How to stop worrying and start living by Dale Carnegie

I bought this book years ago. When ?...well, about 22 years ago, yes..., the 'real' book, not the digital version of the book.

How many times I have reread this book? Countless... !
How many times I have packed this book while traveling? Difficult to count...!
How many times I have recommended this awesome book to friends? Lost the count...!

Took this out of my bookshelf today and decided to blog about this.

Dale Breckenridge Carnegie (November 24, 1888 – November 1, 1955).

I do not think I need to write here in detail about this genius who pioneered self-help programs in the modern world. I attended a personality development program about 22 years ago spending a huge sum of money, almost a month's full salary while working as a junior staff immediately after my graduation and internship. There I happened to hear about this brilliant man and subsequently bought his book from a bookshop in Bangalore when I went there some months later because it was not available in our place at that time. Expensive book, it was!

Now, I feel lucky in learning the important principles outlined in this beautiful book at a very early age. Thereafter I attended many such personal development programs but what I felt is that they were all modifications of the same principles clearly and simply written by this brilliant man years ago. I have applied these principles that I learned early in my life as much as possible and I can state truthfully that whatever little success I think I have attained is because of this book and its contents.

I found all his books wonderful. Collected many, some are in digital formats. I make it a point to tell my friends to read a self-help book online or offline daily. Many are available for free online, so getting one is not a problem at all, no need to spend a dime!

Some interesting quotes collected from the www supposed to be made by Carnegie:

"The ideas I stand for are not mine. I borrowed them from Socrates. I swiped them from Chesterfield. I stole them from Jesus. And I put them in a book. If you don't like their rules, whose would you use?"

"People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing."

"Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success."

"Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit at home and think about it. Go out and get busy." Well, this one may be amended to suit the life of today's world with internet opening never before horizons of success - "If you want to conquer fear, do not sit idle at home, start some home-based business or if you prefer to go out, get busy with something you like in the world outside😊"

“We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows today” 

For more quotes and further details:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Carnegie
http://www.dalecarnegie.com

The last quote is the basis of this blog - live in the present and the present moment is magical.

• Live in the present happily and contented. Time just flows away, it never waits for none. The magical present moment that we have in our hands right now is the only thing that is sure for you to posses and whoever utilizing it well is the wisest on Earth.

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Walking down the memory lane - Beautiful flowers, sweet memories

Enjoy these beautiful flowers :)

All these were shot some time ago. When I saw these recently while searching my external hard drive, it brought back many good memories. These were shot when I bought a second camera, a Panasonic point and shoot model, some years ago. I used to compare pictures taken by this cam with my favorite Canon during that time.

• An old picture can stir so many memories. It is good to walk down the memory lane once in a while. 

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Exotic flowers, positive vibes...Nishagandhi (queen of the night, Epiphyllum oxypetalum), the fragrance of love)

Pictures of Nishagandhi (queen of the night, Epiphyllum oxypetalum). 

This flower blooms only at night; during the daytime, it looks like what you see in the picture. At night when it blooms, it emits a wonderful fragrance, addressed poetically as the' fragrance of love'. 

I searched my collection in my hard drive recently and found this picture. This was taken about 5 years ago during one of my visits to my ancestral house. I did not know the importance of this unique flower at that time, apparently, I do not have a picture taken at night when it blooms emitting divine fragrance. If I happen to get it from my relative who might have taken its picture I will surely post it here.

• Search for hidden gems. We may not recognize the value of many simple things in life but it becomes valuable at the right time.

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Beautiful countryside

These are the pictures of the countryside villages in Kerala. Full of greenery, paddy fields, and coconut trees. Rapid urbanization has changed the landscape bringing concrete jungles everywhere.

• Numerous gifts of nature, do not miss the opportunity to indulge in such treats that we may get during our hectic day to day life.

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Ain al kasfa, a hot water spring in Al Rustaq, Sultanate of Oman

Ain al Kasfa, is a popular tourist destination in Al Rustaq, Al Batinah, Sultanate of Oman. This is a hot water spring where the water because of its high sulfur content is said to be therapeutic for rheumatism and skin diseases.

The spot is usually crowded especially during holidays and weekends. No swimming is allowed here but there are bathhouses where the water from the spring is channeled.

Visitors are allowed to immerse their feet in the spring water. The water is not unusually hot! maybe around 45°C, very pleasurable experience, surely rejuvenating :)

Being here reminded me of my visit to St. Ann's well of Buxton, in the UK, years ago. 

Al Hajir mountain range surrounds Al Rustaq. This spot is within a day's trip by road from Muscat. There are numerous forts, wadis and many more tourist attractions on the way and around this famous destination.                                               

I visited here in 2012. It was an awesome experience immersing feet in this hot water!

Initially, I was very much reluctant to do it fearing burns but seeing many people coolly doing it prompted me too to try it.

Wow, great!

I was tired of the long journey in the hot weather but I felt instantly rejuvenated!

Rejuvenation in any form is cool. We have to maintain and better our state of health. Spread awareness of such amazing spots in different parts of the world. Positive activity brings positive results.

• Nature has provided many cool spots for rejuvenation. Make use of such gifts of nature; it is much, much better than artificial spas affordable and accessible only by spending a lot of money.  

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Note taking for personal development - A beautiful notebook 😊

Thoughts shape up when you put them down on paper 😊. Very true!

I was contemplating buying a notebook, yes the real paper one, to write some notes about the things I need while at work. Then, as usual, after some procrastination, I finally bought this beautiful five subject notebook today.

"Thoughts shape up when you put them down", this beautiful quote in this notebook was truly inspiring.

I stopped writing notes in notebooks a long time ago; instead was using the "memo" in my smartphone or the "notepad" in my laptop. But those things always felt artificial. Let the old-fashioned notebook restore that natural flow and feel :)

A good ad campaign of  Ballarpur Industries Limited, this book's Company http://www.biltpaper.com/media_biltmatrix.asp
Lovely!

• Always be on the lookout for inspiration, boost your creativity, dream beautifully and decorate ou imagination.

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Malling... a modern way to chill out, Ibn Battuta mall in Dubai, theme inspired by the travels of Ibn Battuta, the great traveler

          

Today's post is about a very beautiful mall, Ibn Battuta mall, a themed mall in Dubai, inspired by the travels of the famous Arabic explorer Ibn Battuta. His full name is Abu Abdulla Muhammad Ibn Abdullah Al Lawati Al Tangi Ibn Batutta. (1304 to 1369).

Birthplace - Tangier, Morocco.
He was a great Islamic scholar and traveler.

At a very young age he started on a journey for the holy Hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. This was a long journey and after completing the pilgrimage he decided to continue his travel to other countries that took many years before his return to Morocco. He has traveled extensively North Africa, Egypt, Swahili coast, Palestine, Syria, Andalusia, Persia, Tunisia, India, Srilanka, Maldives, China and finally back to Morocco. Upon his return almost thirty years later to Morocco he was appointed in the court of the Sultan. This ruler ordered his scribe to record the travel experiences of this great adventurer, the 'Rihla'. Rihla remains as the sole record of this great traveler's adventures.

There are plenty of world famous brands here.
                                                        

                                                                     
The architecture of this mall is stunning !

I have already posted about 'South-pointing chariot', a wonderful instrument for finding directions used in ancient times in China. Very interesting equipment!

http://magicalpresent.blogspot.in/2013/03/south-pointing-chariot_18.html

     

I am sure nobody will be bored visiting here especially if you are interested in history.

The picture above is of Ibn Battuta gate, where the Movenpick hotel is situated. Beautiful view! Hats off to this wonderful idea of building a mall conceived by the travels of this famous person.

The Islamic astrolabe

Food courts, restaurants, cinemas, you name it... they have it here! 

Hardships, dangerous circumstances, and adversities did not deter this great man from pursuing single-handedly the adventures and exploration of previously unknown, far away places, cultures, and lifestyles. His accounts gave mankind valuable insights into the life of people during those ancient times and contributed authoritative facts to history.

For more information :

http://www.ibnbattutamall.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibn_Battuta

• Extraordinary achievements result from courage, great self-esteem, and passionate actions. 

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