Today I felt like a higher power spoke to me. In the form of this rainbow.
"There is light at the end of the tunnel," said my mother. And when I told mum about the rainbow, she said: "...and there's probably a pot of gold at the end of it!" (maybe?)
As cliché as these sayings are, they do ring true. "Nothing very good or very bad lasts for very long."
Rainbows prove this! ♡
Thank you
Shukran
Teşekkür ederim
Obrigada
Merci
Interesting discussion with a student about how I, as a teacher, am addressed.
Some students (aged 17 to 70+) ask what I prefer being called. Believe me, I have heard everything from "Teacher, Sheetal, Shatoola, Teacher Sheetal, Miss Sheetal, Mum, Aunty, My Sister, My Teacher...even Teach!"
(By the way, my heart melts with these terms of endearment)
My dear student went on to say that in his culture, it is unheard of to call the one who imparts knowledge by their first name.
I can relate & still call my own teachers by saying Mrs, Mr & even "Mevrou" ;)
Respect goes a VERY long way & I believe it is the root of everything in life. Respect for yourself, your parents, your teachers...and everyone around you.
For me, it's not so much about what I am called, but how I am treated.
"Respect begets respect."
Today was Family Day in South Africa. Also known as Easter Monday, it's the last day of the (long) Easter weekend.
I was fortunate to spend time with my family in my hometown & for reasons unknown to me, I was ...and am still... feeling a bit nostalgic.
We have become so busy being busy that we don't have the time to write a letter (email?) or make a call (voice note?) to our family & friends.
Time hasn't changed at all. We have. We are occupied and stressed by life's everyday events. What remains most special are the people who we can just pick up from where ever we left off.
Whether it's been months or years...those are the relationships that truly matter. I am lucky to have these people in my life. That when I see them, it honestly feels like no time has passed.
So what I'm trying to say is...
There are some circumstances beyond our control. One of them is distance. People close to me have moved away. Far away. With oceans between us.
If the relationship is solid, I belive that the heart knows no distance!
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| Pic taken from WritingForward.com |
Mohandas Gandhi was the pre-eminent ideological and political leader of India during the Indian independence movement. He pioneered Satyagraha; which is defined as resistance to tyranny through mass civil disobedience. This is a philosophy based on complete non-violence.
This idea assisted India in gaining its independence, and provided motivation for civil rights and freedom all across the world.
After assuming leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1921, Gandhi led nationwide campaigns to ease poverty, expand women’s rights, build religious and ethnic amity, end “untouchability,” and increase economic self-reliance.
Gandhi lived very modestly in a self-sufficient residential community. He wore the traditional Indian dhoti and shawl that he hand-spun. He ate vegetarian food, experimented with a fruitarian diet, and fasted as a means of self-purification and protest.
…Without further adieu, I present to you the 5 must-read life lessons from Gandhi:
5 Must-Read Life Lessons from Gandhi:
1. Be the Change
“You must be the change you want to see in the world.”
Be the example, be the leader. If you lead properly people will follow, and together you will change the world. Anyone can complain, anyone can blame, and most do, but if you desire to change, then “you” be the change.
2. Ask the Right Questions
“The power to question is the basis of all human progress.”
The quality of your life is in direct proportion to the quality of the questions that you dare to ask. Are you asking the right questions? Are you asking the right people? You can’t get answers, without questions; you can’t make progress, without an inquiring mind.
3. Always Act
“Have a bias towards action – let’s see something happen now. You can break that big plan into small steps and take the first step right away.”
If you’re going to be biased, be biased towards making something happen today. Tomorrow never comes, any progress to be made, must be made today. It must be made right now!
If you don’t act now, you don’t have a future, just a longer today. Gandhi said, “The future depends on what we do in the present.”
4. Forgive
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
It’s not “weaklings” who are quick-to-forgive; it’s those who are strongest. The ability to forgive quickly is a sign of strength. How strong are you?
If you’ve been weak in the past, you can begin today to be strong.
5. Monitor Your Beliefs
“Your beliefs become your thoughts. Your thoughts become your words. Your words become your actions. Your actions become your habits. Your habits become your values. Your values become your destiny.”
In short, your beliefs will create your destiny. What do you believe? What do you believe about yourself, your future, and your potential? What you believe, you will surely become.
Source:
http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-must-read-life-lessons-from-gandhi/
Can you imagine my surprise when I saw and read the following today? It blew my mind. Well, not so much...because this young gentleman is someone I have been mentoring for almost a year. And simply,.I know how he weaves magic with his words. All I can say is...THANK YOU ♡
The Sun
by Mohamed Algantri
Our day starts with the sunrise. The sun shines, gives peace and happiness to the world.
It gives smile to the face and it gives love to the heart. We can’t wake up and feel relieved without the sun although it hides sometimes at night. However, it will shine and rise again.
Actually the sun changed her name to Sheetal Makhan.
She is the sun, humble, hard-working-optimistic, powerful and ambitious.
She is our teacher, she teaches you how to love, help, respect and how to use them.
She is an angel on the earth. I have been studying for ten months, I have not seen her angry, bored and depressed. Her mirror are students. When she helps, she feels amazed.
When she supports, she feels terrific and when she sees your smile, she feels ecstatic.
I go to school every day, every lesson and I find her busy with some students or things even when she is on lunch break. As I knew her from the first day. Simply she is the key for any locks to any problems or advices, because she knows how to deal with everyone and everything.
She has her own flag, do not give up, as she became our flag. Beautiful like the sun and attractive like the moon. Confident when she teaches, generous when she gives and hopeful when she smiling. She is like the fire strong and brave, water fresh and lively.
We have learnt a lot from her and she has chosen her decision in life. We would like to wish her all the best and luck in life, an enormous love and respect from us.
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Algantri (Student)
I remember his first day almost as if it were yesterday. He was quiet and looked rather preoccupied. What struck me most was the level of respect he showed.
I'm not quite sure of when we started growing close, but does it really matter? I think not. As I always say, the only thing we are sure of is the moment right now.
It has been an emotional week, but as I sit here and reflect on my day, my thoughts go to someone who received his certificate today.
Abdulgader Alsharif (Abdul) is undoubtedly one of the FINEST students I have had the pleasure of knowing.
There is an expression which fits him perfectly. He is "the salt of the earth". In other words he is someone who is simple and good. Mash'allah!
One of the reasons why Abdul is very special to me is because in recent months, he has worked very closely with me. In particular, with his writing. His ability to weave stories and characters together really impresses me. I hope he knows how absolutely proud I am of his improvement.
When I know people for as long as I do (in terms of students, especially) it's easy to see their different colours/moods. But it must be said that no matter what, Abdul has always displayed the highest level of respect. As one of his peers said, "You don't find people like Abdul anymore."
I couldn't have said it better myself.
So finally - I would like to wish this special person all the very best as he embarks on his future. Thank you for the privilege of knowing a lovely person like you.
