Blossom Where You Are Planted

In my opinion almost all of us have forgotten to blossom where we have been planted. We always keep cribbing, brooding and wish for something better.

It is indeed very difficult to implement this fact in our daily lives. According to me it is our kids with special needs who can actually implement this fact in their lives. Like a beautiful Lotus, our kids are so happy and content and bloom so beautifully. We need to learn something from them.

- Agila -Asha Kiran Special Needs School

A Train Journey

Sometimes, as life passes by, it gives us a new lesson, a new thought to ponder. The other day, as I was travelling by train with my son, I encountered a very touching, thought-provoking incident. It was time for bed and all the passengers had gone to their respective berths for the night. In the coupe beside ours there was an elderly couple. The gentleman must have been around 80 years old. Later during the course of the night, the gentleman started snoring rather loudly much to the inconvenience of the co-passengers. Though annoying, no one bothered to react. As the day dawned, a young couple who happened to be in the same coupe as the elderly couple, decided to raise the issue. Without flinching, the young lady retorted with a quite rude comment stating that no one could sleep peacefully owing to the elderly gentleman’s snoring. She kept saying how irritating and loud it was and openly expressed her disgust as all the other passengers sat watching in silence. What followed was a very touching conversation on the part of the elderly man. So very calmly and so very politely he apologised for the inconvenience and said that he had had his share of doctor’s visits and treatments. Finally every medical diagnosis resulted in the same conclusion – Age.

I kept thinking of how the elderly man maintained his dignity and answered the lady who showed no consideration for even his age. This goes to prove just how derogatory our standards of respecting the elderly have become. This further goes on to show why no one lends a helping hand to that old man waiting to cross the road, or to that elderly lady waiting in queue to get on a crowded bus. This shows how we’ve lost all the tenderness of being humane, generous, loving and forgiving in the simplest, easiest way possible.

I saw the elderly couple get off the train at their destination and much to my shock there wasn’t anyone to receive them. Upon enquiring, they informed me that their son would go off to work early in the morning and hence there was no option but to manage on their own. I watched, with a growing sense of guilt and shame at everyone belonging to our generation, as they walked away into the crowd at the railway station.

Meaningful Thoughts for life

- We don’t live for ourselves, we are part of one another, for good or ill we touch a life of sister, friend and brother.
- Just as the winter turns to spring, our lives have changing seasons too, so when a gloomy forecast comes, Remember – God has plans for you.
- Whatever the season of life, attitude makes all the difference.
Shailaja Dayanand

Word to word

Teacher: spell and write
Pupil: No response
Teacher: spell and write
Pupil: No response
Teacher got a bit frustrated. Raised her voice and said: Open your mouth and write
Pupil opened his mouth literally and wrote all the spellings with open mouth.
Teacher did not know what to do: cry or laugh!
Did you get the message?

Reclaiming the small joys of life

It was a dusty dull afternoon. The school had just got over. I was tired of continuously teaching for 3 hours and my sister was tired of learning and studying for more than half a day. We were eager to go back home. As usual my sister came along walking slowly. But that day, I asked her to hurry up. I knew it was going to rain, rain heavily.

Although we were armed with an umbrella, I did not dare to come under the wrath of the mighty rain, lest we get wet and catch a cold (as my mother often tells me). However, to my displeasure and my sister’s happiness, it started drizzling lightly. Just as I was about to take out the umbrella, my sister gently held my arm and suggested we let the umbrella rest in peace, warmly, inside my bag. I frowned, but had to give in to her wish.

I didn’t quite like the feeling initially, but slowly, I felt my skin become damp and soaked my senses in the wonderful, earthy smell of the dry mud now fragrant, after being kissed by the heavenly rain drops. And even before I realized, the light drizzle had transformed into a full fledged shower, and we were gleefully jumping into small puddles of water.

As we neared home, the rain stopped. Only then did the realization dawn upon me of how childish, I’d behaved. I felt wonderfully different and elated. After all, I’d revisited my childhood, something we adults have rarely allowed ourselves to do rather have no time to do.

When was the last time you playfully wrestled with your child or someone else one the bed, fought with pillows or water guns or even played a game of snake and ladder? Many may probably not remember…… In today’s chaotic lifestyle, we no longer have time for the small joys of life. The only thing that keeps us focused, pin point is to earn and provide for our family. We only see the larger picture and fail to notice the small joys hidden.

But sometimes, we need to remind ourselves, that it is okay to take the liberty of indulging in such activities which bring out the ‘child’ in us. It is ‘okay’ to shed our inhabitation and the cloak of adult behavior and do childish things. It does make us happy in a different way, and what’s more is that if these activities are done along with our children, it helps us fortify and strengthen the bond between us and our children.

As for me, that day which would have otherwise been normal, has now become a memorable day. The rainbow that I saw that day, was indeed a colourful bridge that took me through the lanes of my childhood…!!! Shilpa

Art Therapy

Art is not just those who have artistically gifted but for every child, they should be made engaged in some creative activity which reduces the feeling of helplessness, which causes anxiety, depression and agitation…… but in turn to help to relax their mind and also it is a medium of healing.
Joseph Albert

Students and Teachers Day Out

Friday morning (25^th Jan 2008) came with some of the best possible weather for an annual picnic. Temperatures were in the upper of 25 degrees and low of 18 degrees all day and there was a nice cool breeze to keep the sun from making everyone uncomfortable. This was the day that all of us the students and the staff waited for.

We all started our two hours journey of 30 kms with a word of prayer. It was a big bus that could hold all of us comfortably. It was not a time of shame as everyone roared and screamed at the top of their voices. There was lots of singing… I felt that we will lose all the energy in the bus. The bus stopped and we were asked to get off the bus as we reached the picnic spot. I could not imagine how those two hours passed by.

As we entered ‘Sambram County’, the picnic spot, we were carried away with the beauty of the greenery; the whole place is surrounded with some beautiful trees and plants that joined with the host to welcome each one of us.

We all assembled as quickly as possible to have our breakfast and then warmed up ourselves for the activities. Since we were a large group we had to divide ourselves into three groups to enjoy and feel comfortable. Group one was directed to the children’s park, the second group to the coolest area, the swimming pool and the third group was the tiny tots who played some wonderful games according to their abilities. The teachers were also divided into three groups to join and assist the children. I remembered my childhood days and almost became nostalgic.

The children had a great time in the pool and wanted to remain there forever. The older children had some tough games tough a war, etc.

Then all settled down with great food and excellent company and all that was heard was quiet conversation and the sounds of contentment. We gather back for some common games for both teachers and students. Later we had some competitions and prizes were given to all those who won in the events. Keerthana, one of the students was found dancing to the tunes and that surprised all of us, as this child is very shy and it was very unusual.

At 3pm the announcement came that it is time for us to leave. We had drained out all the energy that we carried with us; in fact we preserved this energy all the year for this annual exciting outing. All compliments to the children who behaved so well throughout the day. We left the place with some snacks to keep us going till we reach our homes.

from teacher in-charge