My unforgettable teaching stint!

Those who educate children well are more to be honored than parents, for these only gave life, those the art of living well.
- Aristotle

These words ring so true! After all the strongest childhood memories imprinted in one's minds are those that are given by our teachers. A warm smile, words of encouragement, gentle but firm reprimands and overall complete pride and belief - these are the emotions that our teachers have always given us. They believed in us more that we ever did in ourselves! So small wonder that even when one reaches heights in their careers or is accomplished in various arenas, the memory of a teacher always brings back that warm smile and gratitude. Yes, that's how important our teachers are for us!

So can you imagine how thrilled I was when I got this wonderful opportunity to teach kids in my daughter's school, as a substitute teacher! It was like a dream come true, and my only thought was if I could even do a millionth of the work that these awesome teachers were doing, and help in their noble cause, then my efforts would be totally worth it.

Yes, it did take me a little bit of juggling my time and my professional work to accommodate the classes, but having a flexible work time and most importantly an extremely understanding boss helped me cross this hurdle. So here I was all set to teach the kids 'History' - one of my favorite subjects in school. The first briefing session that I had from Mrs. Simi Sharma, the Director of the school was simply amazing. It was like she brought life into the History lesson and it did not stop with that, she explained the sensitivities and nuances that one needs to be aware of, while teaching children. It was as if she was a mother handing her precious children to me to take care of for some time...that was a huge responsibility and I could not let her down!

Armed with a detailed lesson plan, PowerPoint presentations and videos, I started my prep work. Believe me when I say, I don't think I have prepared so much for an executive level presentation in my 16 years of marketing career, as much as I did for my first class! 

Being nervous was an understatement, in the car I had practiced my opening lines and smart quips, the right expressions to give and what not...but then remember the target audience was not decision makers in the corporate world, they were a far more difficult audience to please. Well, with all my relentless self doubts in my head, I strode confidently into the class. At first a few interested and curious eyes looked at me questioningly, then slowly there were whispers and the suddenly boisterous class quietened down. The home room teacher was kind enough to introduce me as the new substitute teacher and left with a firm warning to the students asking them to behave themselves. Once the teacher left, there was a big chorus of voices wishing me "Good Morning"...Wow was I transported to my school days or what!  I started by introducing myself and telling them why I love History. Probably, my excitement rippled through them as they listened to me intently. This encouragement was enough for me and I was on a roll!

I have taught 6th grade and recently 9th grade as a substitute teacher for short stints, each time more nervous and skeptical. But I cannot even explain the joy that one gets while imparting education to these keen and innocent minds. They just absorb what you say and how you say, their little inquisitive minds are filled with questions and it was a pleasure every time I interacted with them in the classroom. Yes, one has to be prepared for their moods and hyper activity, after all they are children, they are supposed to be that way! The most important lesson I learnt with these kids is that they trust you and respect you and it is up to the teacher how she can influence them and aid them in their progress, while ensuring that they grow not just academically, but also as good human beings. 

6th grade was fun! These kids were in the threshold of pre-teen age, just out of primary, clamoring  for attention with their countless questions, some of them relevant, intelligent and some downright funny! Having them settle down after a break was a humongous task but once they got into the flow, there was no stopping these bright sparks!

9th grade was a different ballgame! The kids were now young adults or teenagers. Ashima ma'am the teacher who I was substituting, had explained in detail what I should look for and laid rest to all my apprehensions, with her calm demeanor. So when I entered class and had gone through the introductions and greetings, the kids eyed me with a little bit of suspicion and then bombarded me with questions about who I was, why I was here, etc. I tried my best to address their queries, and I once when I thought they were satisfied, I started the lessons. Surprisingly, I felt so comfortable with these kids because I could use various strategies to grab their attention, sometimes straying from the topic and talking about latest books, TV shows and relating them to History and they understood! Yes, these were the kids who were slowly realizing that their lovely idyllic days were coming to an end, as they were mentally preparing themselves for the boards next year. You could see this in various stages, with some of them already mentally geared up while some who were reluctant to give up their 'freedom'!

But one thing I could clearly gauge is that the next gen is much smarter than what we were at this age! Wow, what a feeling! After every class, I was on a high with a spring in my step and lovely memories...how much I will miss these classes and the lovely kids.

For a moment, I was envious of the joy that teachers are enveloped with day in and day out. And then I think of the tireless hours that they put in to mold our beloved children into fine citizens, gearing them to face the outside world with their encouraging words, infinite wisdom and unconditional love...is it any wonder that as adults we owe our allegiance to these role models!

My happiness project

I was recently gifted a book called 'The Happiness project' by my sister who is totally into self help books and keeps recommending me ones that have worked for her. Well, to be honest, I just don't get them, maybe I just have a mental block... or maybe I hate having to think too much while reading. My sole purpose of reading books or even watching movies is to get transported into a fantasy world for some time and enjoy the journey! That's it as simple as that! So you can understand my apprehension when she handed over the book to me...along with another heavy read which had me yawning in flat 10 mins! 

So I waited for a day and then started this book that promised me that I would be a happy person. Well, for starts,  the language is simple and conversational, so it didn't feel as if I was on an uphill task. I like to read every word, including the foreword, acknowledgements...seeing the author's picture so that I could visualize who was talking to me....basically anything that was typed in the book. Call me a snob but when the author waxes eloquent about what the book will do for you, I get put off if it doesn't finally deliver. This book kept it simple, so that intrigued me. 

What I like is that the author pinpoints issues however trivial they are and tries to give a different perspective. It's like she is talking to herself and asking me to relate to her experiences wherever relevant. For instance, she talks about how she snaps at her husband...God knows we all are guilty of that...and then says how difficult it was to follow her own rules and stay calm. But what encourages you is that she keeps to it and finally though it is still a conscious effort, she just makes sure she remembers what she is doing at all times. So there was no secret formula or a light at the end of a dark tunnel, just super simple tips and tricks which even a non believer like me could practice.

I realize there's a vast audience like me that needs real life stories to motivate them and take some action. Obviously this is the primary reason why tools such as testimonials, case studies, real life experiences are what work best while delivering an effective messaging strategy. Marketeers all over the world swear on these tools! I mean think about it from a statistical point of view, among the millions of people, there would be at least a fraction of people who share the same thought patterns as you do, so if you can get to them, that's it...you've achieved what you set out to do!

Through the eyes of a foreigner

Yesterday, my friend and I took our customer, a lady for some window shopping to the nearest mall. The lady was in India since the last 2 weeks, first time for her and the only sights she had seen was the hotel, (located conveniently right beside our office), our office and of course the trip from the airport to the hotel, that was it! To add to her woes, she was unwell for  couple of days, and was absolutely overwhelmed with the incessant rain. My friend and I were asked to show her the sights by our American colleague who was in charge of this customer account. We readily agreed because we exactly knew how it felt when you go to a foreign country and feel so out of place. A kind word, a smile goes a long way in making you feel welcome!

Once she got out of office, I'm sure she felt she was taking a breath of fresh air, of course, the polluted Mumbai traffic fumes doesn't count, but nevertheless, it was still better than being stuck within 4 walls. As we got to know each other, we realised how it is actually a flat world and how even though we might be separated by appearances, language, geographies, culture yet the issues, thoughts, insecurities, feelings that we had were still common! Something as inane as following diets and having the right food was a testimony to the universal weight issues that women grapple with day in day out. We laughed and joked about it and decided to give our respective diets a holiday and of course ended up being overfed, but it was well worth it.

We lazed around and did the ceremonial walking around the mall, you know the type where you just look around viewing nothing in particular but just soaking in the sights, the kind that your spouse just hates because there are no buying decisions made. So there that was similar too. She seemed to enjoy the colours, did not look as if they assaulted her senses yet. I started looking at stuff from her eyes, wondering what she would like to take back. You know after all India had a reputation to keep, the more colourful, the more junky the stuff the better representation it was of our land. But you know what happens when you do take the touristy stuff, it ends up in your showcase or in case of clothes, it just sits in your wardrobe collecting dust. So our advise to her was to pick up something practical which she or her friends could use, which she seemed to like. This was sheer experience speaking as I remembered picking up stuff from my travels abroad which I loved at that moment but right now they are just treasured memories, but with no practical use.

Over coffee she told us how she was planning to take her dad for a trip and how she spent time with her family during weekends. I could almost visualise myself in her place, it was no different than what we did. If you looked at it from a different perspective, we were two independent women working for our livelihood, trying to balance work and family life, trying to make the best of life, each single day. So how different were we?

Next week we plan to take her for a touristy version of  Mumbai Darshan, would be fun to capture her reactions and see Mumbai through her eyes, we might actually be surprised!

Till death do us apart!

Till death do us apart!

As I see your sweet angelic face staring blankly through me

I search for words...search for a flicker of hope...

As I wipe my tears and put on my happy face

I know you know when you give your pained and helpless expression...

Oh how I yearn for that warm embrace, the smell of your clothes, your hair...

The comfort of your lap, the irritated yet filled with love face...

How do I get through you to tell you how much I love you...

How I can get the world to your feet just for that divine smile...

Why oh why is Fate so cruel...why do you have to suffer so...

As I wait patiently with a heavy heart, I know there's only so much I can do...

As I wait for divine intervention, and hope and pray as I've never before...

To get you back to me, for I'm not ready to let you go...

There is so much I want to say, so much I want to show...

So just be with me, don't go away yet, for I Love you so...

Let me savour every moment with you, relive and make new memories,

I'm just an arm's length away, yet the distance is killing me...

My beloved mother, just know I'm here for you forever...

Till death do us apart....

And then the fateful day dawned bright and clear and I knew this was it...

You hugged me hard to give me strength, for you knew I needed it for what was to come

I paced like a caged animal when I heard your raspy breath, as I tried to deny the inevitable

Fighting my tears, I sat by your bed, holding your lovely soft hands...

As you looked into my eyes, I calmed down and then in one moment our roles reversed

I patted your head and chanted divine words and said we loved you, 

i whispered...be strong Ma, just let go...for you do not deserve to suffer any more...

As I kissed you goodbye...and closed your eyes....

I knew now you would finally be at peace....

Yes, Death did us apart....

I close my eyes and I see the beautiful smile on your kind face

I know you're there for me guiding me through life's tricky maze

Just the way you held my little hand and taught me to take my first step

I count on you darling mother and will do so for every moment I'm awake

...For you're not just my mother anymore, you're my guardian angel ....

Mind games!

Have you ever wondered where the inner voice comes from? Have you wondered who the sometimes nagging voice belongs to, the one that floods your thoughts? You know maybe an overdose of Hindi movies in my childhood left a lasting impression in my mind where I'm reminded of 2 bewitching ladies, one dressed in white and the other dressed in black which pop up every time I'm trying to take a decision. So the good one, stereotypically, the one in white always is telling me to do what is right and the one in black is the one that tempts me to do whatever is supposedly not the right thing! So who wins? Well, the answer varies, sometimes both do and sometimes both don't. As I grew older and hopefully wiser, I realised that I ended up doing what felt right at that moment. Hours of analytical thinking and logical reasoning didn't help me at all. So let me try to break it down. So who is this lady in white? It is our upbringing, years of being told what is right, what is wrong by our parents, teachers, books, influencers who have drilled the laws of society into our heads. So automatically, just the way a robot adheres to a command, our mind maps what is supposed to be right. So who is this lady in black? This according to me is not the evil one, though it definitely has shades of negativity, it is what the inner being wants at that point. Sometimes it could be selfishness that drives it, sometimes the need for attention, the reward of a happy moment, or maybe plain ego boosting, whatever the reason, this lady in black always attracts us more than the one in white. So is this the way the human mind is trained or are these mind games that we play?