[The essence of the exercise is that your “Eyes Must be Closed” when you are doing this exercise]

Here is the exercise:

Stand on one leg while your eyes are closed.

That is all. Just try it right now, stop reading and stand up, close your eyes and try standing on one foot.

If you are not able to stand for less than 10 seconds, it means that your body has degenerated to 60 to 70 years old level in other words,you may be only 40 years old, but your body has aged a lot faster.

I tried this exercise myself when I read the mail. I thought “oh, big deal, I’m sure I can do this easily”

I was fooling myself, I’m glad I tried it because I discovered much to my surprise that while I could stand easily on one foot with my eyes open, trying the same thing with my eyes closed was another story!

You do not need to lift your leg high, if your internal organs are out of synch, even lifting your leg this bit will make you wobble.

These Chinese are really very advanced in their knowledge of the human body.

It was very heartening to know that frequent and regular practice can help you recover your sense of balance.

In fact Chinese specialists suggest daily practice of Jin Ji Du Li for 1 minute, this helps prevent dementia.

You can try slightly closing both eyes while practicing Jin Ji Du Li, instead of completely closing them; in fact this is what the health
specialist Zhong Li Ba Ren recommends.

Daily practice of Jin Ji Du Li, can help in healing many illnesses or diseases like

· Hypertension,
· High Blood Sugar or diabetes,
· Neck and Spinal diseases,
· it can also prevent you from getting dementia.

[recd as a fwd email]

I am tired…

This should be read by every man, woman and child in Jamaica, the UK , United States of America , Canada , Australia and New Zealand and to all the world…especially INDIA

The famous comedian -Bill Cosby “I’m 76 and I’m Tired”

I’m 76. Except for brief period in the 50′s when I was doing my National
Service, I’ve worked hard since I was 17. Except for some serious
health challenges, I put in 50-hour weeks, and didn’t call in sick in nearly
40 years. I made a reasonable salary, but I didn’t inherit my job or my
income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, it looks as
though retirement was a bad idea, and I’m tired. Very tired.

I’m tiredof being told that I have to “spread the wealth” to people who
don’t have my work ethic. I’m tired of being told the government will take
the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy
to earn it.

I’m tired of being told that Islam is a “Religion of Peace,” when every day I
can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and
daughters for their family “honor”; of Muslims rioting over some slight
offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren’t
“believers”; of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning
teenage rape victims to death for “adultery”; of Muslims mutilating the
genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur’an and
Shari’a law tells them to.

I’m tired of being told that out of “tolerance for other cultures” we must let
Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries use our oil money to fund mosques
and madrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in Australia , New Zealand ,
UK, America and Canada , while no one from these countries are allowed to
fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia or any other
Arab country to teach love and tolerance..  

I’m tiredof being told I must lower my living standard to fight global
warming, which no one is allowed to debate.

I’m tiredof being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help
support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ
rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses
or stick a needle in their arm while they tried to fight it off?

I’m tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of all
parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful
mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting
caught. I’m tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.  

I’m really tiredof people who don’t take responsibility for their lives and
actions. I’m tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination
or big-whatever for their problems.

I’m also tired and fed up with seeing young men and women in their teens and
early 20′s be-deck them selves in tattoos and face studs, thereby making
themselves un-employable and claiming money from the Government.

Yes, I’m damn tired.But I’m also glad to be 76.. Because, mostly, I’m not
going to have to see the world these people are making. I’m just sorry for
my granddaughter and her children.   Thank God I’m on the way out and not
on the way in.

As the website says : The aim of this site is to provide detailed info on all aspects concerning Senior Citizens of India, so that they may lead a healthy and happy life. Planning should begin early (maybe at 40!). Old Age brings some limitations, but being positive and following some simple guidelines can make life richer not just for Seniors, but also for their  family, friends & society.

A visit to the site is worth it

Not that the Supreme Court has given a ‘strange verdict’ that has gone against the Army Chief and made the ‘babus’ and their ‘gutless’ bosses like PM and RM very happy.

But General VKS, we, the serving and ex-fauji, thought that a few more months -three to be exact, of service, is not worth and you would have valued honesty and integrity above that.

You should have resigned NOT only to save your own honour but the honour of millions like us.

Have ‘they’  ’bought you’ with an offer of a Governor-ship and made you an impo??

The  Four Cats 

Four  men were bragging about how smart their cats  were. 

The  first man was an Engineer,  

The  second man was an Accountant,  

The  third man was a Chemist, and the  fourth man was a Government Official [senior  IAF officer (retd)].

To  show off, the Engineer called his cat,  “T-square, do your stuff.”  

T-square  pranced over to the desk, took out some paper  and pen and promptly drew a circle, a square,  and a triangle. 

Everyone  agreed that was pretty smart. 

But  the Accountant said his cat could do better. He  called his cat and said,  

“Spreadsheet,  do your stuff.” 

Spreadsheet  went out to the kitchen and returned with a  dozen cookies. He divided them into 4 equal  piles of 3 cookies.

Everyone agreed that  was good. 

But  the Chemist said his cat could do better. He  called his cat and said, “Measure, do your  stuff.” 

Measure  got up, walked to the fridge, took out a quart  of milk, got a 10 ounce glass from the cupboard  and poured 

Exactly  8 ounces without spilling a drop into the  glass. 

Everyone  agreed that was pretty good.  

Then  the three men turned to the Government Employee  and said, “What can your cat  do?” 

The Government Official [Retd IAF Air Marshal ?] called his cat and said,  “CoffeeBreak, do your stuff.”  

CoffeeBreak  jumped to his feet…….  

Ate  the cookies……..  

Drank  the milk….. 

Sh*t  on the paper…….  

Sc..wed  the other three cats……..claimed  he injured his back while doing  so. 

Filed  a grievance report for unsafe working  conditions……Put  in for Workers  Compensation………………and  

went  home for the rest of the day on sick  leave…………

AND  THAT, MY FRIEND, IS WHY  EVERYONE WANTS TO WORK  FOR THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT!

[Let us learn to laugh at ourselves...it is good for health]

“To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I’ve ever written.

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone…

4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.

8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion, Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone and everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give it time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.

35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.”

But, when a really honest man like General VK fights for his honour, it is being questioned.

Though,  a Flt.Lt when I got posted [deputation] to the Asian Games Organising Committee in 1982, as Deputy Director of Protocol,  had the ‘rare’ opportunity of ‘seeing’ these manipulations first hand. Subsequently, when  made the officer in charge of accreditation for Non Alligned Meet at Ashok Hotel (with the top most security accorded) since leaders like PLA’s Arafat were staying there, I had seen how ‘senior’ defence officers were treated by ‘junior’ [JS level] babus.

Appalling to read the opinion of two former Chiefs of IAF who felt that the General should not have gone to the court. Of these, one ‘kichady’ chief went about undermining all the decisions taken by his predecessor and in the bargain ruined the career of quite a few brilliant officers and another ‘choppy’ became chief with great luck when only ‘fighters’ were considered for the top job.

Precisely, this is the problem. We, the ex and serving ‘fauji’ cannot support each other even if we agree that the cause is great and worth fighting for like in General VK Singh’s case.

[In future, more and specific instances of manipulations at the top, to which I became aware during my stay at New Delhi. By the way, I was in ND on some plum posts not due to uncles but by sheer accidents.....]

Now you make me look like a fool,
When at seventeen and just out of school;
Went to the place where they made “men out of boys”
Lived a tough life …sacrificed a few joys…

In those days, I would see my “civilian” friends,
Living a life with the fashion trends;
Enjoying their so called “college days”
While I sweated and bled in the sun and haze…
But I never thought twice about what where or why
All I knew was when the time came, I’d be ready to do or die.

At 21 and with my commission in hand,
Under the glory of the parade and the band,
I took the oath to protect you over land, air or sea,
And make the supreme sacrifice when the need came to be.

I stood there with a sense of recognition,
But on that day I never had the premonition,
that when the time came to give me my due,
You’d just say, “What is so great that you do?”

Long back you promised a well-to-do life;
And when I’m away, take care of my wife.
You came and saw the hardships I live through,
And I saw you make a note or two,

And I hoped you would realize the worth of me;
but now I know you’ll never be able to see,
Because you only see the glorified life of mine,
Did you see the place where death looms all the time?

Did you meet the man standing guard in the snow?
The name of his newborn he does not know…
Did you meet the man whose father breathed his last?
While the sailor patrolled our seas so vast

You still know I’ll not be the one to raise my voice
I will stand tall and protect you in Punjab Himachal and Thois.

But that’s just me you have in the sun and rain,
For now at twenty-four, you make me think again;
About the decision I made, seven years back;
Should I have chosen another life, some other track?

Will I tell my son to follow my lead?
Will I tell my son, you’ll get all that you need?
This is the country you will serve
This country will give you all that you deserve?

I heard you tell the world “India is shining”
I told my men that’s a reason for us to be smiling
This is the India you and I will defend!

But tell me how long will you be able to pretend?
You go on promise all that you may,
But it’s the souls of your own men you betray.

Did you read how some of our eminent citizens
Write about me and ridicule my very existence?
I ask you to please come and see what I do,
Come and have a look at what I go through
Live my life just for a day
Maybe you’ll have something else to say?

I will still risk my life without a sigh
to keep your flag flying high
but today I ask myself a question or two…
Oh India…. Why do I still serve you?

[Received as an email from Wg Cdr NK Johri]

Now, it is assumed that you have a reasonably recent system that is ‘working’ and you are able to connect to the internet (Broadband connection), if you have an unlimited connection, very good.

What is the Operating system – Microsoft Windows ?  XP …hmm  VISTA …OK…Windows7…very good.

Now, click – > Start [at the bottom left of your screen], choose  Computer  on the window that pops up. I said choose and NOT click. Now right click [the right side button on your mouse] on the  Computer and choose Properties at the bottom of the window that has popped up.

By the way, never get upset if you have made a mistake, your system is not going to complain and nothing will happen to make the system go bust. The beauty of these systems are that they have the best virtue humans lack – never complain if you cannot comprehend. So, relax and repeat till you get it right.

When you have clicked Properties  [whenever it is simply said CLICK, it means left button of the mouse being pressed/clicked]  - a window will open up to show you the OS installed, type ofProcessor, amout of RAM etc. These are the parameters that give out the health status to a computer doctor, er…, engineer.

Much more info about the system can be easily accessed if you install free utils [software] like SIW or Speccy. How do we do it? Here we go…

Free SIW download link - http://download.cnet.com/SIW/3000-2094_4-10326678.html

“Speccy is an advanced System Information tool for your PC. Need to find out what’s inside your computer? No problem! Speccy will give you all the information you need’.

Free SPECCY download link - http://www.piriform.com/speccy/download/standard

Click on the downloaded  EXE file and follow the on screen instructions to install the util. Then ‘run’ the same to see the  details. It is like seeing the MRI scan.

OK, now our ‘patient’ – system needs some precautionary ‘dose’ – anti biotic…sorry..anti virus to be sure that our system is NOT INFECTED.

Personally, I have tried most of the AV that is available [part of my hobby of trying out many AV utils- called 'fingering' in crude 'fauji' lingo - has made me spend more hours on the system than required] and I consider the FREE UTIL  - AVAST to be the best .

You can download it from - http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download

By the way, having more than one AV in the  system is a big pain… like having an extra JVV security system at your door step…conflicts and confusion. So, if you have some out dated AV already installed, delete/uninstall it.

Once downloaded and installed, run a full scan with this AV AVAST.  If any ‘infection/virus’  is detected, it will get deleted with due information. Your system will get a “FULL SERVICING for FREEEE’ and now you are ready to go forward to try many more ‘tweaks’ without any fear and make your system ‘maintenance free’. Many problems have been solved with this one IMPORTANT precaution of having a proper and latest software that gets updated automatically.

Many people are under the WRONG impression that what ever the ‘computer quacks’ who come to install/check your system and insist on installing an AV from the out dated CDs they bring is better. A BIG EMPHATIC ,NO. Remember..when you download an AV as I have  suggested, you are getting the LATEST… not a GP but a specialist.

[more to come..if you want]

One stormy night many years ago, an elderly man and his wife entered the lobby of a small hotel in Philadelphia.  Trying to get out of the rain, the couple approached the front desk hoping to get some shelter for the night.

“Could you possibly give us a room here?” the husband asked. The clerk, a friendly man with a winning smile, looked at the couple and explained that there were three conventions in town.

“All of our rooms are taken,” the clerk said.  “But I can’t send a nice couple like you out into the rain at one o’clock in the morning.  Would you perhaps be willing to sleep in my room?  It’s not exactly a suite, but it will be good enough to make you folks comfortable for the night.”

When the couple declined, the young man pressed on. “Don’t worry about me.  I’ll be just fine here in the office,” the clerk told them.  So the couple agreed.

As he paid his bill the next morning, the elderly man said to the clerk, “You are the kind of manager who should be the boss of the best hotel in the United States.  Maybe, someday I’ll build one for you.”

The clerk looked at them and smiled.  The three of them had a good laugh.

As they drove away, the elderly couple agreed that the helpful clerk was indeed exceptional, as finding people who are both friendly and helpful isn’t easy.

Two years passed.  The clerk had almost forgotten the incident when he received a letter from the old man.  It recalled that stormy night and enclosed a round-trip ticket to New York, asking him to pay them a visit.

The old man met him in New York, and led him to the corner of Fifth Avenue and 34th Street. He then pointed to a great new building there, a palace of reddish stone, with turrets and watchtowers thrusting up to the sky.

“That,” said the older man, “is the hotel I have just built for you to manage.”

“You must be joking,” the young man said.

“I can assure you I am not,” said the older man, a sly smile playing around his mouth.

The older man’s name was William Waldorf Astor, and the magnificent structure was the original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

The young clerk who became its first manager was George C. Boldt.  This young clerk never foresaw the turn of events that would lead him to become the manager of one of the world’s most glamorous hotels.

“We are not to turn our backs on those who are in need, for we might be entertaining angels”.

Life is more accurately measured by the lives you touch than the things you acquire.