"I have never cried so much from reading a book! Every page was filled with deep emotion and I cried on every page I read! As a father of two children, I felt my heart tear out as I read about the pain the mother felt on losing a child. Swarn Lamba has expressed her feelings from her innermost being as she takes you from varieties of emotions - of love, of loss, of agony. Her closeness to her charming child is evident in every word she has written. I am convinced that every parent reading this book will experience part of her pain.

This morning my son Tawfiq was taking his time getting ready for school. I am an early bird and I do not like rushing in the morning. Also, I had a very busy day ahead of me.

Tawfiq's laiser faire approach was, therefore, unsettling! As I was dropping him at school, after ensuring that he had his breakfast and we were there just in the nick of time, I noticed that he had forgotten to wear his gloves and it was a freezing day. It was very tempting for me to go in my "lecture mode". I almost did!

Begin to love yourself, not from ego, but rather from a person who is loving and adds value.

Extend your love to close ones - your spouse/partner, children, parents, siblings.

Extend this attitude to one and all.

Once you form the habit of being loving it will become natural for you to continue this attitude.  If we all made this attempt we can do wonders.

Action Item: Do something loving today - or better still now - for example say I love you to your child/spouse/parent!

One young kid was asked some time back who is your hero, and he replied Michael Jordan, and when the same kid was asked again the same question recently he replied Barack Obama.

We cannot all be sports superstars or US Presidents.  However, we can all be a loving human being - whether you are a father, mother, daughter, son, husband, wife, partner, brother or sister.  And being loving is being a great hero!

It is in the being that we teach and give.  Begin today striving to be loving starting with people who are close to you and become an unsung hero!

Soon it will be the the 1st day of 2009! A new year is a powerful way to begin afresh.  Seven tips for a powerful beginning to 2009:

Rick Lewis is a friend and one of the most entertaining men in North America. Here is a very powerful and moving article he wrote in his newsletter. I think you will find it inspiring.

I was performing on an outdoor stage years ago at a comedy festival. Part of our payment came from passing the hat at the end and often we could do quite well on contributions since the crowds were often upwards of 500 people.

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever been given came from a friend just before my wedding. The advice wasn’t that I should agree with everything my bride Marcia ever says (although I should, and I do, because she is wise).

Rather, the advice was to spend the entire evening together, holding hands as we visited people during dinner, greeted relatives in the receiving line and through all the other obligations that come with being the newlywed couple.