Horseshoe Bend, Utah
With this article I am continuing the idea of community. Community has been a great support for me over the years and in particular during the Covid-19 Pandemic. I share two stories shared to me by members of the community (Ashik and Nilesh - thank you) and a poem. Use these as reflection points in conjunction with the previous article on community. They remind us we do not achieve things on our own (poem), that what/who we are surrounded by (our community, environment) has an impact on us (corn story) and we have an impact on others; and finally that real wealth, happiness and life satisfaction is in being kind, giving and making a difference to others.
No Man Is An Island
“No man is an island entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less,
As well as if a promontory were,
As well as any manor of thy friend’s,Or of thine own were.
Any man’s death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.”
The A-maize-ing story of excellent quality corn
"There was a farmer who grew excellent quality corn.
Every year he won the award for the best grown corn.
A newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned an interesting fact about how he grew it.
The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbours..
How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbours when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year…the reporter asked.
Why sir.. said the farmer,
Didn’t you know.. The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbours grow inferior corn.....cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbours grow good corn.
So is it with our lives.. Those who want to live meaningfully and well… must help enrich the lives of others for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches.
Those who choose to be happy must help others find happiness…for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.
Call it POWER OF COLLECTIVITY.
Call it a PRINCIPLE OF SUCCESS.
Call it a LAW OF LIFE.
The fact is…NONE OF US TRULY WINS…UNTIL WE ALL WIN."
I want to remember you face so that when I meet you in heaven…
"I want to remember your face so that when I meet you in heaven, I will be able to recognize you and thank you once again"
In an interview, the Radio Jockey asked his guest, a millionaire, "What made you most happy in life?"
The millionaire said:
I have gone through four stages of happiness in life and finally I understood the true happiness.
The first stage was to accumulate wealth and means. But at this stage I did not get the happiness
Then the second stage of collecting valuable items. But I realized that the effect of this is also temporary and the lustre of valuable things don't last long.
Then came the third stage of getting big projects. Like buying a football team, buying a tourist resort, etc. But even here I did not get the happiness, which I had imagined.
The fourth time a friend of mine asked me to buy wheelchairs for disabled. I immediately bought them... But my friend insisted that I accompany him and hand over the wheelchairs to the disabled children. I got ready...
I gave these chairs to the needy children with my own hands. I saw the strange glow of happiness on the faces. I saw them all sitting on chairs, moving around and having fun... It was as if they had arrived at a picnic spot.
One of the kids grabbed my legs while I was leaving the place. I gently tried to free my legs but the child stared at my face...
I bent down and asked the child: Do you need anything else?
The answer of the child not only made me happy but also changed my life completely. The child said "I want to remember your face so that when I meet you in heaven, I will be able to recognize you and thank you once again"
Over the remaining part of this year we have a few events detailed on the events page.
These include:
Last Episode of Inspiration Point Series 1 : 24th November
Manage Your Mindset and Money Workshop : 1st December (in collaboration with Priti Shah from LightSide Financial)
Remaining Gratitude & Journal Habit Immersion Training Course sessions for November (you can secure place for £60 instead of £75 via crowdfunding)
Looking back, Looking Forward Workshop : 13 Dec (TBC) (sign up via crowdfunding)
A request dear friend and reader.
(1) If you have enjoyed some of the articles I have shared and found useful please reply to shaileen@happylifehabits.co.uk and let me know.
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(3) If you think someone else might benefit from this please share with them.
(4) If you want to engage my services for coaching, speaking or training get in touch and lets see if we can create a win-win result.
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Shaileen Shah is a Happiness Coach, Speaker and Trainer. Previously having been in finance technology for the investment banking arm of RBS during the RBS takeover of Natwest, the RBS takeover of ABN Ambro and the financial crisis he has experienced the challenges brought by uncertainty, change and stress. He is certified in The Science of Happiness and shares through Happy Life Habits. Happy Life Habits Positively Impacts Happiness & Well Being Levels by creatively and uniquely combining Personal Development + The Science of Happiness + Spirituality. A business for Good; supporting the UNs Sustainable Development Goals. For more information see HappyLifeHabits.co.uk.