THIS, TOO, IS PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT
“To
be prepared against surprise is to be trained;
to
be prepared for surprise is to be educated.”
James
P. Carse
I had
to read the above quote a couple of times to fully comprehend its meaning. Let
me read it one more time:
“To
be prepared against surprise is training;
To
be prepared for surprise is education.”
Every summer,
for last three decades, I and many of my associates at THE DAWN CLUB have been
conducting Personality Development programme for young ones and little ones. The
programme would spread over two months – roughly from April 10 to June 10. This
summer, due to lockdown, the programme went for a complete toss. Many kept
suggesting, that we should do something ‘online’. But, I was not at all convinced…
nor ‘prepared’!
Did I say, ‘I
was not prepared’?
Yes, I did.
One of the standard
features of our PD programme has been the release of one or two inspirational
books on the day of certification. We would involve our young ones, little ones
and some general adults to write for these books. Last year, the book was titled
– ‘I am Good The World is Good’, with the sub-title - ‘Jaisi Drishti Waisi
Srishti’. The purpose of this book
was to help us get in touch with our biases based on religion (caste), class, colour,
gender, ideologies etc. 16-year-old Tia, a participant, had done the cover
design for the book. She couldn’t attend the certification programme as she had
to attend the Youth Camp (in Goa) organized by their Church. I wanted Tia to be
with us as it was an important day for her. But, for her, the Youth Camp, too,
was a very important event; and, therefore, it was decided, that while she would
proceed for the Youth Camp, her mother would attend our programme on Tia’s
behalf.
On the day of
the certification, when the book was released, I handed a copy to Tia’s mother
and thanked Tia for her excellent cover design. I, also, expressed my feelings
as to how much I and others missed her that day. In response, Tia’s mother thanked
THE DAWN CLUB for not only helping her young one in her growth, but also for
giving her an opportunity to showcase her talent. Then, she said something,
which made most of us sit up and listen: “Last evening, Tia called up from Goa
to tell me about some of the things that had horribly gone wrong, including the
train journey and the accommodation at the Camp. I heard her out and politely reminded
her, saying, ‘Sweetheart, that, too, is your Personality Development’!”
Well, we had trained
Tia and prepared her ‘against the surprises’ in life. But, what her mother had
done was, that she had prepared her daughter ‘for surprises’ in life!
Just a couple of
months earlier to that, Tia’s dad had lost his long battle with bone-marrow cancer.
It was too long a battle and had disrupted their lives, draining them physically,
mentally and financially. So, just after two or three months, while she was
reminding her young daughter, ‘Sweetheart, that, too, is your Personality
Development’, what she wanted to convey was this: ‘Be prepared ‘for surprises’
in life’!
“For all your
days, be prepared and meet them ever alike,” said Edwin Markham, “When you are an
anvil, bear; when you are a hammer, strike.”
Incidentally, Late
Mr. Abdul Kalam, our former President, would use this quote to inspire our
country’s young and little ones - ‘The Wings of Fire’!
This
summer, we are in the midst of the most challenging times of our lifetime. For
some, the challenge has been extremely harsh – unemployment, hunger, exodus,
gas leak, accidents, and the worst of all, the merciless cyclone. On the other
hand, for some of us, the challenge has been of different gravity. But, the
common factor has been this: None of us, including the political, business,
educational and spiritual leaders, seem to be ‘prepared for it’. Yes, all the preparation
to ‘fight against it’ seems like those hapless trees trying to withstand the
blows of cyclone!
I miss all our
summer action. But, then, remembering the words of Tia’s mother, I remind myself, “Sweetheart,
that, too, is Personality Development’!”
Am I prepared ‘for
the surprises’ in life?
Are we?
GERALD D’CUNHA
Pic.: fr.cameroonmagazine.com
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