"A child called it" by Dave Pelzer

About

David J. Pelzer's mother, Catherine Roerva, was, he writes in this ghastly,
fascinating memoir, a devoted den mother to the Cub Scouts in her care, and
somewhat nurturant to her children--but not to David, whom she referred to
as "an It." This book is a brief, horrifying account of the bizarre tortures she
inflicted on him, told from the point of view of the author as a young boy
being starved, stabbed, smashed face-first into mirrors, forced to eat the
contents of his sibling's diapers and a spoonful of ammonia, and burned
over a gas stove by a maniacal, alcoholic mom. Sometimes she claimed he
had violated some rule--no walking on the grass at school!--but mostly it
was pure sadism. Inexplicably, his father didn't protect him; only an alert
schoolteacher saved David.

Quotes

"One day before he left for work, I received a dreadful shock.
After he said goodbye to Ron and Stan, he knelt down, held my
shoulders tightly and told me to be a “good boy”. Mother stood
behind him with her arms folded across her chest, and a grim
smile on her face. I looked into my father’s eyes and knew right
then that I was a “bad boy”."

"Even in its darkest passages, the heart is
unconquerable. It is important that the body survives, but it is
more meaningful that the human spirit prevails."

"I believe it is important for people to know that no matter
what lies in their past, they can overcome the dark side and press
on to a brighter world. It is perhaps a paradox that without the abuse of my past, I might not be what I am today. Because of
the darkness in my childhood, I have a deep appreciation for
life. I was fortunate enough to turn tragedy into triumph. This is
my story."

Ve Sooratein ilahi.. in the mesmerizing voice of Abida Parveen

Anger Management

Lessons of Life

Video lecture by Professor Moiz Hussain_ Pioneer of Mind sciences.

Watch live streaming video from drmoizhussain at livestream.com

Quotes that motivate and inspire!

“If you can keep your wits about you while others are losing theirs and blaming you, the world will be yours.” –Rudyard Kipling

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” –Attributed to Confucius

If there is one lesson that I have learned during my life as an analyst, it is the lesson that what my patients tell me is likely to be true – that many times when I believed that I was right and my patients were wrong, it turned out, though often only after a prolonged search, that my rightness was superficial, whereas their rightness was profound. –Heinz Kohut

“You cannot solve a problem from the same consciousness that created it. You must learn to see the world anew.” –Albert Einstein

“People that judge don’t matter. People that matter don’t judge.” –Author Unknown

“The only time a man should be looking down at another man is if the other man is on the ground and the man looking down at him and extending his hand to him so that he can help him up.” –Author Unknown


“Creativity exists in the spaces between ideas”. –David Wescott

“Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” –Carrie Fisher


“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming — WOW — What a ride!” – Anonymous

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. –Marianne Williamson


“The beauty of balance is that I can do it all and not feel bad about my choices, because every moment is an opportunity to start all over again” –Jorge Perez

“Life is a kaleidoscope. Turn your head a different angle and see it a whole new way.”
–Anonymous

(via http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2011/03/04/15-quotes-that-motivate-and-inspire/

Love

Love is what springs up
when you're looking
in the other direction;
what rushes in
when your definitions drop away.
...When you absolutely
don't know anything
whatsoever anymore,
there It is--
painting Itself madly across your life
with sudden strokes
and unexpectedly rash ink.

Today, be the flower

Today, be the flower
that grows from a rock.

Be the silk breeze
that soothes heated hearts.
...
Be the candle flame
that banishes darkness.

Be the fresh stream
that gives fish a home.

Be the stillness
that provokes sweet peace.

Be the smile
that quenches all fear.

These
are the seeds of joy.

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk revealing your true self.
To place you ideas, your dreams, before a crowd
...Is to risk rejection.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk disappointment.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard
In life is to risk nothing.
Those who risk nothing, do nothing, have nothing,
And become nothing.
They may avoid present suffering and sorrow, but they
Will not learn, feel, change, grow, love, or live.
Chained by their fear, they are slaves who have forfeited
Their freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.
The pessimist complains about the wind;
The optimist expects it to change;
And the realist adjusts the sails.
~ William Arthur Ward ~

On the Day of Death (Rumi)

On the day of death when my coffin is on the move

Don't suppose I have any pain at leaving this world

When you see my hearse say not

"Leaving! He's Leaving!"

That time will be for my reunion and encounter.

When you commit me to the grave

Say not "Farewell! Farewell!"

For the grave is veil over the reunion of paradise!

The Wise Woman's stone

A wise woman who was travelling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. the next day she met another traveller who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. the hungry traveller saw the precious stone and asked the wise woman to give it to him. she did so without hesitation, the traveller left rejoicing on his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. but a few days later he came back to return the stone to the wise woman

"I've been thinking." he said

"I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me wht you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone."

It's not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how a strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deed could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who's actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again; because there is no effort without errors or shortcomings; but who actually strives to do the deeds, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst,if he fails, at least fails by daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat!

Theodore Roosevelt

The impact of Attitude

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.”
(Charles R. Swindoll)

Making a difference!

There was a young man walking down a deserted beach just before dawn in the distance he saw a frail old man. As he approached the old man, he saw him picking up stranded starfish and throwing them back into the sea. The young man gazed in wonder as the old man again and again threw the small starfish from the sand to the water. He asked "Old man, why do you spend so much energy doing what seems to be a waste of time?" The old man explained that the stranded starfish would die if left in the morning sun. But there must be thousands of beaches and millions of starfish! "How can you make a difference?" The old man looked down at the small starfish in his hand and as he threw it to the safety of the sea, he said "I MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO THIS ONE." - unknown

The Victor

If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don’t
If you like to win but think you can’t,
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.

If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost.
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow’s will
It’s all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are.
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win the prize.

Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man.
But sooner or later, the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can.

(C. W. Longenecker )

Today is the day I will change my mind,
and leave all the negative things behind.
Today is the day I want to be free,
and not let life troubles get to me.
Today is the day I will do my best,
and make sure I focus to past each day's test.
Today is the day I will take a stand,
and choose to do right to my fellow man.
Today is the day I will put my foot down,
and encourage myself when I feel I want to frown.
Today is the day, no longer will I doubt
in spite of the grumblers who stand about.
You look at me and ask "How will you start?",
"Well, first there must be a change in my heart".
I will hang with new friends who want to achieve,
and who want a good education cause that's what I believe.
I will respect those around me, young and old,
for respect is the key, that's what I've been told.
I will demand excellence you see,
for I must insist to become a better me.
I will reach for the stars no matter how hard it seems,
and fly like a bird with the knowledge this journey brings.
So you see it's not impossible, I must take life day by day
and do the right things as I travel along the way!

Today

Today

I woke up early, excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight. I have responsibilities to fulfill today. My job is to choose what kind of day I will have today

Today

I can complain because the weather is rainy or I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free.

Today

I can feel sad that I don’t have more money or I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste.

Today

I can grumble about my health or I can rejoice that I am alive.

Today

I can lament over all that my parents didn’t give me when I was growing up or I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.

Today

I can cry because roses have thorns or I can celebrate that thorns have roses.

Today

I can mourn my lack of friends or I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new relationships.

Today

I can whine because I have to go to work or I can shout for joy because I have a job to do

Today

I can complain that I have to go to school or eagerly open my mind and fill it with rich new tidbits of knowledge

Today

I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework or I can feel honored because the Lord has provided shelter for my body, mind and soul.

Today

Stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped. Here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping. What today will be like is up to me. I get to choose what kind of day I will have!

Have a great day unless you have other plans.

The Little Things!

It really is the little things
That mean the most of all...
The 'let me help you with that' things
That may seem very small
The 'I'll be glad to do it' things
That make your cares much lighter,
The 'laugh with me, it's funny' things
That make your outlook brighter...

The 'never mind the trouble' things,
The 'yes, I understand,'
The interest and encouragement
In everything you've planned
It really is the little things,
The friendly word or smile,
That add such happiness to life
And make it more worth while

(Mary Dawson Hughes)

THE LION'S DAUGHTER

Four slaves stood fanning an old queen who was asleep upon her throne. And she was snoring. And upon the queen's lap a cat lay purring and gazing lazily at the slaves.
The first slave spoke, and said, "How ugly this old woman is in her sleep. See her mouth droop; and she breathes as if the devil were choking her."
Then the cat said, purring, "Not half so ugly in her sleep as you in your waking slavery."
And the second slave said, "You would think sleep would smooth her wrinkles instead of deepening them. She must be dreaming of something evil."
And the cat purred, "Would that you might sleep also and dream of your freedom."
And the third slave said, "Perhaps she is seeing the procession of all those that she has slain."
And the cat purred, "Aye, she sees the procession of your forefathers and your descendants."
And the fourth slave said, "It is all very well to talk about her, but it does not make me less weary of standing and fanning."
And the cat purred, "You shall be fanning to all eternity; for as it is on earth, so it is in heaven."
At this moment the old queen nodded in her sleep, and her crown fell to the floor.
And one of the slaves said, "That is a bad omen."
And the cat purred, "The bad omen of one is the good omen of another."
And the second slave said, "What if she should wake, and find her crown fallen! She would surely slay us."
And the cat purred, "Daily from your birth she has slain you and you know it not."
And the third slave said, "Yes, she would slay us and she would call it making a sacrifice to the gods."
And the cat purred, "Only the weak are sacrificed to the gods."
And the fourth slave silenced the others, and softly he picked up the crown and replaced it, without waking her, on the old queen's head.
And the cat purred, "Only a slave restores a crown that has fallen."
And after a while the old queen woke, and she looked about her and yawned. Then she said, "Methought I dreamed, and I saw four caterpillars chased by a scorpion around the trunk of an ancient oak tree. I like not my dream."
Then she closed her eyes and went to sleep again. And she snored. And the four slaves went on fanning her.
And the cat purred, "Fan on, fan on, stupids. You fan but the fire that consumes you."

• I AM FOREVER walking upon these shores,
  Betwixt the sand and thefoam,
  The high tide will erase my foot-prints,
  And the wind will blow away the foam.
  But the sea and the shore will remain
  Forever.
• It was but yesterday I thought myself a fragment quivering without rhythm in the sphere of life.
  Now I know that I am the sphere, and all life in rhythmic fragments moves within me.
• Only once have I been made mute. It was when a man asked me, "Who are you?"

• Forgetfulness is a form of freedom

• Remembrance is a form of meeting.

• We measure time according to the movement of countless suns; and they measure time by little machines in their little pockets.

  Now tell me, how could we ever meet at the same place and the same time?

• Space is not space between the earth and the sun to one who looks down from the windows of the Milky Way.

• Do not the spirits who dwell in the ether envy man his pain?

• On my way to the Holy City I met another pilgrim and I asked him, "Is this indeed the way to the Holy City?"

And he said, "Follow me, and you will reach the Holy City in a day and a night."
And I followed him. And we walked many days and many nights, yet we did not reach the Holy City.
And what was to my surprise he became angry with me because he had misled me.

• One may not reach the dawn save by the path of the night.

Footprints in the sand...

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed He was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from His life. For each scene He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonging to Him and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of His life flashed before Him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of His life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of His life.

This really bothered Him and He questioned the LORD about it. LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.

The LORD replied, my precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.