THE COLOR OF FRIENDSHIP

Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. All claimed that they were the best. The most important. The most useful. The favorite.

Green said:
"Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority."

Blue interrupted:
"You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing."

Yellow chuckled:
"You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun." (my fav)

Orange started next to blow her trumpet:
"I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and papayas. I don't hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you."

Red could stand it no longer he shouted out:
"I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood - life's blood! I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy."

Purple rose up to his full height:
He was very tall and spoke with great pomp: "I am the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey."

Finally Indigo spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but with just as much determination:
"Think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace."

And so the colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own superiority. Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.

In the midst of the clamor, rain began to speak:
"You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me."

Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands.

The rain continued:
"From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The Rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow."

And so, whenever a good rain washes the world, and a Rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.

nice song

Angel

No matter whether
I'm feeling happy or blue
Every moment of the day
You're somewhere in my mind

My thoughts may wander
Sometimes far away
But rush back to you
Each time you move inside

A new life within me
I cannot comprehend
My inexplicable joy
Mingled with confusion

Wrapped in secret mystery
Precious little angel
My dreams intertwine
Around your tiny frame

Only God sees you now
Designed for His purpose
You will grow
In His mighty shadow

My gift from above…
I asked for you and
His boundless love
Answered my silent prayer

I am me and I am okay.

I am me.
In all the world, there is no one exactly like me.
There are persons who have some parts like me,
But no one adds up exactly like me.
Therefore, everything that comes out of me
Is authentically mine because I alone choose it.

I own everything about me
My body, including everything it does;
My mind, including all its thoughts and ideas;
My eyes, including the images of all they behold;
My feelings, whatever they may be...
Anger, joy, frustration, love, disappointment, excitement
My mouth, and all the words that come out of it
Polite, sweet or rough, correct or incorrect;
My voice, loud or soft.
And all my actions, whether they be to others or to myself.

I own my fantasies, my dreams, my hopes, my fears.
I own all my triumphs and successes,
All my failures and mistakes.

Because I own all of me I can become intimately acquainted with me.
By doing so I can love me and be friendly with me in all parts.
I can then make it possible for all of me to work in my best interests.

I know there are aspects about myself that puzzle me,
And other aspects that I do not know.
But as long as I am friendly and loving to myself,
I can courageously and hopefully, look for solutions to the puzzles
And for ways to find out more about me.

However I look and sound, whatever I say and do, and whatever I think
And feel at a given moment in time is me.
This is authentic and represents where I am in that moment in time.

When I review later how I looked and sounded, what I said and did,
And how I thought and felt, some parts may turn out to be unfitting.
I can discard that which is unfitting, and keep that which proved fitting,
And invent something new for that which I discarded.

I can see, hear, feel, think, say and do.
I have the tools to survive, to be close to others, to be productive,
And to make sense and order out of the world of people
And things outside of me.
I own me, and therefore I can engineer me.

I am me and I am okay.

BEHIND A SMILE

Do you ever wonder what people are feeling when they smile? Do they smile because they're happy or do they smile because they want people to believe they're happy? Maybe they smile because they want you to smile and be happy.

A smile can touch a person's life in ways you can never imagine. It's infectious and can cause a chain reaction. It can be memorable to someone you pass on the street or the mall or driving... and it only takes a split second to smile and forget, yet... to someone that needed it, it can last a lifetime. Maybe I should smile more often.

CHOICE TODAY

Today I am what I am
Because of my yesterday's choices.
And where I shall be tomorrow
Will be decided today.

Of course, this I know.
We can steer our life into
Happiness or sorrow
By the choices we borrow.

We are the captains of our lifeliner
And we choose our course and command our 'Choice'.
Do we choose like a child with hopes, pure admiration; fearless?
Or like a defeated skunk - lost and hopeless?

It is greatness and the quality of our response,
It is our attitude of poise
That gives a glitter to our choice,
That makes us win and rejoice.

And this is the seed I sow for tomorrow
And shall doubtless reap it;
The harvest of choosing right.
Would I be happy while I reap?
Depends on the seed of today.

Even if today I have a sour harvest,
For the morrow, let me choose to seed my best
In the hope of having a fine bounty.

What else can we do other than to choose today?
Either we choose right or lie at life's mercy.
The better way is making our CHOICE TODAY.

IF YOU HAD ONE DAY

If you had one day to do anything you wanted, what would that be??

Sing;
Even if people have told you, 'never sing,' you'll want to sing.

Jump;
Feel your strength surge from the tops of your legs to the tips of your toes.

Love;
Tell everybody you love that you love them.

Live;
Life is for living, not waiting.

Dance;
Feel the music and let the beat pulse through your blood like fire.

Reach;
Try to touch the stars.

Spin;
Let your arms fly around you in circles like the horses on a carousel.

 Swim;
Jump into the water like you jump into life -
Head first with no regrets or worries.

Laugh;
Laugh loudly, and feel it from your stomach all the way up to your brain.

Meet;
Meet people you wouldn't meet before.

Cry;
Let your feelings be known.

Hug;
A hug is forever.

But, most of all, enjoy.

Let Destiny Spin The Bottle

Breaking up with someone you care about is one of the toughest decisions any of us will ever have to go through. Dealing with the pain and heartbreak is never easy. We just have to live the days as they are set out and not live in the past.

Even though the nights never remain the same, the walk in the park feels lonesome and without a friend in the world. Sometimes you wake up feeling the wind diffuse through the window, satisfying that empty space he/she once filled. But with time, the shattered heart begins to heal as greatness unveils the beauty of your essence and hope starts to whisper in a distance to recover your lost love.

The nights begin to bring tender passing, healing your soul with glorious blunder as nights of dreams soaked in tears begin to dissipate. Finally, sadness comes to an end as happiness conquers all hate.

Love sprouts as sadness shrinks and with time you realize that you are strong, you are a survivor; you don't need the words of another to affirm the glorious beauty on the inside of you. 

For you are special, a blue rose amidst a dozen of thorns and whoever broke your heart just couldn't deal with the splendor of your attraction. At last you feel whole again, as you realize that the end of every road marks the beginning of another and the end of every thunderstorm marks the rising of the sun.

On your new journey, you begin to tread on soft waters with the knowledge that love and life has its imperfections and sometimes the heart just goes where it goes; we can't constrain it.

Soon you make your own mistakes, as you become someone else's lost love and then it dawns on you - THE BEAUTY OF LOVE LIES IN SEARCHING. But how would you search if you never experienced the beauty of a first kiss, first love and first heartbreak?

Then you dust the sand off your feet with the pride of a man, the valor of a woman and the innocence of a child as you let destiny spin the bottle.      

No more pain, No more hurt, No more crying

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAV1GEf12XE

What Can You Do??

In this world in which we live,

It is very sad, but true.

There is someone that is much worse off,

Than me, or even you.

We must reach out our hand to them,

Extend it and try to share.

And do it with the utmost humility,

And genuinely show we care.

Because people need our help,

But sometimes they won't ask.

Because their pride will always set in,

And not allow them such a task.

So if you see someone struggling,

Please stop and say hello.

And ask if they need your help,

And their smile will start to grow.

So please show give a smile

To strangers all around,

And you can do this all with kindness,

And all, without making a sound.

My Role Model

Giggles International School makes headway: Women capable of running any business

Education is the gateway to a bright future and the key to success. It is an essential part of the childhood development process that ensures personality and competence building. Selecting the right education institute plays an important role in the quality and standard of the service received.

Target setting and result orientation have made the Giggles International School stand tall among other education providers in the country. Giggles International School Principal and Giggles Educational Services Managing Director Thushari Koralage has made great strides in the education field moulding a large number of students to harness their true potential.

Thushari Koralage

She was interviewed by Daily News Business.

Q. What is the business you are engaged in and how do you set about it?

A. I engage in education. I was a Government trained English teacher and served the Southern and Western Provinces. I was the in-service advisor for the Sri Jayawardhanapura educational zone. My intention was to help students increase the Ordinary Level English marks. I launched my own school to pursue my ambition as I had the freedom to achieve my goal.

Giggles International montessori was set up in 2001 with three children. My daughter was the first child to be admitted. The idea of starting a montessori came to me when I was looking for a montessori for my elder daughter as I found it difficult to find a suitable montessori for her in the area. However, I admitted her to a montessori in Colombo and thereafter set up my own montessori with the help of my mother, a retired teacher. My main intention was to provide the correct basic English knowledge to children in the area who could not afford to attend a good montessori with other values in our culture. It was successful and the children’s parents persuaded me to start the school in 2003.

The school has grown and the next grade is added annually. We have classes up to grade eight at present. We teach the international curriculum.

If any student needs to sit the London O/L examination in grade nine we will permit it.

Today Giggles International School has 1,100 students in roll with an academic staff of 78 and a non-academic staff of 28. All the teachers are trained graduates and we also have in-house training programs, which are compulsory for all teachers. Almost all the teachers are engaged in external education and the increments are based on their performance.

Tuition is banned in our school and parents are happy about it. We produce good results. Twenty students sat the Junior Certificate examination conducted by the Association of International Schools Sri Lanka last year and seven won gold medals, none silver medals and other bronze medals. We have introduced extracurricular activities including swimming, wushu and chess. Selecting one type of sport is compulsory for students during school hours.

Thushari Koralage with her husband and three daughters Savani, Vihari and Mandani

We have been the All Island wushu champions for the past three years. The school supports the Education Department by conducting the national curriculum with the London curriculum as an option. The school also has a branch in Matara operating under the same concept. Currently it has only the montessori and the grade one class will be introduced next year. We take total responsibility of the children.

Q. How do you balance your family life and business?

A. My husband Sumith Tennakoon is the main prop behind my venture. His support is a tower of strength and he supports me. I have three daughters who are doing well in their studies. Though I am a busy person I spend quality time with them. We strike a balance between business and family life. We teach our children to be independent.

Q. What were the challenges you faced?

A. Since I started my career in the Government sector I faced many challenges due to my colleagues. What I have achieved now is due to those challenges. My mother inspired me a great deal.

Q. What are your goals?

A. My main aim was to produce the best school in Sri Jayawardhanapura and this has been already achieved. My next goal is to make the school the best in Sri Lanka.

I want children to do well in studies. We teach all three languages and hope this will promote peace and harmony.

One of our goals is to produce a set of independent children with good values, honour and respect.

Q. Being a woman was it an advantage to be in business?

A. It’s a little hard for a woman to be business. However, dedication, courage and challenges ensured success. Any woman who wants to come up in life needs a vision and a goal.

We are strong by nature and need to capitalize on it.

Q. What is your advice to women in business?

A. Women usually dream of being housewives before marriage. However, any woman can mange a business and family smoothly as they are wise and energetic. Women can anything with ‘yes I can do’ attitude.

They can help their family to prosper and need to update their knowledge especially by reading.

Q. What are your achievements in family life and business?

A. With regard to family, we enjoying spending time together reading, playing and watching television. The children are provided with quality education to make them scholars and to run the business.

As far as business is concerned the school started on a 33 perch land and now spread to over one acre. The student population too has increased tremendously.

Q. What is your contribution to society?

A. We conduct many social service projects. We were among the first to build a house for a family affected by the tsunami. We refurbished the children’s ward at the IDH Hospital in Angoda. We have provided jobs for differently able people. We help poor children in the neighbourhood schools.

We also have a daycare centre to support parents. Our students are good in education, sports and aesthetics. We have provided conducive environment to enjoy their childhood with the hope of producing a better younger generation.
Courtesy: DailyNews

Life

" When you find love in your heart for yourself, you will find love in your heart for others. It is most important to remember that we have but one life to live and we must make the most of it! When we live to our potential, our greatest dreams will come to pass! As long as we have conviction of heart, and do our best, and move and act with purpose, there is nothing we cannot do!! Like Ellen DeGeneres says, love, laugh, and dance!! Life is always more fun when you love, laugh, and dance!!"