Simplicity And Trust In The Classroom - Rishona Chopra

Simplicity is having no complexes and focusing on the right things. It is essential to have Simplicity in the classrooms because there are several distractions, and we possibly can't focus on two things simultaneously. That is why it is important to have studies presented engagingly so that instead of useless distractions, we find this better than daydreaming in class! Also, there are several complications that our mind creates and some phobias which might trouble us. It's essential to increase our focus and concentration on one thing. Simplicity is connected to Humility. Simplicity is when we are humble. 

Another part of Simplicity is Minimalism. Your room would probably be filled with things you don't use or don't bring any value to your life. Imagine a life without those unnecessary things. Pretty plain and boring. Right? Not really. Humans have created a belief that is to love things and use people. Loving things will give you temporary happiness because as soon as things are finished, we crave them again and plead for them, and if we don't get it, we are disappointed or angry. While on the other hand, if we love people with a true heart, happiness lasts forever. People crave things so much and so that without them, they are not able to survive.

An exercise I would carry out in my classroom on Simplicity is: - "Poet Tree" Activity: Taking my class outside — asking them to observe things around them based on a theme; Later, children can record it in poems written by them.

- I would take them on a trip and afterwards ask them questions about what they noticed on the way, And write their experience and write the way to the place.

- How can you focus on utilizing things and keeping things simple at home. Make them tell what they have at home and out of that what they need and what they don't use - their wants.

The impact on students would be that they could focus more and be more attentive. It would make them know about minimalism.

Trust is a firm belief in reliability, truth, ability, or strength.

An exercise I would carry out in my classroom on Trust is:

- Make students explain the quote - Trust is when actions meet words.

- Conduct a classroom discussion on the value of Trust means to children, and instances where they have gained/lost Trust.

The impact on students will be that they will learn that Trust needs no complications and know how to show Trust in their actions.

Simplicity and Trust are connected. We need Simplicity to have Trust. When we trust someone, we make too many complications; we should learn to make it simple.

"I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much."

- Mother Teresa

Rishona Chopra Grade VI Gyanshree School My Good School Intern

Simple Living, High Thinking - Swabhi Parmar

The concept of simple living high thinking is something that every person should adopt. This concept is also called as minimalism, where a person owns bare minimum items in his house. Your lifestyle will be totally different if you own just the essentials. We have seen what is happening around the world when people are buying just the essential commodities. The COVID-19 pandemic has thought us that all we need to survive are the basic essentials like a house, a vehicle, food and medicines. All others are luxuries that we don’t actually need in reality.

The urge of a human being to gain materialistic wealth is beyond control and has a significant impact on our economy. Companies market products that are actually not needed and add no value to our lives but the branding of the products is done such that it is made to create an illusion of value addition in our lives when in reality, all it does is add problems to our lives.

The concept of simple living high thinking is not just about a clutter-free closet or a cleanroom. To have peace of mind and live a truly blessed life, we need to follow this simple living high thinking theory in life. Some of us have money, some of us don’t, and some of us have that in plenty, and still, our peace of mind is not as much as that worker who sleeps on the footpath with no worries. We, as a society, look at them in wonderment and pity, but in reality, it is them that should pity us.

The sense of joy, fulfilment and satisfaction you get when you help someone in need is far more than the joy you get when you buy a branded shoe or a costly phone. The COVID-19 pandemic has thought many life lessons to us and one of which is the joy of helping others. It is not just about the joy, we should do it as a responsibility and gratitude towards our privileges that God has granted us. The entire economy of the world is crumbling just because all of us are buying only the bare minimum and essentials. More than 90% of our economy is surviving because of the consumer’s spending on things that they don’t really need.

Minimalism is a term that is used to refer to a lifestyle which is minimum in materialistic point of view, but maximum in peace of mind and tranquillity point of view. We are always frustrated and agitated whenever we come home looking at a closet full of clothes, a kitchen full of utensils, a refrigerator full of food and a table full of useless things. Get rid of it all. Yes, the minimum lifestyle will give a sense of direction and purpose in life. Instead of spending that one lakh rupee on iPhone, buy a phone that is cheaper and use the rest of the money to feed the poor and the hungry. Try this one day, and you yourself will be addicted to that joy. The smile that you see when you feed someone who is in need is enough to have a sense of purpose in life.

Swabhi Parmar
The Fabindia School
spr@fabindiaschools.in