E-x-c-e-l-l-e-n-c-e

A+

As children, we are always taught the importance of perfect academic scores. It has become a precondition to survive. Don’t have an A+? not even a B+? Sorry, you are not fit to be a part of our tribe. Often the tag of the bush league offsets one's existence.

If you were lucky you must have managed to get that B. But what if you weren’t?

We have enough examples of people who made it big irrespective of their academic failures. Most of the renowned sportspersons and artists have not even completed their formal schooling. Movies like 3 idiots, Taare Zameen Par, and Chichorre have been successful to pin down the message. The message, to endure the innate talents of children.

Parents are becoming more understanding today, and schools have also started to lighten the load on the shoulders. We all understand change is not easy and it takes time.

But time and again, we find children, teenagers, and even grown-ups shadowed by high targets set by this society. A society should rather aim to build strong social foundations. Trust is the most important of all.

The question is upon us. Do children trust their elders?

It is our responsibility to make them comfortable to share their problems as much as their success. Growth, development, and happiness are interrelated. We need to consider adapting our education systems around the well-being of our future generations. Interest-based learning should be inculcated in the curriculum. Support systems should embrace cultural, emotional, physical, and intellectual well-being.

In our country, we have laws that make education free and compulsory, schemes that provide children meals, and acts that protect them against cruelty. There are no laws that focus on children's happiness. Can compulsory education with a set pattern of books make a child happy? Can providing free lunches to a certain group of children in a few states make all of them healthy? Can laws protect them from an unsupportive and mentally challenging education setup we have created?

Create what they'll cherish

Research claims, people forget 50% of what they learn in 1 hour, 70% of it in 24 hours, and 90% of it within a week. I would like to recall the words of a great man~

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn”

(Benjamin Franklin).

As a society, we need to create a system that involves our children. We need to treat them as equals and adults. Instead of commanding them, we should listen. Teachers and parents should focus on enhancing their decision-making ability. Let them create experiences they'll cherish. If we must tell them something, it shall be about the infinite paths waiting for them to explore.

Teach them how to take care of themselves

As children, we are never taught or even told to excel in health. As if good health wasn’t supposed to be a part of our existing curriculum. In school, teachers are eerie of games' class. Sports was and is still seen as an enemy to a child’s intellectual growth. If we start looking at the functioning of schools, I am sure the funds allocated to the sports department would be the lowest in the history of education.

Where to begin from?

Let me share my story. It wasn’t always that I was so keen on healthy habits. A couple of months back I underwent Vedic Therapy.

Sounds cool? It is!

My experience

I am a healthcare professional but little did I know about this human body.It was surprising to know, how much I took this cosmic being for granted. During 5 days of Vedic therapy, my headspace became clutter-free. I learned how to focus on what is happening within. I have been able to improvise my work in ways I couldn’t even imagine. I call it magic!

The shift in my routine raised a few questions in my mind. Mostly about the conscious habits towards my body. The biggest question being -

WHY WAS I NOT TAUGHT/TOLD/SCOLDED TO HAVE HEALTHY HABITS?

My interaction with the therapist only made me curious about what else could I do for my body. I use the words "my body" because it is the first and most important step in becoming comfortable with your physical existence.

Often we are shy to talk about what's all over the place. Ignorance may not last to be bliss in this case. So let us ask ourselves and one another a few basic questions.

(I'd love to listen to your answers and talk about them.)

1. How many of you practice drinking lukewarm water early in the morning, to cleanse?

2.How often do you start your day with breakfast and not brunch?

3. If you consume tea/coffee, why and how often?

4. Are your meals timed?

5. How often do you fast?

6. What is your daily average water intake?

7. How many hours do you sleep? Do you sleep during the day?

8. How often do you exercise/do yoga?

9.What is your prime goal while exercising?

10. Do you know someone in your family who practices good healthy habits?

These questions are important, and to start working on these aspects is even more important.

In colleges and coaching institutes we often find it fancy to have beverages along with every meal. Tea and coffee are acidic and drinking them after meals reduces iron absorption drastically. This is harmful to women especially, as most of us are unknowingly anemic.

"In a nutshell, your health, wealth, happiness, fitness and success depend on your habits"

(Joanna Just)

Habits built-in childhood tend to have a major impact on our way of living. Therefore, health should be made a priority in every curriculum.

Snippets from Vedic therapy sessions

During those five days, my day began with a yoga session, under a trained professional. He told me how yoga works on our bodies. How energy flows through channels and regulates our chakras. Pranayam or praano ka vyaam and Yog nidra~ the art of sleeping have helped me calm down. I am more focused and there is no rush to reach the finish line anymore. I feel I am a happier version of myself and it only gets better with every passing day. There is so much more that I want to share with all of you.

Excerpts from my therapy sessions are :

1. PAST IS GARBAGE.

2. TAKE CARE OF THIS BODY AND IT WILL TAKE CARE OF YOUR PURPOSE.

I am still learning the art to practice this way of living. I have felt an abundance of energy within myself since the therapy. All of us will make it big, do great things and even travel the world. But before that, let's try to get an A+ on taking care of ourselves.

"Practice what you preach". That is how we learned (the good and the bad habits) and that is how they (future generations) will learn.

In these tough times, we are still doing a crash course on immunity, taking supplements, and doing breathing exercises. It is good, but It is only a "B". To get an "A+" we will have to try a comprehensive course, a course that will last us a lifetime.

Let's create an ecosystem that believes in mastering the art of excellent well-being.

The real ‘A+’ lies there.