Each can be read as an individual tale or together as a single one. Hope you enjoy them.
Explore world, travel bucketlist, another strike.
Souvenirs from travels, world within home.
His travel blog, brought him fame.
Travel taught him what education didn’t.
His travels unraveled the journey within.
In travel, he finally found redemption.
In response to Shweta’s 6WSP : Travel
At each stage in life, we keep learning, seeking knowledge. The teachers imparting this knowledge may differ, but the lessons learnt remains with us for a lifetime. Teachers, professors, family, experiences, incidents all have an indelible impression in the molding our personality.
“Once a student always a student”. The one who follows this maxim is a good student. Graduating from college is just a few steps we have taken in our ascent to gain knowledge. One who ceases to learn, stagnates. Many life lessons are learnt beyond the four walls of the school and college.
Learning a new language, hobby, sport, inculcating a new value, keeping abreast of the fast changing technology, learning to be more benevolent, forgiving, learning to embrace and adapt to changes…….it is an eternal journey and life is the best teacher!
Do share your life’s learnings beyond the portals of education!
Our arrival into this beautiful world must have been a momentous occasion for our family. The world into which we announce our arrival with our cry, but which brings so much elation to our family. It is a time for them to celebrate and rejoice, to revel and revere this new bundle of joy that almighty blessed them with. The day becomes special for the rest of our life.
As kids we all look forward to our birthday each year. The party, the presents, balloons, festoons, friends, the new dress ….all so perfect! The games at the party, passing the parcel, treasure hunt, balloon games, each year something new to go with the theme. How excited we are, to plan for the party and all the paraphernalia associated with it. The frenzy of opening the gifts is the highlight of the party!
The thought that struck me was, while receiving birthday gifts is a happy time for us, do we give ourselves any gift for our birthday too? Gifting ourselves can assume many forms. From learning to appreciate small everyday moments of joy, developing more positive intangible qualities, learning a new skill, exercising our will power, stepping outside our comfort zone, there are plenty to choose from. Imagine how much one would have grown not only in physical aspects but as a person.
So this time for my birthday which just went by sometime back, I have promised myself a gift of a fitter me. Exercising my body and mind is my focus for the coming year. Hope I will be elated with my makeover by my next birthday!
Ask yourself the best gift you would like to give yourself. Let it play often in your mind. Focus on the answers you hear. Work towards its realisation and soon you would be pleasantly surprised to meet a new and better “You”!
A guide, a guru, a teacher, a mentor, an educator call them by any name they mean the same.
In India, teacher’s day is celebrated on 5 September every year to commemorate the birth of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan.
There is no denying in the fact that the teacher’s have played a very important role in moulding our personality and shaping us in who we are today. A child is like wet clay, waiting to be sculpted into a beautiful piece of art. The teachers carry a huge responsibility of shaping the young minds!
On Teacher’s day, I look back in gratitude to all the people who have influenced me to be the person who I am today. Parents, siblings, teachers, friends, husband, children, strangers, experiences and above all our greatest teacher “Life”!
A teacher,
ignites the young mind
nurtures the sprouts to take strong roots
clears the weeds of ignorance
helps the bud blossom into a flower!
A teacher,
Is a beacon of light guiding
like a candle who burns selflessly
to light a thousand new ones
enlightening the eager minds!
A teacher,
encourages her pupil
to flap their wings and soar high
instils confidence in them to
tread on uncharted paths!
Salutations to all the teachers who
with their words of wisdom
can influence and impact
a student, beyond eternity!
Pic courtesy: The above posters have been designed by my daughter!
A couple of months back my 13 year old daughter came home with a notice from school. It stated that the school would be taking the children on a trip to Kerala for ten days during the 1st term break. She was thrilled and wanted to go. I was a bit skeptical about sending her, as I was not sure if she could manage on her own. When I put across my concern to my daughter she said, “Mom if you don’t send me, how will you ever know if I can manage or not?” She had a very valid point there.
That question clinched the deal for her! She got the green signal for the trip from both of us. As the date of the trip grew closer, the excitement in her was palpable. Last minute shopping, check lists, packing…….she was on cloud nine. On the day of the departure she was up and ready in a jiffy. They had to report to school from where the school bus took them to the railway station. We bid her good bye and I held back my tears. This was the first time she was away from me. She seemed to be very happy chatting with her friends.
She had a great holiday with her friends, managing so well. She was amazingly responsible, taking care of herself quite well, in spite of the hectic sightseeing schedules and erratic meal times. She was back with tons of pictures and bagful of beautiful memories, more confident and responsible!
Looking back, I feel sending children to such trips from school helps them in many ways.
It fosters responsibility in them
Taking care of themselves, packing and unpacking at different places, understanding money matters, waking up on time on their own, staying together with the group. All these go a long way in helping them evolve into responsible individuals.
Teaches them to make adjustments
She had to share the room with a couple of her friends. By doing so, she understood that people have diverse habits. Though some of them were not to her liking, she learned to adjust to them. Being a little choosy about the food she eats, the trip taught her eat what was available to all.
Develops Gratitude
They traveled by sleeper class and had to carry their own luggage. It taught them humility and developed a sense of gratitude for so many things they are blessed in life, which otherwise they take for granted.
Values for life
At one place where these girls went shopping, it was the shopkeeper’s birthday. The lady was distributing a few chocolates to the children there. So these bunch of girls got together and sang the happy birthday song for her. She was overwhelmed with emotion. It was probably the first time somebody sang a birthday song for her! Such incidents help them evolve into more warm and caring individuals. Sharing and caring for each other was something they learnt through the trip. Experiencing certain things has a profound impact on the personality, than it merely coming down as an advice.
Equipping them with life skills
With kids taking up admissions in colleges in different cities, staying away from home and managing on their own, is the first step in learning to be independent.The trip gave them the confidence for that.
Bonus lesson for parents
It teaches us, the parents, to develop an attitude of detached attachment. It prepares us to accept that the children are developing their wings, ready to soar and fly into the big beautiful sky with their own identity!
Image courtesy: Pictures clicked by my daughter on her trip
कोई भी विद्यार्थी से उनके प्रिय
विषय के बारे में पुछा तो होगा,
जवाब अनेक मिले होंगे
अंग्रेजी,भूगोल,गणित,विज्ञानं
क्या कभी किसी को हिंदी बोलते हुए सुना?
भाई ! मेरे कान यह सुनने के लिए तरस गए
देश भर सैकड़ो स्कूल में घूम चूका हूँ
परन्तु अभी तक एक भी मित्र न बना पाया
न जाने क्या दुश्मनी है बच्चो को मुझसे?
शिकायत हमेशा करते है
क्यों पढ़े हम हिंदी, पूछते है वो,
बोलना तो ठीक है, पर कहाँ आज कल लिखता है कोई
नौकरी के तलाश में जाओ तो
अंग्रेजी आना बहुत ज़रूरी है
कोई यह नहीं पूछता , आप हिंदी बोलते है?
मुझे राष्ट्र भाषा का सम्मान दिया है
लेकिन बच्चो से दोस्ती के लिए में तरसता हूँ
किन्तु, परन्तु, अपितू
ऐसा सौतेला व्यवहार मेरे साथ क्यों?
*********************
But, but, but…..
You may have asked many a student
about his favourite subject
they may have given you many answers
English, Geography, Math, Science
But have you heard anyone say Hindi?
hey ! my ears are dying to hear this
I have travelled to schools across the country
But have not yet befriended anyone
I wonder why the children dislike me?
“Why should I study Hindi?” they ask?
“Its fine to converse, but who writes in Hindi these days”
To face an interview
it is essential to know English
Nobody asks, “Do you know Hindi?”
I have the honour of being the national language
But I crave for friendship with children
But, but, but
why is this step-motherly treatment given to me?
Image courtesy: articles.indiatimes.com
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