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Have Faith in God

Finding faith in God is one of the strongest desired desire for most people. They want to believe in God, but don’t want their belief to be based on blind faith. They sometimes wonder that if God is real, then why is it difficult to have faith in Him? Many wonder how to believe in God if He does not reveal Himself to them? They feel they do not have enough information or evidence to justify a decision to trust that God is real and then to commit themselves to a relationship with God.
The overwhelming view of modern science is that the universe began to exist roughly 14-15 billion years ago. Given the fact that the universe began to exist, it must have had a ‘cause’ that originated it. Skeptics and atheists counter that the universe may be on some space-time circular pattern, but the bottom line is that there must have been a ‘creator’ of this eternal universe. Only an independent, infinite, eternal and omnipresent cause is sufficient to account for the universe. Therefore such a being must exist. Life’s journey teaches us many things, but one of the major things we learn is that nothing stays the same and everything changes. Seasons change, day changes into night, people change from childhood to old age and time never stands still. Change happens every moment of each day but God never changes and remains the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Learn to trust God, especially in areas you have never dared to trust him before and spend some time of solitude in remembering Him. You will feel the wonderful and miraculous things God will do for you. Meditate on His unchanging nature and pray, honour, revere and thank Him for everything. Run to Him for protection and safety through prayer and he will shower love and blessings on you, until you are filled with peace, rest and strength to live the life he has purposed for you.
God is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient. Let Him take charge of your life, direct your path and order your steps.
If you have faith in God and His creation, you will not do anything to harm anyone. In fact you will do your best to help your fellow human beings. You will also try to follow the right path which leads you to God and away from sin. God lives in each one of us and if we truly believe in Him and follow our conscience, we will know right from wrong. If all of us love and appreciate the beauty of nature that surrounds us and respect the will of God, this world will become a much more beautiful place.

Be Positive

All thoughts, good or bad, are creative and our experiences in life are the result of habitual and predominant thoughts. What goes on in your mind can really determine your actions and decides whether you are positive or negative. If you always think negative thoughts, you will always turn out to be a negative person. It is better to think positive thoughts. Focus your imagination and efforts on becoming a positive person. It is much easier to effect change if you just put your mind to it and change your thoughts. We cannot always control things that happen in our lives, but we can, with some effort control what we think in our minds. The only thing between you and your desire to be happy is the fact that you think negatively. This little known fact keeps many from reaching their goal of happiness.
Smile at strangers and although it may seem a little weird, it actually makes you feel more positive and happy. You may even brighten that other person’s day with just a smile. Listen to positive music as it is a great way to remain positive. Volunteer or help others as helping others leads to a happier outlook on your own life. You will feel great and will evolve as a good person. Replace negative thoughts with positive ones and look for the benefit in every situation. There are pros and cons to most situations and you get to choose which one you will focus on.
The more positively you will act, the earlier you will reach your goals and get rewarded.
People often wonder how to be positive in their thoughts and actions, especially when they are unhappy and unsatisfied or when life is difficult and tough. Like every other subject, the know-how of how to be positive can be learned and the skill developed. Begin by becoming aware of your thoughts and exchanging your negative thoughts with positive ones. It is our mind that creates the kind of life we live. We cannot always have control over our external circumstances, but we can control our inner world of thoughts. Focus your mind on the good things you already have in your life. Appreciate your friends and people in your life who have stood by you through thick and thin. Feel lucky to have them with you. Look for the good in every situation. There is always something good or at least something useful to learn, even in difficult or unpleasant situations. The true test of an individual to remain positive is when challenges become difficult. Stop criticising others. With a little work and effort you can change how you think, which will automatically change your attitude, expectations, actions and reactions which will lead to more motivation, happiness and an improved life.

Smile

Smiling people lighten up the room, change the moods of others and make things happier. A smiling person brings happiness with him and people are drawn towards him. We want to know a smiling person and figure out what is so good. Frowns, sulky faces and grimaces push all people away. There is a famous saying “Frown and you frown alone, but smile and the whole world smiles with you”. Smiling changes our mood. Next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. There is a good chance your mood will change for the better. Smile can really relieve stress. It prevents us from looking tired, worn down and overwhelmed. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile. The stress should be reduced and you will be able to take appropriate action. Smiling helps the immune system to work better. When you smile, your immune function improves, possibly because your are more relaxed. A smile causes a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don’t go for a facelift, just try smiling your way through the day and you will look younger and feel better.
Smiling people appear more confident so they are more likely to be approached and promoted and are generally more successful in life.
Smiling helps you stay positive and makes you stay away from depression, stress and worry. Smiles improve your appearance and it is an inexpensive way to change your looks. Smiles make things right again and say much more than words can.  If you have hurt someone, said something harsh, feel lost, alone or down, a smile can set things right again. A smile lets other people know that you are prepared to be open to them and you are willingly agreeing to set things right where needed. Smiles create trust and rapport. They make other people feel good. A genuine smile is accompanied by a general glow, smiling eyes and a reassuring demeanour, that helps the viewer to be more at ease in your presence. A genuine smile comes from being happy, positive and from drawing your feelings from the heart. Love the people around you and spread happiness. When you smile, it tends to make others around you smile. Even in the most stressful times, a roomful of smiles can brighten everybody’s mood. A fake smile can make you look phony and nervous, so don’t try it.
Smiling is a good long-term predictor of happier outcomes. Smiling attracts health, happiness, friends, success and a longer life. So always keep smiling.

Avoid Overspending

Sticking to a budget can be extremely difficult, particularly if your finances are tight and you are not inclined to be particularly organizsed or disciplined. However, you can successfully curb excess spending and keep your budget intact by following certain tips. Oftentimes, people spend money on spur of the moment purchases that they really should be saving for something else. The easiest way to avoid this bad habit is to portion out your money every time you get a pay cheque. Put your bill money (including credit card payments), grocery money and funds for other necessities in the bank. Take out in cash the remaining money which can be considered spending money. Having the funds in cash can often help you monitor your spending better as people often go overboard when buying things with a credit card because they don’t see the account balance shrinking in front of them.
Next time you head out on a shopping trip, plan to run all your errands at the same time. If you have a list of places to go and things to accomplish, you will be less likely to spend extra time shopping or browsing for items other than those on your list. Check your list before you leave your house and eliminate anything you don’t actually need. It will not only help you stay on track but will most likely make your entire outing more efficient and effective and will help you avoid forgetting something important and having to make an extra unnecessary trip.
Many people over-spend because they feel that shopping eases stress or relieves depression and they often buy things they don’t really want.
You might want to buy a device with a slick new function and you may want to upgrade your existing device. Ask yourself whether you really need it before buying it. Don’t buy something because you are worried about hurting the sales person’s feelings. Beware of sale items which make you feel that you have to take advantage of a special deal or a limited time offer.
It has been aptly said that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Do not allow your mind to wander unnecessarily as you might fall into the temptation of spending money to kill time. You could utilise your time in a creative and useful manner.
If you have a habit of overspending, you could let someone else take charge and shop for you instead. Encourage yourself to exercise restraint and buy only when you need something. Overspending may lead you into debt.

Avoid Cell Phone Abuse

The invention of mobile phones, their upgrades to high-end smart-phones with many popular and fascinating features, their easy availability in the consumer market and their affordability have ensured that almost every person we meet on the streets can afford to carry a cell phone. With more and more companies providing connections and SIM cards at extremely affordable rates, almost every person tries to get hold of it. Cell phones are indeed one of the greatest and most useful inventions of mankind. Cell phones help people to stay in touch with others even in different corners of the world. They come equipped with web cameras, audio and video recorders, mobile gaming, PDA, internet, video and music players etc.
But there is another darker and graver side to the story too. Widespread use of cell phones has made way for its rampant misuse too, especially by the youth, anti-social elements, terrorists and other criminals. Camera phones, that come with MMS enabled facilities are used to take unauthorised explicit photos, shoot pornographic videos etc. and spread them. Moreover, since SIM cards can be easily available and there is no proper facility for fool-proof checking of one’s records, these phones are being misused by terrorists for various activities.
The young generation is so engrossed in sending SMSes, talking over the phone and spending most of their time in the virtual world that in the real world they are gradually becoming ill-equipped and repressive. This leads to communication problems and also cause disturbances as one is always busy texting and receiving texts.
When you use a cell phone while walking through the road, you may not see a vehicle coming close to you and since its use in public places increases the reaction time, you may not get time to move away from danger. Mobile phone use while driving may cause accidents as cell phone conversation distracts the driver’s attention, increases reaction time and reduces visual field attention.
Use of mobile phones in gatherings, meetings, entertainment places etc. disturb others. Imagine, you are in a public place trying to concentrate on something or in serious discussion with your friend or enjoying a peaceful moment, when suddenly a stranger starts talking loudly on his cell phone. Your concentration breaks or your conversation ends or your peaceful moment is disturbed, you become a victim of cell phone abuse. You get irritable or annoyed with the caller. With increased use of camera phones and multimedia facilities, cyber crimes such as fraud, theft and forgery are increasing.
We should educate our children to use cell phones moderately. Mobile phones are both a boon and a bane. It is up to us to use them responsibly and make them a boon for the rest of our lives.

Exercise Your Right To Vote

Voting is a right that throughout history, many have fought for and sacrificed everything to achieve. It is a right that millions of people throughout the world still do not enjoy. The right to vote is a privilege. By voting we express our opinions, participate in our society and help to determine our future.
Abraham Lincoln called democracy “Government of the people, by the people and for the people”. It means that we are not here to serve our government; but that our government is here to serve us and we have the right to decide who will represent us and how we want to be represented. We, as a democratic nation have one of the greatest rights any free people can have: the right to vote. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not the President, Prime Minister or other ministers, but the voters of this country. You may sometimes wonder that with millions of people who vote in any election, does your vote really count? Perhaps you feel that if you can’t really make a difference why bother to vote. The truth is  that your vote does count and you do make a difference every time you vote. Your vote holds your local and national leaders responsible for the decisions they make. It sends a message about the issues you think are important. Your vote affirms our rights as free citizens to elect our government and take part in democracy. Without voting, there could be no democracy. The government you elect will decide whether to raise or lower taxes, make economic policies that could affect your job and decide when or if to use military force. Voting connects citizens with their political process, as well as to one another. By taking part in an election and by expressing our point of view, we help our democracy work. By agreeing or disagreeing with our leaders we show that the political system can accept different points of view and can resolve them. Voting helps to safeguard our freedom. A democratic community can only survive if its citizens see participation in the political process as a duty and a responsibility. It is critical to understand that if you oppose a particular person, go and vote against him otherwise you will be helping him to win. Good candidates must be supported, irrespective of whether they may win or not, so that they are encouraged rather than embarrassed to stand for election. Our single vote is not important, but collectively all our votes make a huge impact we need to show the political parties that we mean business.
Vote because you care about your community. Vote because you believe in free government and want to add your voice. Vote because it is the right thing to do and it will make you feel good to participate and have a say.

Write A Good Book

A book is the best medium to give expression to your thoughts. It is a good means of spreading your ideas and knowledge. You can reach out to people all over the world through your book.
There are numerous reasons why you should consider writing a book. If you are passionate about a technology and want the world to know all about it, you could pen it down in the form of a book for all to read. If you have a desire to do something creative and different, a book project could be an exceptionally rewarding and fulfilling process. It could also increase your credibility. By writing a book you become a ‘name’ in a given area. With a book behind you, it is far easier to reach a global audience. Thousands of people can draw inspiration from your thoughts. If you write a good novel, you can provide entertainment to so many. A spiritual book can provide solace to many with problems in their lives. An inspirational book may even change the lives of many. Writing enables you to broaden your horizons. A book can potentially allow you to move into areas such as training, consulting and presenting. It enhances your self esteem and you often learn new skills during the process or expand the ones you already possess. With increased credibility and fame you can leverage your existing career. Many authors secure new clients due to their books while others get quick promotions. It can also be a financially lucrative venture because if your book sells well you earn more royalty. You leave a legacy behind and your book is read by people of the future generations.
You must write the first chapter of the book very carefully as it could be the most important part of the book. People often determine whether they like the style of the author by reading the beginning. It must have a purpose or goal which should keep the reader interested to the end. Spread your significant message out to the world through your book. You can even solve the problems in your field through your book and gain the prestige of an author. A book will expand your exposure, add credibility and increase your opportunities in life. When your book is sold all over the world, you shall get opportunities to interact with people globally. Share your experiences to inspire your audience. Share how you overcame challenges in your field to motivate your audience. Best of all your family, your friends and your parents will be so proud to tell all their friends about your book.
Dr (Mrs) Archana Bharat

Compromise With The Situation

Compromises are part of every long-term relationship. Either due to differences in character or differences in perception, people tend to disagree with each other. However, if they truly love each other, there is no situation in which they are unable to find a solution which satisfies both of them. People who really want to be together will find ways to compromise. None of us likes to disagree but even less we like to compromise. People abhor compromise because for them it means to fail or, at least, to choose the better of two evils. By such attitude they defy the positive aspects of compromise. We should consider compromise as a healthy way to end conflict, and focus on restoring relationships damaged by conflicts. If you have to compromise during a difficult situation in a relationship, you are in a tough spot as it is not easy to cope with.
Consider how important the situation that you are compromising about is in your relationship. If you are dealing with a small but difficult issue, be generous when compromising as it is not worth damaging a relationship over trivial issues.
However, if you are compromising about a major issue, be ready to stand up for yourself. Make sure to be calm before the discussion about the difficult situation begins.
Think about the situation from your own as well as your partner’s perspective, as situations are perceived differently by different people. Sit down with your partner and begin an open dialogue. Be sure to discuss how you feel without blaming your partner. Discuss the reasons why you feel that a compromise is necessary so that he/she may be more willing to find a solution. Remember that compromise requires both give and take. It may take some time, but working together to resolve an issue will make you and your significant other into a stronger unit. Resolve the issue and stick to the resolution. You can easily destroy your credibility by agreeing to a compromise in a difficult situation and then changing your mind. You can save yourself from an unhappy relationship.
Another type of situation in which compromise is necessary is all kinds of political issues ranging from agricultural, industrial and international relationship. To reach agreement is highly important as it has a serious bearing on the future of the whole country.
Politicians have to forget about their own aspirations and keep in mind that their decisions will influence other peoples’ lives. One should always think twice not to miss the best in life, especially if it is obtainable by means of compromise. It establishes a happy and loving relationship and guarantees political and economic welfare of a country. Legal problems can also be solved through compromise.

Do Not Pollute Our Environment

Pollution prevention is an exceptionally major global concern because of pollution’s harmful effects on the person’s health and on the environment. Environment pollution comes in various forms such as noise pollution, air pollution and water pollution. Everyone is a stake-holder as we all are inhabitants of this mother earth. Each person has something to contribute to promote effective pollution prevention awareness initiatives. Environmental protection ensures a sustainable future for generations to come. We should therefore cooperate and actively participate in making the atmosphere pollution free. Individually we can help combat pollution in our own immediate environment. Most countries have already addressed the issue by passing some form of pollution prevention acts and measures.
Averting the onset of pollution in any area, be it on air, water or land could be the start and the simplest preventive solution to the problem. This calls for a conscientious effort to adopt good practices or habits by the people, the passage and proper implementation of appropriate government laws and the strict compliance especially by potential industrial pollutants. If there are no pollutants, there will be no pollution but somehow industrial development comes with the burden of pollution. The cost to business and its commercial ramifications make the simple preventive approach quite complicated and difficult to implement. However, this seemingly difficult situation does not deter environment protection advocates to pressure their dream of a clean and green environment. We can help them by following certain simple measures. To reduce sound pollution, keep the volume of your TV or music system low, honk the car horn sparingly, discourage use of loudspeakers and avoid the use of band and crackers in wedding processions.
To prevent air pollution, keep smoke emission from homes, factories and vehicles to a minimum. Stop smoking. Use unleaded petrol in your cars, keep your car properly maintained. Never use open fires to dispose of wastes. Industries should use fuel with lower sulphur content. Industries should monitor their air emissions in compliance to the prescribed standards.
You may reduce water pollution by not dumping garbage near communal taps, wells and other water bodies. Immerse holy idols in authorised places. Industries should refrain from disposing their chemical wastes in water bodies. Wash your car on a grassy area. Recycle and reuse materials and do not use plastic bags. Save all forms of energy like electricity, petrol and water. Plant trees and use natural resources sparingly. Everyone can help by adopting good and healthy practices. Every action of a person with regard to his surroundings has an effect on the environment. By becoming aware and doing the right action, we can be part of the solution to this problem.

Give Useful Advice

It can be very hard to give good advice to people who are under stress or are distressed. One of the trickiest aspects of advice giving is that advice can be more of a band-aid than a true solution to someone’s problem. Some situations warrant straightforward advice, while others require a more in-depth analysis of a person’s habits and patterns. First of all determine whether your advice is appropriate. When someone approaches you with a problem they are having, it is important to ascertain what they are really asking from you. Listen carefully and try to empathise with them. We often assume that people are asking for advice when all they really want is someone to hear them out for a few minutes.
When people are very emotional, they often are not ready for any feedback or advice so you may just listen to them patiently and try not give in to your natural problem solving instincts. Often, just helping someone organise the issue in their own mind helps lead them to their own solution.
After you have heard the person out, make sure they are clear on your style of advice. Let them know that you may have to say things they disagree with or that are hard to hear. If they appear to be open to your advice, move on. Diagnose the problem and try to articulate each option for solving it. Let them weigh these options on their own. Ask them what the best solution is. People often know what the best solution is, but it is often the least savoury choice. They may have omitted the most obvious solution most likely as it may be the most painful option.
People sometimes seek advice as a way to validate or invalidate the conclusion they have already come to; the only option they have is the least tasteful.
Once you have laid out the options, work with the person to really visualise what the natural consequences, tangible and emotional of each option are. They will see that there are positives and negatives to each option.
Ultimately, since you will not have to live with the consequences, you cannot make the decision for them. Offer them support in whatever decision they make and let them know that you will be there to discuss later on. We all need to be reminded sometimes that problems come and go and we survive. A truly good friend will be there for you through it all.
Your good advice may serve as a ray of hope in the darkness surrounding your friend and may change his life for the better. Facing life with a positive approach can do wonders.

Utilise Old Things

In most homes there is a lot of stuff that nobody uses. You do not want to throw it away but, really, you cannot use it anymore. With a little bit of creativity you can turn these old things into something wonderful and useful. If you are on a budget or dislike the thought of shopping for new supplies, then take the creative route. Dig out all the old things in your house that are no longer in use and convert them into productive items. Reusing old objects is economical and environmentally safe. Anyone can achieve this feat with a little imagination and effort.
The rock garden of Chandigarh is a glorious example of old things being artistically converted into a beautifully decorative landscape.
At home, gift wrapping paper can be reused if you take care not to rip open a present and tear the paper to shreds. Save the wrapping paper for using it another time. You can embellish it with ribbons, sequins and stickers to give it a new look. If you have leftover cloth after making a dress or quilt, you can make use of it in stitching your baby’s dress or cushion covers.
Sometimes people end up with a large collection of decorative trays or plates gifted by family and friends. You can get plate hangers and display these on the walls of your home or use them for gifting them to people.
Pictures from old calendars can be framed and hung on walls. Old calendars can also be used as wrapping paper or be spread on shelves of your cupboards. You can take out the unused pages from your child’s notebook and bind them together to be used as a rough note book. The old school books of your elder child can be bound and used by your younger child. Do not throw old pens. Just change the refills and reuse them.
In case you have a pet at home, you can create a comfortable resting place for them by using old blankets, sweaters or towels. Empty tissue boxes also need not be thrown away. You can reuse them for storing plastic bags. A great use for old fabric is to add some beads, buttons and new fabric to create new cushions for your living room couch. Use old clothes to teach your children to do needle work or make dolls. Old torn fabric may be used for cleaning the house. Old sarees can be used for making beautiful new quilts.
You can polish and change the fabric of your old sofas and other furniture to give it a new look. Making new candles from old, used candles by melting them is a fun craft project. Old pots and pans make for a great potted plant. Making new things from something old is always fun. With a touch of creativity and spirit, you can find a new use for your old things. So reuse, recycle and redecorate.

Lead A Simple Life

A simple life has a different meaning and a different value for every person. It means eliminating all but the essential, finding peace within yourself and spending your time doing what’s important to you. It means getting rid of the clutter so you are left with only that which you value most. However, getting to simplicity is not always a simple process. It’s a journey, not a destination and it can often be a journey of two steps forward and one backward. Clearing the clutter from your home and from your life is easier said than done. We are often emotionally attached to our possessions. This attachment goes beyond our needs and we find it difficult to let go of nostalgia. When we are free of physical clutter, it frees our minds as well. The less we have, the more attention we can give to those things we own and truly need on a regular basis. It is pretty amazing how little we actually need. We only need abundance of the mind and the soul.
Nothing external can give us permanent and true happiness. We actually have all we need to be truly happy, within us. The art of having less but enjoying our lives more, involves a few simple changes in perspective. First we must understand where our true values lie and focus on them. Then, we must take time to enjoy the simple things and slow down and see what’s right in front of us.
There is a saying, “The best things in life are free”. Spending time with family and friends, laughing, enjoying the antics of a pet, seeing a child smile, experiencing intimate and heart-felt moments with a loved one – these times are precious and free. Money brings comfort and there is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying that comfort but we should ensure to spend money only on things that matter to us. If you focus on enjoying the simple things you do every day, you can find so much happiness. In order to live the life you love, you have to love the life you have. Take time to be grateful for what you have and be content with all the small gifts in your life. It’s easy to speed through your day and not notice the little things. Slow down and fully immerse yourself in the subtle joys of this moment. Life is so precious, yet we spend our most valuable resource – time, on things that are not important to us. Go outdoors and enjoy the beauty of nature, read a good book.
Our outer world is a reflection of our inner world. By cleaning out and simplifying our outer space, our inner space will open up like a flower. When we open up physical space in our environment, a tremendous feeling of peace can dwell within us and we can find true happiness.

Ask For Forgiveness

Truthfully saying that you are sorry and asking for forgiveness is a difficult task. Pride gets in the way most of the time. It becomes the stumbling block. When you get angry with someone and a confrontation leads to the digging up of past problems and an exchange of harsh words, both of you will feel hurt and you may end up not talking to each other for a while. Sometimes you really do not intend to say hurtful words, nor do you want to even utter those words because they can be meaningless but they just come out in the heat of the argument.
Asking for forgiveness releases a person from the agony of being hurt and burdened. It does not really matter who started the argument. The main thing is that someone should be brave enough to make the first approach and ask for forgiveness. If someone else asks you for forgiveness, be generous enough to forgive. Think of an apology as a commitment to the relationship rather than an act of weakness. Acknowledge your actions without making excuses. Share your feelings about what happened but avoid blaming, exaggerating or saying empty words. Listen patiently to the other person’s response without getting defensive. Be honest and only apologise for things you truly feel responsible for. Don’t apologise just to make an unpleasant situation go away.
Practice what you are going to say until you are comfortable to say the words. You do not want to start your apology only to say the wrong things and start another argument. Take responsibility for your part, how you hurt the other person rather than give any attention to how they hurt you. Be vulnerable and reveal your own sadness or remorse for causing them pain. This fosters emotional healing. Say it in writing if a personal confrontation is scary. Offer to make amends if appropriate. Do not be discouraged if you aren’t completely forgiven the moment you apologise and give the other person some time to sort out his or her feelings. In the meantime, seek every opportunity to do good to that person even if he is stubborn.
There is no need for an emotional outburst. Sincerely ask for forgiveness when the other person has had time to calm down and is willing to listen. Strive to avoid the causes that brought about the problems.
Asking for forgiveness is a sign of strength. It should not be considered a weakness. There is a famous saying – “To err is human, to forgive divine”. It helps repair relationships, strengthens family bonds and relieves your heart and mind.

Be A Good Citizen

A good citizen is someone who respects others and their property, is helpful and considerate, willing to put others first. He listens to the views of others and thinks about what they have to say, helps people who are not in a position to help themselves, respects the environment and does not damage it in anyway. He works hard, is well mannered and pleasant and is always willing to learn. We are used to living under laws and patterns that are dictated to us by society but just following those patterns does not make us good citizens. To be a good person, one has to be full of values, principles, ethics etc.
An important aspect of being a good citizen is to help people. All around us, we can see there are people in need of our help. We should lend our helping hand not only to poor people but also pregnant women, old and sick people. Our small actions can make a big difference. If you have been blessed with a sound mind and body, it is your responsibility to look out for children, the aged, the disabled and those who are down on their luck and help them.
Another important thing for a good citizen is to have an active participation in his community. We can do this in a lot of ways. When elections come we must exercise our voting right and vote for the most deserving candidate. We should also participate in neighbourhood meetings for deciding about the maintenance of the streets and other matters and put forth our point of view. Be proactive and take initiative when you see problems in your community. One good citizen can be an enormous force.
Respect the people who live around us. We should remember that other people have similar rights like we do. Respect is one of the most important bases when living in a society. We all have freedom, but it is restricted to a certain point. We cannot consider a killer or a thief good citizens as they have violated that restriction. Volunteer to do good deeds such as tutoring at schools, visiting nursing homes, working at elections, helping disaster relief agencies, donating to hospitals or cleaning up a park or nature preserve.
If you live in an area where neighbours do not know each other, start a new tradition. Have a block party or a get-together. Get to know the names of your postman, garbage pick-up workers and show an interest in people you meet on a regular basis. As adults, we also have obligations to contribute to the society and make our corner of the world a little better.

Be A Good Employer

Becoming a good boss is not something that can happen overnight. It is an ongoing learning process with struggles along the way. But once you are able to achieve a perfect balance between the needs of your company, your employees and yourself, you know that you are on your way to becoming an effective and good employer whom people respect and revere. A good boss needs to possess certain qualities. He should have leadership skills because there is a significant difference between a follower and a leader and hence all good employees cannot be good bosses. A good employer treats all employees as valuable members of the organisation, from the file clerk to the CEO. He provides consistent benefits and fair compensation plans commensurate with market and contribution. He treats all employees with respect and courtesy and requires that the same treatment be accorded at all levels of the organisation. He realises that because employees are humans too, some things are truly beyond their control. So if something goes wrong, allow for some human limitation but your tolerance should not be abused by your employees by giving mediocre results.
It takes courage to give out commands and manage a large group, especially to take on full responsibility of your employees’ actions. Hence you should be very selective in finding the right kind of employees. If you end up with people who will put your name and reputation in danger, your company will be in serious trouble. So, check the background of all your potential employees. Be optimistic and smile all the time. You cannot expect your employees to produce excellent results if they see you sulking all the time. You have to realise that teaching people takes a lot of time and effort, so you have to exercise utmost patience.
A good employer has genuine concern about his employees and realises that they too have needs and feelings. Recognition, raise in workers’ compensation or rewards are some of the best ways to motivate your employees but you have to be tactful and keep them in discipline. During company outings, do not hesitate to show your employees the fun side of you. Joke and laugh with them and talk to them. Provide a learning environment for all employees to increase employee satisfaction. The rapid rate of change in technology demands that employees continually enhance skills and knowledge. Have an open door policy. A good boss has multitude rewards. You earn the loyalty and respect of your employees and your company progresses.

Be Efficient

It is amazing how much time we waste, but if we are willing to make a few changes, our time can be used more efficiently.
First and foremost, use logic and common sense and explore several options before proceeding. Accept and learn from your mistakes. Ask for help from someone who has more experience or skill. Be open to new ideas and amicable towards new perspectives. Speed your process and technique by planning ahead.
Make a list of ideas and even if you do not have time to proceed at the moment, you may have time to think about the most efficient procedure. When following instructions, read through the entire procedure before you begin and highlight important concepts. Learn the fundamentals before proceeding to the more complicated and use the proper tools and resources. A simple tool may be more appropriate for certain tasks. Always work in accordance with your priorities and finish the urgent tasks first. Be realistic in calculating the time required for each step. Set aside extra time for some unexpected delays. As you near the end of a step, begin thinking about the next. Divide your work into smaller portions and take breaks at intervals. A small project is less daunting and more easily accomplished. Stay focused because time can be wasted if you forget a step or get off track. Remove distractions to give your full attention. Complete one project before starting another for a sense of achievement.
Take a break as you need rest to replenish and rejuvenate your body and mind. Gently exercise to increase circulation and oxygen to your brain to think more clearly.
Limit your possessions as all possessions require your time and money to maintain. Get rid of unused and useless items. Buy time-saving, multifunctional and reliable items.
Organise your things and put everything in their proper place. This way you will not waste time in finding them whenever you require them.
Keep your thoughts focused on fruitful endeavours and be confident with your plans and proceed. Do the best you can and take pride in the quality of your work. Education allows you to adapt more easily. So offer your knowledge, skills and direction to others. Enjoy your spare time by doing things of your interest.

Pay Your Taxes

Taxes are the legal claims of the government of a country and all citizens are morally and legally bound to pay their fair share of tax. A large percentage of people who pay tax think as if the government is trying to steal their hard earned money, but it is not true. Money collected from taxes helps a country to become stronger and helps government provide a variety of services to its citizens. People earn lots of money using the prosperity of the state and prosper in their life. It is therefore, the right of the government to get its share from your income that you have made with the resources of the state. Therefore, everybody should pay his or her taxes regularly and willingly.
The government provides many services with our tax money. The infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, dams, railways which are available to the society, utilise tax money. Money collected from taxes is also used to provide public security like police, fire safety, army, navy and air force and to buy arms for them. Keeping roads clean, water treatment, street lights, trash removal and maintenance of public parks requires a lot of money. The government also provides some level of free or subsidized health services to its citizens including preventive immunisation shots, disaster relief etc. Free education is also imparted to poor students. Maintenance of historic monuments, government aid, emergency relief, elections, agriculture, commerce, energy, urban development, treasury, judiciary are all funded by the tax money paid by us.
Taxes are imposed in many forms, for example: income tax, sales tax, excise, toll, house tax etc. Usually people with higher income pay a higher percentage of tax than the people with lower income and those with very low income do not have to pay tax.
Resisting taxes has risks. It could result in penalty and prison time and could complicate life immensely.
Chanakya stressed: “Taxes should be collected the way a honey bee collets the honey from the flower”. The flower is willing to give up its sweetness, but the bee also takes care that only a little is taken without hurting the flower. Regular tax payers get many financial advantages from the government and are respected by the government as well.

Give Encouragement

Many of the greatest achievements begin with the empowering words of encouragement. When someone is feeling insecure, unsure or apprehensive about taking constructive action or pursuing favourable opportunities, you should convey to them that you believe that they are capable and that their efforts are worthwhile. Everyone has times when they could use some support or motivation from others. There is nothing better than the encouragement of a good friend.
Look for someone you know who has been disappointed or is going through a tough moment in life. Showing an interest in them can be very encouraging even if there may not be anything you can do to improve or fix their situation. If someone dear to you is putting in a great effort or doing a great job, you just have to take notice and show an interest. Your encouragement will reinforce the actions of that individual and may give him the strength to do even greater things in future. Encouragement can do wonders for students who wish to achieve in class.
In addition to encouraging someone through a personal conversation, hand written notes are also a great way to encourage someone. Keep the note positive and do not criticise in anyway. The note should genuinely express your true feelings. Encouragement is most effective when you say things that you really mean. Undue flattery may produce unrealistic expectations and ultimately cause more harm than good. Honestly expressing your desire for the person to succeed can help motivate them to take action. You should indicate confidence in their abilities and focus on what can be accomplished.
When someone you care about, has a stressful situation, tell them that it will be okay. Knowing that someone believes in them can help someone overcome the obstacles in their life. If you see someone faltering or thinking negatively about something, give them something positive to think about instead. By changing their attitude from negative to positive, you will enable them to think positively about other things as well.
Always be willing to share a smile. When times are hard, the toughest thing to do is smile. By sharing your smile, you are helping them to overcome the negative feelings and probably they will smile in return. You can encourage people by giving them a hug or helping them with something. It can keep them from falling into depression and put a bright smile on their face.

Do Not Criticise

One key to a successful life is – “Do not criticise anyone”. When you criticise others you weaken yourself. If you truly want to be successful, you should begin by being honest with yourself, recognising your own behaviour. When we recognize our behaviour we are on the path to correcting it. Everyone who corrects his own behaviour is inevitably successful. The person who often blames others for his failures and never recognises his own self destructive behaviour will not be successful.
Criticism is useless because it hurts the pride of others and provokes resistance. It provokes an inevitable reaction against its author. The person who knows how to live without criticising does not provoke resistance or reaction on the part of his fellow beings and consequently, creates an atmosphere of success and progress. On the other hand, those who do criticize others have many enemies. The world is full of critical people who find faults and are irritable and sometimes intolerable. Their bad behaviour makes them impatient, angry, egotist, proud and arrogant and they have no patience.
As employers they become the executioners of their employees. Workers who are compelled to work under such fault finding people end up hating the job and the employer. No discontented worker works his best under duress. Many times enterprises fail because the workers are discontented, dissatisfied and do not work efficiently because of the criticism they must endure. On the other hand workers who seek any occasion to criticise their employers, sometimes end up losing their job. Employers have pride and vanity and feel offended when criticised by employees. The one who wants to correct others should begin by correcting himself. This gives better results. Try to see the best in all human beings and take responsibility for your actions to lead a happy, healthy life.
Sometimes people who criticise have an upper hand on the people with more knowledge of the subject. It is only because people do not want to pick a fight with them when they are yelling loudly and are irrational. In fact they are the ones who are misrepresenting themselves and fail miserably. We need to analyse our own life and actions before criticising actions of others.

Keep Your Promise

Very few people realise, or wish to accept that one of the worst experiences in the life of an individual is a broken promise. We all have moments when we make a promise to someone and cannot keep it, for a variety of reasons. However, when there is a definite pattern in breaking promises, it suggests that the person making the promise is trying to please too many people, perhaps to impress, but failing miserably.
Promises mean a lot to people because they suggest appreciation, value and empathy and carry some pleasure in fulfilment. The effect of broken promises is resentment, undue anxiety, missed opportunities and lack of trust in future promises for one person and a chain of guilt and feelings of incapacity and inadequacy for the other. Broken promises also give a feeling of regret and are rarely associated with success. The most successful people tend to value others and keep their word because it demonstrates integrity – a key attribute for achievement. If not handled sensitively, broken promises can cause ill feeling, damage friendships and even lose business.
Keeping your promises is a way to live your life with integrity. You should especially keep your promises with children. Sometimes parents try to soothe a child’s temper and placate him by making false promises which they have no intention of keeping. Children are too gentle and vulnerable and a broken promise can cause devastation, hurt, grief and frustration in them.
If you find yourself prone to breaking promises, try to limit yourself to genuine promises which you can keep. Do not be forced or pressured and commit yourself only when you feel like it. It is our desire for approval which makes us promise to too many people and when we end up keeping none of them, it makes us feel miserable and we lose our credibility and friends. Be realistic and make promises according to your capabilities. If you value someone’s friendship, or truly respect them, or you value your customers don’t make promise you can’t keep. We can only command respect and be appreciated when we are consistently trustworthy and choose someone else’s interests over our own.

Utilise Time

Time is one of the most precious things in this world. Once it is lost, you cannot get it back. Time and tide never wait for anybody. Time is life and money and if you waste it you are wasting your life and money. If we know how to manage time, which is a precious limited resource, we shall be able to lead a happy life.
First of all, you should list all the tasks you need to get done in order of their priority. Set your goals long term and short term to enable you to decide which tasks contribute to your goals and which don’t. Where difficult tasks exist, break them into smaller tasks with smaller goals to make them less cumbersome. Critical and urgent matters should be dealt with immediately. You may delay jobs where immediate fulfilment is not necessary. You may take short breaks during difficult or mundane chores.
Do not waste time as every minute is precious and doing whatever portion you can of your listed tasks brings you closer to the finish line. Review your schedule against what you have achieved to assess your planning and scheduling.
Time slips like sand through your fingers. It always moves forward and does not move backward. If you do not keep up with time, it creates lots of problems. An employee always coming late may lose his job. A student always coming late to school may fail in his exams. If we are late, we may miss our bus, train or plane and be put into a lot of tension and stress. If we get up late and do everything hastily, specially swallowing food, it may lead to indigestion.
The person who wins is the person who properly utilises his time. Avoid watching excessive T.V., sleeping too much, watching long matches, gossips, junk mails and unnecessary phone calls. Also avoid arguments and unnecessary meetings. Whenever you have free time, relax, have fun or spend it with your loved ones to decompress from a stressful day. Exercise or take a walk to keep fit.
Time management is just a discipline – a way of life. It comes with practice and can be your greatest asset – a strategy that helps you make the best use of your time.

Use Solar Energy

The sun produces a tremendous amount of energy and will continue producing it for billions of years. Hence solar energy is considered the ultimate renewable energy. The other sources of energy, especially oil are fast depleting so it is essential to look for another sustainable source of energy. In future, solar energy will be the largest source of global energy for a number of reasons.
Many people choose to use it due to its positive environmental impact, financial benefits and energy independence. Global warming and climate change are major issues facing the world today and you can be part of the solution by taking advantage of solar energy. Unlike fossil fuels, solar energy doesn’t produce the harmful pollutants responsible for increasing the greenhouse effect which leads to global warming.
Another key factor for homeowners considering solar energy is the financial aspect. The financial benefits of solar energy can be seen in reduced electricity bills as you use solar energy for electricity, lighting, heating and cooling.
By using solar energy, you will reduce your dependence on the utility companies as you’ll be able to produce your own solar power electricity. Solar energy also gives you a level of reliability and security that other energy sources can’t match. When your neighbours do not have power due to an outage, you will not be affected since your home generates its own electricity and heat. People who are already taking advantage of today’s solar energy technology are saving money and saving the environment and can feel good about being responsible global citizens.
There are four basic uses of solar energy – solar electricity, solar heating, solar cooling and solar lighting. Electricity can be generated by using photovoltaic solar cells which are combined into solar panels and connected to an inverter to produce electricity.
Solar energy can also be used to heat your home, domestic water and swimming pool. Solar heating systems collect, store and distribute solar energy. Solar cooling takes advantage of the sun in the hot summer months and use its energy in cooling devices. Solar energy lighting can be used to enhance your home’s outdoor features or to provide natural interior lighting. The future of solar energy is indeed bright.

Do Not Use Plastic

More and more people around the world are becoming aware of the environmental hazards, surrounding plastic bags. Considering their somewhat placid appearance, the impact of plastic bags on the environment can be devastating. Plastics are not biodegradable material. Instead, they break up into smaller pieces of plastic until eventually becoming plastic dust. They are dangerous for small children who may wear them over their head and suffocate. Animals that eat them may become sick or even die. Discarded plastic bags blow around with the wind and litter.
They may end up at sea through garbage dumps at seaside. Plastic degradation at sea takes between 45-1000 years. Plastic bags are recyclable but people need to reuse them or donate them to thrift stores where they can be reused. It takes oil to produce them and even more oil to recycle them. Burning plastics results in toxic ash.
Reusing plastic water bottles can be risky as they have been proven to release harmful chemicals, especially when heated. Bottled water is transported around the country in trucks that are not refrigerated. It means that during summer, bottled water may be toxic. The softer, flexible plastic used in bottles breaks down easily, releasing lead into your beverage.
Lead pipes of yesteryears have been replaced by PVC pipes in order to stop polluting the ground with lead, but over time they are guilty of causing the same contamination they are supposed to prevent.  It takes a very long time for plastic to degrade. It piles up much faster than it goes away and when it goes away, its chemical make-up continues to poison the environment.
Measures should be taken to check the use of plastic since it is not healthy for our environment. Scientists are at a loss how to find a solution and clean up the mess that has already been made.
We can start by not buying bottled water and use other water purifiers instead. Start using paper bags instead of plastic ones. The manufacture of plastic bags add tons of carbon emissions into the air annually. They cause thousands of marine animal deaths. Fortunately environmentalists are taking the initiative to deal with the detrimental impact of plastic bags by either banning or discouraging their usage. Let us join hands with them.

Be Truthful

Lies confuse issues, adversely affect decision making, breed mistrust and can have devastating consequences when the truth is finally revealed. However, the most damaging lies are the lies we tell ourselves.
Being truthful at all times brings a certain air of peace. One can just spot the extremely truthful people in a crowd of strangers just by the light of tranquility around them. Lying is a sin and if you are a person of high morals, a lie will gnaw at you like cancer. You may inflict great pain on someone by your lies.
There is a famous saying, “truth always triumphs”.
It is always better to show your true feelings to your partner rather than pretend to him/her. Speak up so that you both may have an opportunity to compromise. It will help you to know your partner better, strengthen your bond and move you closer towards true, lasting intimacy. Never hold back for fear of being rejected. It is better to be rejected for sharing your truth than to be accepted for living a lie. Holding back your deepest longings is, in a sense, living a lie, which can sour your relationship.
Sometimes, simply voicing your truth is enough to make you experience a sense of relief. Reveal your truth sweetly so that it may not culminate in a fight and give others a chance to speak the truth even if their opinion is different from yours. Be brave and face the truth. Living truthfully is not easy but it is worth it. Make your relationship a safe heaven in which both of you can speak your truths honestly. Speaking and hearing truth takes patience. You may face many misunderstandings along the way but it is natural and O.K. Do not be afraid to speak the truth.
In this world of information and sensory overload, people and products and ideas clamour for our attention. The strategy of presenting ideas better and louder and faster doesn’t work. Only truth works, as it is beneficial to all and builds goodwill. We may be able to make our point more effectively by stretching the truth, glossing over inconvenient facts or belittling other people and their concerns, but we’ll lose out in the long run. Speaking the truth makes us worthy of other people’s respect. It is the foundation of any worthwhile relationship and in this age of hype it sets us and our message apart.

Be Punctual

Punctuality is something we all depend on from time to time, but it is not always easy to put into practice. If you have ever been at the receiving end of waiting for someone who is habitually late, you’ll know how hard it is to be waiting around for someone to turn up.
Some things start on time whether you are there or not. If you don’t arrive on time you may miss out on something important. Cinemas and T.V. shows start on time, planes lock the doors and stop boarding after a certain time, trains and buses leave on or around the stated time. So these are areas where if you are not punctual, things just won’t happen.  In case of a missed flight or train, you will have to re-book and bear extra expenses and botheration.
Being on time or even slightly early also gives you the chance to collect your thoughts and make sure you are calm and composed for the meetings or lecture. This can give you a slight edge over the people who turn up late. It is also less embarrassing if you are punctual. There is nothing worse than feeling the whole room staring at you. When you are late for an exam you may not be able to solve all the questions due to shortage of time.
If you have a chronic problem of being late, acknowledge it and begin to work towards correcting it. Keep a clock, phone, computer or anything that displays accurate time in each room of your house. One of the easiest ways to run late is simply by not realising that time is going by as quickly as it does.
Do not be too optimistic in assessing the time taken by you to get ready. Always keep a margin of ten minutes for unexpected delays. Wake up when you are supposed to wake up and do not press the snooze button. Keep your alarm clock out of reach so that you have to get up to turn it off. Try sleeping early to allow yourself at least 7 hours of sleep. By getting up late you are setting a pattern of laziness for the rest of the day.
Commit yourself to being 15 minutes early for everything. Watch yourself for a few days to see where you often waste the most time. Keep organised as disorganisation is directly related to lateness. People often get late as they can not find their car-keys, important documents or socks. Keep your car in good order and check the traffic update before you leave.

Respect Women

Women have held a high place in our society since ancient times. According to a famous Sanskrit saying Gods reside in places where women are worshipped.
However, during the medieval period there was a phase when women were suppressed and ill-treated and had to stay behind a veil. Gradually they started condemning these atrocities and with education came awareness. Now they can compete with men on equal grounds in all the fields of life. Today’s women are well-equipped to face any ordeal but still in many places they are looked down upon by their male counterparts. Some ruthless people kill a girl at birth while the birth of a boy is celebrated with great zeal.
A woman who makes so many sacrifices as a mother, sister, wife and daughter is often exploited and insulted. It is an irony of fate that a woman who gives birth to man is ill treated by him. Everyday there are instances of horrifying rapes. The culprits should be punished severely and women should feel safe.
We should always respect women. Husbands should make their wives feel secure by taking good care of them. Many men criticise their wives publicly and make fun of her for being overweight or not being a good cook. They stare at women with tight clothes and try to flirt with them. Such uncivilised behaviour should be checked. You should always consult your wife before taking any decision.
Keep your cool at all times and do not vent your anger just because you are bigger and louder than her. Never abuse or hurt her physically even jokingly. Make her feel loved and needed by talking to her often.
Teach your son to respect women as equals and make sure that your son contributes equally in the household chores as your daughter. Be a good role model for your child as a father. Respect your wife and respect her opinions. Do not use your wife as a personal slave. Ask for her help, but offer plenty of help in return. If you want your woman to change her attitude about you, then treat her with love and respect and see and feel the drastic change in her.

Be A Good Employee

Do you want to be in your current position for the rest of your life? If not, then you have to learn to accomplish your tasks in order to be a successful employee.
Ensure that the company you are working for has a goal which you believe in. Work for an honourable establishment and if you are not happy after a time, begin to seek work elsewhere.
Behave professionally and keep a smiling face. Do not fool around wasting your time and that of others. Learn to take criticism gracefully and positively. It will provide you with valuable ideas about what people expect from you, any weak areas and what you need to work on first. Learn to do your job and do it well. Whether it is menial and tedious or tough and high paying, do your work efficiently. Cultivate good relationships with your co-workers. Treat all of them whether high or low with courtesy, respect and kindness.
When you get the opportunity to learn a new skill, receive training for a different activity or take a study course paid for by your employer – do it. It shows that you are intelligent and value life-long learning. Keep a clean job history by being punctual, not missing deadlines and keeping customers happy.
Try to reach office before time. Have a positive attitude and do not let things drag up to the deadline and then jump in to get it done in a fast flurry at the end. Do not spend a lot of time on personal phone calls. Never gossip while at work as your employer is paying you to work. Always be productive and get your work done on time and move on to the next thing as quickly as possible.
Dress well and be confident. Volunteer or be active in projects to get the job done , and don’t worry about who gets credit. Be a team player. Stay late when required. Offer junior employees guidance and encouragement.
Never argue with your boss as his opinion is always right for him. A good employee is always dependable and trustworthy. He has tact and decorum and if there is a problem in the office he deals with such issues with privacy and diplomacy. Last but not the least, a great employee has a great attitude and he helps to make work easy for everyone else by having a good spirit about his job.

Be A Good Father

Fatherhood is a big responsibility but it is also a lot of fun. Some fathers miss opportunities to spend time with their kids because of their busy office schedules or other interests. If you don’t establish an intimacy with your children when they’re young, it will be difficult to catch up when they are older.
Children need to be taught to choose right over wrong and need to see it demonstrated by their father. Make decisions in front of them and explain to them why you came to that resolution. Teach your children that everyone makes mistakes but it is important to learn from your mistakes and avoid making them again. Teaching a child right from wrong is a process. Instead of using force, other approaches, such as depriving the child of something they value can prove more effective, while preserving the child’s self esteem and the child’s respect for you as a parent.
Some men are uncomfortable in communicating their love to their kids. Be loving and affectionate with your children. Give respect to your wife and do not misbehave. Don’t place unreasonable expectations on your child. A child’s life can be filled with pressures at school. Help your children understand their capabilities, desires and limitations. Give them a good education. Although it is important to encourage your children to become financially and emotionally independent, it is also important to let them know that you care and are always there for them and that they are valued.
Fathers are a very important part of their children’s lives. Even when they walk in a room, just their presence commands respect. Be a good leader in your home by taking responsibility for your family and household.
Make an effort to spend quality time with your kids and take interest in their activities. Give them good moral values.
Listen to your children and give them quality advice and help them in negative circumstances. Encourage your children when they are doing well. Teach your children to be caring, helpful and honest. We reap what we sow. Therefore, it is important to practice to sow good seeds and deeds so that your children may do the same.

Be A Good Mother

Every woman is faced with distinct challenges as a mother but her ultimate aim is to raise her children in the best possible manner. As a mother you should keep calm and try to stay patient, although it may be difficult to keep your cool at times. Take interest in your child’s interests and involve yourself in their activities whether they are music or fashion.
Do not be tight about money and don’t automatically say no to everything your kid asks for. Be generous at their birthdays and buy them something they have been wanting for some time. You can also take them out to a special dinner or see a movie.
Make sure you are an approachable person to talk to. Try your hardest to always be understanding and a good listener. Knowing that they can go to their mom for friendship, advice, information on puberty, homework help or just a hug goes a long way for kids. Not having someone they can talk to can cause kids to retire into a shell.
Be supportive and never laugh at your child’s hobbies, interests or friends. Understand that its okay if your child thinks differently from you. Be able to admit that something you did may have been wrong and don’t be afraid to apologize.
Give your children a good education but don’t force a career of your choice on them. Guide your child through the problem solving process if they need help with their homework. Spend quality time with your child. Play ball with your son or do a craft project with your daughter. Make sure you have fun together. Take them out to museums, theatre, concerts and other cultural events. Always be supportive and fair.
A mother needs to teach her children how to be successful adults. Let them have freedom to work out problems on their own. Love them unconditionally and respect them as individuals. Be a friend but give your children moral and ethical guidance. Encourage them and teach them to be caring, respectful, helpful, friendly, trustworthy honest and God fearing.
Be a positive and moral role model and example that your children can look upto, appreciate and honour.

Stay Clean

There is a famous saying “cleanliness is next to Godliness”. By cleanliness of body, limb and soul, cleanliness of all our articles of use  and cleanliness of our dwellings, we gradually move towards divinity. Cleanliness brings us progress and improvement in all fields of activities and in all spheres of life.
We should remove dirt, dust, stains, bad smells and garbage from our house. Purposes of cleanliness include health, beauty, avoiding offensive odour and spreading of dirt and contaminants to oneself and others.
Washing with soap and water is the easiest way of achieving cleanliness. Some simple preventive steps can ensure that dust and pollutants do not pose health risks. We should use floor mats and vacuum cleaners and sweep and mop floors regularly.
The biggest breeding ground for germs in the house is the kitchen. Keeping germs, viruses and bacteria under control requires diligent cleaning of kitchen surfaces with appropriate cleaning solvents. Wash and disinfect dish towels, dish rags and sponges with soap and hot water. Clean the appliances regularly. It is very important to stay clean if you want to stay healthy. You can only encourage your kids to stay clean if you maintain good hygiene yourself.
Always wash your hands and feet once you come home from work, school or playground etc. Never touch your food without washing your hands properly. Take a bath regularly and wash your hair and keep your nails clean and trimmed. Brush your teeth twice a day. Keep your room, house and toilet clean and never make public places untidy.
Cleanliness is a good quality and a man of dirty habits is not considered civilised. If we clean our bodies and limbs, we will be free from many kinds of diseases.
Clean food, cooked in clean pots and served in clean dishes will give us health and happiness. If we clean our bodies regularly, we will be fit and smart and have a cheerful mind. Cleanliness impacts every phase of social interaction, reducing potential profound health related risks and illnesses.

Save Paper

Every year, millions of trees are cut down to make paper for our use. It seems a shame that so many trees give their lives to serve as paper for humans. That’s why it is so important to save paper whenever possible. Saving paper in school is a good way to help save the environment. Schools are an excellent place to take steps to help save our natural resources, as it often will bring in the passion of students, the support of teachers, staff and community.
Some simple steps can help save a lot of paper. Use computers whenever possible. You can e-mail your paper messages, notes and articles rather than print it out. Take notes on a laptop rather than in a notebook.
Buy and use recycled paper whenever possible. Recycled paper as opposed to virgin paper saves a lot of energy. If you have paper you don’t need any more, take it to a recycling centre. Sell your old news papers to a scrap dealer who can re-use them.
Use both sides of notebook paper. Avoid leaving white space as much as you can. Don’t waste paper in making planes, throwing paper balls on your classmates or passing notes. Re-use used computer paper by taking notes on the blank side. Write small, but legible so that paper will last longer. Educate students on ways to conserve and re-use paper and posters. Form student environment clubs to help make the school community more ecology savvy. Reduce paper waste in the cafeteria lobby and use hand dryers instead of paper towels.
Help the teachers sort paper to re-use. Don’t write on random pieces of paper to remember things. Use a ‘sticky note’ programme on your laptop. Don’t use the stapled notebooks as after more than half of it is used, you can’t rip any empty sheet, without ripping out a written one too. Consider using a spiral notebook instead.
Avoid printed envelope labels and print directly on to the envelope. Send documents via an e-mail or e-fax.
The pulp and paper industry is the third largest consumer of energy so don’t print information you don’t need. Think green and save the environment while saving yourself some money by using less paper.

Be A Good Daughter

A daughter is God’s sweetest gift and there is something special about the parent-child relationship. Your parents have been there for you, looking after all your needs so you should also make an effort to be a good daughter. Help your parents in doing things around the house like cooking washing and cleaning up. Always keep your room tidy. Listen to what they say as they have your best interest at heart. Be compassionate and understanding so that they may depend on you in a crisis. Look after them when they are tired or ill.
Visit them as often as you can and show them you care. Take out time to sit and talk to your parents and also take your children to meet them so that they may build a good relationship.
Offer to have family gatherings at your house. Parents often have all the traditional holiday celebrations at their home. Take the load off their shoulders and host the gatherings so that your parents can enjoy the festivities without having to do all the work.
Be the family negotiator and help stop the fights and disagreements, clear up all the misunderstandings. Families are made up of different people with different opinions but you can help keep everyone communicating, even though sometimes peer pressure is hard to bear. Whenever you do something wrong, apologise.
Wear simple clothes and light make-up as most parents do not want their daughters to attract too much attention. Do your best and work hard at school, in sports or other endeavours, to give them opportunities to be proud parents.
Talk to your parents if something is bothering you and stay calm. Enjoy the simple things with your parents like watching T.V., movies, eating dinner together and playing board games. Show affection and gratitude. Try not to be sarcastic even if they are being unreasonable. Show your love by hugging them and sometimes by just sending them a card. Love them for who they are and don’t judge them by their mistakes. Respect your parents and if something is upsetting you, do not take your anger out on them. Always be thankful to them and do good things to make them feel proud of you.

Be A Good Son

There is a deep bond of love between a son and his parents. Parents devote their whole life in bringing up their children in the best possible way. They sacrifice a lot in order to make life easy for you. Although parents do not expect anything in return but you as a son can show them that you care.
Never use bad language or talk back to your mother and father because you may hurt them by doing so. Do your best in school and make them feel proud of you. Try to be honest with your parents and don’t lie to them. Help them feel that you are trustworthy. Remember that you can rely on your parents, so tell them anything that bothers you so that they can help. You can share something interesting or some jokes when you are with them.
Love, help and be good to your brothers and sisters rather than hit them, even though they may be bothering you. Help with the housework as much as you can. Your parents will be grateful if you help them with house repairs or car maintenance or shopping. Be independent and mature and try not to have them worry about you all the time.
Don’t be shy to show your love to your parents. Do it by saying some sweet words, giving gifts, hugging them when they come back from office. Remember to wish them on their birthdays and anniversaries. If you stay away from them, call them regularly and visit whenever you can. Take them to the doctor when they are sick.
Most parents dream of their child going out into the world with an education that can help him start a career. Show your parents that you can support yourself. Let them see that the time and effort they spent raising you helped create a good person who can live independently.
Stay away from liquor, drugs, bad company and rash driving and thank them for all they have done for you. Tell them how you feel and how much they mean to you. Always respect them and know their likes and dislikes to build a strong bond.

Donate Blood

Blood cannot be manufactured, it can only come as a gift from a person. One thoughtful move from us can save a life. Patients undergoing surgery, experiencing heavy blood loss due to accidents, liver cirrhosis or other diseases require immediate blood transfusions in order to save their lives. There is a need to encourage regular blood donation. If all eligible donors donate on a regular basis, blood needs would be met and there would be no shortages in blood banks.
It is a completely safe process. A sterile disposable blood collection bag is used only once for each collection. Blood donation is not a tedious procedure. Skilled and specially trained technicians perform the procedure and take just a few minutes. It is a simple four step process which includes registration, medical history, donation and refreshments. An average adult has about 10 pints of blood in his body and roughly one pint is given. One can donate either whole blood or specific components of blood only.
There are no harmful effects of blood donation. Within a period of 24-48 hours, the same amount of new blood gets formed in the body which helps the donor in many ways. His own body resistance improves, the circulation improves and it can reduce the risk of heart disease, especially among youngsters. A healthy person can donate blood once in three months.
However, a donor should be above eighteen years of age, should not be underweight, should not be suffering from any infectious or chronic diseases such as diabetes or hypertension. Pregnant women should also not donate blood. All donated blood is tested for infectious diseases before being used at the hospitals.
Majority of world’s population do not have access to safe blood. Each blood donation can help as many as three people. While you may be unable to donate blood, there are other ways you can help. You can help organise a blood donation drive, recruit other suitable donors or volunteer to help make donor’s experience a positive one. Monetary donations are another way to help.
Come forward and join in this great service to humanity.

Donate Eyes

Eyes are a very valuable part of a human being. They are God’s precious gift to a person. But the same eyes bring misery when misused or when they are lost. A wise man utilises that gift while alive and in death too. Donation of the eyes gives sight to two corneally blind persons, enabling them to come out of their dark and dreamy life into a life full of colours, a life where they can see and enjoy this beautiful world.
There is no substitute for human tissue. The transplantation process depends upon the priceless gift of cornea donation from one human to the next. The use of artificial tissue for transplantation has been unsuccessful.
We know that we are not going to live permanently but after our death, let our eyes live in this world by giving a new life to blind.
Age does not matter while making this precious donation. It is one great valuable service a person can do in his/her life. All one needs to do is bequeath his or her eyes by taking a simple pledge to donate the eyes after death. It requires the support of the relatives or friends to carry out the wishes of eye donation of the deceased. They need to call up the Eye Bank immediately as the eyes need to be removed within a maximum of six hours of death.
After making the call they should keep both eyes of the beloved deceased closed and cover with moist cotton and switch off the ceiling fan. People using spectacles and having diabetes and hypertension can also make eye donations. However, people with death due to infections caused by rabies, syphilis, hepatitis, septicemia and AIDS cannot be donors.
Eyes can be donated to any eye bank in India but preferably to the nearest eye bank to avoid delays. As per the new procedures, only cornea portion is removed and hence face disfigurement does not happen. Immediate family members can donate the eyes of the deceased even if the deceased had not pledged for eye donation during his/her lifetime. Please come forward and pledge your eyes to fill colours in someone’s dark world.

Abstain From Alcohol and Drugs

Alcohol and drug addiction is a lifelong habit that never truly goes away even with people who have been sober for years. Drugs and alcohol have a very negative impact on your body. Both can destroy your health, your financial security and your relationships with those close to you. Heavy drinking is linked to a wide range of negative effects on your health. Almost every system in your body is affected and you are prone to liver disease or cirrhosis of liver, brain damage or dementia, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat and cancers of head, neck, breast, colon and liver.
Heavy drinking and use of drugs can also lead to various other personal negative consequences. It significantly increases your chances of becoming the victim of an injury as intoxication greatly increases your risk of injuring yourself or being injured by others. Alcohol is found to be a major factor in fatal highway crashes, accidents, suicides, fatal falls, sexual assaults, trauma injuries, fatal fires, drowning and homicides. You also run the risk of developing other personal problems such as losing your driving license, losing your job and having problems with relationships. If you drink heavily during pregnancy, you increase the risk of your baby developing fetal disorders.
Temptation to take alcohol and drugs may be there but if you think about the negative impact of both on your body and focus on the downsides, you will be able to have greater control over your urges and can more readily say no when the chance to drink arises. Remove any temptations in your immediate surroundings and get rid of bottles of alcohol and drugs. Avoid going to places where you might be tempted to indulge. Stay away from friends or family who encourage you to drink.
Addicts should take up activities to fill their time. Boredom and unstructured free time can lead to a relapse. You can prevent that by finding healthy things like exercise programmes, new hobbies and fun social events that do not involve alcohol. Avoid alcohol to lead a healthy and happy life.

Educate Someone

It is known to everyone that education helps a person to make well informed decisions in life and also to establish a moral code and a sense of responsibility right from childhood.
Imparting education is a very noble cause. As a teacher, you play a key role in the social as well as intellectual development of your students. You should have a positive attitude so that you may teach your students how to maintain a positive attitude in life. A teacher should also have flexibility, consistency, discipline, sense of humour and an unbiased attitude to be able to impart good education. A person who is not a teacher can contribute towards the education of a poor student who needs financial assistance. Education is the foundation upon which people can begin to improve themselves and their communities. Today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders and educating them shall have a positive impact on their futures. All children have the right to quality education regardless of their economic background. All children have dreams and the innate desire to realize their dreams.
A person who gets good education will become a more dependable worker, a better citizen and would be rated higher than an uneducated person. Learning enables an individual to put his potentials to optimal use. Without education, the training of human minds is incomplete. Education makes man a right thinker and correct decision maker. It achieves this by bringing him knowledge from the external world, teaching him to reason and acquainting him with past history, so that he may be a better judge of the present. Without education a person is seemingly shut up in a windowless room whereas with education, he finds himself in a room with all its windows open to the outside world. The more educated some one is, the more knowledge one obtains on different subjects.
We all should pledge to educate as many children as we can and contribute to the betterment of our society and country as good education is the backbone of every individual life.

Plant Trees

Planting trees in your neighbourhood is one of the best things you can do for the local environment and for the planet. Without trees there would be no life on earth. Trees are like the lungs of the planet. They breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. Besides removing contaminants from the air, trees have many other social economic and environmental benefits.
They filter pollution from the air, help recycle water, prevent soil erosion, create shade, give shelter from wind and rain, provide homes for animals, make food for humans and wildlife, provide a soothing environment and much more. Most often we plant trees to provide shade and beautify our landscapes. Spending time among trees and green spaces reduces the amount of stress that we carry around with us in our daily lives.
Through careful planning, trees can be an asset to your entire community. Tree lined streets have a traffic calming effect and they also screen and absorb noise from busy highways. Plantation of trees reduces the urban heat island effect through evaporative cooling and reducing the amount of sunlight that reaches parking lots and buildings. Trees give off oxygen and improve our air quality by filtering harmful dust and pollutants such as ozone, carbon monoxide and sulphur-dioxide from the air we breathe. They reduce the amount of storm water runoff which reduces soil erosion. Many species of wildlife depend on trees for habitat. They provide food, protection and homes for many birds and mammals. Many herbs are used in producing vital medicines and paper is made out of trees.
Planting trees is vital to maintain a balance in the ecosystem. All the living beings are dependant on trees in some way or the other. The strength, structure and endurance of trees make them beneficial for the environment. In this increasing concrete jungle of cities, planting more and more trees in the surroundings has become a vital need.

Be Polite

In today’s modern world, one has to deal with all kinds of people with different temperaments. Politeness helps us to communicate better and a person who can get along well with others is successful in life. Maintaining proper etiquette and speaking properly to a person without offending him or her is politeness. One must not be rude or offensive and must use proper words to convey something as foul language can put off a person. Being polite is all about being considerate and appreciative. A rude person can make the people around him feel offended, unwelcome, uncomfortable or even hurt. You should try to be gentle and honest without being forceful or insistent.
Treat everyone the same way, even if you are not fond of them and always be courteous. A charming, polite person makes another person feel good. Keep this in mind and be considerate of other people’s needs and opinions. Ensure that you do not make derogatory remarks towards any kind of ethnic, political or religious groups under any circumstances.
Tailor your behaviour to the occasion. Different settings require different standards of formality. A work related dinner, a wedding, a holiday gathering and a funeral will all demand a different tone.
Remember to say please and thank you and be graceful and elegant. Try not to interrupt people when they are talking to someone else or in the middle of something. World over much business, trade transactions and diplomatic ties are carried out. Such dealings require a person to be polite to build up friendly ties.
Practice politeness and you will feel the difference. You will be more popular, likeable and people will be friendlier towards you. You will develop an attractive personality and will have less chances of developing enemies. Others will be impressed by the manner you conduct yourself and will reach out to you. Differences will be settled easily and you will feel that politeness indeed pays off in many ways.

Be A Good Spouse

Each marriage is a partnership and a true connection between you and your spouse. Keeping a marriage strong and healthy does take a lot of work but it is a work of heart when you truly love your partner. There needs to be both give and take in all marriages. If you want to be a good spouse, avoid being selfish and hold your spouse’s needs above your own. Things in a relationship should not be taken for granted so express your gratitude and show your spouse how you feel. Don’t forget to share. Marriage involves the celebration of good things, and the talking over of the bad things which helps you through tough times. Share your deep and personal feelings with your spouse. Be careful of your financial situation. It is vital that spending and savings be discussed so as to avoid conflict with one another. Keep track of what you spend and what you save.
Even if you can get everything accomplished by yourself, let your spouse know that he/she is really needed. Spruce up your spouse’s self esteem by showing your dependency on him/her.
Avoid overextending yourself or getting too emotionally involved in hobbies, communities and job skills that your spouse takes second place. It can create conflict and stress between a couple. Maintain a balance so that your marriage remains happy.
In a marriage there will always be habits that bother one or the other spouse. Don’t worry about little things and focus on the bigger things instead. There are bound to be difference of opinions but never go to bed without resolving a quarrel. Try suppressing your egos. Spend time with each other and care for the other’s needs.
Treat your spouse’s relatives with the same affection and respect that you treat your own.
Surprise your spouse with gifts and flowers and show that you love and care. Depending on someone other than your spouse for emotional support can ruin a marriage. Focus on the good things and ignore the bad things to make your marriage happy.

Be a Good Neighbour

Good neighbours are usually unappreciated, but that doesn’t mean that they are unnoticed. They are usually just taken for granted. Some things that our neighbours appreciate are a clean exterior, quiet music, no loud or late parties and driving within speed limit especially if there are children in the neighbourhood. Being helpful is the biggest thing that neighbours appreciate.
On the other hand loud music, blaring T.V. sets, keeping odd hours, driving too fast and leaving garbage on the road and letting your dog make their lawn dirty are not appreciated by anyone in the neighbourhood.
You can start by being a good neighbour yourself. Be friendly and smile and wave at your other neighbours. Start a conversation and enquire about their wellbeing. When new neighbours move in, offer to help. Be sure to introduce yourselves to them and tell them where the good places for eating and shopping are. Make them feel welcome.
If your neighbour is blessed with a baby, offer to lend a hand. Celebrate festivals together and greet them on special occasions. Maintain the area around your home so that it is neat and attractive. Be conscientious about noises that disturb your neighbours such as vacuum cleaners, music, loud talk and barking dogs. Return anything that you borrow from your neighbour as soon as possible. Express your gratitude when you do so, replace anything that belongs to your neighbour that you, your children or your pets break or soil.
Respect your neighbour’s privacy and do not pry in their affairs. Park your car outside your own house.  Invite them over a cup of coffee to discuss and share problems or good news. Try having a get together of all the neighbours at least once a year.
It is not too hard to be a good neighbour. After all don’t you want your neighbours to be good neighbours?

Be A Good Friend

Friends play a most important part in most people’s lives. Friends might come and go in your life, they might make you laugh and cry, but most of all, they love you for who you are. It does not matter what a person looks like or what kind of clothes he wears, but its what’s on the inside that counts. A true friend will be there no matter what your situation is. Many of your favourite memories are likely to include times you have spent with friends.
Be there for your friends when they need you, not when you need something from them. Good friends do not call up people only to request a favour. Don’t wait for friends to call you. Make an effort to keep in touch with them. Everyone is busy, but if you want to maintain good friendships, you should be proactive about communications and respond to them in a timely manner. Never be part of the gossip train. If you talk about your friends negatively behind their back, it is one of the worst things you can do. Be happy at your friends’ successes and celebrate with them. Always be gracious and supportive and go out of your way to help your friend. It is truly said – “A friend in need is a friend indeed”. A simple gesture such as a hug or a smile can show your friends that they are not alone and that you are there for them.
A good friend is someone you can trust and who won’t judge you, someone who won’t put you down or deliberately hurt your feelings, but will show kindness and respect, someone whose company you enjoy and whose loyalty you can depend upon.
A friend will laugh when you laugh, cry when you cry and stick around when things get rough. They will make you smile and accept you for who you are and just lend you an ear when you need to confide or complain. Caring and sharing is what true friendship is all about. Being a good friend and having a group of close friends surrounding you can surely increase your happiness.

Save Fuel

We all would like to save fuel, whether it is for a noble cause like saving the planet, or for a selfish cause like not burning a hole in the pocket. There are several ways to maximise your fuel efficiency and minimise your visits to the petrol pump.
Do not use the clutch too much and switch the vehicle off at red light stops. You should drive in the gear corresponding to the speed and get your vehicle serviced regularly. A poorly tuned engine and under inflated tyres can increase fuel consumption. Avoid unnecessary steering wheel movement and abrupt stops. Ensure that you maintain a steady speed. Accelerate slowly on gravel or slippery roads.
Avoid unnecessary braking. Using the Air conditioner at lower speeds and changing spark plugs regularly can save a lot.
If you watch how you drive, it can improve your car’s mileage per liter, cutting global warming and pollution.
Make sure you travel light as extra weight decreases fuel economy. Air conditioning can decrease your fuel efficiency so use it only when required.
Check oxygen sensors, air filters, hoses and belts regularly and have your wheels aligned and keep your tires properly inflated.
Consider running all your errands in the same area in one trip rather than making separate trips. People should carpool and use public transportation when possible. If you share your rides and use other means to get to work, you will save yourself money, reduce congestion on the roads and cut global warming and pollution. Commuters can also work from home at least once a week.
Unless serious thought is given to fuel efficiency, we shall exhaust all the natural oil and gas resources and travel and transportation which is so convenient due to fuel driven cars, buses, autos, scooters and even aero planes shall come to a standstill. Save fuel if you do not want your future generations to travel by bullock carts.

Save Electricity

The inconvenience during the frequent power-cuts is being experienced by most of us. But have we ever tried to analyze the reason for this? Actually the production of power is lower than its consumption. The only way to come out of this situation is to conserve electrical energy. If all of us make efforts to save electricity, it shall make a great difference.
Switch off the fans and bulbs in the rooms which are not being used. Always turn off your A.C. when you are not in that room. Make sure your filters are clean. Try setting your thermostat to run less frequently.
Consider increasing your energy efficiency when buying appliances. Buy appliances with less energy usage. Turning off T.V.s, lamps, computers, VCRs, ovens and other appliances when no one is using them can reduce electric energy consumption. Wash and dry only full loads of clothes in your washing machine.
Saving electricity doesn’t just save money, it also saves the environment. The real key to preventing climate change is reducing energy use. Solar energy usage is a good alternative, as sun’s energy shall never diminish.
Switch off the computers when leaving the working place so that radiation can be beneficially reduced.
Consider using LED light bulbs (CFLs) as they use a lot less energy than fluorescent tubes. Keep the door closed while using the A.C. to prevent loss of energy. Shade windows during summer to keep sun off the glass.
Use fans for relief from hot weather. Fans cost much less to run than A.C.s.
Put the fridge in a well ventilated position and buy the size you need as extra capacity uses extra-power. Use dimmers as they save power and enable you to obtain pleasant changes of mood in your lighting.
Saving electricity may not make you rich, but it will help you cut down costs and prevent blackouts and power shortages in your community.

Do Not Litter

Litter can cause a whole range of problems for everyone in the community. It is a threat to public health as it is a breeding ground for bacteria. Items such as broken glass and syringes can be a health hazard in public places. Accumulated litter and carelessly discarded cigarette butts are potential fire hazards. Litter negatively affects the image of places, especially tourist locations. Litter harms our waterways. It travels through the storm water drainage system to our bays and oceans, where it can cause harm to wildlife. Animals can get their heads trapped in glass jars and metal cans when trying to lick out the contents. Put the lids back on jars and crush metal and plastic food containers before recycling them. Animals can even get entangled and killed by fishing lines that have been discarded carelessly. Never throw food or litter out of a car window. It attracts animals to the road where they can be killed or injured by other cars.
You may adopt some simple ways to help prevent littering which is a serious environmental hazard.
Make sure your waste is thrown in the garbage can. Sweep paved areas and pick up all the garbage, rather than hosing it down into drains and gutters which can be choked.
Always dispose of unwanted chemicals, paints, thinners, drugs, garden pesticides and herbicides responsibly as they are poisonous. Use a cloth or paper bag while shopping instead of plastic bags. You may organise a litter patrol. Get your family, friends and neighbours to help you. Each person should carry a sturdy bag for collecting cans, papers and bottles along the road. Recycle, what you can.
Remember, besides looking awful, litter can do serious harm, so make sure you dispose of your garbage properly. Never litter.

Save Water

The most essential among all the natural resources on earth is water. A step to conserve water is a step to secure the future. If each one of us makes efforts to save water today, it will save us later. We can improve the efficiency of use of water and reduce losses and waste by following some simple tips.
We should avoid leakage of taps and toilets and get them repaired immediately. Turn the tap off when not in use, especially when you brush your teeth and wash clothes or utensils. Water supply should be limited in those areas which enjoy unlimited water supply.
Try to educate the mind of people in the rural areas to save water. Promote the conservation of water through media and wall posters. Never throw water unnecessarily, instead use it for gardening and cleaning. Avoid unnecessary flushing of toilets. Treated waste water should be used for flushing in toilets and in gardening. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean the side walks. Use economical washing machines to wash your clothes and make sure you use it when you have a full load of clothes. Install small shower heads to reduce the flow of water.
The advantages of conserving water are multifold. If you save water, it can save your money bills. Reduction in interior water use cuts waste water flows, especially overflowing of gutters which contaminates the environment. It also helps in improving the quality of your drinking water. Water conservation is the most effective and environmentally sound method to fight global warming.
If we keep using water without checking its wastage, very soon we shall be facing a severe scarcity of this precious elixir of life. We should also use technical methods like rainwater harvesting which utilises rain water for domestic purposes. Steps should also be taken to deepen the village ponds and dumping of sewage and garbage in these ponds should be avoided. Please save water for our future generations.

Follow Traffic Rules

Traffic rules and regulations are not made just for the sake of having rules, but they are for our own safety. If we don’t follow the traffic rules strictly, then how will it help us in our safety? It is kind of a chain reaction. If you break a traffic rule, out of 10 people near you, at least 3 to 4 will break the rule following you and it will go on. So it is important that we become inspiration for others to follow the rules and if possible, guide the ones who are trying to break the rules and explain to them that if they do not follow rules they might meet with an accident. So many times innocent law abiding people meet with accidents due to faults of others.
Traffic laws are designed to protect you and other drivers on the roads. While they may sometimes seem irritating and constricting, they must be obeyed for a safe journey.
You must always pay attention to traffic signals and signs. Use common sense. If others are driving rashly, drive defensively.
Make sure that your car is as close to perfect working order as possible. Cracked windshields, missing or broken extension lights, poor exhaust systems and even too many people in your car can be hazardous.
Simple traffic rules, if followed by everyone can save many lives. Make sure that you stop at the red light signal and proceed further only when the signal is green. Fasten your seat belt and drive in your lane. You should not exceed the speed limit and never use a mobile while driving. Never drink alcohol and drive. Do not horn unnecessarily as it may distract others and use low beam at night, slow down near schools and hospitals and give way to emergency vehicles like Ambulance, Police and Fire brigade. Old, handicapped and blind people should be given preference to cross the road and pedestrians should make it a point to cross at Zebra Crossings. Most of the accidents can be averted, if all the citizens are law abiding.

Help Sick People

Even close relationships can become strained when one of the pair becomes seriously ill. By reaching out to a sick friend, you not only provide much needed assistance, but also find ways to cope with the situation yourself.
A sick person probably feels miserable, so send him a card with a warm message to brighten his day a little.
If you take a road accident victim to the nearest Hospital, it may give him a new lease of life.
When a neighbour, friend or relative falls sick you can help them with simple tasks like cleaning and cooking. You may also prepare food and take it for them or bring their medicines.  Make sure they are not lonely or bored, be there for them and talk to them. Ensure they get plenty of fluids. Remain in communication with your sick friend. Very often, people are there with cards and calls when they first learn of a friend’s illness. After a few weeks, this kind of support can taper off, leaving the sick friend lonely and depressed. Keep the support coming, even if it is only by e-mail. It uplifts a sick person’s sprits when she knows that her friends are thinking of her.
Donate freely to a place that helps people who are sick. Collect books from your neighbourhood and take them to a hospital.
If you can spare some time to care for patients at a hospital it is the noblest form of social service.

Help Old People

As people get older, some may start to feel like they are no longer needed in the lives of those around them. There are simple ways in which you can help elderly people feel needed and acknowledged. One way is to have a simple conversation with them and really listen to them as there are so many positive things that can be learned from someone who has lived a long and full life. Let them know that their life is interesting to you and that everything that they have been through is important and means something.
If you have an elderly neighbour or relative who is lonely, make it a point to visit him or at least call him over the phone. It might just brighten up his day.
Sometimes older people do not like asking others to take them places or do chores for them. It becomes quite hard for an elderly person who was once independent to have to rely on other people. You can do them a great favour by offering your help and services in doing their chores or taking them places.
If a person has trouble with daily activities like cooking, may be once in a while you can make a little extra food and take it to him.
You may also take them for shopping and to the doctor.
Volunteer at a nursing home or old age home and give a few hours of your time to those lonely patients who would be happy to have a visitor. It is a very rewarding experience.
Take out some time to write to your elderly loved ones a special letter letting them know how valuable they are to you. Elderly people should be offered a seat in trains and buses to make their journey comfortable. With age, sometimes people lose their logic and reasoning. Be patient with them and deal with them politely and sincerely.
Elderly people should be made to feel important in this world and an integral part in the lives of those around them. Taking the time out to help make elderly people feel needed could make a big difference not only in their life but in yours as well.

Respect Your Elders

Our elders have done a lot for us, directly or indirectly and most of us owe everything to their kindness and love. They are ahead of us in age, wisdom, maturity, experience and education. It is they who guide us throughout our childhood and teach us what is right and what is wrong.
When we show them respect whether by touching their feet or folding our hands, it is a way of expressing our love and gratitude to them. Besides, elders have also been through all the phases that you are going through and know a lot more about the world than you do because of their experience.
It is likely that you do not agree with the beliefs and the sentiments of your elders. All younger generations have always disagreed with their elders and it is these differences that bring changes in human society.
It is often said that the modern generation has lost respect for the elders. Partly this is because, with changing times and cultural influences, youngsters no longer know what is interpreted as disrespect to elders.
In earlier times too, there were disagreements and debates but youngsters would quietly express their views and if there were arguments, they would not raise their voices. Nowadays children fight back, causing an ugly war of words.
However when you do simple things as a mark of respect, elders become aware that youngsters care for them, and they respond with affection and kindness.
When you give up your seat as a mark of respect to an elder, it is also because younger people have the strength to bear discomfort, so it is natural to show consideration to those who are older.
Our elders have accumulated a lifetime of experience so we should listen to their advice and also take their blessings which are invaluable. It is in our own interest that we give them our time, our listening, our interaction and our gratitude.
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