Jammu and Kashmir is battling one of the worst floods in decades
More than 360 people have been killed during the floods, including 231 in Pakistan.
More than 300,000 military personnel and 300 jets, choppers and boats have swarmed the northern state, rescuing more than 77,500 residents after a week of rain caused riverbanks to burst.
Armies in both countries scramble to help the victims, while officials warn of more flooding to come.
“The army will not move back to the barracks till the last man is brought to safety,” army chief Dalbir Singh said in an e-mailed statement yesterday.
Five days of heavy rain abated over the weekend, but flood waters in Srinagar rose dramatically overnight Saturday to Sunday.
Many people were caught unawares by the flood waters.
Britain has announced it will give temporary residence to hundreds of vulnerable Syrian refugees, targeting those most traumatised by the three-year civil war.
Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg says refuge will be provided for female victims of sexual violence, the disabled, the elderly and torture victims.
Though there is no set quota, his office says the overall number is likely to be in the hundreds.
Britain will work with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) on a case-by-case basis to identify those most in need.
"I am pleased to be able to announce today that the UK will be providing refuge to some of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees," Mr Clegg said in a statement.
Read more @http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-29/britain-to-take-in-vulnerable-syrian-refugees/5224810
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects
and enhances the freedom of others.”
“I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended.”
“A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.” ~ Nelson Mandela
He truly lived his life by the poem that got him through prison:
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.”- Buddha
“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”- Buddha
“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” - Buddha
“You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.” - Buddha
“The mind is everything. What you think you become.” - Buddha
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” - Buddha
“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.”- Buddha
“Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace.” - Buddha
“To understand everything is to forgive everything” - Buddha
“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”-Buddha
“The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.”- Buddha
“You cannot travel the path until you have become the path itself”- Buddha
“An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.”- Buddha
“When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky” - Buddha
“However many holy words you read,However many you speak,What good will they do you If you do not act on upon them?”- Buddha
“A jug fills drop by drop.”- Buddha
“The tongue like a sharp knife… Kills without drawing blood.”- Buddha
“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.”- Buddha
“Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.”- Buddha
“A dog is not considered a good dog because he is a good barker. A man is not considered a good man because he is a good talker.” - Buddha
“There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills.”- Buddha
“The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart.”- Buddha
“Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike; each has their suffering. Some suffer too much, others too little.”- Buddha
“Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.”- Buddha
“The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.”- Buddha
“No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.”- Buddha
“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.”- Buddha
“Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.”- Buddha
“Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.”- Buddha
“What we think, we become.”- Buddha
“To conquer oneself is a greater task than conquering others”- Buddha
“Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.”- Buddha
“He who loves 50 people has 50 woes; he who loves no one has no woes.”- Buddha
“To keep the body in good health is a duty…otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.”- Buddha
“There has to be evil so that good can prove its purity above it.”- Buddha
“Hatred does not cease through hatred at any time. Hatred ceases through love. This is an unalterable law.”- Buddha
“Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.”- Buddha
“Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.”- Buddha
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become” - Buddha
“All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If mind is transformed can wrong-doing remain?” - Buddha
“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” - Buddha
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” - Buddha
“However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you If you do not act on upon them?” - Buddha
“Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.” - Buddha
“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” - Buddha
“In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.” - Buddha
“If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.” - Buddha
“The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.” - Buddha
- See more at: http://quotesnsmiles.com/quotes/calming-buddha-quotes/#sthash.leeTMrRC.dpuf Photography by By: DOAN TRAN
“You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
Loni Jane Anthony, a 25-year-old Australian woman who is 26 weeks pregnant, made headlines after giving an interview to News.com.au about her atypical diet, part of which includes a morning meal of 10 bananas.
In an ideal world, our thoughts, experiences and beliefs would remain in a continuous state of refinement and renewal. We would frequently be exposed to new and interesting people and situations, and we would constantly discover and enhance new aspects of our emotional and intellectual lives.
However, this is rarely how life progresses. For many of us, personal ruts and situational repetition are the norm. Our focus narrows to daily stressors and events outside of our control. Our careers slowly push ahead, our circle of friends holds steady or shrinks over the years, and we content ourselves with familiar forms of recreation, mental stimulation and social interaction.
Then, one day, we wake up feeling we need something … different. Perhaps we tire of dwelling on old worries or lost opportunities. Maybe we get bored of doing the same thing day after day. Or possibly we just want to see the "old" world in an entirely new way.
Whatever the reason, it's not hard to change the way we think -- but it does take some effort. What are some ways you can change the way you think? Read on to find out.
1: Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
The Value of Relationships (Even Bad Ones)
Relationships -- and the interpersonal challenges they present -- certainly can remove us from our comfort zones. Even conflict-driven relationships, while not preferable, can teach us plenty about ourselves and the way we navigate difficult emotional terrain. The lessons learned and self-knowledge gained often require the give-and-take of a relationship; the same personal gain usually can't be achieved by individuals who isolate themselves from others [source: Oz].
Going about your life the same way day after day, doing the same activities you've always done, and planning the next weekend to mirror the last one is a good recipe for shrinking your awareness, joy and understanding of the world.
We have a natural (and often useful) tendency to stick with the familiar in life and avoid situations that make us uncomfortable. This is a good way to stay out of sticky situations, but it's also a good way to get in a rut and stay there. Pushing yourself to embrace new activities and experiences that force you to step outside your comfort zone is a good way to change the way you think.
Perhaps it's something physically intimidating, like skydiving or bungee jumping. Maybe getting outside your comfort zone means you seek out public spaces in which you're an ethnic, cultural or religious minority. Instead of vacationing in well-worn tourist traps, try a new destination that's off the beaten path.
Now that we've gotten you on the path to seeing things a whole new way, tee the nest page for lots more articles on changing the way you think.
2: Meet New People
Brand X Pictures/Thinkstock Time for a new and different friend.
To bring new thoughts, ideas and perceptions into your life, get to know someone with a different perspective, occupation, background, culture or religion.
Why? Hanging out with like-minded people is a good way to hear constant reinforcement of your own thoughts and beliefs. This also makes it easy to fall into "groupthink" and makes it more difficult to see (or acknowledge) faults, shortcomings and falsehoods of our own.
That's not to say you need to get rid of old friends -- just spice up your life with some new ones. New friends and acquaintances increase the odds that you're introduced to new ways of thinking. You may be pleasantly surprised to have your worldview rocked a little bit by a simple conversation with somebody who views life much differently than you do. The great thing about widening your social circle is that new friends can help expand it even further by introducing you to people you might otherwise have little opportunity to meet.
You don't have to travel to exotic lands to meet new people who think differently than you do -- in fact, they're all around you. It may just be a matter of being willing to initiate conversations with people from whom you'd normally shy away.
3: Work on Self-awareness
We can't think differently if we don't pay attention to the way we currently think. It isn't hard to walk through life with unchallenged or outdated beliefs, preconceptions, wrong assumptions and a personal narrative that's badly in need of updating.
Many people are afraid of acknowledging and exploring their own thoughts and emotions, choosing instead to focus on life outside their own skin -- the needs of others, career goals that have been set, and the constant static of the Information Age. Focusing on self-awareness can help you reconnect with your true needs, desires and dreams. It can make you pay attention to how you treat people and how you feel about how you're treated by others.
It may seem almost indulgent to work toward becoming more self-aware, but if so, there's nothing wrong with splurging on yourself. Increased self-awareness can facilitate major life changes -- many 12-step programs place large emphasis on personal exploration, the processing of painful events from the past, and the acknowledgment of resentments and fears in order to overcome personal demons and addictions. Identifying your moods and emotions will make it possible to adjust them. You can't change the way you think until you understand what's causing you to think the way you do.
Want to change the way you think? How about changing the people around you? Keep reading for tips on how to do that.
4: Do Things Differently
iStockphoto/Thinkstock If the idea of singing terrifies you, maybe it's time to belt out a favorite tune -- privately or on stage.
Trying to change the way you think? Why not try changing the things you do? It's not easy to change your perspective on things, especially when you're doing the same old things over and over.
Even making little changes in your life can help. Pick up a new sport or activity that you've always wanted to try. Go to restaurants, parks and other gathering places that you don't normally frequent. Try out a new author or musician, see a movie screened by your local film society, attend a community potluck, volunteer at a nonprofit, or attend a religious service that is different from your own.
Are you something of a "control freak"? Farm out tasks to others and set aside your high expectations and instinct to take the project over and do it your way. If you're more of a passive person, make an effort (even if just for a day or a week) to take matters into your own hands and to be more assertive. Introverts, attempt to come out of your shells. Commit yourself to initiating and maintaining a five-minute conversation with a total stranger once a day.
By changing or breaking even small routines, your brain will be exposed to new stimuli and will create new neural pathways to accommodate changes.
You must know how you think in the first place in order to think differently, as we'll next discuss.
5: "I Will Think Differently, I Will Think Differently"
Brand X Pictures/Thinkstock Approach your thinking with the same determination you'd give anything else.
Some people believe that the best way to help yourself change the way you think is to tell yourself -- repeatedly -- to think a different way.
The idea isn't new. In fact, it's very, very old. Most religious practices involve the repetition of prayers, appeals or affirmations. Militaries across the world demand that recruits change the way they think, and use chants, cheers and oaths to help do so.
You may decide to choose a very specific mantra -- "Public speaking is fun!" -- or something a little more broad, such as "Live in the moment." As long as your mantra or affirmation isn't grounded in the status quo ("Nothing must change, nothing must change"), it may help you change the way you think.
But choosing a mantra isn't enough. It's important to take time each day to review and repeat the catchphrase, or you won't give its message time to sink in. Try to repeat it throughout the day whenever a situation presents itself that challenges you.
Jesse Logan's Mother: 'Sexting' Led to Suicide (Video)
By The Staff at wowOwow.com
Jesse Logan's mother Cynthia on Friday's 'Today' show
Jesse Logan’s grieving mother spoke about the dangers of "SEXTING" with Matt Lauer on the "Today" show Friday.
Cynthia Logan’s appearance comes eight months after her 18-year-old daughter committed suicide after enduring harassment over a nude photograph shared among hundreds of classmates.
Cynthia believes "sexting," the act of sending racy photographs via text messaging, helped push her once "vivacious" and "fun" daughter to kill herself. One year ago, using her cell phone, young Logan sent a photograph of her nude self to her then-boyfriend.
When they broke up, that racy photograph was forwarded to more than 100 teenagers, the "Today" show reports. Then came the constant ridicule, name-calling and harassment from classmates at her high school. At first, Logan hid from the humiliation by skipping classes, until, one day, she decided to do an interview on a local NBC affiliate in Cincinnati to draw attention to the problems of high-school bullying and the dangers of "sexting."
The "Today" show also mentions how "sexting" has become a trend among teens and young adults. According to a poll conducted last fall by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy , 39 percent of teens are sending or posting "sexually suggestive messages," and 48 percent reported receiving such messages. The Friday broadcast also featured Parry Aftab, an Internet security expert and cyberspace watchdog for teenagers, who said that texting inappropriate photographs could be considered illegal and pornographic.
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