Are you KIND enough?

The phrase 'Be Kind' is probably the most commonly used phrase specially during the pandemic times. I remember during my childhood days, whether it was at home or in school, it was part of our everyday life interactions.

Whether it was helping anyone who came to my parents, neighbor or family friends or dad's colleagues, I used to see him listen to them patiently and calmly and suggest the best solution or the best help possible. My mom would always help those who came for a little bit of grocery stuff that would be needed to treat the guests at home (sugar being most common one).

At school we were taught to be helpful to our fellow students, share our things, solve a sum if they get stuck, offer notes to help them improve. We have all have learned it naturally, as we grew up to become responsible humans. 

So then does ' be kind' have to be told to us each time or should it be our innate nature?

 It costs absolutely nothing to be kind, and to help unconditionally is truly a rare quality with benefits manifold.

1. Smile and be kind to yourself

2. Random acts of kindness makes others happy

3. Kindness multiplies gratitude

4. It is a free gesture attracting solutions and blessings

5. Kindness gives inner peace

Be Kind. The world needs more of kindness above money or power. 

The Report Card Reveals A Writer's Journey

 

While cleaning the cupboard to get rid of old stuff at home, those that are my childhood memories, which my parents brought all the way from Jamshedpur, my place of birth and upbringing, I happened to find some interesting things like diaries, autograph books and yes one more. I wonder where this was hidden, all these decades!

My report card spanning my first to fourth standard showed up as if yearning all attention. I kept it aside for a deeper review while I bundled off some of the things that did not strike a connect now.
I went to my mom and showed her the report card. While I was reminiscing those days, I was reading the remarks or feedback shared by my teachers after every term. We had 3 terms in each class, at Hill Top School.   (One among the best schools in Telco and now as I have heard it is the best there. I always feel proud for being a HTS Alumni). So yes the remarks, I was reading it after decades actually. Never even thought I would get to see my own report card. Thanks to my dear parents for keeping it as a precious memory of my childhood for them.

I smiled at the marks and was thinking how well my teachers forecast my future or rather guided me in that direction. Mine were honest fortune tellers for sure. While most of my respected class teachers had suggested that I should read more books and also participate in literary competitions, I guess they already knew my incline. While the shy me chose to be a silent yet observant student, I bring out the best through my essays and very good marks in English. While books were always my first friends, my school library had the best of reads. In an era where computers were yet to be upgraded and Google had no existence at all, the books opened their world of knowledge onto us and that is how perhaps I developed the strong association that continues, even today.

I was a very good student. Credit goes to my teachers and definitely my mother, my best-est teacher at home, who would make question papers for me, to help me practice in almost all subjects. While my affinity towards the number world was not that great which would reflect in my overall marks getting deflected down by numbers, yet now, mom says that she used to pray to God so that I get a decent mark in Math. I knew it was definitely her prayers that helped me sail through. Number nightmares as I would term it never made me smile. That's another story.

So yes the report card with remarks for a fourth grader, definitely makes me believe that my teachers were somehow fortune tellers, because I know while many of us have chosen a path based on market trends and skills that they had learnt in college, yet very few chose something different like writing to be a profession and passion. They do not follow the usual footprints yet choose a path less spoken of or traveled and an art that is divine. Glad to be one, rebellion then who chose not to follow the BPO trend and was rather happy in my own skin. I am grateful to my parents for allowing me to follow my heart than the money race. I still have the visiting card from my first job- Sreelatha M, Copywriter, Cedilla, Chennai. I had earned it through my years of disciplined hard work, faith and creativity. Getting a copy approved perfectly was not easy at all in print media, with practice I learned how to give the best always.

Times have changed. Everyone can write decently well. Yet writing deep and right is reserved for the intellect. While writing for business is also one best trend and justified. As I hold my Report Card after decades, the child in me springs up merrily appreciates the words of my teachers, and trusts the prayers of my parents. My soul says, 'Keep writing, walk your own journey in your pace and poise, as it is how best you Meditate and seek your divine love and peace. '