Maggie and I with a student - all smiles |
I am a loyal critic of Modi.
Hence those people who don’t know me personally tend to see me as a disgruntled
citizen, a grumpy old man always finding fault with his government. Those who
know me personally will laugh merrily at that virtual image of mine. Especially
my students.
I am a merry
person in the classroom. A friend more than a teacher. I smile most of the
time. I laugh whenever there is an opportunity. I encourage my students to
create occasions for smiles and laughs. I appreciate even the smallest
achievements of theirs in the most generous terms possible so much so once a
student asked me why I think everything they do is “very good” or “excellent”.
I answered her with the wisdom borrowed from Marcus Aurelius that I wanted them
to look at the stars so that one day they would be running with them.
Appreciation
is a miracle-worker especially with youngsters. How many thousands of times
have I seen faces blossoming like fragrant flowers merely because I said
something like ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’? Appreciation does far more than
that. It makes the student strive for greater achievements the next time and
still greater the next time. I keep getting better and better results as time
moves. I keep seeing miracles unfolding. All because I say ‘very good’ and ‘excellent’
or their equivalents when required.
It was Lewis
Carroll who imagined the snow as a lover of the trees and fields. The snow
kisses them gently. And then it covers them up snug with a white quilt. Does it
tell them, ‘Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again’? Does it tell
them in soothing words that they need this rest?
Appreciation
is something like that. A gentle kiss, a snug cover, the caress of a whisper.
Let me return
from this poetry to the prose that I began with. I would like to appreciate my
government too. I am not a grumpy old man inspecting the sewers of my country.
I would love to say ‘very good’ and ‘excellent’ to my Prime Minister too. Give
me a chance, please.
PS. Prompted
by Indispire Edition 415: Can you share unselfishly,
genuine appreciation of someone's accomplishment? #firgun
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteBravo! &*> YAM xx
🙏
DeleteSo nice :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rupam.
Deletethe snow analogy was so evocative
ReplyDeleteI must thank Lewis Carroll 😊
DeleteHaha... well...
ReplyDeleteNot much chance outside the classroom, eh?
DeleteA beautiful post that's put a warm smile in me. So glad to read that you are the way you are with your students. I'm a firm believer of the 'art of appreciation.' Even as a ripe old adult, I respond better to 'very good' than 'could've done better;)'.
ReplyDeleteI especially like your appeal to the Govt. Made me smile even more widely.
Thanks, Arti. Do drop in more frequently. 😊
Delete