabling a person to effectively utilize the limited and irreversible time.

Focus on the Important and Urgent things.
Remove the Clutter.
Get Organized and Stay That Way.
Set Daily Goals and Rewards.
Execute Decisions Faster.
Delegate and Learn to Love It.
Just say No to other works or even entertainment.
Seek others help when in a dilemma.
Avoid last minute rush.
Learn While You Workout.

You can develop your own ways and methods, but definitely they will revolve around these ideas only.

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4. Never Imitate Others

Actually, by trying to copy others, people stand to lose themselves. Instead, they should identify and develop the inherent potential which is unique to them.

It's a crazy world. Many of us try to imitate others. If your neighbor gets the latest Smart TV, you scramble to get the same for your home also. When the kids of your friend study in a good college, making all efforts to see your children also get admission in the same place. If you friend buys a new jewelry, yearning to do the same thing.

Why not we understand the needs that are appropriate to us? Why don't we realize what is our potential and make a difference out of it. Each person has distinct and inherent skill. The one who identifies and develops that innate ability is bound to shine in life. This is the secret of all successful personalities.

To be precise, Discover the power hidden within you.

All great Achievers had this quality in common.

God Krishna preached this through Bhagavad Gita as " One should act according to one's own nature. Even if this appears faulty, this is better than doing something unnatural. Better to die engaged in duties appropriate of one's nature because unnatural work only brings evil and danger to everybody."

Tips for Comfortable Travel

 12 Tips for Planning a Good Trip

Whenever you decide to make an official or personal trip to a place, the next immediate question that comes to your mind is "what are all the things required for travel and stay during that trip?

The list of things would vary from person to person depending on the life style, mode of travel, period of stay and also the peculiarities of the destination itself. Instead of bothering yourself with the things to be included and remembered for your trip, it is better to follow a system to ensure a safe and pleasant journey.

Generally all preparations prior to your travel can be structured into a pattern. To put it differently, this exercise of planning your travel can be simplified by identifying and listing the items in the form of a check list which you can refer to whenever you need to undertake any travel.

The most easiest and must-for-all check list is presented here. This list can be called as Packing List as it reminds you about the things to be packed before commencing the actual travel.

1) Clothes like towels, napkins and garments are the foremost to be considered for packing.

2) Medicines and their prescriptions and also the health card form the vital items to carry during the travel. They come in handy when you need to consult a local doctor or hospital in the places you land.

3) Flip flop sandals that provide comfort to your feet.

4)Books for reading during the travel. The physical books are chosen mostly as they are superior to the e-books.

5) Spectacles and sunglasses for your vision and pleasure.

6) Pen torch for emergency. This may turn out to be redundant if you possess a smart phone with torch application in it.

7) Knife helps in cutting and peeling of fruits and also for emergency situations.

8) Lock for your baggage and luggage to ensure safety and security.

9) Pouches or zip lock bags for keeping the toiletries and other articles like comb, toothbrush, paste and cell phone chargers, etc...

10) Foldable bags (bag within bag) to hold the articles that you shop during the travel.

11) Documents like insurance papers, driving license, tickets, passport, visa, etc...

12) Last but not the least is the addresses and other details of the destination.

The best method  is to keep one box or bag containing one set of all these items ready, if you can afford. Remember, Comfort gained is more important than the money saved without any use.

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10 Steps to Find A Good Hotel

The foremost factor is the purpose of your trip. If it is official , you can opt for the hotel that suits your tariff entitlement provided by your employer or business.  A trip for personal reason will always be based on the strength of your wallet. So the money  is the key factor here.

The length of stay is the second vital aspect to decide the type of hotel you require. If it's one day trip, even a small accommodation with moderate amenities will suffice. When you need to put up for a long period, a good place of stay is necessary.

Look for the discount and other concessions available for an accommodation from different online travel agencies .

Ascertain the various discounts and complimentary services like conveyance, food, Wifi, gym and sports facilities provided by various hotels and analyze these vis-à-vis the tariff charged to choose the one suitable for you.

Location forms another deciding factor. Proximity to the bus stations, rail heads, airports, etc.... Is important for your stay and roaming in the place. However, the cost of stay tends to be more when you choose a hotel located in the heart of the town.

Atmosphere of the hotel is important . This goes to describe about the ambience of the interior of the accommodation. Again this comes at a cost as higher tariff is levied corresponding to the neatness and calmness of an accommodation. That doesn't mean that places charging lower room tariff will have poor  atmosphere. Even heavily priced hotels sometimes maintain a poor service.

Always read about the ratings and reviews of the people who already visited the hotel. Here remember to note when the last review was done. Because if a hotel is frequently commented upon, it indirectly tells about the popularity of the place. Never choose a hotel where the last review was more than 3 months old.

Always consult your friends and relatives and those who frequently travel. This source gives the first hand information and also you stand to gain the experience of others when planning for a trip

Never make any advance payment to a hotel unless you're sure that place is a good one. Many good hotels tend to collect the advance payment with a rider that if the booking is not cancelled before the stipulated date, a certain percentage of your advance money will be deducted when refund is sought. SO BE ALERT on this score.

Before deciding to book a room, make it a habit to inspect the room and the toilet  to get feel of  the sanitation standards of that hotel. Many a times, you would find this trick helps you to avoid staying in a bad hotel and also save your precious money. So DON'T REGRET after booking the room.

Online Banking: Tips and Tricks

  Do's

Do ensure that the online bank, you're dealing with, is covered by the competent authority who insures  all savings accounts, current/checking accounts, and CD deposits up to a limit..

Do ensure that when you go to the online bank's website that you're on the real website. Believe it or not, Internet criminals have designed websites that appear to be similar to the banks website in hopes of tricking you into getting your personal information. You can confirm the genuineness by finding "a Lock" icon before your site address and also "https" as the first letters of your site instead of "http".

Do look over all your bank statements, credit card statements, etc., to be sure everything looks right and is legit. Talk to your bank immediately if you find any errors or see something that is questionable.

Do keep your password and account log in information safe and secure. Never share this information with anyone, especially through an email. Also, try to never use any common passwords like birth dates, names, or social security numbers.

Do be sure you use an anti-virus protection software on your computer at all times. It's also a good idea to back-up your files on a regular basis. You really don't want to take chances in this area.

Do log out completely from your bank's website when you've finished with your transactions.

Do change those auto-generated passwords you are given when you first open up an online bank account.

Do find out all the information you can about your online banks security. What kind of protection do they offer? How does that line up with other banks?

Do  Immediately change your passwords if you have accidentally revealed your credentials.

Do use Two-factor PINs wherever they are enabled by the sites. This gives more security for your banking.

Don't s 

One should be careful while transacting online and follow the vital 7 don't s given here to avoid the upsets and loss arising out of the frauds by anti-social elements. 

Don't ever send any of your personal information inside an email, no matter how secure you think it may be.

Don't give out your personal information over the telephone unless you are absolutely certain of who you are dealing with. You also need to know what this person is going to do with your information when you give it to them.

Don't have other browsers open at the same time you are doing your Internet banking transactions.

Don't open up emails from banks that you don't do business with. If you do get an email from your bank asking you for personal information, call the bank first before doing anything else. Ask them about the email and find out what is going on. If it is legitimate, which I doubt it is since banks don't conduct business like that, then you can take care of it right there over the phone.

Never respond to e-mails/embedded links/calls asking you to update or verify User IDs /Passwords/Card Number/CVV etc.

Never click on any links in any e-mail to access the bank's site.

Never enter login or other sensitive information in any pop up window.

Read more at Banks and Banking.

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Be Careful with Credit Cards

Lots of people think negatively about credit cards but they can be an incredible useful financial tool, if used correctly.

Many cards provide travel insurance, identity protection, reward points, cash-back, and more. If you carry a balance, your number one goal should be to get the lowest interest-rate possible. If you make monthly payments, then selecting a card becomes more difficult.

How to select a Good Credit card:

Check your credit report at least once a year.

Look at past statements and figure out how often you carry a balance, how much interest you’ve paid, and how often you’re late with payments.

Don’t settle on the first credit card that is offered in the mail or over phone.

Use the Internet to research your best options; you’ll even see ads with great offers.

Think of getting different cards for different types of purchases. Some cards give two or three times more reward points for some purchases. Airline card is a good example for travel purchases.

Do's of  Credit cards

Make wise decisions about purchasing items you need versus those you simply want. We’ve all used the word “need” to describe something we really just wanted badly. Using your credit card responsibly means recognizing which things you need and which you just want.

Let your creditor know in advance if you won’t be able to make your monthly payment on time. The worst thing you can do is simply forgo your credit card payment, no matter the reason. Most creditors will assist you if you let them know before you miss your payment. Simply call your creditor, briefly explain the situation, and ask that any late fees be waived.

Stay within 30% of your credit limit. A large part of your credit score considers the amount of debt you have. Keeping your balances low helps you maintain a good credit score. Not only that, lower balances are easier to manage than those that are higher.

Negotiate a lower interest rate. Especially if your current rate is higher than offers you receive. Your interest rate determines how much you pay for carrying a balance on your credit card. Evaluate the interest rate on your credit card periodically to be sure you are getting the best deal possible

Don't s

Don't Use Credit card to make everyday purchases. Items like food, clothing, and gas shouldn't be purchased with a credit card. Using your credit card as a substitute for cash is a habit that can quickly lead to debt. For ordinary purchases, leave your credit card in your wallet and use cash or debit card instead.

Don't Get into the habit of making minimum-only payments. Making only the minimum payment each month increases the amount of time it will take to pay off your debt. It also increases the amount of interest you end up paying. To pay your debts off quicker and cheaper, you should pay as much as you can on your balance each month.

Don't Use  to buy things you can’t afford. Living a borrowed lifestyle is the quickest way to get into debt. If you can’t afford a purchase today, chances are you won’t be able to afford it tomorrow, or even next month.

Don't Closeout a credit card without knowing how your credit will be impacted. There are times when closing a credit card can hurt your credit score. Avoid closing cards that still have a balance or those that make up a significant amount of your credit history.

Don't terminate the dealings with any agency or bank without getting the confirmation of having paid the dues on your card.

Don't exceed your repaying capacity which depends on your income and expenditure pattern.

Always keep track of the transactions done on the card, so that any entries not initiated by you can be traced and taken up with the issuing  agency for rectification promptly.

Discipline Decides

Discipline. Without this, our Life is a big zero. Discipline refers to Orderliness, System and Code of behavior. Even you can observe the existence of the discipline in our surrounding nature also. Animals and plants have a discipline. The Whole Universe has a discipline.

Discipline can also be called as Science or Deductive method of doing anything. That is why, various subjects of study but brought under one uniform group are also termed as "Discipline". We have Physics, Astronomy, Molecular Biology, etc...

In essence, Discipline leads to the focus or uniformity in the approach but in ethical ways.

People, who have the discipline with good purpose, tend to make the good people and they are respected by all. All the Great leaders of the world have one thing in common though their approaches might have differed. That is Discipline only.

Even in Sports of Great Olympics, discipline counts the first. The Gold medals    have been stripped off from the Winners of such famous events for the sole reason that these participants had violated the Codes or Discipline set by the concerned authority.

Self-discipline makes you a saint. Adherence to self-discipline at all times is the difficult aspect of our life. Making others follow such discipline becomes the most difficult task. A person with such discipline is considered to be the noblest of all.

Here the discipline mainly comprises of the following aspects.

-Practice of honesty
-Possession of patience and tolerance
-Readiness to sacrifice
-Compassion for others
-Unbiased approach
-Humbleness
-Simplicity

Persons with these great qualities lived among us.

They are few and far between. And they are praised as the saviors of humankind. In fact, they are worshipped as Gods.

Quotes on Discipline

"Nothing can be more hurtful to the service, than the neglect of discipline."
-   George Washington

"Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment."
-  Jim Rohm

In short, Good Discipline Makes Happy Life.

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Thirukkural, Universal Guide on Life

Thirukkural, meaning 'Sacred couplet,' is a Tamil Classic written by Saint Thiruvalluvar. The author is said to have lived sometime between the 1st century BC and the 8th century AD. It's the only literature translated into many of the world languages. The verses hold a treasure of principles and information that can be applied for any occasions, fields and times, irrespective of religion and race. The book has covered all spheres of life right from 'Praise of God' to ' Sex.'

Thirukkural has three main sections as Righteousness, Resources or Wealth, and Love & Happiness. Under the above three categories, 1330 couplets have been arranged serially into 133 chapters of ten each. The names of the chapters are self-explanatory to understand what the author wanted to preach and guide. You can download the free e-book of Thirukkural from http://www.projectmadurai.org/pmetexts/pdf/pm0001_01.pdf.

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Mind Your Technology

 The world's development can be classified in two periods as 'Hardware-oriented' and 'Software-driven.' The first period started with the invention of a wheel whilst the computer began the second part. We are living in the software era where everything is controlled by the so-called program or language. Technology enables our life and spoils as well. Technology comes at a heavy price: because it triggers new sources of destruction also. Definitely, it is the way how we use the technology that matters the most. A few cases are quoted here to highlight the issues that emerge from the excessive and improper use of technology in our daily life.

Processed and Frozen food: Use fresh water, vegetables, fruits and other foods. That too, locally available food is the best for good health. Avoid and shun the processed and canned foods or drinks to the possible extent. The stored and frozen food always undergoes the chemical changes and becomes unfit for consumption.

Genetically Modified crops: These might yield more food production and profit, but result in health hazards and environmental problems. Even the native plants and animals would become extinct. That's why organic farming and its products are advocated of late.

Chemicals and Pesticides: Constant inhalation of harmful materials and gases causes cancer. Such condition is induced when we get exposed repeatedly to the chemicals in the fruits and vegetables grown on plants and trees sprayed with pesticides. Intensive farming with fertilizers and pesticides has rendered the soil unfit for further cultivation while affecting the life of the native insects and predators. Refineries and chemical factories spew both air and water pollutants. The classic example is the Bhopal (India) gas tragedy due to the leak of poisonous gas from the Union Carbide factory that occurred in December, 1984. Chemical and biological warfare are employed killing several innocent lives.

Electronic Goods: Radiation from computer monitors affects the regular user. Prolonged use of laptops is reported to have bruised the user's thighs. The cell phones not only affect the health, but even kill if used while driving or walking on the road. An air conditioner causes sinusitis and respiratory disorders. Thanks to the television and the Internet, many people have become lazy in physical and mental activities. Steve Jobs, cofounder of Apple Inc., admitted in an interview that his children had restricted access to the iPad and the Internet as the overexposure would affect their natural growth.

Nuclear Energy: After-effects of the reactor destruction and nuclear explosion are common knowledge. The Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine during April,1986 led to the spread of radioactive particles in the atmosphere of western USSR and Europe.

Microwave tower: Mushrooming of the microwave towers used in telecommunication is reported to affect the health of people residing in their vicinity while birds like sparrows have disappeared.

Excessive and indiscriminate use of science and technology for development has led to the encroachment of forests, depletion of the ozone, and global warming. Several parts of the world are already experiencing the climatic changes like unseasonal rains, snowfalls and droughts. Many species of flora and fauna are becoming scarce and extinct owing to the above reason. Welfare of man takes place at the cost of other life forms that make up the integral links of Earth's sustenance.

'Too much of anything is good for nothing' holds relevant at all times. We have only one Earth. Let us strive to use the technology judiciously for safety and security of all its inhabitants.

Temptations, Beware

 “Temptation” means the desire for getting anything that ought to be avoided. A Moth gets trapped by the fascination for light. An insect meets its death inside Nepenthes. The fish ends its life through the bait.

However, temptation varies from a person to a person depending on their mindset, age and circumstances. Many people think it's a thrill needing courage to do unmindful of the proverbial saying ' Fire hurts you even in a secret place.'

The following list illustrates ten different situations involving temptations.

1) Schoolboy prefers watching soccer on TV over his exam.

2) Youth spends lavishly without caring for the future.

3) A businessman skips his lunch to clinch a deal in the next round of trade negotiations.

4) Diabetic patient tries to taste every variety of sweet dish when the spouse is away.

5) Motorcyclist speeds past the amber signal. And, some drivers cross the yellow line to overtake.

6) Pedestrians rush to cut across the zebra lines unmindful of the approaching traffic.

7) Lured by the lifestyle of neighbors, people resort to shortcuts and illegitimate ways for making faster bucks.

8) Thirst for power and wealth compels corrupting the minds and systems.

9) Greed to grab another country leads to battles and wars.

10) Temptation to get an upper hand in a situation earns enmity and dislikes.

The repercussions of temptations are inimical to an individual and society as well. They could breed hate and cause loss of peace and prosperity to the human tribe.

The famous writer and poet Oscar Wilde noted as 'I could resist everything except temptation. The only way to get rid of it is to yield to it. Do you really think 'That it is a weakness that yields to temptation? I tell you that there are terrible temptations that require strength and courage, to yield to. To stake all one's life on a single moment, to risk everything on one throw, whether the stake be power or pleasure, I care not-there is no weakness in that.'

Nevertheless, better start exercising control over temptations with firmness to ensure a promising future for all.

Truths of Life

 Mahatma Gandhi, Father of India, said.
" Where there is love, there is life. You must be the change you wish to see in the world. Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress. Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes. A Nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people."

What are 'Life' and 'Death'

The word 'Life' connotes activeness and consciousness. When a seed germinates, we say it has life; otherwise, it is dead. The absence of life in an organism or part of it is referred as death. When a branch of a tree might be dead, the tree remains alive. A person can be alive physically with the heart beating, but the brain dead.

Any life comes to an end through natural and unnatural ways. When a person dies of old age or poor health, it is a natural event. If he dies by the strike of thunderbolt, it is unnatural. The latter is also known as untimely death. Whatever be, death is the destiny and inescapable as well. Death happens in many unimaginable ways like war, accident, disease, and natural calamities. Nevertheless, death plays a vital role in Nature's scheme of things. There are many reasons to justify it. The important ones are presented here.

1) Paucity of resources: Imagine a situation of Earth when no death takes place but birth alone. There will be a shortage of land, water, and all other things required for maintaining the bulging population. Chaos will rule the scene through the ever-growing conflicts and competitions for sharing the limited materials. All sorts of crimes and malpractices would emerge decimating the law and order.

2) Renewal: Like changing the old cloth with a new one, death provides a lease of life to the soul that supposedly enters a new body. In case there is no death, a soul remains in the same body that becomes weaker over the years. An old machine will never perform with the same efficiency even if fitted with a new motor.

3) Relief: Chronic illness and inability make many people feel dejected. They prefer to die for escaping the hassles and troubles of life. One Tamil poem on Lord Shiva aptly brings out the need for death as "Worldly life is the greatest disease intertwined with pains and pleasures, and that can be wiped off only with the grace of God. So, seek Him through devotion."

4) New entrants. In any sound business, the old stocks need to be disposed of before ordering the new stocks. Or else, the logistics issue will crop up. Even in an airport, the aircrafts that arrived first have to be either moved to the hangar or flown out to another destination. Moreover, old and unusable stocks need to be discarded to make way for the new and efficient entrants.

Death is certain to all living things, but its incidence is unpredictable. Yet, poor humans crave for wealth and power that never accompany them beyond death.

Everyday is a Good Day

 Every day turns up to say Hello to all of us. But the whole world celebrates and cherishes this First day of January only.

Why not we make it a habit to feel and celebrate each and every day of any year as to have motivation and a sense of positivism.

Just think of how the whole world will be if each one of us is bubbling with cheers and happiness all through the year

The pomp and spirit should not end at the end of the first day of a year. That too a NEW YEAR.

Our Earth takes 365 days to complete one revolution around the Sun. To achieve this task, it works hard and rotates on its axis uninterrupted for 8760 hours, and proceeds on its endless journey. Just when the Earth has finished one revolution, we say one year is over. The moment it starts another trip the next year begins. It's a Happy New Year, thanks to the Mother Planet. Going by the same logic, we can also wish a person 'Happy New Year' in addition to the traditional 'Happy Birth Day' on completing one year from his last birthday.

Making a resolution for the New year is a customary practice, but it aims for a personal benefit. However, the following resolutions will definitely produce contentment and happiness to all.

- Never harm others, in any manner
- Exchange even the negativism in a positive way
- Work hard for self and others
- Yearn for peaceful and happy life
- Eliminate those things that spoil and affect the environment
- Always help other, though in a small way
- Review the progress and initiate actions that benefit all that thrive on this planet.

Wishing Happy Years Forever.

8 Habits of Good Health

 Those people who pursue systematic and disciplined methods always lead a healthier life than the people having erratic and irregular habits.

Eating at a particular time is a good habit as it helps you maintain your health. Similarly, indulging in one activity at a time is a good habit as you can focus and concentrate in a particular issue without building the avoidable stress within you.

Some people have a habit of smoking with a restriction on the puffs per day. Again, this habit is injurious to their health.

So, your habits can be grouped into two categories as Good and Bad. But do remember only the good habits will maintain and enhance your health and general well-being.

Adopt the following 8 best  practices as your habits  to keep you in good stead and shape.

1) Regularly do some physical exercises like Walking, Jogging, Skipping, Cycling, etc depending upon your age? Morning or Evening time is ideal. 'Pranayama' is the best as it trains the mind and body as well. But remember to do exercise before taking food and bath.

2) Practice meditation for mind relaxation and recharging with freshness. Initially, your mind will go out of control, but with repeated practice you will see the wonderful effects.

3) Never skip or delay your food and always eat at the right time. Eat to satisfy your stomach rather than your tongue. Drink plenty of water every day.

4) Follow a system in your work place. Avoid multi-tasking and prioritize your works and problems based on importance even under difficult conditions, do not develop stress but relax and apply mind with a cool head. Close your eyes and take a deep and long breath in and exhale.

5) Never mix your office and home even if you run the office at home.

6) Take a break from your routine schedules and spend time by visiting your near and dear ones or take a jolly trip to any tourist place or participate in social activities.

7) Have hobbies like watching good movies or reading good books or cleaning your house or gardening.

8) Sound sleep during the night always helps to recharge your mind and body together. If you don't get instant sleep after getting on the bed, try reading boring, a guaranteed method.

Hope the above will see you in the pink of health.

Tips for Online Buying

Online shopping is the easiest and simplest way of buying your favorite goods and services. Taking the necessary precautions would enable you for safe and happy shopping online.

Before proceeding to make transactions in a site, you have to make sure the following vital aspects are satisfied to protect yourselves.

1) Understand actual needs: Have a clear idea of what you want before landing on the particular website. This would save your precious time and help in getting the benefit of additional options to choose and make your shopping decision.

2) Reliability of the site: Before disclosing any personal information, check the security of the website. Look at the URL and make sure you find "Lock" and "https." in the beginning of the website address. Another indication is the "Lock icon" in the status bar of your browser. You can see the security details of the site.

3) Check for ISIS accreditation: ISIS (Internet Shopping Is Safe) is a regulatory body which emphasizes the need for proper and honest dealings. ISIS verifies the online shops after a comprehensive review of their services over the net. The ISIS certification can be checked in the site itself.

4) Read the reviews: About the product that you plan to buy. Also seek the opinion of your friends and relatives about such products which they already purchased.

5) Look for Discounts: This helps in buying the goods at a lower price. Many websites offer discounts all the time and the same is made heavier and attractive during special occasions like Festivals, Clearance and New year sales.

6) Compare the price: Visit all the reliable online shops for your product and search for the price and any offers. Then make a comparison  of the prices at these sites to choose the one suitable for you.

7) Read the Return and Refund policies: Each website has its own policies and terms of service which you must read and understand before making any transactions. Otherwise, you will end up in a waste of money and time if you cannot claim the refund in case if you are not satisfied with the quality and return the product to the seller/online shop.

8) Select the payment method: Different options are offered in each site, but you have to choose the safe and reliable method. Very few sites provide the Cash-on- Delivery facility which is safe for you.

9) Cross check the bank account: Once payment is made, go to your bank website and confirm the payment has been made without any additional charges over and above the price at which you bought in the online shop.

10) Update your computer: This helps to protect you from online frauds. For this purpose, install the latest anti-virus, anti-spy ware, pop-up blocker and network attack block programs.

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