A CURE FOR MY BRAIN ITCH

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    “You may well weep like a woman, for what you could not defend like a man”.

    The Sultan’s mother to the Sultan, after the fall of Islamic Spain.

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    During an interview Steve answered a question about wether he was proud of his achievements. He responded with humility that has inspired me to this day: 

    ‎”I think if you do something and it turns out pretty good, then you should go do something else wonderful, not dwell on it for too long. Just figure out what’s next.”

    You can watch it here. Enjoy.

    (via azizikhalid)

    Source: davemorin

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    The Star Thrower

    A traveler sees a man throwing starfish back into the sea to save them. He asks him why he thinks he can make a difference, since there are thousands of starfish on the beach. He picks up another, throws it into the ocean, and says, “It makes a difference to that one”.

    The Star Thrower tale by Loren Eiseley

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    Names

    “A certain conqueror said to Nasrudin: ‘Mulla, all the great rulers of the past had honorific titles with the name of God in them: There was, for instance, God-Gifted, and God-Accepted, and so on. How about some such name for me?’

    ‘God Forbid’, said Nasrudin.”

    taken from The Subtleties of the Inimitable Mulla Nasrudin by Idries Shah

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    Making a Difference

    Everyone’s talking about the coming Bersih rally. What does it represent? My view is that people are so attracted to it because it represents a collective protest of the people against something that they strongly feel is corrupting the country. And as there’s nothing much that they feel they can do on their own, a rally such as this, in a unified show of strength, is very appealing. People feel that they can make a difference, or at least try to.

    But making a difference does not not necessarily mean that it has to be on a grand scale, although, of course, it can help. Anyone can make a difference. Daily. From the smallest and most mundane of things. Like helping a friend in need. Or not littering. Or switching off the office aircond before you leave. Or refusing to give bribes. Or defending a colleague from insults. Or giving credit where it’s due. Or saying thank you. And i’m sure that we have all at one time or another been in a situation where we could have made a difference.

    It all starts from within. It defeats the purpose of going to the rally if once it’s over, one still thinks that the only way he’s going to get that business is by paying the officials. Or the only way to get that new passport faster is by sending gifts to the officer in charge. Or paying the court staff to ensure that that litigation file goes missing. Or that speeding ticket. Or that special parking spot. And the list goes on and on.

    It doesn’t matter how big or small your contribution is. Being human means that we each step up and do what we can do to make a difference, as everyone has a unique role. Often, small things have big impacts. Do not simply dismiss something as petty as it may mean the world to someone else.

    Of course, some would prefer having a bigger platform. Just make sure that you know what you signed up for and what it stands for, and not just get caught up in the excitement.

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    “Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.” ~ Oscar Wilde

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    Books: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

    Probably the most widely known of Coelho’s writings, the book is a mixture of adventure, spirituality and magical realism, which of course at some point may cause us to consider drawing some comparison with Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s books. A reader, however, would soon realize that the two authors are very distinct in their presentation.

    While one might think that the book is just another tale of a journey of which the purpose is senseless, the reader will find that there will be one too many times that the reader will stop in his track and have moments of realisations. That the writer is writing about life, and despite having such a mystical title, anyone can relate to the story. That alchemy, ultimately, is only a metaphor.

    I won’t spoil your journey by saying too much.

    Awesome read.

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    Books: The Road to Mecca by Muhammad Asad

    One of the most brilliant books ever written. Period. The author’s journey from darkness to light is vividly captured in this autobiography/adventure, in the most haunting way that will keep lingering in your head long after you’ve closed the final page. And how the author describes the long gone beauty of the Arab culture will make you rethink how you have always thought about the whole subject. Intelligent, eye opening, outstanding.

    How did a well to do Austrian of Jewish ancestry became one of the most important figure in the Muslim world? Why did he spend years in the desert, away from the comfort of his European roots?

    It’s all in the book.