It is interesting that HOw you Begin your Day can pretty much Mark the Rest of your Day. I started my day yesterday with the topic of happiness- and i wrote my blog on this topic. After that I felt ready to go to Gurudwara Sahib (place of worship for the Sikhs) for Sunday Prayers.

Gu= darkness // ru = light // d.wara(the- wa- raa) = doorstep

GURU - comes from 2 words GU and RU &

GURU.d.wara = hence means- doorstep to your GURU

Gurbani (Gu.r.baa.nee)= Guru's teachings

When Sikhs need answers to their problems or questions they refer to "Guru Granth Sahib" (their wholly book- written and assembled by their Gurus).

So I was saying that I started my day with writing my hub  on Happiness, and in that  I mentioned that one way to stay happy is by avoiding seeking approval and acceptance from others. Because seeking approval will lead you to more unhappiness. No matter what you do, people will have an opinion about it, be it negative or positive. Even the Spiritual Leaders, famous politicians like Lincoln, Reagan, Kennedy, & now our President Obama, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who completely changed the Indian economy, or famous celebrities could not escape criticism.None of them have a 100% approval rating .

 It so happened that the same topic was being discuss in the Gurudawara, with Gurbani as a reference. To further illustrate that further Giani ji (Gi.aa.nee ji= priest) told a short story, that my Grandfather used to tell us when we were little.

A father and his son were travelling somewhere with a horse.

A few travellers passed by them, and someone remarked " look how crazy these people are, they have a ride but they are just walking instead of riding this horse".  After hearing this, the father and son felt a little foolish ang got on the horse.

They got a little further, and some other passer-bys remarked " can't believe this cruel men, they are riding this poor little horse. they have no pity on the animal".  They felt so ashamed, that the father got off the horse and started walking, while he let his son continue to ride the horse.

They met next set of passer-bys, and they said, "Look at that boy. He is healthy and strong. He is riding the horse, while his poor old father is walking- this man has no shame.". So the son got off the horse, and father got on the horse.

Then they met another set of people, and they said " Look at this father, he is fit and strong.But he is riding the horse, while his poor young son is walking."

So why should we be unhappy because everyone does not approve us. In order to be happy, seek your own approval and acceptance. Love your own self, and others. Know your innermost feelings, fears and strengths- and pave your own path to happiness.