TAKE OUT TIME - YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH

On a cold December Monday night the telephone rang. It was a call from his mother. He answered it and his mother told him, "Mr. Salaskar died last night. The funeral is on Wednesday."

Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

"Arjun, did you hear me?"

"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Arjun said.

"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd remember the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.

"I loved that old house he lived in," Arjun said.

"You know, Arjun, after your father died, Mr. Salaskar stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said.

"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important."

"Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Arjun said.

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Arjun caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Salaskar's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Arjun and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway, Arjuun paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered.

Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture...Arjun stopped suddenly...

"What'swrong, Arjun?" his Mom asked.

"The box is gone," he said.

"What box?" Mom asked.

"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Arjun said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Arjun remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Salaskar family had taken it.

"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Arjun said.

"I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Salaskar died. Returning home from work one day Arjun discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the courier office within the next three days," the note read.

Early the next day Arjun went to the courier office and retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention.

"Mr. Haresh Salaskar" it read.

Arjun took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope.

Arjun's hands shook as he read the note inside.

"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Arjun Sharma. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filled his eyes, Arjun carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.

Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved: "Arjun, Thanks for your time! -- Haresh Salaskar."

"The thing he valued most was my time!"

Arjun held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days.*

"Why?" Jhanvi, his assistant asked.

"I need some time to spend with the people I love and say I care for," he said. "Oh, by the way, Jhanvi, thanks for your time!"

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away."

Think about these. You may not realize it, but it's true.

1. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.

2. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.

3. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.

4. You mean the world to someone.

5. If not for you, someone may not be living.

6. You are special and unique.

7. Have trust sooner or later you will get what you wish for or something better.

8. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good can still come from it.

9. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a hard look: you most likely turned your back on the world and the people who love and care for you.

10. Someone that you don't even know exists, loves you.

11. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.

12. Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know and you'll both be happy.

13. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.

Share these thoughts with all the people you care about. In doing so, you will certainly brighten someone's day and might change their perspective on life...for the better.

To everyone who read this just now.... Stay safe Stay blessed......