Hope: The Eternal Guiding Light - Reveda Bhatt

"Hope is the anchor that keeps the soul afloat in the stormy seas of life."

Hope keeps us alive - it's the driving force that propels us forward, yearning for a better life, an enduring existence, or simply happiness in any form. Hope is the guiding light along life's journey, essential for reaching our destination. Without hope, life would be impossible.

Consider the marginalized communities within our society; despite facing adversity, they persist, fueled by hope. It's their belief that life will improve somewhere along the way that sustains their efforts.

Hope is akin to sight for the blind - an intangible force that guides us through darkness. It's like a beacon for sailors navigating treacherous waters, illuminating their path amidst the vast expanse of the night sky. Just as a star dims without hope, so too would our spirit’s falter.

Hope transcends barriers and fuels our aspirations. It's a vital force that sustains us, even in our darkest hours.

‘Hope’ you understand what I mean!

Reveda Bhatt

The Importance of Good Health - Ankit Raj

"Health is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities.”

This means that health is a resource to support an individual's function in wider society, rather than an end in itself. A healthful lifestyle provides the means to lead a full life with meaning and purpose.

Ankit Raj
Sunbeam School, Lahartara

Two men looked out the prison bars; one saw mud, one saw stars - Sakshi Singh

This age-old saying beautifully encapsulates the power of perspective. It reminds us that even in seemingly bleak situations, there exists an opportunity to find hope and positivity. It's a poignant reminder that our outlook on life dramatically influences our experiences, and sometimes, shifting our focus can reveal unexpected beauty and potential amidst adversity.

Sakshi Singh  

Grade 9 Gyanshree School

Image Source https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Children-reading-a-book-together-4017898

Imperfectly perfect! - Bob

 

Hello, Dearies!

I hope you remember me! It is me, Bob, from the EBD book cafe, Dehradun. Just when I thought my life was perfect, everything changed. Everyone in the bookshop takes my dear friend 'Speaker' away from me. Why? Why on Earth? How can people be so cruel and heartless? Can they not listen to music with me? They took my happiness and companion away from me. Oh, how I miss my friend 'Speaker'!

I have realised that humans are up to no good. They are useless. So now, I have decided to take things into my own hands and have adopted Toblerone (not the chocolate!). Toblerone is a sweetheart. He is kind and a great companion. He stays right in front of me , supporting and helping me sit up straight, resolving my back pain. He is also really cute.The only drawback is that he steals the spotlight from me. But still, he is a wonderful companion. 

He is a really great person and companion! I believe this change was good, not the best but good. Now, Toble is under my guidance. And I am sure he will grow up to be a man just like me, brave, humble and kind. I wish he never has to face the back pain that I do. I wish the best for him. And I know that he will do wonders in life. After all, under my guidance, no one can be any less.

And dear 'Speaker', if you are reading this, you must know I miss you every day. I know you are here in the bookshop, just a mile away. Please don't fall into the trap of envy. You must know that Toble is a wonderful person. When you meet him, you will know that too. I am always there for you, just like you were there, for me, in my pain. I know you haven't gone by choice, you wanted to be here, but every cloud has a silver lining. And perhaps things in the bookshop are just imperfectly perfect!

~Bob

[Written by- Rishona Chopra (School Captain, My Good School)]

A cause that is dear to me - Rishona Chopra

I often wonder what the purpose of life is. Why are we alive in the first place? 

I do believe that we all are here to do good and that is our cause and reason to live but I think that there is something more to that. We all have our unique qualities and talents that perhaps have something to do with it. 

People who have the gift of writing and are masters at it perhaps were sent to write stories and tales and make the world a better place. People with singing as their passion were sent to write beautiful songs that touch hearts with their deep enriching meaning. 

For me, the cause to live that is dear to me is my family. They are the ones that keep me going. Career talents are important to make the world a better place but to make it better we need to be strong and get by with hope and happiness. 

My family is that cause that never lets me lose hope and it is very dear to me. 

As said, not attending a meeting, not going for a business trip, missing out a conference are things we won't regret but not spending time with our family is one thing we will definitely regret. 

Rishona Chopra
Grade VII
Gyanshree School

The Elephants’ Hope! - Rishona Chopra

Comic strip by Rishona

We have made the animals' life so tough. They should feel safe and happy in this world too! Hope is perhaps the only thing that helps them get by. 

Rishona Chopra
Grade VII
Gyanshree School

Happiness From Within - Rishona Chopra

Happiness is one of the most critical and defining qualities of life. Everyone wants to be very happy all the time, and no one wants to lose their happiness at any moment. There is nothing more important than being happy in human life. 

It's the top priority of all humans. But at the same time, everyone feels that happiness is not permanent and comes and goes away very quickly. 

This is because the source of happiness for most people today is external and external sources in our present lives keep changing and going through ups and downs. Some people in the world also feel that this is how happiness has been eternal - unstable and temporary in nature, and there has never been any time in the world when happiness was permanent. All of us want happiness in our lives, but so many bad things are happening in the world; how can we be happy on earth? Here's the answer, we don't get happiness from things and situations. Even the worst thing in the world can have a positive side!! So if we look at each case positively, we can easily be happy. We do not get happiness from the environment but from within.

According to the world happiness index, the World Happiness Report is an indicator of global happiness. The rankings are based on reports of respondents' assessments of their own lives, and articles on national happiness are included. The report also compares other elements that influence (quality of) life. The rankings of national happiness are based on a Cantril ladder survey. Nationally representative samples of respondents are asked to think of a ladder, with the best possible life for them being a 10 and the worst possible life being a 0. They are then asked to rate their current lives on a 0 to 10 scale. There is a tale about Birbal in a similar context. Once a man came up to Birbal and said that his home did not have space, so Birbal advised him to bring goats to his house and take them out after a day. When the goats were there, the house was so whole and small, but when they went out, it felt so much bigger! So happiness is just a perspective of looking at things!

There is this quote by Lewis B. Smedes - To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. This means that when we have a conflict with someone, they are also bound by negative feelings, and so are we. We both are sad and want to solve the fight, but our ego does not allow us to do that. So if we once set the prisoner as the person who we fought with, not only will he be free from the negative feelings, but so will we.

I feel happy today,
An aim to smile every day.
It's a unique ray of hope,
That gives me a new scope.
To do something good,
I misunderstood,
The word happiness.
I thought there was a reason for this smile.
But all this while.
I was wrong to think,
That happiness could shrink.
It was something even more unique,
That came from within and was sentimental.
I couldn't possibly want something more,
 But to be happier than before.

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

When I see a glass half-full… - Shambhavi Nautiyal

It makes me think about who drank the first half and then thought of wasting the rest, but then it comes

to mind that it could be that someone would drink it later on. If that’s not the case, it makes me think of the quote, “Look at the glass half full, and not the glass half empty.” We must focus on what we have and try to make the best of it.

If we concentrate all our incredible and precious energy on the glass half empty, meaning what we don’t have, then all our time will be gone, and ultimately, we will be left with nothing. So, it’s of utter significance that we never stop trying, and we are aware that the most opportune moment is now. It is the only thing we can be sure of having, so it’s essential to strike a balance, to know what we must do and what we need to do, appreciate what we have in life, cherish it, find our calling and invest our time in it.

Thinking of the glass half-full gives us hope in life, hope that we can manifest, whilst wasting our time thinking about the glass half empty, only discourages us. This what I feel is that whenever we think about the lucrative opportunities and possibilities we could grab in the past, thinking of it to be a perfect time, we must remind ourselves that the same could be happening to us right at the present moment and use our anxiety the right way, by striving for it in the present.

Even if it didn’t turn out the ‘right’ way, we could still make it right because God is always with us. This way of thinking makes our minds bend to different conditions without getting anxious.

Hence, when I see a half-full glass, it assures me that everything is going to be alright.

Shambhavi Nautiyal

Grade VII

Ahlcon Public School

What makes me feel positive? - Rishona Chopra

My mother makes me positive, maybe sitting in her lap and reading a book make me feel positive. There is no reason for it; it's just her face that shines so bright and makes me smile. She, for me, is the most spiritual person I know and the most positive person too. Seeing her, I feel that everything in the world is just great. It gives me positivity and hope.

This is for you, 

When anything happened, you knew.
You taught me to be true,
And that's how I grew
You cared for me,
You are the one that makes me feel free!
The kindest one ever,
When I needed you, you were always there whatsoever. You make me positive, You are so progressive, You give me a new sense of hope, There is no one like you on the globe! There is no reason for this, It's just a natural bliss, That's probably why you are my mother, You are like no other! Rishona Chopra Grade VI Gyanshree School

Empathy - Karanveer

KARANVEER

CLASS- 7TH

AHLCON PUBLIC SCHOOL

A sprinkle of HHL - Rishona Chopra

All you need is a sprinkle of HHL,

Let me tell you more about it, yes I will speak,

HHL is Hope, Humility and Love,

That will make you shine like a dove,

Hope will make your heart smile,

Humility will take you a mile,

And love will make you feel in heaven, right above!

Make someone else smile,

And your heart will shine,

Some positivity,

Some freedom from pride and negativity,

It will make your day for sure,

And then you'll score life's big goal!

All you need is Hope, Humility and Love!

I am sure it will make your life full of happiness and love.

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

Colors Of Life - Rishona Chopra

Painting by Rishona Chopra

Colour - It is the deep mysterious language of dreams

It is a power which directly influences the soul.

Splash colours on a paper, put a stroke of brush and water, and let them flow like rivers of hope and shine through the form!

Rishona Chopra

Grade VI 

Gyanshree School

Hope - Saima Arora

Saima is a student of Grade VIII at The Doon Girls' School, Dehradun. She shares with us what the value of Hope means to her. At My Good School, students express themselves and work to become confident individuals. You, too, can experience the joy of learning; sign up from www.GoodSchools.in.

Like Crumpled Paper - Rishona Chopra

Humanity is now like Crumpled Paper.

Let's just say - wholly ruined. But if you look at this crumpled paper, doesn't it look a little beautiful? 

All we need is hope to change humanity.

Some look at the crumpled paper like a waste, but I look at it like beauty. This means that we can change society into something beautiful with hope and positive thoughts!

Rishona Chopra 
Grade VI 
Gyanshree School

Totto-chan's Mother - Amaira Bhati

        

Totto-chan’s mother is kind, gentle and calm. Totto Chan had been expelled from her old school, but her mother had not scolded her, and she did not even tell her about the suspension so as to not upset her daughter. Instead, she made Totto Chan go to a new school. 

The teacher of Totto-chan’s old school was disappointed and annoyed by her but mother always stood by Totto-chan’s side and let Totto Chan be the cheerful and chirpy girl she was; mother kept Totto-chan’s expulsion a secret. 

It was the first day of Totto-chan’s new school, Tomoe Gakuen. It was a school with railroad cars as classrooms, and it deeply excited the jovial Totto Chan. Her mother played a crucial role in all this; she encouraged Totto-chan to share what she liked at the school that day and listened to all her tales with amusement. 

Even when Totto-chan ran to her mother and told her she wanted to be a ticket collector, her mother coolly reminded her that she wanted to be a spy instead. Totto-chan is very lucky to have a Mother so encouraging. Deep down, Totto-chan’s Mother knew all about her daughter’s potential even when she concealed her feelings most of the time. That’s the power of a mother.

Amaira Bhati,

Grade 3-F,

Gyanshree School

My Good School Season 2, Episode 4 - Hope

“I am Anvesha, and I am Simar, and we will be hosts for the event!”

Another month means another podcast produced by none other than our interns. Anvesha and Simar are back with a podcast on a heartwarming topic - Hope! 

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -

~Emily Dickinson

What is life without Hope? What does Hope mean to you? Does Hope change our perspective on life? When do you feel the most hopeful? Does someone or something help you to be hopeful? Make sure to ponder these questions and share your thoughts in the comment section. 

Tune in to listen to Ms Arushi Goswami -  she shares their thoughts and feelings on this important topic. 

Comment below and let us know if you liked the podcast. If you want to be part of similar podcasts, join us! We hope to meet you again when we are back with a podcast on ‘Humility’ next month. 

My Good School celebrates Hope and has come up with a podcast made and produced by our interns!

Only on www.DilJeeto.com

Hope - Gaurangi Rastogi

Please read The Little Book of Values:
Educating Children to become Thinking, Responsible and Caring Citizens.

People talk about hope whenever you are stuck in a difficult situation.

But what is hope? Sometimes this question clicks my mind. It is a step that motivates you to reach your destination or aim to be achieved. 

Recently, I travelled to 'Char Dham Yatra'. Which is enjoyable. When I saw the track, I felt disappointed. It was a tiring journey, but something inside kept my excitement alive.

I think that's hope!

Hope never lets your aspirations or dreams die. It keeps it alive in your heart. Some examples of maintaining hope in my daily life:

• Hope of mummy making something good in Lunch.

• Hope that my family to bring surprises on my birthday 

• Hope of going to park and cycle 3 rounds without stopping.

Gaurangi Rastogi 
VII 
The Doon Girls' School 

On Hope - Afifa Fatima

Please listen to my first podcast, and share your comments below.

"I love my school; we learn from friends, teachers and family".

Afifa Fatima
Grade VI
The Doon Girls & Boys School
Dehradun

Hope - Rishona Chopra

Hope is when I think positive, 
Thoughts that are affirmative, 
Probably in my tough times,

Just want something that rhymes,
With my thoughts,
I just want to untie all the knots.
When hope is heard,
The hard times fly like a bird!
Even in my dream, 
I think of hope's long stream.
The tough times shall pass,
As they soon break like glass.

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

Hope - Aishwarya Kalia Ahuja

 

Ms Aishwarya Kalia Ahuja

TGT English

Ahlcon Public School

I am an experienced English teacher. Alongside teaching, I enjoy writing. I've also authored research papers and published poems. I've a keen interest in research which is always leveraged in analyzing learners' language needs.

An Illusionary Friend 

(Poem Based on the value of the month of May - Hope)

An ingenuine crowd always around,

But I talked to an illusion and the voice reverted sound:

"Everything'll  be fine one day",

"You'll also see a sunshine ray"

 

Illusion was optimistic, if it sustained,

And this was how my hope maintained

Echoes were growing familiar

And set off a voice which I always wanted to hear.

Was this smart cookie an acointier?

It (so -well- knew-me) triggered in a brief encounter.

Why did it only linger in the twilight?

Was it an elf who sank into the obscure eyesight?

And it was growing so intimate,

When I closed my eyes, it dwelled and dominate.

Finally, I transcended my contemplation

A soul's voice misapprehended for illusion!