The Gloomy Frog Story - A Story About Being a Victim

The gloomy frog story is one of the inspirational stories one can come across. I recently read it in a library under the section - 'short children inspirational stories'! The story sounded so good, I thought of sharing it here. Enjoy..

Freddie the frog was hopping past a pond when he heard a loud sigh.

He stopped and saw a sad looking frog named Frank sitting on a lily pad.

“What’s wrong?” Freddie asked.

“Life is so hard here on this pond,” said Frank, “there used to be more insects to eat, now I’m starving.”

“I live in the pond down the road, we have plenty of insects to share,” explained Freddie.

“I wish that there were more insects here, then I wouldn’t have to move.”

“But if you move there will be plenty of insects to eat.” said Freddie.

“I wish that my tongue was longer.  That would fix everything, then I could catch more insects without having to move.”

“But you will never have a longer tongue and if you move, you will have enough insects,” said an increasingly frustrated Freddie.

As they spoke, a large heron landed at the other end of the pond.

“Oh great, “said Frank, “Now the heron is going to eat me.”

“It doesn’t have to.  Quick come with me, there are no herons at my pond,” said Freddie as he hopped away to safety.

Frank watched the other frog hop to his pond and sighed loudly.

“That frog is so lucky,” he said before being eaten by the heron.

This Year, Resolve To Be Loving And Giving - By Mata Amritanandamayi Devi

Sharing here few excerpts from an inspiring thought full of positivity and hope by Mata Amritanandamayi Devi.  A few days late to post but still I hope you like it too!


"Another new year is here. All people dream of a happy and fortuitous future. May this New Year be filled with happiness and peace, with less war and conflict than in the year gone by. It’s not enough to pray and hope for a favorable future. We should also be ready to work with alertness, determination and self-confidence.

Realizing our past mistakes and learning from them, we should move forward and work with enthusiasm. If we put in effort, we will definitely receive God’s grace. Then, we may be able to create a world filled with goodness, peace and love. May the New Year enable us to come closer to God, nature and our fellow beings.

All of us enjoy newness, but what is it that lends something that sense of freshness? It is when our heart has love and openness – that is when we are able to see goodness and beauty in everything.

A garden filled with fallen leaves and dry twigs will cover all the flowers and their beauty will be lost. Wild plants growing in the forest do not require watering or fertilizer. They get their nutrients naturally from the soil. Yet, if we want the same plants to blossom after being transplanted into our garden, we will have to regularly water and nurture them.

It is the same with the garden of our heart. Currently the flowers that exude the fragrance of pure love are covered with the dead leaves of selfishness, anger and jealousy. This prevents us from being able to awaken the goodness within us. Let us clear away hatred and jealousy and awaken positive thoughts. Let us nurture a mind that does not harbor past animosities but welcomes everything afresh. If we can do this, we will be able to see newness and beauty everywhere and discover joy in that.

Everything depends on the mind. If we have an open heart, we will be able to see goodness in anything and enjoy its beauty.

Nurture a mind that finds joy in loving and giving – a mind that accepts criticism with love. This should be our New Year resolution. Those who have this will never fail."

Expansion of Idea - A Great Deal of Talent is Lost in the World for the Want of a Little Courage

There are many people out there who have real talents. Some are out exhibiting it, but not all. Seldom these talents go recognized or known to others. Many people with real talent rarely accomplish any success. This is the case with most because they hardly let others know in the first place that any talent does exist.

Timidity is one of the major fault that stops an individual from making the first venture. The fear of failure and being a source of embarrassment can keep a person from showcasing his or her talent. Then steps in self-distrust, where a person doubts himself and his capabilities. Thus the talent he possesses stay hidden within him, away from the eyes of others. And hence a great deal of talent is lost in the world for the want of a little courage.

There is No Such Thing as Independence - By Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

I am sharing here some inspiring words of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Recently came across them and wish you to read it too. His thoughts are truly inspiring.


"The body is dependent on the whole of creation. The body cannot be independent. The body cannot be independent of the world. For the body, dependency is absolute.  Most people are not aware of their limitations and dependency.

When the Spirit identifies with the body, then it gets pinched and the desire for independence arises. Mind, intellect, ego -- they all look for independence.

On one level, dependency is a harsh reality. On another level, it is an illusion because there is nothing else but the Self.

It's only when you don't feel oneness, belongingness, that you want independence.

Freedom from bondage is independence. There are two types. One is a Suraksha bandhan and the other is the bondage of love.That which suffocates, and stops growth is bondage.

Until we respect ourselves, our culture, our capabilities, we cannot consider ourselves independent. We must be financially, socially, intellectually independent. On top of all this, there is an inner independence.

 The degree to which we feel happy and content within ourselves, to that extent we can call ourselves free.

 We should endeavour to make our minds independent of cravings and aversions. Disliking someone is not independence. We are all interdependent. We are dependent on each other.

Now we have to fight for a different kind of freedom. Freedom from ignorance, from impurity, both inside and outside. Ignorance can be uprooted only with spiritual knowledge and literacy. We need confidence. With confidence, we can create wealth and improve productivity. Everyone should get active, and do something creative. When we get rid of lack, ignorance and impurity, then we’re truly independent."

Expansion of Idea - Living Life

Life is said to be worth living. Though it never turns out the way you want it. Unexpected things do happens, which aren't wished for. Every day is a new challenge, a new journey. It is not something that has an editing facility. If there had been such a facility, imagine how wonderful life would have been.

We would have edited every difficult and untoward situation and lived happily. But few people don't find happiness in their entire life. It seems to unbalanced. Seeking happiness is like winning a lottery. This happens to one in million.

Consider memories, when you think of past, along with all the good, funny and happy moments, you also remember all sad, horrifying and bitter moments. Wish life had a delete button, and then maybe we could delete all the unwanted, scary and non – happening memories permanently.

Life is a sad phase, where no one can expect the next thing going to happen in their life. What if we really had choices, like choice to live, to make amends? Though we have few choices; that can make us live peacefully or disturb our existence. Choices like forgiving someone, blaming someone, hating someone, forgiving someone etc.

Do we make a good use of such choices? Indeed no, we end up making a wrong choice at the wrong time and end up in dirt. Repentance makes us feel vulnerable to an extent that we start hating ourselves.

But then aren't mankind known to live out in odds and overcome such situations. Aren't we capable enough to make a better use of our life and handle things? Aren't we known for our power in terms of raising our voice, speaking out our mind, fighting back, building our own empire and striving hard to make our survival worth living? It's never too late and we can always make it happen what is wanted by us from our life.

The Woodpecker Poem

The Woodpecker Poem

        - By Anonymous

     A little bird, black and blue,

One day on my window flew,

Tap, tap, tapping on my window frame.

"Don't you do it, it's a shame."

I said.

"Peck, peck pecking on a wood,

That's the way I find my food.

People love my tapping sound,

Ans that's the way I am found."

"I am busy as a bee,

That is why I am happy you see,

That air is filled with my song.

Tap, tap, tapping all day long."

Little children learn from thee,

To be as busy as busy can be.

At your work or at your play,

Remember the woodpecker everyday.

Ignite The Fire Within Poem By Anonymous

Ignite The Fire Within Poem

     - By Anonymous

Ignite the fire within,

To lend a hand to millions.

Whose arms are stretched out,

To hold your comforting hand.

Fuel the fire within,

With the help of creativity,

Which would not only,

Express your thoughts,

And make you the one

Above the weening masses,

But would also portray

The True realities of life.

Rake the ambers to

Find that spark,

That shall help you understand

The grievances of the poor

And the downtrodden

And help you fulfill their needs.

Do not let the fire extinguish,

Which will strengthen you.

To illuminate the world with

Knowledge and courage.