5 Must-Read Life Lessons from Gandhi

Mohandas Gandhi was the pre-eminent ideological and political leader of India during the Indian independence movement. He pioneered Satyagraha; which is defined as resistance to tyranny through mass civil disobedience.  This is a philosophy based on complete non-violence.

This idea assisted India in gaining its independence, and provided motivation for civil rights and freedom all across the world.

After assuming leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1921, Gandhi led nationwide campaigns to ease poverty, expand women’s rights, build religious and ethnic amity, end “untouchability,” and increase economic self-reliance.

Gandhi lived very modestly in a self-sufficient residential community.  He wore the traditional Indian dhoti and shawl that he hand-spun. He ate vegetarian food, experimented with a fruitarian diet, and fasted as a means of self-purification and protest.

…Without further adieu, I present to you the 5 must-read life lessons from Gandhi:

5 Must-Read Life Lessons from Gandhi:

1. Be the Change

“You must be the change you want to see in the world.”

Be the example, be the leader.  If you lead properly people will follow, and together you will change the world.  Anyone can complain, anyone can blame, and most do, but if you desire to change, then “you” be the change.

2. Ask the Right Questions

“The power to question is the basis of all human progress.”

The quality of your life is in direct proportion to the quality of the questions that you dare to ask.  Are you asking the right questions?  Are you asking the right people?  You can’t get answers, without questions; you can’t make progress, without an inquiring mind.

3.  Always Act

“Have a bias towards action – let’s see something happen now. You can break that big plan into small steps and take the first step right away.”

If you’re going to be biased, be biased towards making something happen today.  Tomorrow never comes, any progress to be made, must be made today.  It must be made right now!

If you don’t act now, you don’t have a future, just a longer today.  Gandhi said, “The future depends on what we do in the present.”

4. Forgive

“The weak can never forgive.  Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”

It’s not “weaklings” who are quick-to-forgive; it’s those who are strongest.  The ability to forgive quickly is a sign of strength.  How strong are you?

If you’ve been weak in the past, you can begin today to be strong.

5. Monitor Your Beliefs

“Your beliefs become your thoughts.  Your thoughts become your words.  Your words become your actions.  Your actions become your habits.  Your habits become your values.  Your values become your destiny.”

In short, your beliefs will create your destiny.  What do you believe?  What do you believe about yourself, your future, and your potential?  What you believe, you will surely become.

Source:
http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-must-read-life-lessons-from-gandhi/

The Sun (To Sheetal from Mohamed)

Can you imagine my surprise when I saw and read the following today? It blew my mind. Well, not so much...because this young gentleman is someone I have been mentoring for almost a year. And simply,.I know how he weaves magic with his words. All I can say is...THANK YOU ♡

The Sun
by Mohamed Algantri

Our day starts with the sunrise. The sun shines, gives peace and happiness to the world.

It gives smile to the face and it gives love to the heart. We can’t wake up and feel relieved without the sun although it hides sometimes at night. However, it will shine and rise again.

Actually the sun changed her name to Sheetal Makhan.

She is the sun, humble, hard-working-optimistic, powerful and ambitious.

She is our teacher, she teaches you how to love, help, respect and how to use them.
She is an angel on the earth. I have been studying for ten months, I have not seen her angry, bored and depressed. Her mirror are students. When she helps, she feels amazed.

When she supports, she feels terrific and when she sees your smile, she feels ecstatic.

I go to school every day, every lesson and I find her busy with some students or things even when she is on lunch break.  As I knew her from the first day. Simply she is the key for any locks to any problems or advices, because she knows how to deal with everyone and everything.

She has her own flag, do not give up, as she became our flag. Beautiful like the sun and attractive like the moon. Confident when she teaches, generous when she gives and hopeful when she smiling. She is like the fire strong and brave, water fresh and lively.

We have learnt a lot from her and she has chosen her decision in life. We would like to wish her all the best and luck in life, an enormous love and respect from us.

Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Algantri (Student)

The Salt of the Earth...Abdulgader

I remember his first day almost as if it were yesterday. He was quiet and looked rather preoccupied. What struck me most was the level of respect he showed.

I'm not quite sure of when we started growing close, but does it really matter? I think not. As I always say, the only thing we are sure of is the moment right now.

It has been an emotional week, but as I sit here and reflect on my day, my thoughts go to someone who received his certificate today.

Abdulgader Alsharif (Abdul) is undoubtedly one of the FINEST students I have had the pleasure of knowing.

There is an expression which fits him perfectly. He is "the salt of the earth". In other words he is someone who is simple and good. Mash'allah!

One of the reasons why Abdul is very special to me is because in recent months, he has worked very closely with me. In particular, with his writing. His ability to weave stories and characters together really impresses me. I hope he knows how absolutely proud I am of his improvement.

When I know people for as long as I do (in terms of students, especially) it's easy to see their different colours/moods. But it must be said that no matter what, Abdul has always displayed the highest level of respect. As one of his peers said, "You don't find people like Abdul anymore."

I couldn't have said it better myself.

So finally - I would like to wish this special person all the very best as he embarks on his future. Thank you for the privilege of knowing a lovely person like you.

Some children, by Otman

by Otman

That is a story in our life I think. There are some children climbing on the wall. they have the same meaningful the best thing in the picture, so I see cooperate community between the for achieve their aims, because any realization in our life to need like this. This is my opinion.

Indians in South Africa, by Helson

by Helson Santos

The first Indians in South Africa came here with a contract [contract workers] for 3 years with very low salary. They came to work because the natives [in KZN] didn't do the same type of work. 

South Africa has the largest Indian population, and they don't speak their own language.

About fashion, they use sari and kurta pajamas. The origin of pajamas comes from India. Their clothes are very colourful, elegant and regal. About Indian jewelry, it's rich in gold and they use a lot of bangles.

Bindis (or the dot they use between the eyes)

They use because they believe this is the point or the place that has a high point of energy.

They believe it is the third eye

Some use it only as a fashion accessory

And others believe that is is protection against evil.

The red bindi means that the lady is married (single and ready to mingle)

About food, they eat with their hands, they believe that when you eat you need to experience your food, and the act of eating is an act of God. So they only eat with their right hand.

They don't eat cows, because cows give us milk and it's a sign of respect, because with this milk, they feed children. They don't eat pork because it's a dirty animal. 

About celebration

They have the festival of victory of good against evil.

The biggest industry of movies is in Bollywood. 

The "bible" is the Mahabarta.

And finally, the way they greet, I forget the meaning, but because it's so special, I prefer to say in the end.

Namaste - means, how are you? Full of love, If you are with God... 

Namaste.

My mum, by Feras

by Feras Aldaouki

I know that my mum, I always make you feel like crying, worried or angry, but all you want is for me to be a good person.

I know that I will never collect how many days you had to be with me or you had stayed to take care of me. I cannot measure how much you love me, but I can definitely remember a few beautiful words you told me.

She had never cared about her body or her health when she took care of me. So, sorry mum, I have just known that when we started missing somebody is when we became too far from them.

I'm always thinking about how or when I'm going to pay you back and return all that kindness. I also don't mind if nobody wants to trust me. But I don't want you to stop supporting and trusting me. Because you are the most important person in my life.

I will do the best to prove that your son's heart was made especially for you and no one else.

I'm going to tell you now, by Kamal

by Kamal

I haven't told anyone this before, but I'm going to tell you now...

My queen, I don't know from where I'll start

about what I felt
when I saw you for the first time.

I know now it is too late to say that,
but I should say that

you are the flower of my life.
You are the water in the desert.

I was wrong,
because I hesitated
about telling you my feelings,
and I took a long time to say that.

I know there is no benefit of this. 

I love you.

Secret Love, by Kamal

Two old friends get together for dinner after a long time apart.
One of them is secretly in love with the other one. 

by Kamal

"Hello, my friend."
"Hello, Kamal."
Hug, kiss and start talking.

She was talking with me and I was in another world.

I remembered the first day I met her.
I remembered my first heartbeat.
I remembered her scent.

Her face is the same with a little wrinkles to remind me about ten years ago.

After that she started to talk about her husband and children. She was happy with her family.
I was also happy for her.

That made me hesitate to tell her about my feeling.
I also tried to tell her about what I did in 10 years,
but I found that I just spent 10 years studying, working and researching. 

No love. 
No family.

I haven't told anyone, by Hesh

by Hesham

I haven't told anyone this before, but I'm going to tell you now...

In the past, when I was studying in high school, I was a lonely boy. I was studying and working at the same time.One day I met a boy from another city. He was friendly and very funny. Step by step, he became my best friend. That boy was living in a difficult situation in his home because his mother passed away since he was born. His father remarried, but that woman hated boys. He made me sad when he said that, but he was always joking with everyone.

This made me think: Some people smile and joke all the time, but they have problems as big as Table Mountain on their back. 

My Talent, by Ji-hyun

by Ji-hyun

This topic is one of the difficult things for me, because I have never thought that I have special talents. Of course, I like many kinds of things, such as poems or playing sports etc..

For that reason, I will write about my talent which my friends think I have.

Firstly, I am a good consumer. The meaning is that I have sense when I buy something. It was good quality and low cost of whatever I bought. Whenever they saw my new goods or clothes, they were surprised about that and always said to me, "It's unbelievable...you are good at shopping!"

Secondly, I'm a good counselor. It is my ability to give others comfort. When they talked about their problems to me, they felt better and told  me, "You're a good listener." I have learned that a good counselor is a good listener.. 

A good listener understands them well. The answer is inside themselves and they know well. They just want to express their feelings.

Finally, I strongly believe that everyone has a special talent, even if they don't know it. Someone told me, "Nobody sees that, but if you can see that, it is a special talent for you." I think this way...and maybe, I have a lot of talents!