YOU BETTER GET UP, DRESS UP AND SHOW UP




“Sometimes, the bravest and most important thing

you can do is just show up.”

Brené Brown

 

Our summer programme (spread over two months) is on...

When I was growing up, the summers were a complete break from studies... I remember spending the entire summer vacation at my maternal grandparents’ place... Oh, that glorious village life -- ponds, running streams, fields, orchards of mangoes, cashews, jackfruits... no books, no studies, no exams... yes, no getting up, dressing up and showing up, no matter how you felt each morning. We returned from our grandparents’ place only late in the evening before our school reopened...

Now, the summer vacations are no more meant to ‘break free’ from the routine studies and exams... For each kid, be it in the villages or be it in the cities, summer vacations are meant to do extra studies – with preparation for some entrance exams, or tuitions, or a dozen other classes – dance, sports, singing, computer or soft skills etc.

I am guilty of depriving young kids by offering them one such programme during their summer vacation: Personality Development... which is aimed at building their self-confidence, communication and interpersonal skills.

Poor young kids!

And imagine their plight when they have to get up, dress up and show up for their 8 a.m. sessions!

When some of them don’t turn up, giving interesting reasons, I restrain myself from sermonizing them... I recall the glorious summer breaks I had enjoyed when I was of their age... But, then, these kids live in different times, and under different parenting styles... I am conscious of this reality.

Thus, last morning, when this 20-year-old was trying to justify her week’s absence with health reasons, I took it with the proverbial pinch of salt... She had not messaged me or called me when she was absent. So, once again, I found myself drilling into the young skulls: “No matter how you feel each morning, you better get up, dress up and show up.”

It applied to me as well, you see.  At 67 –- after almost five decades of doing the same daily routine --   here I was, telling the young ones to stop giving reasons and excuses...  

During the session yesterday, I had asked the young ones if they discussed at home -- with their parents, siblings, friends etc. --  what they learned in the sessions. Most of them said, that they discussed about it with their parents and friends. But, the girl, who missed the sessions giving heath reasons, said, that she discussed about the sessions with her tuition teacher. “She has been my favourite teacher through my entire school and college life,” the girl said.  I prodded the girl to say more about this teacher...

“Sir, she is in her forties... and she is unable to move without help... Her condition has progressively worsened. But, she is a fighter... She doesn’t take any break from tuition classes... She is strict with her students as much as she is loving and caring. She truly inspires me...”

The story of this young tuition teacher -- who, despite being unable to move her legs and hands, would get up, dress up and show up each morning – yes, it had inspired us all. I did not have to additionally explain to the 20-year-old what ‘the fighting spirit’ was all about...





I know, it’s a summer vacation... I know, it’s not a pleasant time to sermonize young kids. But, I, also, know of people, who live by the motto: “No matter how you feel each morning, you better get up, dress up and show up.”

 

GERALD D’CUNHA

 

Pic’s: pixabay: 1. vinsky2002

 

Video: America's Got Talent

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