King Alexander's last words

The great Greek king, Alexander, after conquering many kingdoms, was returning home. On the way, he fell ill and he was bedridden for months. With death drawing close, Alexander realised how his conquests, his great army, his sharp sword and all his wealth were of no use.

He called his generals and said, 'I will depart from this world soon. But I have three wishes. Please fulfil my wishes without fail.' With tears flowing down their cheeks, the generals agreed to abide by their king's last wishes.

'My first desire is that,' said Alexander, 'my physicians alone must carry my coffin. Secondly, when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard should be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which I have collected in my treasury. My third and last wish is that both my hands should be kept dangling out of my coffin.' The people who had gathered there wondered at the king's strange wishes. But no one dared to question. Alexander's favourite general kissed his hand and pressed them to his heart. 'O king, we assure you that your wishes will all be fulfilled. But tell us why do you make such strange wishes?'

At this Alexander too a deep breath and said, 'I would like the world to know the three lessons I have just learned. I want my physicians to carry my coffin because people should realise that no doctor can really cure anybody. They are powerless and cannot save a person from the clutches of death. So let not people take life for granted.

The second wish of strewing gold, silver and other riches on the way to the graveyard is to tell people that not even a fraction of gold can be taken by me. Let people realise that it is a sheer waste of time to chase wealth.

And about my third wish of having my hands dangling out of the coffin, I want people to know that I came empty handed into this world and empty handed I go out of this world.'

Alexander's last words: 'Bury my body, do not build any monument, keep my hands outside so that the world knows the person who won the world had nothing in his hands when dying.'

Our Attitude Defines Life

Life is Best for those who want to Live it,
Life is Difficult for those who want to Analyse it,
Life is Worst for those who want to Criticise it,
Our Attitude Defines Life...

Enjoy your life,
Laugh so hard that even sorrow smiles at you,
Live life so well that even death loves to see you alive,
Fight so hard that even fate accepts its defeat...

How to stay young and happy always

1. Throw out non-essential numbers. These include age, weight and height.

Let the doctors worry about them... that is why you pay them.

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

(Keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches!)

3. Keep learning: learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's!

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, loud and long. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with him/her!

6. The tears happen: Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourself. LIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love: whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health. If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.