This week I have been thinking :
Sorry its going to be a longish post but there have been things that I haven't been able to get out of my head and I need to share them with you.
- Would we have handled the tsunami & the aftermath the way the people of Japan did? With the dignity they did? Sadly, I know the answer. If you have a minute do go through the little note at the end of the post (I got it as a forward & there are so many things a lot of us NEED to learn from them).
- Is it really important for a 2 year old to win a race? (This is at her sports day where mothers had to run with the little ones. I saw several mums dragging their children to the finishing line. The teachers had to announce that the children were getting hurt and ofcourse few listened ! Well Sara & I didn't WIN the race but she was so happy running with her mum and we celebrated "finishing" the race by eating a cupcake each :) Sometimes its more about enjoying the moment with your children than winning it especially when they are just two!).
I am thankful for :
- For my friends who refuse to come to my home if I tell them I am busy I can't cook so we will be ordering in!! To that they just tell me "then we won't be coming by, call us another day when you have time to cook". Yes! I love them
- For the fact that Sara has a new love. Sound of Music. Thats all we hear/see all day.
- This print campaign by Mercedes Benz. You have got to see this!
via here. Original here
p.s.Things to learn from Japan:
1. THE CALM
Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.
2. THE DIGNITY
Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.
3. THE ABILITY
The incredible architects, for instance. Buildings swayed but didn't fall.
4. THE GRACE
People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.
5. THE ORDER
No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.
6. THE SACRIFICE
Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?
7. THE TENDERNESS
Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.
8. THE TRAINING
The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.
9. THE MEDIA
They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage.
10. THE CONSCIENCE
When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly.
11 comments:
Very moved by this post! You have very aptly put them altogether.
My prayers for the People of Japan!
Awesome Post...very poignant
glad you ran the race with Sara to "ENJOY" the race...the fun is in doing things together,...and not abt winning. Hope the other Moms get it...
You are so right - we have a lot to learn from Japan...They have becoime our role models...
Oh so lovely.. Prachi.... I'm not sure about the tsunami.. .and beleive and hope we could handle it the same way!! Just like the flooding in Mumbai a few years ago!!
Im so pleased you think this way... I really do!! These days.. everything seems so so competitive.. its not a joke.. I actually told Simones teacher.. it doesnt bother me.. if she doesnt win.. it bothers me.. when she does not want to participate.. No one is going to ask her.. did you win the elocution in gr3?? or did you win for drama?? no one!! I've drilled this into the girls as well.. so we participate in everything... just for fun.. sometimes we win.. we celebrate.. sometimes we loose... we celebrate.. everything.. actually.. no!! 'LIFE.. is a celebration'...
Hope to meet you someday.. Prachi.. :-)
It is inspiring, isn't it? I'd like to think that if something like that happened where I lived, that we could all be so conscious of each other's needs and the greater good, but sadly, I think instead things would just fall apart and become dangerous for everyone, instead of supportive and safe. :(
Very touching post Prachi! I agree with you on not having to win everytime- I got into trouble in school as a kid because I said I didn't really care about coming first- my poor parents had to come to school :(
Have to agree with you on both counts, Prachi. Lovely post!
Lovely Prachi. It is not important to win, it is important to play and play with the right spirit and enjoy every bit it. My son told me this as a 6 yr old kid when I asked him if their team won, after he returned from a football game. A way to go.
The people of Japan have gone through a lot recently. But we have to salute their resilient spirit. Let us pray that they rise like a phoenix from the ashes - The land of the rising Sun :-)
A very touching post Prachi!! I agree with every word in the post,specially the race and the winning part! Hope more moms think this way.
My prayers with the people of Japan. They are the most resilient and am sure they will come out of this terrible tragedy.
I would like to think that we would all learn to behave with the grace and dignity of the Japanese people. They are a lesson in courage and patience. On a lighter note, your cooking skills sound formidable :).
Prachi, I agree winning is not everything, hopefully our kids will learn to simply enjoy life. Lovely post about Japan.
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