This posting might look like a cartoon story for children. No it is meant for the grown ups who wantonly cut trees and cruelly kill the animals for their selfish motives. I would call them unscrupulous individuals and inhuman beings who indulge in destroying nature………….

  The day dawned with a gloomy look. The sky was overcast. The cool breeze from the west refreshed my spirits. I opened the gate and walked into the dense forest. The board was swaying at the gate in the breeze. It displayed, ”No rifles beyond this point”.  It was my last day at the Rainforest as the Keeper of the Forest, as I had decided to leave it for good. “Will the rifles again be brought into the forest after my departure?” I asked myself with a shudder.

"Sir, we today are deeply distressed to bid you farewell", the grand old tree shook its branches. Dewdrops fell on my head. The tree was crying and shedding tears. I went around the tree and embraced its trunk. A creeper wound against my body affectionately and I caressed it.

"I am overwhelmed by your love towards me," I said in a choking voice.

"We wish you long life and we will never forget you and your love and compassion towards us, Sir". It was a chorus.

I looked sideways. I saw a herd of elephants. The leader came to me and touched my head with its trunk. I kissed the trunk. I could see tears rolling out from its small eyes. I could not contain and I burst into a fit of crying. I hugged its trunk and clung to it very firmly.

“Sir, it is our wish that your good self will sit on my back and I will take you through the forest as all my friends would like to see you and say goodbye to you", the elephant's voice was full of grief. He raised his front foot and stepping on to it I climbed up and sat on his back. The elephant started to move and all his companions followed in a procession.

"We love you, we love you" A parrot said and flew towards me and sat on my right shoulder. It kissed my cheeks with its beak. I ran my fingers through its wings and patted them slowly. My heart grew heavier. "Oh my God, how much love they have for me!" I thought.

The elephant stopped at the cave. I got down from his back. It was the den of the white tigers. Three of them came out.

There was a garland in each one of their hands. They stood up in two legs and put the garlands on my neck.

"We love you from the bottom of our hearts. We will always remember the hard work done by you to protect our species. We are ready to follow you to every corner of this earth. We will miss you from our midst, Sir" The oldest white tiger expressed the feelings on behalf of its community. Its eyes were glowing with tears and soon its grief rolled out in the form of a flood of tears.

"I love you my dear ones," I said in a very emotional voice “I will always be there for you in any kind of emergency. Even though I am leaving, my heart will be amongst you", I could not complete the sentence. I started to sob and tears blurred my vision.

The elephant walked along the forest bearing me on its back. I could hear songs by birds praising me and bidding me farewell. I waved at them blowing kisses all around.

A herd of fawns appeared from nowhere and started jumping and running around the elephant I was riding. I got down and sat on the grass. The fawns, with their bodies pressed against mine, kissed me one by one. I hugged them and kissed them. Their bodies smelled of their innocence and a deep pain rose from my bowels and ended at my throat with a sudden choke. "I will miss all their love," I said to myself.

Holding the tusk of the elephant I walked along. A panda came running to me. "Sir, take me along with you. I don' feel safe in here, once you leave. All my family and friends are ready to come with you. Save us, please" the panda begged.

I said, "I am happy to take you along with me. But it is not the solution. I have done everything for your safe stay in this forest. Don't worry, you and your species will be protected at all cost." My words consoled the panda.

“Good bye, Sir, we will all remember you till the end of our lives and we wish you all the best in this world", with tearful eyes the panda vanished into the forest.

From afar, I could hear the howling of wolves. As I walked along I could hear the noise clearer. There were five of them. There was a fire at the centre and the wolves were dancing around the fire and howling. They stopped the dance when they saw me. The oldest one came near me and said. "We were dancing and praying for your well being. God will bless you. Thank you for all that you have done to us. With your dedicated work, we now are living in this forest without any fear. You have strengthened our hands in unity and we will not any more be destroyed. Long live your love and compassion" With this the wolves started to dance and howl again.

I felt very much relieved by the self-confidence of those animals. Where there is a will, there always is a way.

The sky was completely overcast. Through the canopy of the forest I could see the black clouds rushing eastwards. Then it started to pour heavily. The elephants came around me and with their raised trunks formed an umbrella above me. Streams started to flow.

The elephant said, "Sir, Nature is crying and shedding tears at your departure, look at this rain. The Nature's sorrow is boundless and the tears are flowing all around"

I could not bear any more. I shouted,

“My dear rainforest and all my animal friends. Your love towards me is unfathomable. I cannot bear the agony of separation from you. I have changed my decision. I am going to stay here in my rainforest and I will never leave you. It is a promise".

Lightning flashed. Thunder boomed. It started to shower again. Now nature was shedding tears of joy. Suddenly there was dancing and singing all around and all the animals, birds, trees and the streams started to sing,

"He is a jolly good fellow

He is a jolly good fellow

He is a jolly good fellow... "

PS: No trees should be cut and no animals should be killed. They are also the creations of the Almighty, God who created them with a purpose. They have the full right to live in this world. They are also living beings like us. Long live Forests…Long live animals……..skmmenon

 The pathos in Andy Williams' voice is mindboggling. Killing me softly with her song....there is a soothing in her soft killing, with her song, one would love to be killed till the end......the stranger still evades.....where is the horizon?....as elusive as her......

I heard she had a style,
And so I came to see her,
To listen for a while . . .
And there she was this young girl,
A stranger to my eyes . . .

Strummin' my pain with her fingers,
Singin' my life with her words,
Killing me softly with her song,
Killing me softly, with her song,
Telling my whole life with her words,
Killing me softly, with her song . . .

I felt all flushed with fever,
Embarrassed by the crowd,
I felt she found my letters,
And read each one aloud . . .

I prayed that she would finish,
But she just kept right on . . .

Strummin' my pain with her fingers,
Singin' my life with her words,
Killing me softly with her song,
Killing me softly, with her song,
Telling my whole life with her words,
Killing me softly, with her song . . .

She sang as if she knew me,
In all my dark despair,
And then she looked right through me,
As if I wasn't there . . .

But she was there, this stranger,
Singing clear and strong . . .

Strummin' my pain with her fingers,
Singin' my life with her words,
Killing me softly with her song,
Killing me softly, with her song,
Telling my whole life with her words,
Killing me softly, with her song . . .

Killing me softly, with her song . . .

Cheers!!! 

Congratulations, you have retired. But what next? Have you given a thought to how you are going to spend the next 20 to 30 years of your life in retirement?

You may have choices: enjoy life to its fullest, relax, watch TV, read the newspaper from start to end, chat with friends, eat and drink what and when you want, play cards, window shop, go to exotic places. But you can’t spend all your retired life like this. You won’t enjoy them for ever. You need to engage in other activities also that provide you purpose, challenge, adventure, and a feeling of accomplishment, happiness and satisfaction.

Retirement is not resignation from life, but an opportunity to live a full, dynamic life. It is not a time to sit and wait for destiny to shoe you the door, but to do something that would make things better. And in doing so, you also enrich your own life. This way you won’t get into a habit of debating the meaning of life.

Purpose is the engine that powers and drives life. Without purpose, you would get bored and depressed. Wilfred Peterson summed up the art of retirement thus:   “Don’t retire…aspire”. Aspire to work for those causes you’ve always believed in. Practise the art of filling your moments with enriching experiences that will give new meaning and depth to your retired life.

As a student you wanted to become a professional. During employment you were too busy in earning money and accomplishing career oriented goals. As a parent you were busy raising family and providing for your child’s education. Perhaps you did not have time or even the aptitude to understand questions like who you were, what the real purpose of your life was, what your real interests were. Retirement is the time to ponder over all these questions and accomplish what you really want to do from the core of your heart. Retirement gives you the ample opportunity to discover the real purpose of life and pursue activities that express your true self.

To fulfill only personal and selfish interests is restrictive. You need to reach beyond, to serve a higher purpose that benefits all. All your working life you have taken so much. You have exploited natural resources and degraded the environment to make life more comfortable. May be you harmed others in furthering your selfish interests. What have you done or given in return? Perhaps nothing! Retirement is the time you could give something back to society.

Work now for these causes you’ve always believed in. There is an endless of ways we can help this world a more beautiful place. Pursue one or more of these purposes in your retirement: helping the needy, doing social work and community networking, promoting an environmental cause, starting a home for the elderly, conserving heritage, fighting corruption, writing a book, inventing something useful and translating inspiring literature from one language to another.

These pursuits may not be very rewarding financially. However, they are a source of immense happiness and fulfillment, which is the core desire of all human beings. Sometimes you may even spend some money from your own pocket to benefit others. Remember: There is no joy like the joy of serving others.

Reference: Article by BK Trehan, The Times of India 

PS:

If you see the video below, you will come to know that there are many lives in this world, who need help and care. Retirement is the best time to indulge in humanitarian activities.

Let us make those faces smile more, let them be happier and let their existence be known to the world.

The Nature after having a cool bath in the dew transformed into a beautiful damsel wearing multicoloured and fragrant flowers. The mist withdrew its carpet as the golden rays of the sun fell on the earth. The day grew into its adolescence. As this was happening, I saw two beautiful birds sitting on the handrails of my bedroom balcony. Looking at each other, they were talking , it seemed. They were sad due to some unknown reasons. One of them later flew away immersing the other in great sorrow.

Perhaps the bird was singing to the other thus:

Without you  where shall I go?
After coming to this world I longed for you
I don’t know how you are living without me
All these walls will be broken one day

One day you will have to come with me for ever

Without you

Where shall I go?

www.commentbaby.com


FREE IMAGE HOSTING

Stardust
Answer Me
Autumn Leaves
Walkin' My Baby Back Home
These Foolish Things
There Goes My Heart
A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
You Made Me Love You
A Blossom Fell
More
Love Letters
Oh How I Miss You Tonight
Brazilian Love Song
You're My Everything
Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
You'll Never Know
He'll Have to Go
Stay As Sweet As you Are
The More I See You
The Party's over.

".....
The falling leaves drift by the window
The Autumn leaves of rare and gold
I see your lips the summer kisses
The sunburnt hands I use to hold
Since you went away the days grow long
And soon I'll hear all Winter songs
But I miss you most of all my darling
When Autumn leaves start to fall
(repeat)
Since you went away the days grow long
And soon I'll hear all Winter songs
But I miss you most of all my drling
When Autumn leaves start to fall
....."

I dare not describe the merits of all the songs. But I would emphazise that this album is a must for all who love music and those who understand that "Love is a many splendoured thing"

Pleasant hearing...and let love flow everywhere.....

Cheers!!!....... 

The information given in this page is entirely for general guidance only. It is not given as a medical advice. You are requested to consult your doctor for all matters.

Even if your total cholesterol is within prescribed limits, a low level of HDL less than 35mg/dL is considered as a risk factor. The risk of heart disease is elevated. It is observed that even small increases in HDL cholesterol could reduce the risk of heart attacks. For every 1 mg/dL increase in HDL cholesterol, there is a 2 � 4% reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease.

The HDL cholesterol level can be raised by simple life style modifications. Regular aerobic exercise within your target heart rate and weight loss will help in raising the HDL cholesterol level. Do aerobic exercise (brisk walking, jogging, etc.).

Take Foods that raise HDL cholesterol levels:

a) Eat half a raw onion a day. It raises HDL (good) cholesterol an average of 25% in most people.

b) Eat at least two servings of foods high in soluble fibre like whole grains, oats and oat bran, brown rice, citrus fruits, apple grapes etc. and legumes and lentils. The soluble fibre raises HDL levels and helps in lowering total cholesterol.

c) Use cooking oils which are high in monosaturated fats such as canola or olive oils.

d) Increase your consumption of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, cold-pressed flaxseed oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, dark green vegetables, etc.

e) Eat at least two servings of soy (phytoestrogens) products. Tofu, tempeh, and TVP (texturized vegetable protein) may help raise HDL levels. Include at least two servings each day.

Avoid

1. Trans fatty acids i.e. hydrogenated oil or vegetable shortening (Dalda, Rath, and Vanaspati in India). Choose a liquid or semisoft variety of margarine in your diet Trans fatty acids are found in and many fast foods and French fries, baked goods such as cookies, crackers and cakes. Remember, the softer the spread, the less trans fat it contains.

2. Refined carbohydrates like sugar and refined flour. These have shown to raise blood cholesterol and triglycerides.

3. Avoid food sources of cholesterol such as egg yolk, liver, kidney, brains, etc.

4. Avoid high fat dairy products such as regular milk, cheese and cream.

5. Reduce alcohol intake. However, alcohol (wine or beer) in moderation may raise HDL levels. However, if your do not drink, don't start to raise HDL, it is not a medicine.

The LDL HDL cholesterol ratio is more important than individual levels of HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. However, recent heart Foundation recommendation is that irrespective of the ratio, one should try to reduce the LDL cholesterol.

Total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio (Total / HDL) is found by dividing total cholesterol by HDL cholesterol. The total cholesterol is the sum of HDL, LDL, and the VLDL (1/5 of Triglycerides). The safe total/HDL ratio is less than 4. The LDL/HDL ratio is more important ratio than total cholesterol/HDL because LDL is a measure of bad cholesterol and HDL is a measure of good cholesterol. LDL/HDL is therefore an accurate measure of heart disease. The risk levels of different values of LDL/HDL ratios are:

Low Risk: 3.3 - 4.4

Average Risk: 4.4 - 7.1

Moderate Risk: 7.1 - 11.0

High Risk: 11.0

Let us control our life style for a long life.

Cheers!!!

During retirement, one can choose many ways to pass time. I thought of relaxing myself by a visit to the village where my ancestral house is situated. A couple of months back, I visited my father's family house in the village of Nemmara in Palakkad district of Kerala State. The visit rekindled my admiration towards the place and redoubled my love for my father who was a granary of love.**********************************************


The mansion loomed ahead

The twilight enshrined it

The breeze brushed my face

With the familiar aroma of the earth

And mingled with the air I breathed

The stone steps led again

To the courtyard with sand spread

Where many a damsel had danced around

With utter exuberance with the honey of youth

In every part of their gyrating bodies

The flowers had danced in the breeze

To the ecstatic notes of their songs

Intoxicated unto a heavenly bliss

I entered the blessed house

Where you were born and groomed

I felt your presence, your scent, your love

I saw your manly smile

In the glow of the burning lamps

I entered the room where I had slept

On the warm tummy of your muscular body

I enjoyed the tranquility

As your hands caressed my forehead

I heard your footsteps while you danced

To the tune of the folk songs

I heard you calling my name

My eyes searched for you in the dim light

I walked to the pond so full of algae

Once its water crystal clear and rippling in joyful mode

I saw you disappearing into

That place of worship lit up every day

I folded my hands in utter awe

Oh my ever-loving father, my creator

Bless us, kindly shower on us

The perennial flowers of your love

From thy Kingdom of Love�����������������.. 

I had visited these temples in the year 1968 with my friends, when I was a bachelor. I could only identify the sculptures as images depicting erotic love. But when I visited them in April this year, with a more matured mind having seen the world with a broader outlook, those images evoked in me awe, bliss and a wonder and I saluted those kings and the artists of the past glorious days for their magnanimous vision and imagination.

In your next travel plan, don't forget to give top priority to this place of tranquility. You will be really thrilled with the experience.

The world�s oldest man, Tomoji Tanabe, celebrated his 112^th birthday on Tuesday, 18^th September 2007, in Miyazaki, Japan, saying that he wanted to live for ever.

�Don�t fight old age, just embrace it and age healthily as you go through life�, says Dr Andrew Weil (Author of Healthy Ageing). There are certain things that become better with age � whiskey, wine, cheese, trees, violins, antiques. You can maximize happiness, no matter how old you are. Acceptance of the ageing process really means learning the principles of life style � eating right, sleeping right, moving right, reducing stress, maintaining good relations and playfulness, keeping the mind active, using the best of natural and preventive methods in everyday life.

 There are several changes which happen to the skin, muscles, joints, handgrip, cartilage and the height of a person who starts ageing. The following helps your body to cope with the changes:

MENTAL ACUITY

B Vitamins and physical activity cut the risk of Alzheimer�s disease.

VISION

Vitamin C, E and beta carotene with zinc may help cut degeneration in those at high risk of eye diseases.

BONES

Peak bone mass occurs at the age of 35. Walking, jogging and weight training can preserve bones.

MUSCLES

Weight training exercises may help slow age related muscle loss.

STOMACH

Eat fibre. Women should eat 25g daily and men 35g.

BLOOD

Vitamin B-12 fortified foods prevent anaemia, heart and nerve problems after 50.

HEART

At least 30 minutes of brisk physical activity daily should be there. Eat more fibre rich foods such as oat-meal to help reduce blood cholesterol. Limit sodium to keep blood pressure under check. Skip transfats.

SKIN

Quit smoking. It causes premature wrinkles and ageing. Limit sun exposure and use sun creams.

JOINTS

Try to strengthen those quadriceps to prevent Osteoarthritis, especially in the knees. To relieve pain and symptoms, apply heat to joints. There is a range of motion exercises that are good for joints. But don�t forget to warm up beginning of a work out.

Following are some of Do�s and DON�TS to live long:

Don�t oversleep: More than eight hours sleep is not healthy.

Be optimistic: It decreases the risk of early death by 50%.

Lose weight: Obesity is linked with diabetes and heart diseases.

Get a pet: Pet reduce the levels of the stress hormone �cortisol�.

Be rich: Higher incomes make it easy to engage in healthy behaviours.

Quit smoking: It has been linked to most common causes of death in the elderly.

Chill out: The anger-prone are six times more likely to have heart attacks by the age of 55.

Pop anti-oxidants: Cinnamon to blueberries- they ward off cell damage and delay ageing.

Exercise a lot: Maintaining weight will give you energy to ward off stress.

LONGEVITY AND MOOD

The Big Five personality traits that help people to live and thrive:

Extroverted character

Agreeable manner
Conscientiousness
Emotional stability
Openness to experience

Our goal should be to work towards Compression of Morbidity.

To conclude let us have an AGE TEST. Assume that the average life expectancy is 70 years.

Attitude: Are you an optimist? Do you approach life with goof humour? Are you able to let go of stressful things? If no, subtract 5 years - 70 � 5 = 65

Genes: Do you have at least some family members who had lived past the age of 90? Exceptional longevity runs strongly in families. If yes, add 10 years - 10 = 75

Exercise: Do you set aside at least half an hour, three days a week, to exercise? Muscle-building exercises are particularly important. If no, subtract five years - -5 = 70

Interests: Do you do things that challenge your brain, regularly? It is important to take on activities that are novel and complex. If yes, add 5 years - 5 = 75

Nutrition:  Do you have a diet which keeps you lean? If no, then subtract 7 years - -7 75 = 68

Smoking:  Do you smoke? If yes, subtract 5 years - -5 68 = 63 years will be the life expectancy.

Let us age healthily, happily and cautiously.

Reference: India Today