Is it important to have a purpose in life? - Reflections 19th Feb 2023 Sunday Reading

"The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for a newer and richer experience." Eleanor Roosevelt.

Life without a purpose can not be called life. No one may have no meaning in their life. If we have a purpose in life, we should fulfil it with great focus and deliberation. It is essential to have a purpose in life. We need to achieve our goal of being better and more successful people in future. If we have a purpose, we have to move with it and complete it. Carrying a sense makes our life interesting, simple and peaceful. Hence we should have a purpose in life.

- Nishan Karki

A building would be incomplete even if any one piece of brick is missing. All the bricks of different sizes are equally crucial for constructing the building. Similarly, every person in this world has a purpose in life. Many people together form a society; one individual can never create a community like one flower doesn't make a garden. Looking around our society and environment, we see many people doing different things, working and doing jobs.

When you wake up, you find your breakfast ready on the table, and then you go to work, school, college, or office through various modes of transportation, and you buy items and products from the market. People are serving us, and directly or indirectly, we also have value in society. We all should have a purpose to create a happy community without having any goals in life. We are like damaged roots that can't support or assist plants.  

- Tenzin Jambey

Reflections from The Sunday School 15th Jan 2023 - Pestalozzi World

What do you value in life?

"Things that people do for me for my own good, like my school teachers, staff members in Pestalozzi as well as the staff working for "My Good School" and the uncles and aunties working in EBD, creating a lot of good memories with them are the valuable things in my life. My family's support and courage also matter greatly to me." - Tenzing Dhekyong N.

"I value time very much, and I respect and value people who spend their valuable time on us. This not only encourages me to become a better human and not let their efforts go in vain but also give time to others who may need it cause it's time which is the actual ultimate healer. Blessed " - Tenzin Tsering.

"The thing I value the most in my life is my home. It is the place from where I started the journey of my life.No matter where or how far a person goes, he/she has to come back or end up with a place called 'home'. The home provides us with most of the things that we want. It is a place where we make love for each other and for family members. It is the very first place to start with anything.

Like before going to school, we learn A, B, C, D...... at home. We learn manners and moral values, which I still do. What do we want in our life? A safe place to stay where we can spend our days and night. So, what would be safer than home?

And the second thing that I value the most is the person's personality, behaviour, the way he/she act and react and the way of thinking etc. I guess these are the things we need to carry with us until death. These are the precious jewels a person should have." - Nisma Meghi.

"I get all the respect of others due to my Integrity, Spirituality, Perfection, Confidence,  Leadership, and Responsibility. These are the most valuable thing in my life." - Brahamdeep Thakur.

"I value many things in my life: parents, truth, study, personality, time that has given, loyalty, relatives etc. 

But the person I value a little more is my sister; in Tibetan, we say ache (sister); she helps me when I am down. She is like my close friend with whom I share feelings. And sometimes, I fight with her severely but end up hugging and crying together, saying sorry. She is also the one who teaches me good things that I value." - Richen Khando.

"For me, As a blanket statement for every living thing on Earth, nothing is the most valuable thing in life. Some people value memories. Some people value time. Some people value certain idols or ideas more than they value their lives. And that's completely fine — it's up to them to decide what they love the most in life. But who's to determine what's the most essential thing in life, ever, for everyone?

You create your own meanings and your own value in life. You really do. What you value in life differs from your friends, family, neighbours, pets, etc., and the billions of other humans you don't know and never will." - Thank you from Januka Basnet. 

"To begin with, today, I am here because I would like a better or brighter tomorrow. Being here means I receive an education and can learn valuable things daily. Whether it is academics or life lessons. So firstly, the most valuable thing in my and most people's lives is their parents. They have supported me since I was young and will support me in my future life.

Secondly, my friends and Pestalozzi have given me such a good environment and help me whenever I need them. I am very proud to have such good teachers who teach me studies and good behaviour. At the same time, there is my health and time.

Health= if I will not take care of my health, I will not be fit and fine.

Time= Not only me but everyone should value time and use it properly because time will not wait for you; you need to learn to love it." - Manisha Rana.

"Many people have their own valuable things in their life to which they really care and never wanna lose it. Similarly, I have many valuable things that cannot be bought or lost easily. Like time, we should always value the time we have, especially with our circle, since it's elusive and significant. Even happiness is essential for our mental health, which may affect the people around us." - Tenzin Nyesel.

"Firstly, life is the most valuable thing because we get human life after millions of years as a gift. We can make the most of the life given to us. Parents are also important in our life as parents not only give birth to children and provide needs like love, attention, support, care, and, most of all, knowledge. Pestalozzi is also one of the most valuable things in my life. I am fortunate and thankful to be a member of Pestalozzi and for giving me such a good opportunity to learn new things and be part of The Sunday School, by My Good School." - Smriti Rai.

"First of all, time is the most valuable thing in my; it does not have any start and end. It has its own way of moving; no one can stop it. For example, we cannot say time; please wait for me. I will study later or do any work later on. It will not wait for us. Because time doesn't wait for anyone, time is precious, so mostly all are scared to waste time. Time changes everyone's life. If we do all our work on time, it will make our future bright if we play with time, then our life will get worst. Time can control everything, but no one can control time. Even there is time for doing every work. Secondly, to be kind to others, be respectful, and help others is also valuable in my life." - Nirusha Limbu.

There are several things which have great value to me. Things which have great value in my life are time, health (both physical and mental), studies and nature. These things have been essential parts of my life since my childhood. I will always take great care and focus on these helpful values. Nishan Karki.

"Someone has rightly said `, Time and tide wait for none'. Each of us knows the value of time because we only get successful if we see the value of time. So, time is precious in our lives. We can buy a watch, but not time; once it goes, it never returns.

The second thing I value in my life is the opportunities and the love, care and support I get from people around me. Opportunities are valuable as, once gone can never come back. I am always thankful for all the people who helped me. I feel very grateful and lucky to have all those people in my life, especially Pestalozzi." - Shristi Khulal.

"The thing that I value the most in my life is my family. Families are important because nobody can live alone all the time. We need others to support us in our hard times and good times.No one could better support us than your family. They are always going to be there for you whenever you need them. I am here with my friends, who always support me because my family taught me to be friendly and good to everyone. There is a saying that says, "Treat others the way you want to be treated." I have a good relationship with everyone because of my family and the saying that they constantly reminded me of when I got upset and had a hard fight with anyone. I remember the saying and took action which would help make the situation better. I am very thankful for my family.

In my life, I value everything given to me by Pestalozzi and my family. I even value my career, so l can be successful and earn enough money to provide for my family and myself. I value my family, Pestalozzi staff and friends the most because they are the people with whom I can trust and share my problems. They are always there for me. Whenever I am in need" -  Ankita Khadka. 

"What I am grateful for, I wish to thank everyone I have ever met. They all are the ones who motivated me, who supported me, who studied and played with me. My family, especially my mother, to whom I am grateful for giving birth. My father who helped me in all ways till now. He is the one who fulfilled my requirement and who brought me toys when I was small. Here in Pestalozzi, I am grateful and thankful for whatever I get. I wish to thank the scolding which I get from my Ma'am".  - Tenzin Jambey

What I fear the most and how can I overcome that fear - Jeni Sherpa

I am afraid of heights, darkness, public speaking and being in front of a huge crowd of people watching me.so I avoid going to high places whenever possible. And also, whenever I try to do something, I always think or fear that other people will judge me and make fun of me, so I rarely speak with other people. I hope to overcome my fear by confronting it.

Jeni Sherpa
Pestalozzi Children's Village Society

What I fear the most... Tenzing Dhekyong N

Reading Chapter 32 - Human Quality: Preparedness

"What I fear the most is the scare of the darkness. So generally, many people are scared of the dark. I have been wondering about those creepy things repeatedly during my childhood, so that's why I had a fear inside me of ghosts. I still am scared of a ghost, but I try to overcome them by thinking of funny movements which have happened today". 

Tenzing Dhekyong N
Pestalozzi World Children's Village

Something You Want To Change In Yourself and How? - Pestalozzi India

Many people have been continuously advising me to change my behaviour as I might lose all my friends and people around me because of my behaviour. I am also an ill-tempered person and dismissive of their suggestions. I make false promises and divulge without thinking how they might feel later who trusted me so much. I dither whenever I have to make any difficult choice, maybe because of my anxiety and lack of confidence. I should speak up for myself and build self-confidence. I will be a trustworthy person. Even Pestalozzi has given us many opportunities by organising workshops to be self-possessed to improve our public speaking skills and body language among many people. 

Jeni Sherpa

There are many personality traits that I want to change that are not good for me. The first thing I want to change is my temperament; I am short-tempered, get angry about minor things, and start fighting with the person who made me angry. I should change this habit and try to ignore those little things. The next thing I wanna change in me is that I am lazy. The things I plan every time I don't do due to my laziness. I should habitually become more punctual with the timelines and stop procrastinating. Another thing is that I am shy and nervous in front of people whom I don't know, and I overthink. I should interact more with other people and be more confident about myself. 

Shristi Khulal

Reflection : Something I Wanna Change - Richen Khando

I want to change my habit of being angry; I have a very short temper, and that is what I want to change. Many people tell me that I get fit very fast, which makes my friends sad, and I do too. So, I try to be calm by listening to music or taking a long breath (3 times), which is how I try to keep my temper cool.

What makes us who we are - Nishan Karki

It us a common perception that our thoughts, behaviour and nature make us who we are.

If we behave correctly to other people showing them respect, they will assume that we have good manners and behaviour. Maintaining a good personality is beneficial and important in life.

- Nishan Karki

--

Shelja Thakur

Pestalozzi World Local Alumni Coordinator and Senior Student Liaison Officer

https://pestalozziworld.com/about/where-we-work/indian-village/

What makes us who we are - Monika Singh Pundir

The person I am today is because of my parent's hard work. If I didn't have parents like them to give birth to me, l would never be able to stand in this world.  

Not only my parents but there are also many people behind me in this position right now, like my teachers, who were always there to help me with my problems and teach me the right things to do. I am very grateful to them for whatever they have done for me. 

I am most grateful to Pestalozzi Children's Village Society, who provided us best to the best facilities in the field of education and wants us to have a brighter future. Finally, there are my friends who always supported me and trusted me. 

 

Monika Singh Pundir

What Makes Us Who We Are - Tenzin Nyesel

Photo courtesy Cheme Dolma Palden
https://milaap.org/fundraisers/support-pestalozzi-children-village-society

The first people that came to mind after hearing about that topic are my parents, who have done so much for me. The way I'm able to live, read and write is all because of my parents who've invited me into this world and have done so much hard work for me to live a good life.

Then my second thought was my teachers who've taught me not only studies but also good manners and habits.

The last thought was that my friends have always supported me and always been there for me at whatever stage.

These all are people in my life who've made me who I am right now, for which I'm very thankful and grateful.

Tenzin Nyesel
Pestalozzi Childrens Village, India

Could Have Been - Reveda Bhatt

“Sometimes, the one who loves you is the one who hurts you the most.” - It Ends With Us.

Found this quote accurate in and out, and, you know, it’s one of the bitter truths of life, but you just have to accept it that way. Although, in a way, it’s a bitter-sweet truth because once you realise that, you won’t care much about the fact that someday, sometime, someone will, and that would be it - you’ll go back to the ones you had to pretend to forget for the one whom you loved just so that he or she didn’t get offended and lose themselves - but; hey, maturity is where you realise how to control your emotions, how to prevent yourself from losing them - and if he or she does, what you need to do is place aside your feelings and just keep one thing in your vision - you!

Even if leaving hurts, just know they didn’t deserve you because you are better.

Me: Thinking…
Intense thinking…
Processing…

“I’d like to take the last of my words back because it’s easy to say that the wound will heal when you forget all about it, but, in reality, only the person going through it knows what it feels like. Nobody, literally, nobody in this world does.”

People say, “It’s easy”, and say, “Maybe you just don’t want to let go.”

Well, don’t you think they would have already tried that!?

Either way, maybe they just don’t want to forget that and change because what if the fault wasn’t in them?

Look, in our lives, people come, people go, but we need to ensure that they don’t take away with them a bit of our soul that once shone in the bright light and made us stronger.

It could have been better like that.

Reveda Bhatt

Grade 9

The Aryan School

Ikigai - Rishona Chopra

I am on my journey to find my Ikigai,
While wishing I,
Could see it sooner.
But little do I know,
That my journey,
Is an army,
To find my ikigai,
And that itself is an ikigai.
All ambitions and dreams,
Half-fulfilled streams.
Never have I felt this passion.
To find my meaning for being.

We all were born to do something. But this question always encounters us - What is my reason for being? The beautiful part is that knowing this takes a long journey for most people. Some of us already know our passion - our reason for being.

It's okay if you don't. It's a journey that has to enjoy. Have you ever felt that by watching a movie related to space, you want to become an astronaut or perhaps by watching a few video games, you want to be a creator?

Many people have gone through this journey, and you know you don't really have to put in any effort. Life unfolds itself with its wonders. Let it.

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

A Dilemma - Reveda Bhatt

"…wondering whether I wait to live or if waiting is also living;" - From 'Extinctions' by Sharmistha Mohanty.

Due to the greed pertaining in humans, which doesn't seem to have an end, every moment of our lives is spent waiting for something from our to-do list. Some people are lucky enough to get what they want while waiting for theirs, and some do not understand that what they lost for what they wanted was what could have been gained.

In life, some of us just fix a pinpoint around our life circles wherein instead of living freely, we tie ourselves onto a mystical bull's eye, which we aren't even sure about. We, people, save money for our future or future generations, dragging ourselves into a so-charming-as-seen-superficial bond which limits our life, wings, and flight.

Now, realizing what we are doing with our lives raises a dilemma: whether to wait to live or to live! Taking a step towards waiting to live, the thought popping into our mind is the worry about whether the next generation would be much self-obsessed to even pay us back for the time we spent establishing a bright future for them. Believing they won't, we reframe our step back towards the initial position and then towards living, when we tend to wonder what if our next generation will not be able to get all the best things in life just because of our one stupidity to live freely and fully. That is how few moments of
our lives slip off our hands just like that, waiting for another.

The fact that we limit ourselves in this materialistic world when we can grow out of it really makes me wonder why we want such pleasures? It's not that I am saying let go of them. No! We also need them for our living, but picking out for them in excess is bad. It shouldn't ever be like you are stealing someone's right. All I am saying is that what gets sowed here on this planet, ultimately, wilts.

We get decayed in the same soil where we used to play, blow away in the same air that we
used to breathe, flow out in the same water that we used to swim in and get ash-ed up in
the same fire that once used to give us warmth.

In the past few years, I've learnt that by waiting for something else to come in, we make something go out, out of our mind, out of our soul, out of our body and lives. Halting for a moment to catch on, we lose another. People come, people, go, and moments come, moments go, although once the present is gone, it never comes back but haunts you as your past, a past that could have been better.

So, what I've been doing since those years after realizing that waiting is also living, is- "Forget the past, live in the present and think of the future."

Future, too, sometimes, but not always.
Long way ahead!? 

Reveda Bhatt

Grade IX

The Aryan School, Dehradun

Image courtesy My Good School, spreading the joy of learning for a better tomorrow.

Peace hath her victories no less renowned than war - Reveda Bhatt

The renowned English poet John Milton once wrote in a letter to English General Oliver
Cromwell- “Peace hath her victories no less renowned than war.”

The fact that the majority of the world demands justice by sole means of war forgets that
there is a concept of harmony in the absence of hostility and violence, known as peace!
The word peace is derived from the original Latin word ‘pax‘, which means a pact,
an agreement to end the war.

Trust me, it’s not as tough as it seems to be; there are millions of people who’ve lost their
lives to violence and many who’ve lost their beloved ones to brutality.

It’s all a perspective-based scenario, a country which loses its soldiers to another
considers them to be martyrs while the other one calls them terrorists, who, instead of
fighting to create peace, get rested in peace.

We, people, do not understand that the peace created after the war is not exactly

‘real peace’ but a helpless and tarnished aftermath of the most severe form of violence. We
do attain peace. We are left with no choice.

On the other hand, the victory procured by maintaining peace is totally and wholly different,
it does uphold happiness and agreement.

Our latest witness of violence was the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which was heartbreaking. On the one hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin constantly sent orders to attack Ukraine. At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wasn’t ready to order his military to back off and surrender. Therefore, I guess we have all seen the aftermath with our own eyes.

Peace was always an option for them, and cooperation was an option for them, but they chose
war, and war it is, then.

Coming back to the word ‘peace’, apart from being a pleasant word, it also refers to a
peaceful society and a beautiful world.

According to Lao Tzu‘s famous saying:
If there is peace in the world,
there must be peace in the nations.
If there is peace in the countries,
there must be peace in the cities.
If there is peace in the cities,
there must be peace between neighbours.
There must be peace in the home if there is peace between neighbours.
If there is peace in the house, there must be peace in the heart.

Thank you!

Reveda Bhatt

The Aryan School, Grade 9

This is a post from her speech at school.

Peace - Arav Agarwal

As we are celebrating peace as the month's value, I wanted to share this beautiful article I read in The Times Of India. This article tells us that we do not need to seek peace as peace is already there within us and is our soul's stabilizing and harmonizing strength. 

These days we live in a noisy and stressful world, so we just need to remember the great people who fought all battles of life with peace, like Gautham Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi.

Peace helps us respond and not react; when we are peaceful, we can listen to our inner voice, which is our guiding light. 

Name: Arav Agarwal

Grade: 6A

Billabong High International School, Thane

Avni: Inside the Hunt For India’s Deadliest Man-Eater - Rishona Chopra

On November 2, 2018, tigress 'Avni' or T1, as she was known officially, believed to have been responsible for the deaths of 13 people in Maharashtra in two years, was shot dead in the Yavatmal district of the state.

Like we humans think of killing animals and banning them from the world the same way animals want to kill us because humans and animals can both live in harmony, but fear causes us to create trouble. Just imagine yourself as a tiger who people want to hunt down and hurt; won't you want to hurt those who hurt you? Sometimes, when I look at a tiger's eye, I feel the sadness, fear and pain in her eyes. 

After all, the cause of animals hurting us are only humans. We cut trees and make buildings in the forest, harming the animals. Imagine people charging in your home and ruining your place. You now have nowhere to live.

We blame animals for hurting us, but actually, we hurt them primarily because of fear.

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

Unity In Diversity - Rishona Chopra

We have so many languages,

Each of them gives us so much knowledge.

Lots of different cultures,
Each one of them is precious!

This rich diversity,
Gives me a new identity.

Everyone is so unique,
Together when we come, no one is weak!

Even though our differences create problems,

We should understand our differences are our customs!

We are all united as a team,
We can together make a dream.

After all, it’s unity in diversity,
We are just so extraordinary!

That is why we say east or west,
India is the best!

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

Autobiography of an Autobiography - Rishona Chopra

Hello! I am an autobiography. People write in me when they feel like expressing their life to someone else, but I am unique. That is because the most valuable, intelligent, famous, and minor things I write in me. My author is Rishona Chopra, who is very kind for letting several people write in her book. Like my friend, fan, curtain, wardrobe, coin and several other people like that. 

I am the main lead here since I am who you are reading and seeing, and I am talking to you. So that's me, an autobiography and here is an autobiography of an autobiography!

Rishona Chopra
Grade V
Gyanshree School

Happiness - Avni Karmarkar

There was a boy whose family was very wealthy. One day his father took him on a trip to the country, where he aimed to show his son how poor people live. So, they arrived at a farm of an impoverished family, which his father considered poor. There they spent several days.

"Did you notice how poor people live?" Yeah, I did- said the boy.

The father asked his son to tell his impressions of their trip in more detail. 

Well, we have only one dog, and they have four of them. In our garden, there is a pool, while the poor have a river that has no end. We have got expensive lanterns, but they have stars above their heads at night. We have the patio, and they have the whole horizon. We have only a small piece of land, while the poor have endless fields. We buy food, but they grow it. We have a high fence for protection of our property, and they don't need it, as their friends protect them."

The father was stunned. He could not say a word.

Then the boy added: "Thank you, Dad, for letting me see how poor we are."

This story shows that wealth and happiness are not measured by material things. The father asked his son if he liked their trip on return. "It was great, dad!" the boy replied.

Name: Avni Karmarkar

Grade: 5C

Billabong High International School, Thane

Autobiography of a curtain - Rishona Chopra

 Hi! I am a curtain. The most beautiful one you've ever seen. Hey! Don't think I am boasting; I am actually adorable. I have zig-zag patterns on my skin, and most important of all, I am transparent. That doesn't mean I am a ghost. I mean, you can see through my skin.

At the back, I have a window behind me, through which I can see beautiful sights. But there are a few disadvantages too. Firstly, the window is facing towards my back! So I can't really see the pictures unless a brilliant person puts me the other way! That way, I can enjoy, but those people are pretty few. They are hard to find. So that was my life with problems and problems.

Rishona Chopra
Grade V
Gyanshree School

The Art Of Appreciation - Aria Gupta

People think if they only like a little bit of something they have, they appreciate it. But genuine appreciation is when we are genuinely thankful for what we have. Humans tend to value things when they are taken away from us. We only appreciated our classrooms when covid-19 took it away from us as students. Our parents could only admire their offices when they couldn't enter their offices anymore. This is human nature. We can only understand their value when we don't have them. You can imagine what will happen if the things you have aren't with you, and that is when you learn to appreciate things. 

Aria Gupta 

Grade IV 

Gyanshree School