There is a man celebrating his 90th birthday today in a village in South Africa. But it is not just any man. It is indeed Mr Nelson Mandela, the man who cleared his country and the world of apartheid and also united his country without the much feared bloodbath.

South Africa too is celebrating with him as are many people around the world. Here is a man who dedicated his life to his people and his country. Since his “retirement” from public life, he has played a major role around the world as the most respected and revered elder statesmen of our time.

Here is a timeline for Mr Mandela’s amazing and inspirational life.

During a series of public appearances around the world over the past few weeks, Mr Mandela’s life and work have been celebrated around the world. People from all walks of life recognise how this one man got rid of apartheid without bloodshed, and also how he united South Africa despite being imprisoned for 27 years.

However by his own admission there is so much work still to be done both in his own country and around the world. If one man can achieve what Mr Mandela did in his lifetime, just think what we can all do?!

So what inspiration do we need and what lessons can Mr Mandela offer us. For a start do <a href=”http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1821467,00.html”>check out his 8 Lessons of Leadership.</a>

And as for inspiration, I have previously written about “Our Light” , some inspirational words from Marianne Williamson from her best selling book - A Return to Love (Amazon UK / Amazon USA)

I also wrote how it was time for each of us to let our own light to shine.

Nelson Mandela is said to have used some of the words below, either during his inauguration as South African president, or soon after. But there is no record of this in any of his official speeches.

However, these are probably the sort of sentiments he would have shared. And it makes a good story :-).

These powerful words make us all realise once again just how powerful and amazing we all are:-

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us.

We ask ourselves

Who am I to be so brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually who are we not to be?

You are a child of the universe…

Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.

There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that others won’t feel insecure around you,

We are all meant to shine, as children do,

We are born to manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we’re liberated from our fears, our presence automatically liberates each other.

To end, here are THREE questions for you to ponder on:-

So how will you let your light shine from today?

What lessons can you learn from Mr Mandela’s life and work?

What do YOU wish to have achieved by the time you are 90?!

Life always offers us lessons and sometimes in the harshest way possible. As we grow older, we are all likely to lose our friends, parents, family members. The passing of our loved ones and indeed our own passing one day one of the only guarantees that we have in this life.

Possibly the only other guarantee we have in life is that we will never get done all we want to do. We all continue to fill up our time and our lives with activities and objects that will ultimately not save us from the final passing.

However, turn this realisation around and you will appreciate that we only have this one precious life right now and it is up to us to make the most of each moment in the way that best suits us.

What would it be like to live a life of meaning and one filled with love?

Earlier this week I was privileged to attend the funeral ceremony of a dear friend Martin Boothe who left us at a tender young age but who lived a full and fulfilling life of contribution. I use the word “ceremony” deliberately as despite the deep sadness and grief, his family and friends created a memorable day of remembering his life, work and message. Martin lived for dance and music and he was easily the best and most talented dancer I have ever seen.

True to his style, Martin left us with some touching and deeply meaningful words, invoking us all to walk gently through the world and to know it’s beauty all the days of our life. It is indeed up to us all to live each of our days gently and in appreciation of the beauty all around us.

You Fill Up My Senses
(By John Denver)

You fill up my senses
like a night in the forest
like the mountains in springtime,
like a walk in the rain
like a storm in the desert,
like a sleepy blue ocean
you fill up my senses,
come fill me again.

Come let me love you,
let me give my life to you
let me drown in your laughter,
let me die in your arms
let me lay down beside you
let me always be with you
come let me love you
come love me again.

You fill up my senses
like a night in the forest
like the mountains in springtime,
like a walk in the rain
like a storm in the desert,
like a sleepy blue ocean
you fill up my senses,
come fill me again.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

Apache Blessing

May the sun bring you new energy by day
May the moon softly restore you by night
May the rain wash away your worries
May the breeze blow new strength into your being
May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

Remember to make the most of each day and to live a life of love and contribution.

I have been away from the world of blogging for what seems like a long time. And six weeks is indeed a long time for me as at one time I used to blog almost daily.

I have simply taken some time out from the online world as much as possible and the break has done me a lot of good. It feels like the right time to get back into it gently.

As I write this, it is a beautifully sunny day in London and it seems that our summer has arrived at long last. It is therefore perfect timing for my annual picnic in London.

Everyone one of us has many gifts for the world. And one of mine has always been the ability to get people together. A few years ago, I decided to get all my friends, contacts and acquaintances together in one place for a picnic.

I called it the “Friends and Friend’s Friends Picnic”, held every summer. It is now time once again for this annual gathering in Regents Park.

The idea is to get a lot of friends and their friends together. I invite all my friends and they invite all their friends and they invite their friends and so on……and before we know, there will be 100’s of friends, new and old, having a lot of fun.

(By the way, what is YOUR special gift for the world?)

Everyone is invited to bring their own food and drinks plus some extra to share. We will also be playing football, frisbee etc for fun, so bring those trainers and sports gear. And of course children are most welcome. If you haven’t got any, borrow some for the day

I recently got some Hula Hoops so it should be entertaining watching some people have a go!

There are lots of things you can do in Regents Park. There is boating on the lake, heronry and waterfowl collections to visit, and of course the world famous Rose garden.

We will also be having some African drumming and singing. Bring along any musical instrument that you would like to play.

Please note that this picnic will be happening no matter what the weather is on the day!

A heat wave is forecast for next week so it should be a great day out for all of us.

The details are as follows:-

Date: Sunday 6th July 2008

Time: 1pm till 9pm

Location: Regents Park at the London Mosque end. Use the Mosque as your landmark, as its minaret is visible from almost anywhere else in the park.

Directions:

Enter the Park via Hanover Gate, turn left and you are there. You will see a children’s play area. The chosen picnic spot is the whole of this semicircular area of grass and there is room for at least a 1000 people.

Parking – You must pay for parking within Regents Park even on Sundays till 6.30pm. Alternatively, you CAN park free on single yellow lines on Prince Albert Road, and around St Johns Wood High St.

Nearest Tube stations: – St Johns Wood and Baker Street

For further clarification, please call me on 07803 950 250. Keep this number with you on the day, in case you are lost – remember that Regents Park is huge.

Please invite all your friends and ask them to invite their friends. And so on - this could be the start of something big.

So that we get an idea of the numbers coming, please confirm your attendance by mailing me at Friends Picnic 2008

You can also register on Facebook to confirm you are coming.

This is the seventh year running that I have organised this Friends and Friend’s Friends Picnic. It is now an annual event and is held every year in July or August.

If you are not able to come to London for this picnic, then no matter where you are in the world, how about organising your own? Check out my simple guide on how to hold yor own picnic anywhere in the world

For further information and clarification, just contact me

It is mother’s day on Sunday in the USA and also many other countries around the world, thought here in the UK we normally have it in March.

A year ago, I wrote about how it was time to celebrate and honour your mother’s love, but without the commercial hype.

A year later and how my life and my outlook have changed! Now my focus is on celebrating and honouring your mother whilst you still can.

My father suddenly passed away last December and my mother is now the pivotal figure in our lives. The last five months since our great loss have been a haze and it is only now that I am able to get moving again with my life.

In the last few months I have experienced quite a cocktail of emotions, ranging from utter desperation, sadness, remorse and then gratitude, joy, love as memories of my father and the knowing that he was no longer around kept cropping up. I somehow did try and focus on the lessons in compassion from my father and his life.

What has really helped me get through this time has been the support and strength shown by my mother in not only dealing with her own grief, but also making sure that us five siblings were as well as possibly could be.

I can’t even begin to imagine her grief, having lost her life partner of 54 years. And yet she has surprised and strengthened us with the dignified and resolute way she has simply got on with her life. Day by day we see her getting stronger and stronger as she prepares for a new way of living. At the same time, I feel she is liberated as possibly for the first time in her life she is willing and able to do what she herself really wants!

Now I can’t imagine my life without my mother. She is the focus of my life and whereas before I called her once or twice a week, I now speak to her at least twice a day on most days, even if it is to simply discuss whether it is sunny or cloudy near her home. You would be amazed how many variations in conversation you can have about the weather in the UK!

My mother’s life has always completely revolved around her family – feeding them hearty meals being her main focus. Now perhaps she will finally spend more time on some leisurely activities. Already I see her reading a lot more and though she is getting deeper into her spiritual path, her approach is more pragmatic and practical.

The funniest thing is how my mother is now much more willing to clear out and let go of “clutter” which she says was mainly kept by my father. It is almost as if his departing has prompted a timely and divine reassessment of what is really important in her life and in her home.

This brings me nicely to my main point of this article about mothers and mother’s day and getting clear about just what is really important in our lives. We all have so little time and yet we squander it in pursuit of petty things. The time we have with our loved ones especially our parents is limited and this special mother’s day is just the time to remember this once again.

Every now and then, I come across someone whose relationship with their mother is not quite as good as it could be. Of course all relationships have their ups and downs, but to me the relationship with your mother is a very special one and everyone should try and heal it somehow. Know that no matter how intractable the relationship may appear to be, it can be healed, given a chance to do so.

So on this mother’s day, cherish the time you have with your mother. It is after all, a time to celebrate and honour your mother whilst you can.

Finally going through my late father’s papers, I came across a card on which he had written about what the word “Family” really stands for:-

F- Father
a- and
m- mother
i- I
l- Love
y- you

So on this mother’s day, remember what family really stands for and to tell your parents just how much you love them and what they mean to you – even if you are not the “sort” of family where such words are openly spoken!

Happy Mother’s Day 

I have often written here about compassion and kindness on my blog.

A while back I wrote about how to carry out random acts of kindness every day and how each act of kindness leads to another.

Being kind to someone is always a win /win situation. The person you are being kind to benefits through your help. You feel good for having helped someone. And the world is a better place through your kindness. Every little bit helps.

I bet you can all think of a time in your life when you helped someone and you felt so much better about the world afterwards. The time when you gave some directions to someone lost and put them on the right track. That time when you saw someone drop something and you eagerly ran after them to give it back.

We are all capable of such great acts of kindness that I often wonder why we all don’t do so more often!

Maybe sometimes we think it would not be “cool” to be doing something kind. How often do we walk past someone who is clearly in distress or in need of help. So often we feel the tugs on the strings of our heart and yet we choose to ignore that sixth sense as we have “better” things to do and are just so busy getting to our next point of call.

I suggest that the way forward is to look out constantly for ways of helping others and being kind. It is indeed cool to be kind!

Regardless of what we are told is the right thing to do, the kindess acts always come from the heart. When one is genuinely kind and coming from a place of compassion, the recipient really “gets” this and a whole new space opens up between the two people.

I would like to share how this happened to me a couple of months ago when I was helping a friend at his exhibition stand. My friend was also promoting my book “Get the Life you Love and Live it” and I got talking to a young lady who said she was going through a nasty divorce and was looking for direction and inspiration in her life.

I felt the strings to my heart tugging and I was called to gift her my book and she and her sister were really chuffed. It was as if she was just not used to any such acts of kindness and also as she was going through a really tough time, I imagine that she would have appreciated any act of kindness, no matter how small.

We had a really human connection for those few seconds and I had an extra bounce in my step for the rest of the day.

I thought nothing more about it and had forgotten about the gift of the book, when 4 days later I received a lovely email from this lady. I have got her permission to share her words and this is what she said:-

“Hello Arvind, I met you at the Olympia on Saturday 1st March when I came and looked at you stress management stall.You gave my sister your book to give to me.

What has happened to me at the moment has left me with no self asteem but reading your book has made me look at the good things about me, thankyou.If there is any way I can be involved in helping the school please let me know.”

So there we are - from one simple act of kindness I seem to have started a virtuous circle and this lady may one day soon visit the charity school I am involved with in South India - Nirvana School.

Never underestimate the impact of a single act of kindness.

What goes around is sure to come around - happy helping
Be cool to be kind - and be kind to be cool!

PS - Please do share your own ideas of being cool and kind today….

Food is one of my favourite topics and recently I came across a great metaphor linking the humble potato with some ideas for life.

My friend, Servane Mouazan, a social innovator who runs Social Leadership courses for women groups and other entrepreneurs gave me one of her leaflets which says all you need to succeed is to be like a potato!

Like a potato you want to:-

• Have firm foundations in life
• Be unique, organic and useful
• Blossom and grow
• Be multifunctional
• Be sustainable
• Make a positive impact on people
• Be inspiring
• Be celebrated and rewarded

So as we begin another week, do give some thought as to just what it will take this week for you to dance like a potato!

I have been away from the world of blogging for a few days and am back now with renewed vigour and more ideas. One of the things I have done over the last few weeks is to spend a lot of time on my own and in silence.

I have always enjoyed my company and some friends used to think I was lonely. But there is a huge difference between being alone and choosing to spend time in solitude than being lonely! I find that by allowing time for myself and doing things that I really want to do, I feel refreshed and I re-connect with the real me. Also, it is about self-respect and self-love and treating yourself as you would treat your best friend.

Life is so short and our time here is so precious, so why spend time doing something you would rather not?

For me, the priority right now is to give myself a lot of time for healing, rest, re-focussing and also having some fun. And a big part of that is to spend time on my own and in silence.

Going through my late father’s papers last week, as if by cue, I came across some timely words about silence. It is not clear who penned these words, but they make clear once again the power of silence:-

What is Silence?

Silence is spirituality
Silence is simplicity
Silence brings satisfaction
Silence makes you smile
Silence is sweetness
Silence makes you sensible
Silence is sincerity
Silence is stability
Silence creates solutions
Silence makes you strong
Silence removes all selfishness
Silence makes you a self-sovereign
Silence makes you stress-free
Silence puts a full stop to worries
Silence makes you sing in happiness
Silence creates your inner strength
Silence makes you serviceable
Silence makes you sacred
Silence is having sympathy
Silence brings safety
Silence is solitude
Silence is serenity
Silence is stillness of mind
Silence is having self-respect
Silence makes you spontaneous
Silence enables you to know all secrets of life.

So there you are, spend some time in silence every day to make things happen in your life.

Start with 5 minutes a day and then build it up to 20 minutes. Ideally do this in the morning and night time before betime. If this is not immediately possible, then look for ways of building in silence in your working day, perhaps by switching off the phone, taking a solitary walk in the park at lunchtime and so on.

Be creative in making opportunities for silence, and make things happen in your life and in the world

It has already been a week since my last post – amazing how quickly the time is going!

My days seem to be going so quickly since I continue to have as full a life as ever. As Einstein once supposedly explained about time and the theory of relativity – 2 hours chatting with a pretty girl will seem like 2 minutes, whilst sitting on a hot stove for 2 minute will seem like 2 hours!

I am now fully back in the flow of making things happen and in the last week alone, I have finalised my book on Corporate Social Responsibility, planned my next book, taken up Ceroc dancing, spent an evening drinking champagne with a friend from Paris, been to the gym 4 times, cooked a gourmet Indian meal, watched some great football matches on TV, played in the London snow (yes, in April!), even watched a couple of DVDs and also done a few days of intensive work.

So how did I manage to do so much over the last 7 days?! Well, there is no secret. I took time out for myself, stopped blogging for a while, focussed on having some fun again in my life and most importantly I didn’t do the things I did NOT want to.

I have also used this time to begin some serious de-cluttering from my life. My home and my physical space is really tidy and clutter free but it is always amazing how one can always find one more thing to let go.

I have slashed my reading list, dumped emails, sent lots of old papers for recycling, taken some clothes to the charity shop, given away some more books, deleted some numbers from my mobile phone of contacts no longer relevant (cruel or what?!) and not surprisingly, my world seems so much lighter and freer.

One of the biggest challenges has actually been to cancel any appointments and not to take on any further time commitments such as networking events or personal development seminars.

A friend called me to confirm my interest at his 2-day weekend seminar and was a little miffed when I said it wasn’t for me and how it didn’t resonate with me. But to me it was about being clear as to what works for me, and my own boundaries.

Conversely, having created this space in my life has meant that suddenly 2 very juicy and exciting business projects have come my way.

As usual there is no rocket science to all of this. Clear the unwanted things from your life and somehow magically better things come into your life.

What can you let go of today from your life?

What can you make happen in your life?

And just as importantly, what fun or joyous things can you take on in your life?

It is a beautifully sunny April day here in London and it seems that spring is finally here. The evenings are longer with more light, partly due to our clocks going forward last Sunday. We of course “lost” an hour on Sunday as British summer time began.

Five months ago when the clocks went back, effectively giving us an extra hour, I wrote a post about 9 tips to create an extra hour every day.

On Sunday morning, as I got out of bed at my usual hour but having slept one hour less, I wondered how we could all stop losing an hour everyday and not just on that one day of the year when the clocks go forward.

Conversely I know some people who feel cheated when the clocks are put forward an hour in early spring. But usually this very same people do not realise how many hours they are frittering away through their bad habits.

Focussing on not losing something perhaps will get some people more motivated on doing something about it. Do revisit my article from October and apply the 9 tips to making an extra hour every day.

So here are some simple tips on how not to lose an hour every day:-

1. Get very clear at the beginning of the day just what you want to achieve on that day. Even better plan your day the previous evening.

That way you will have a clear agenda for the day.

2. Make sure you stick to this plan for the day. Of course sometimes you just can’t avoid sudden emergencies or urgent calls on your time but ensure that such “interruptions” are unusual and not the norm.

3. Clear out any energy drainers once and for all. Even tidying up your desk and spending 20 minutes on your filing will ensure a more efficient remainder of the day

4. Train other people to work in the same way as you. Most importantly ensure that they understand your style of working and keep interruptions to a minimum.

5. Focus on the single most important task until you have significantly progressed it or finished it to the best of your ability.

6. This is a big one – get up an hour earlier! Especially now that we have longer days and brighter mornings, a walk first thing in the morning will really set you up for the day. Try it from tomorrow.

7. Finally, at the end of the day, review how your day went, learn and plan your next day accordingly.

Apply these simple tips and you can stop losing at least an hour from your day every day.

Remember, everything you do and also don’t do makes a difference in the big scheme of things.

Food is one of my favourite topics. And what better time than spring time to try out new recipes and new experiences?!

As I write this from my home office in London, it is a typical British spring day - beautifully rainy, blustery and cold!

Regardless of that, spring is certainly in the air and I can feel the freshness of new ideas, people and events coming into my life. How about you?

As is the custom, I have cleared out a few things (physical items, commitments, even people!) from my life and have made the space for new things more suited to where I am now in my life.

Another major thing to bring in the freshness of spring is that this week I am honoured to be hosting the Carnival of the Recipes and what a wonderful set of mouthwatering and refreshing recipes are coming your way.

Though I am a vegetarian and cannot say hand on heart that I will be savouring all these recipes soon, there is enough here for all tastes and preferences. Enjoy!

1. To start with, please do check out my own recipe for the ideal food feast for a spring morning.

I also grow my own bean sprouts, and you can do it too now - no more excuses!

2. Lokendra Rathore presents A Fish Curry Recipe From Jaipur,INDIA posted at Karan’s Guest House.

This does sound quite spicey and tasty - I can almost recall my own trip to Jaipur. Being a vegetarian (ie no fish), I will be trying this but with tofu instead of the fish.

3. Deb Bixler presents Tomato Soup with Quinoa » Increase Metabolism & Live Healthy posted at Increase Metabolism & Live Healthy.

Deb adds that whole grains are more than just wheat, so do try this fun, fast and healthy soup…

I certainly will try this out soon, especially since I love Quinoa - read more here about Quinoa, the soul food of the Andes.

4. This one from Katy uses a secret ingredient- Fennel! I use this ingredient a lot too - do check it out how Katy cleverly uses this - Steamed Mussels with Tomato and Fennel posted at sugarlaws.

5. Jennifer presents Cinghiale My Love posted at The World of Jenotopia.

Now this is definitely not for vegetarians or if you are in a hurry - allow 2 to 3 days preparation and great if you like venison or boar! One I shall definitely NOT be trying out - not in this life time anyway.

6. Jenny presents Share The Food You Love posted at the so called me.

7. Heidi Saxton presents Getting Ready for Easter… posted at Mommy Monsters Inc..

She adds - “Our annual Easter morning tradition: Easter Egg Bread!”

8. Cheese Adventurer presents Artisan Cheese 101 posted at Artisan Cheese Center.

Just the recipe for classic parmesan risotto and edible parmesan bowls!

9. Marsha Hudnall presents Healthy Recipe: South Pacific Chicken posted at A Weight Lifted.

10. woopi clients presents some interesting tips for eating and health improvements posted at You and Your Health.

11. Melissa presents The Ultimate Vinaigrette posted at A Penny Closer.

12. MBB presents Be A Vegetarian Part Time posted at Money Blue Book.

13. Expat Chef presents Going Green for St. Patrick’s Day posted at The Expatriate’s Kitchen.

This is an all-green menu in honour of the holiday with some excellent BONUS tips from two renowned pediatrician-authors on how to get your kids to eat green foods!

Green Pasta! Another one for my try out list
14. Katy presents Goat Cheese Soufflé posted at sugarlaws.

15. Kathee presents green chile chicken enchildas posted at Chicken Recipes. Another one for me to try out with tofu or soya chunks instead of the chicken!

16. Bill presents Irish Flag Cookies posted at Famous Recipes.

17. Drink Recipes presents Outback Margarita copycat Drink Recipes.

18. Famous Recipes presents Baked Breaded Chicken Breast Recipes.

19. World Famous Recipes presents Corned Beef and Cabbage.

20. Yi Hui Chang presents Shrimp pasta with parsley oil posted at The Simple Wealth.

A simple and tasty pasta dish with pan seared shrimps and blended fresh parsley oil.

21. James Brausch presents Costa Rica Drinks posted at Costa Rica HQ.

22. Bothenook presents “Old Time” recipe: Quick Corned Beef and Cabbage. posted at a geezer’s corner.

23. Leo and Catherine in their own imitable style present Food In The Fort — East Meets West Chicken.

And here’s a call for action from them for anyone who thinks they have no time for cook anything. Think again! In the time it takes to make Top Ramen you can make this delicious chicken dish AND follow it up with their favourite lumpy garlic mashed potatoes.

Funnily enough here is just the recipe for their favourite lumpy, garlic mashed potatoes

Leo’s adds - “Who doesn’t love mashed potatoes? But why does everyone leave out the lumps? And the garlic? You can’t have mashed potatoes without lumps and garlic!”

OKay -mashed potatoes I can certainly eat
With lumps of course!

24. Jennifer in OR presents He Makes Pancakes With Such Purpose posted at Diary of 1 - all about how her son makes pancakes
Indeed, pancakes a child loves to make!

25. Laura Williams presents Chocolate & Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies.

26. Elisson presents Dinner with Denny.

27. Woman Tribune presents Natural Mango Banana Soup.

This sounds divine - a recipe for mango banana soup, an all-natural soup that will lift your spirits!

28. Tea Party Girl presents Tea Party Girl Answers Seven Tea Party FAQs.

29. And finally, Christmas is only 9 months away, but here is a taste of things to come.
Christmas Recipes presents Christmas Recipes - Chicken scampi.

Phew! That will take some getting through. But exciting foodie times ahead this spring

Enjoy and share these recipes with others.

Next week’s carnival will be hosted at http://expatriateskitchen.blogspot.com/ - please do send in your favourtie recipes for Greens, Eggs & Ham. Please submit your recipes to recipe.carnival@gmail by 12 p.m. CST, next Saturday, 22nd March.

And of course if you would like to host a future carnival, please send an email to the same address with the word host in the subject line.

Enjoy! And remember the recipes above are not just for spring time.

On that note I am off for a Thai lunch