In Appreciation…….. of the simple pleasures of life…

Zeena Singh For Eastern Mirror Sunday

Hello folks,

I believe that life has so much to give if only we cared to give a little thought to the most minuscule of joys (which we’d find so much of) only if we’d stop looking at the looming discomforts and discontents.
So here I am, to share with you the simplest joys in my life as I have experienced some time in my life and those that I take as I face each day, at a time.

My School Day Victories-

We were all gathered in the Hall. If then you had to ask me why, I would’ve wished you could tell me too, because I would’ve been as clueless as yourself.

Amidst chatter, classmates and friends I was seated on the carpet on the floor. An air of excitement hung overhead. Names unfamiliar to me were being called out and there was an intensified build- up as cheers rang out with every one of them.
All too suddenly I found myself hauled up on my feet and pushed forward. What had I done? Someone was calling out my name. Why were my friends clapping? In a flash, my mind did a sprint. It was my first year here, three exams had been completed and as clearly as my young head knew, I surely hadn’t done well in them.

Our headmaster Mr Malcolm held out his hand shook mine and handed me my ‘prize’; The first ever in my life. ‘Progress Prize’ was what it said. Warmth engulfed my little heart.
I was actually being appreciated for something called ‘progress’. Did this mean I had performed better? It surely meant that someone had taken note of something I was oblivious of and even cared to let me know that it was good. It came so unexpectedly. One of my first lessons in life, that even something like a hint of an improvement, could be noticed and given importance.
I felt good all over.
The impact worked wonders! This was perhaps the driving force that pushed me to giving it my all.
I strove. There was a leap; I leapt to first position in class, and this, I wasn’t going to let go of quite so easily in quite a while.
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“Put on your best dress, and come to Assembly in it” was the instruction given to me by our Dormitory matron one morning after breakfast. Despite the odd and astonishing directive , obedience being one of my childhood virtues, I did as told without any ado, while yet trying to figure this absolute out –of- routine requirement.
The bell clanged, time to Assemble in the Hall before classes began. Everyone trooped in and settled themselves. I looked around and spotted a few others, three or perhaps four, who like me, stood out sore and uncomfortable against our smartly- put- together uniformed companions. We were out of place in our pretty party dresses on a regular school day among our friends who weren’t.
After the usual important announcements, it was our turn. We were asked to get up on stage and walk across it. Everything was strange and vague. Questions were running in my head, with not a single inkling of an answer from anyone. What was this all about? Why were we to do this? What was expected of me? I just hadn’t a clue. Honestly? I wasn’t happy and wasn’t enjoying myself at all. To make matters worse, after this, my farcical absurdity, I wasn’t given permission to enter my classroom for a good 15 -20 minutes. I felt so alienated, so cut off.
As I still didn’t get any answers, and no comeback to my queries, I soon let it lie and consciously pushed it aside.
Come the month of May and with it our favourite “Fancy Fair”, the School Carnival. Foremost on our minds was what goodies we could tuck into, the exciting games to win, and of course, the fanciest of clothes we could wear on that special day.
Dressed up and with plenty of places to go, our scour of the attractively tempting stalls began. Right in the midst of the entire festive thrill, I hear my name being called out on the megaphones which were otherwise blaring announcements and music. It said that I was the ‘Fancy Fair Princess’ and whether I could come and collect my prize.
The Fancy Fair Princess? I didn’t quite grasp the boon behind such a title, but it sounded nice. Only now could I unravel the puzzle of all my previous bewilderment.
——–
Timid, Nervous, Shy are the tags that could easily be attached to me while in School. Then why was I on stage impersonating Alice in ALICE IN WONDERLAND or the Shepherdess in THE SHEPHERDESS AND THE CHIMNEY SWEEP or Little John in ROBIN HOOD?
Today I share some of these my little victories, predominantly and ONLY to highlight the role of a Teacher. It is a Teacher, who must know each and every student, not by name alone or as another Roll Number.
That is who I had in my life. Teachers who saw me, watched me, knew me for who I was; Teachers who caught sight of what I perhaps would never have discovered about myself. Teachers who believed in whatever they found in me; teachers who made sure it be brought out so that I, as an individual could form and grow to the utmost of my potential, bringing out the best in me.
To all of my Teachers, this is but a simple expression of my appreciation.
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