Why the Rich Get Richer & The Poor Get Poorer?

Ikitokea Mwenyezi Mungu aamue kuwafilisi wakazi wa Dunia, wote tuliopo duniani tuanze moja. Ukweli ni kwamba walio matajiri wa sasa ndio watakua matajiri tena hapo baadaye. Huku wale maskini wakibakia kuwa maskini. Tatizo sio mali walizo nazo tatizo ni akili walizo nazo.

 

One of the reasons the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and the middle class struggles in debt is because the subject of money is taught at home, not in school. Most of us learn about money from our parents. So what can a poor parent tell their child about money? They simply say "Stay in school and study hard." The child may graduate with excellent grades but with a poor person's financial programming and mind-set which was learned while the child was young.

 

Money is not taught in schools. Schools focus on scholastic and professional skills, but not on financial skills. This explains how smart bankers, doctors and accountants who earned excellent grades in school may still struggle financially all of their lives. Our staggering national debt is due in large part to highly educated politicians and government officials making financial decisions with little or no training on the subject of money.

 

Because students leave school without financial skills, millions of educated people pursue their profession successfully, but later find themselves struggling financially. They work harder, but don't get ahead. What is missing from their education is not how to make money, but how to spend money-what to do after you make it. It's called financial aptitude-what you do with the money once you make it, how to keep people from taking it from you, how long you keep it, and how hard that money works for you. Most people cannot tell why they struggle financially because they don't understand cash flow. A person can be highly educated, professionally successful and financially

illiterate. These people often work harder than they need to because they learned how to work hard, but not how to have their money work for them.

 Money is one form of power. But what is more powerful   is financial education. Money comes and goes, but if you have the education about how money works, you gain power over it and can begin building wealth. The reason positive thinking alone does not work is because most people went to school and never learned how money works, so they spend their lives working for money. I am concerned that too many people are focused too much on money and not their greatest wealth, which is their education.

 If people are prepared to be flexible, keep an open mind and learn, they will grow richer and richer through the changes. If they think money will solve problems, I am afraid those people will have a rough ride. Intelligence solves problems and produces money. Money without financial intelligence is money soon gone. Most people fail to realize that in life, it's not how much money you make, it's how much money you keep. We have all heard stories of lottery winners who are poor, then suddenly rich, then poor again. They win millions and are soon back to where they started. Or stories of professional athletes, who, at the age of 24, are earning millions of dollars a year, and are sleeping under a bridge by age 34.

 

The one and only rule to getting rich is: You must know the difference between an asset and a liability, and buy assets. If you want to be rich, this is all you need to know. It is Rule No. 1. It is the only rule. This may sound absurdly simple, but most people have no idea how profound this rule is. Most people struggle financially because they do not know the difference between asset and a liability . Despite what a lot of people know, your car and your house are not assets.

“Assets are simply things that create cash-flows directly to your pocket.  It’s something that gives you money. Your car and your house do not give you money, right? In fact, you have to pay for your house mortgage and your car loan. That’s why, your car and your house are liabilities, not assets.”

A good example of an asset is income generating properties.

Liabilities, on the other hand, are things that take money out of your pocket. These are things that you need to pay for, things that you owe, and things that you need to buy. So your car, your clothes, your cable tv…are liabilities.

Then you need to buy as many assets as you can and reduce your liabilities in order to create wealth.

 Source: The book Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

  

 

In Search of a Perfect Matrimony: Seeking Excellence in Marriage

In a brief conversation, a man asked a woman he was pursuing the question: 'What kind of man are you looking for?' She sat quietly for a moment before looking him in the eye & asking, 'Do you really want to know?' Reluctantly, he said, 'Yes. She began to expound, 'As a woman in this day & age, I am in a position to ask a man what can you do for me that I can't do for myself? I pay my own bills. I take care of my household without the help of any man... or woman for that matter. I am in the position to ask, 'What can you bring to the table?' The man looked at her.

Clearly he thought that she was referring to money. She quickly corrected his thought & stated, 'I am not referring to money. I need something more. I need a man who is striving for excellence in every aspect of life. He sat back in his chair, folded his arms, & asked her to explain. She said, 'I need someone who is striving for excellence mentally because I need conversation & mental stimulation. I don't need a simple-minded man. I need someone who is striving for excellence spiritually because I don't need to be unequally yoked...believers mixed with unbelievers is a recipe for disaster. I need a man who is striving for excellence financially because I don't need a financial burden. I need someone who is sensitive enough to understand what I go through as a woman, but strong enough to keep me grounded. I need someone who has integrity in dealing with relationships. Lies and game-playing are not my idea of a strong man. I need a man who is family-oriented. One who can be the leader, priest and provider to the lives entrusted to him by God. I need someone whom I can respect. In order to be submissive, I must respect him. I cannot be submissive to a man who isn't taking care of his business. I have no problem being submissive...he just has to be worthy.

And by the way, I am not looking for him...He will find me. He will recognize himself in me. Hey may not be able to explain the connection, but he will always be drawn to me. God made woman to be a help-mate for man. I can't help a man if he can't help himself. When she finished her spill, she looked at him. He sat there with a puzzled look on his face. He said, 'You are asking a lot. She replied, "I'm worth a lot".

Source: http://phenomwoman.tumblr.com/

Knowledge is not Power.

 

Contrary to long term beliefs, Napoleon Hill author of the book Think & Grow Rich reveals that knowledge is not power. Instead he reveal that Knowledge is but potential power. According to Hill, knowledge becomes power only when, and if, it is organized into definite plans of action and directed to a definite end.

The wrong belief that knowledge is power is the missing link in all systems of educations and is the reason for failure in education institutions to preparing the youth to become rich adults and live a successful fulfilling life. It is also the reason why many educated elites including many professors are poor.

Hill continue his thesis by saying - There are two kinds of knowledge. General knowledge and specialized knowledge. General knowledge, no matter how great in quantity or variety it may be, is of but little use in the accumulation of money. Bill Gates is the richest man in the world because he had a specialized knowledge in Microsoft. And that specialized knowledge became power when it was organized into definite plans of action and directed to a definite end.

The accumulation of great fortunes call for power And power is acquired thru highly organized and intelligently directed specialized knowledge, but that knowledge does not necessarily have to be in the possession of the man who accumulates the fortune. Specialized knowledge is among the most plentiful, and the cheapest forms of service that may be purchased. Rich people knows what type of specialized knowledge they need. Their biggest job is to organize it into a definite plans of action and direct it to a definite end or purpose.

Knowledge has no value except that which can be gained from its application towards some worthy end.

Successful men, in all callings, never stop acquiring specialized knowledge related to their major purpose, business, or professions. Those who are not successful usually make the mistake of believing that the knowledge acquiring period ends when one finishes school/university. The truth is schooling does but little more than to put one in the way of learning how to acquire practical knowledge.

Source: Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

The Age of Stupidity and Turbulence: Why We Fail in Our Relationships, Marriages, Education, Careers, and Businesses.

Ours is a generation with no heroes, a generation without great inventions, a generation without revolutionary leaders in government, business or communities. Ours is a generation full of average records, ordinary stories and mediocrity. Ours is a generation with no success stories like those of Mohamed Ali, Martin Luther, Nelson Mandela, Gandhi or Abraham Lincoln.

We are living in the age of stupidity, the age of turbulence. Our generation has no foundation on anything, we do not invest time on anything, we want shortcuts, we call it mwendokasi. Follow this author as he explains why our generation fails so much, why poverty is increasing, why we fail in our relationships, marriages, education, careers, and businesses.

We belong to a generation that's devoid of Patience. Never before in the world has a generation lacked the virtue of patience as this one.

We want it fast. We belong to a generation that detests hard work. Everyone gives up so fast. No one is willing to stick in there when things get tough.

We love the highlights of success, the glamour and fame of success yet hate doing the work that goes in producing that success. We want to get the results without investing any time or effort.

The biggest problem of this generation is not unemployment, it's not war, it's not immorality, it's a total lack of patience. We are used to fast food, fast internet, fast this and that so we are not willing to put in the time to get that which we deserve.

We start a business, run it for 6 months then quit. Never before has there been a generation of quitters like this one. We want great weddings, yet hate the actual work of the marriage. We can't stick in relationships or marriages. The moments things get rocky, we run out.

We join companies and expect to earn the salary of a CEO with no experience at all. We apply for two jobs and give up. We have the shortest attention span. We have big dreams yet the lowest of abilities. We expect to build skyscrapers on foundations of huts. We want the big titles without working for them. We are willing to do so little yet expect so much. We are a generation that suffers from entitlement. We are a generation with an ego so big that we can't stand starting small. We lack the humility to start from the bottom of the pile and slowly grow up the ladder.

Not that ambition is bad, but it should be backed by the virtue of hard work and patience. I visited Prof. Waswa Balunywa at his expansive land around Lake Victoria in Entebbe. He told me one thing; "Ian I did not do this in just a year, I bought the first acre in 1996 and I have been adding an acre or two since then. It takes time."

When I meet Baba Sudhir Ruparelia I realize that this is a picture of a man who has put in the time. Before I was born, he was already working. Yet today, we see his results and think we too can have that without putting in the effort.

We need to get honest with ourselves as a generation. We need to imbibe the virtues of patience and hard work or hustle. We need to put in the time to make our marriages work. We need to put in time to make our relationships work. We want to develop our careers yet can't stay at jobs for over 6 months. We have no balance. We move from one thing to another. We are quitters.

We ought to put in our 10,000 hours to mastery. We ought to work at our crafts. We need to laser focus. We are a generation that prides in mediocrity, a generation that doesn't bother to work long at something in order to master it. We are average at everything we do. We do too little of too much and in the end get nothing.

We want to be leaders yet have not spent a single day learning to be followers. We want to climb to the top without taking the ladders. No wonder our heroes are those who've made it in dubious ways, whose paths to success can't be explained. It is no wonder we continue to fall prey to all sorts of pyramid scams like AIM Global. We want to earn millions without doing anything. We want to get something for nothing. We want the cash without giving out any value. No wonder many lost their money to TelexFree. No wonder every arcade has a betting company.

If you are in your early twenties, this is the moment to put in the time. This is the moment to make that investment, a moment to leverage that patience. The long path is always the sure path. We are a generation that wants to take the easy way out, the short cuts, but they are always messy in the end. Put in the time, learn all you can. Develop yourself, your capabilities. Do that background work, work on building that foundation that lasts. The fact is, it's always come down to two virtues; Patience and Hard work aka Hustle. Train while everyone is sleeping, outlearn your competition, don't be short sighted, think longterm. Time will always vindicate those that trust in its virtues.

Written by Ortega Ian Facebook Page

Source: https://www.facebook.com/ianortegar/posts/10210625225455061

Marriage: In Search of Perfect Match & Soulmate

"MARRIAGE is like a shoe.

When you wear oversize be ready to drag it along throughout life, and when you wear under-size be
ready to feel the pains throughout life." One thing about marriage is that you don't drop your shoe or remove it at any point, no matter how painful or how stressful it is. That is why I thought it necessary to write you this letter.

*Dear Singles,*
When you are ready to buy your own shoe please take note of these three things:

*Physical appearance*: Do not look for the beautiful ones, the nice ones or the cheap ones. Look for the one that is your size. Not every handsome, wealthy or intelligent guy is for you, not every beautiful woman is for you. Look for the one that is meant for you, the one that aligns with your values and belief, the one who you meet at
your life's journey. It is important to know where you're going in life before you think of getting a wife.

*POSITION*: All sizes of shoes are not placed in the same place. There is a place for court shoes, laced up shoes, sport footwear, snickers etc. We have Children sizes, young people's sizes and the adult sizes. Know where to get your own shoe. Your size cannot be everywhere my brother, your type cannot be everywhere my sister. You cannot be a Christian, and be looking for a wife material at a club. Your wife or husband can't just be everywhere.
Stick to your values and therein you shall find someone like you, but when your values are not defined anyone can just match you. Discover yourself and define your values

*PERCEPTION*: In this kind of shoe purchasing enterprise, you are not permitted to try the shoe before you buy. This is why it is important to seek guidance and counselling, from people who
have bought shoes before or are into the business of directing people to the right shoes (Pastors and Relationship coaches). And most importantly to avoid much time wasting time, simply consult the shoe manufacturer to tell you your size (God Almighty). "You do not prepare for the wedding, you prepare for marriage." Ladies these days get so motivated when they attend wedding and they will quickly want to say yes to that guy. Wait!!! It is not just the wedding oh. The wedding is just one day. After the wedding WHAT NEXT?

Finally, it is not something you rush to the market and just pick a shoe because you like or can purchase it.
Ask questions
-Where is this shoe made from? (Background)
-What's the size (Values)
-How much (His/Her interest)
-How long will it last (His/Her Character)
-Who made it? (Is she/He of the same faith this is compatibility)
-Will it match me? (This is whether he/she love you and will accept you the way you are)
Dear one, remember many are dragging their foot and they would hardly reach their destinies, many are feeling endless pains and wish they could pull off the shoes but no way!!! I have seen people with beautiful shoes and when they show you their foot, you will see scars. Beloved, it is not about the physical, it is the size, you can't know the size from afar so come close, build a relationship first
but remember 'you are not permitted to try it before you buy it'. And for those who have purchased the wrong shoes, you can still make it your size again if you'd consult the manufacturer and let Him have His way in your marriage.
*GOD BLESS AND SUSTAIN YOUR MARRIAGES*

Source: http://richybells.blogspot.com/2016/06/marriage-is-like-shoe-when-you-wear.html

What is wrong with Africa: Not Yet Uhuru & The Donald Trump Perspective!

Dar es salaam. The Capital of Tanzania

"Not yet Uhuru" means the independence fought for by the Kenyan/African people had not been achieved. It comes from a title of a book written by the first vice-president of Kenya, The late Oginga Odinga, who observed that despite the country's declared independence, the government led by blacks were as oppressive as the colonial government.

Does Donal Trump Perspective Support Oginga Odinga Perspective?

Donald Trump comments..........White South Africans were the reason South Africa became a successful, peaceful country. Just look at the rest of Africa and the abject failure it is as a continent, and then look at South Africa under Apartheid. South Africa (and Zimbabwe) were the beacons of light on the darkest continent, showing the way forward, becoming the financial hubs of Africa. The Whites built South Africa up; they planned the roads; they planned the factories; they grew the food to feed the nation; they developed the mines (didn't own them though); they were the industrious people who took a land of wild animals, bush and low-IQ blacks and made it the country it was at the time of the handover. Everyone had access to schooling, further education, health, food and policing. All the cornerstones of any civilized society were present in the country.

And then the country was handed over to the black liberation terrorist ANC Party and today we sit with what we see in front of our eyes - proof that sub-Saharan blacks can't make a success of anything, even when given everything on a silver platter. They can't create wealth without taking from someone else. They can't grow food, proved beyond any doubt when once successful farms given to them lie barren and dead, returned to bush. They can't even maintain the education system, which is now in a mess, with the health system not far behind. Crime is out of control. Infrastructure is collapsing. Farmers are being murdered without government standing up and denouncing the slaughter. The blacks can't make sport teams on merit and so have to use quota systems to force teams to incorporate them. They can't get jobs without Affirmative Action being implemented. In short, the ANC has killed the goose that laid the golden eggs. Millions of white South Africans sit outside the country, looking in, waiting for the pin to finally drop. The hungry, forgotten blacks look with big eyes at their leaders who live in obscene luxury whilst they scratch in dirt for food.

This is what Africa is all about. Tribalism and status, and using their fellow man to get to the top, and once there, forgetting their fellow man. White South Africans knew all of this. They knew the black-man's behavior. They knew what he was capable of. The rest of the world tried convincing every one that they knew better than the people living day-to-day with them, for hundreds of years. And they continued to agitate for them to take the country over.

Well, reality has certainly met the rainbow nation dream and it's not looking too good... My, my, look how far South Africa has devolved under the black man. I would love to say that I'm shocked, but I would be lying. Welcome to reality...

Trump spoke publicly again on 25 October 2015, when he appeared on CBS' Sunday morning political interview show Face the Nation. In the interview Trump has expressed his deep disgust for Africans by referring to them as lazy fools only good at eating, lovemaking and thuggery.

"African Americans are very lazy. The best they can do is gallivanting around ghettoes, lamenting how they are discriminated. These are the people America doesn’t need. They are the enemies of progress. Look at African countries like Kenya for instance, those people are stealing from their own government and go to invest the money in foreign countries. From the government to opposition, they only qualify to be used as a case study whenever bad examples are required. How do you trust even those who have ran away to hide here at the United States hiding behind education? I hear they abuse me in their blogs but I don't care because even the internet they are using is ours and we can decide to switch it off from this side. These are people who import everything including matchsticks. In my opinion, most of these African countries ought to be recolonized again for another 100 years because they know nothing about leadership and self-governance" Explained Donald Trump bitterly as he illuminated how he plans to reconstruct America and restore its lost glory.

Source: http://www.snopes.com/donald-trump-africans-lazy-stealing/

 

Beautiful Letter Written by a Father to His Son and Daughter

Dedicated to Alliyah Johnson & Malyia Kamota in Canton, Ohio

Dear daughters

I am writing this to you because of 3 reasons...

1. Life, fortune and mishaps are unpredictable, nobody knows how long he lives.

2. I am your father, and if I don't tell you these, no one else will.

3. Whatever written is my own personal bitter experiences that perhaps could save you a lot of unnecessary heartaches.

Remember the following as you go through life.

1. Do not bear grudge towards those who are not good to you. No one has the responsibility of treating you well, except your mother and I.

To those who are good to you, you have to treasure it and be thankful, and ALSO you have to be cautious, because, everyone has a motive for every move. When a person is good to you, it does not mean he really will be good to you. You have to be careful, don't hastily regard him as a real friend.

2. No one is indispensable, nothing is in the world that you must possess._

Once you understand this idea, it would be easier for you to go through life when people around you don't want you anymore, or when you lose what you wanted the most.

3. Life is short.
When you waste your life today, tomorrow you would find that life is leaving you. The earlier you treasure your life, the better you enjoy life.

4. Love is nothing but a transient feeling, and this feeling would fade with time and with one's mood. If your so called loved one leaves you, be patient, time will wash away your aches and sadness.

Don't over exaggerate the beauty and sweetness of love, and don't over exaggerate the sadness of falling out of love.

5. A lot of successful people did not receive a good education, that does not mean that you can be successful by not studying hard! Whatever knowledge you gain is your weapon in life.

One can go from rags to riches, but one has to start from some rags!

6. I do not expect you to financially support me when I am old, neither would I financially support your whole life. My responsibility as a supporter ends when you are grown up. After that, you decide whether you want to travel in a public transport or in your limousine, whether rich or poor.

7. You honour your words, but don't expect others to be so. You can be good to people, but don't expect people to be good to you. If you don't understand this, you would end up with unnecessary troubles.

8. I have bought lotteries for umpteen years, but could never strike any prize. That shows if you want to be rich, you have to work hard! There is no free lunch!

9. No matter how much time I have with you, let's treasure the time we have together. We do not know if we would meet again in our next life.

Pls read
Your Parent

Written by a renowned Hong Kong TV Broadcaster and Child Psychologist.

Direction is so Much More Important Than Speed or Destination

Lesson #1
A Rabbit runs, jumps, moves faster and lives for only fifteen years while a Tortoise doesn't even attempt any of such activities but lives for 150 years or more.

LESSON: Life is not about rushing, comparisons and doing what others are doing but rather keep calm and do what is right and what you are called to do. Direction is so much more important than speed, many are going nowhere fast. They may live in the same forest with the same color and play together but we must remember that we will have age mates, class mates, school mates, office mates but there is no 'destiny mate' in this life. Be who you are called to be, love who you are and thank God for your special journey which may not look like others! It's not where you are from, it's where you are going now that matters. Everybody gets knocked down sometimes. What matter is how quick you are gonna get up and keep on moving.

This is the simplest way to succeed in life!! God bless you, and keep looking forward because those beside you are not going where you are exactly going......

Witten by Bishop Kingsley
ELECT OF GOD MINISTRIES (BRIDE OF CHRIST FELLOWSHIP) - SPAIN


Lesson #2

The engine of a giant ship failed to start.

The ship's owners tried one expert after another, but none of them could figure out how to fix the engine.

Then they brought in an old man who had been fixing ships since he was a youngster. He carried a large bag of tools with him, and when he arrived, he immediately went to work. He inspected the engine very carefully, top to bottom.

Two of the ship's owners were there, watching this man, hoping he would know what to do. After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer. He gently tapped something. Instantly, the engine lurched into life. He carefully put his hammer away. The engine was fixed!

A week later, the owners received a bill from the old man for ten thousand dollars.

"What?!" the owners exclaimed. "He hardly did anything!"

So they wrote the old man a note saying, "Please send us an itemized bill."

The man sent a bill that read:

Tapping with a hammer $ 2.00
Knowing where to tap $ 9998.00

Effort is important, but knowing where to make an effort makes all the difference!

Direction is so much more important than speed, many are going nowhere fast

Source: https://www.facebook.com/drbencarson/posts/1023584811089690
  

Being Who You Are Meant to Be - The Story of an Eagle and the Chickens

There’s an old, well known story of a chicken farmer who found an eagle’s egg.He put it with his chickens and soon the egg hatched.

The young eagle grew up with all the other chickens and whatever they did, the eagle did too.  He thought he was a chicken, just like them. Since the chickens could only fly for a short distance, the eagle also learnt to fly a short distance.

He thought that was what he was supposed to do. So that was all that he thought he could do.  As a consequence, that was all he was able to do. One day the eagle saw a bird flying high above him. He was very impressed. “Who is that?” he asked the hens around him.

“That’s the eagle, the king of the birds,” the hens told him. “He belongs to the sky. We belong to the earth, we are just chickens.”

So the eagle lived and died as a chicken, for that’s what he thought he was.

I want to encourage you today that you are an eagle.

You may have been brought up in a situation that limited your understanding of your potential, but it’s time now for the past to lose its hold on you.

Don’t die thinking you’re a chicken.

Soar high, just as you were meant to.

Be all that you are meant to be!

Sorce: https://betterlifecoachingblog.com/2012/01/06/the-eagle-and-the-chickens-a-story-about-being-who-you-are-meant-to-be/

The Eagle Leadership Philosophy

7 Principles Of An Eagle – Author: Dr. Myles Monroe


PRINCIPLE 1
Eagles fly alone at high altitude and not with sparrows or other small birds. No other bird can got to the height of the eagle. Stay away from sparrows and ravens.

Eagles fly with Eagles

PRINCIPLE 2
Eagles have strong vision. They have the ability to focus on something up to five kilometers away. When an eagle sites his prey, he narrows his focus on it and set out to get it. No matter the obstacles, the eagle will not move his focus from the prey until he grabs it.

Have a vision and remain focused no matter what the obstacle and you will succeed.

PRINCIPLE 3
Eagles do not eat dead things. They feed only on fresh prey. Vultures eat dead animals, but eagles will not.

Be careful with what you feed your eyes and ears with, especially in movies and on TV. Steer clear of outdated and old information. Always do your research well.

PRINCIPLE 4
Eagles love the storm. When clouds gather, the eagles get excited. The eagle uses the storm’s wind to lift it higher. Once it finds the wind of the storm, the eagles uses the raging storm to lift him above the
clouds. This gives the eagle an opportunity to glide and rest its wings. In the meantime, all the other birds hide in the leaves and branches of the trees.

We can use the storms of life to rise to greater heights. Achievers relish challenges and use them profitably.

PRINCIPLE 5
The Eagle tests before it trusts. When a female eagle meets a male and they want to mate, she flies down to earth with the male pursuing her and she picks a twig. She flies back into the air with the male pursuing her.
Once she has reached a height high enough for her, she lets the twig fall to the ground and watches it as it falls. The male chases after the twig. The faster it falls, the faster he chases it. He has to catch it before it
falls to the ground. He then brings it back to the female eagle.

The female eagle grabs the twig and flies to a higher altitude and then drops the twig for the male to chase. This goes on for hours, with the height increasing until the female eagle is assured that the male eagle has mastered the art of catching the twig which shows commitment. Then and only then, will she allow him to mate with her.

Whether in private life or in business, one should test commitment of people intended for partnership.

PRINCIPLE 6
When ready to lay eggs, the female and male eagle identify a place very high on a cliff where no predators can reach. The male flies to earth and picks thorns and lays them on the crevice of the cliff, then flies to earth again to collect twigs which he lays in the intended nest. He flies back to earth and picks thorns laying them on top of the twigs. He flies back to earth and picks soft grass to cover the thorns. When this first layering is complete the male eagle runs back to earth and picks more thorns, lays them on the nest; runs back to get grass it on top of the thorns, then plucks his feathers to complete the nest. The thorns on the outside of the nest protect it from possible intruders. Both male and female eagles participate in raising the eagle family. She lays the eggs and protects them; he builds the nest and hunts. During the time of training the young ones to fly, the mother eagle throws the eaglets out of the nest. Because they are scared, they jump into the nest again.

Next, she throws them out and then takes off the soft layers of the nest, leaving the thorns bare When the scared eaglets again jump into the nest, they are pricked by thorns. Shrieking and bleeding they jump out again this time wondering why the mother and father who love them so much are torturing them. Next, mother eagle pushes them off the cliff into the air. As they shriek in fear, father eagle flies out and catches them up on his back before they fall and brings them back to the cliff. This goes on for sometime until they start flapping their wings. They get excited at this newfound knowledge that they can fly.

The preparation of the nest teaches us to prepare for changes; The preparation for the family teaches us that active participation of both partners leads to success; The being pricked by the thorns tells us that sometimes being too comfortable where we are may result into our not experiencing life, not progressing and not learning at all. The thorns of life come to teach us that we need to grow, get out of the nest and live on. We may not know it but the seemingly comfortable and safe haven may have thorns.

The people who love us do not let us languish in sloth but push us hard to grow and prosper. Even in their seemingly bad actions they have good intentions for us.

PRINCIPLE 7
When an Eagle grows old, his feathers become weak and cannot take him as fast as he should. When he feels weak and about to die, he retires to a place far away in the rocks. While there, he plucks out every feather on his body until he is completely bare. He stays in this hiding place until he has grown new feathers, then he can come out.

We occasionally need to shed off old habits & items that burden us without adding to our lives.