We Recite And We Learn

Lying close to my late mother, I enjoyed listening to all the tune she sang while sucking my bottled milk, kicking my legs and swinging my hands.

The same songs I heard all over again.

They were so familiar, so very near, that they continued to hide in the bottom of my heart until today.

Once in a while, I would hum and sing spontaneously and unknowingly while doing my work or playing my game.

I was told they were wise sayings and stories, poems, proverbs, songs, quotes, jokes, facts, thoughts..... passing through the centuries in beautiful tunes and with genuine fervor.

I loved them all and remembered them all.

But now I have slowly forgotten the lyrics... only remembered them as tunes and the rhythms of the past.......

*******

I remembered how I had studied in my primary school.......

How we had recited the pages everyday...

We knew the books by heart...

And were able to read through the books without any reference...

We learned our arithmetic tables by heart...

We were detained in school until we could recite all the answers from 2x2 to 12x12 without making a single mistake...

We sang our many songs by heart...

And we could easily sing along the musical symbols: 1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 2, 3,.....

And we could pick up any tune easily just by hearing once or twice...

We also acted in our plays, so natural and spontaneous were our gestures, our body postures and movements, our eyes contacts, our smiles and laughter, our facial expressions, our tones of voice, our speeches and words.......

I loved them all and remembered them all.

But then I had slowly forgotten them... only remembered them as tunes and the rhythms of the past.......

*******

Yes, we have to recite what we learn...

Yes, we have to remember every single word, phrase, sentence, page, and book...

That was how we read, write, count, sing, act, play.......

And we remembered them all and loved them all...

And we all loved our teachers and elders.......

*******

Children today continue to recite.......

But they know and remember mostly music and songs, catchy tunes and melodies, dances and exercise moves, chants and mantras, famous quotes and sayings, ........

No... no... they don't recite anymore than we do.......

They explain simple truths in many words and difficult terms...

They don't explain difficult theories and concepts in simple words and phrases...

No... no... they don't practice remembering things anymore.......

********

The baby continued to enjoy sucking his bottled milk...kicking his legs and swinging his hands.......

The mother continued to sing... with simple words in simple tunes...

She remembered everything... all her children and grandchildren birthdays and events... all the happenings and goings.......

All the wrinkles on her face and the sparkling of her eyes could tell many wonderful stories and tales... in beautiful tunes and songs.......

The old woman continued to recite... and to remember...

It was all so very important to her.......

Be Nice

Some sort of satisfaction and appreciation is imperative and necessary in everything we do.

Some sweets and chocolate, a warm cup of coffee or tea, some encouraging words and thoughts, a pat on the back, a simple hug or handshake, a friendly smile or some kind words....... can do wonders in our lives and our circles of people.

We like and love them....

Children are waiting for them....

Teenagers are working for them....

Even adults are yearning for them and seeking after them....

And our age old parents and grandparents are crying and mourning for them....

Children are smiling from ear to ear, laughing heartily, jumping up and down, running to and fro, once in a while peeping at you, speaking with many words of thanks, showing many expressions of appreciation.... just for your kind deed or gesture that you often take for granted....

Oh! A little concern and consideration for them is all that matters. And in no time, you will discover that they are the helpful and friendly lot.... always wanting to come near you....

Sometimes I wonder about the spanking, verbal abuse, and other negative approaches on children....

Are they all that necessary?

Should they be done away with completely?

And just how much positive impact we hope to achieve from all those actions?

A little smile, a pat on the back or a kind word can really help to spur them on, turn them around, and push them forward to reach their goals.

Then we move towards our working and social environments....

So much pushing and yelling....

So much scolding and lecturing....

So much stern actions and measures....

So much bilious comments and negative attitudes....

And the many selfish judgments and accusations of others....

And the many self-righteous thoughts, stares and ways....

Oh! My goodness! What have we become?

And let us look at the ways we treat our age old parents and grandparents....

How we have acted strangely aloof and distant from them all....

And those cold shoulders and icy stares....

And those long-distant negligence and occasional trunk calls....

And those absentees and deserters during festivals, birthdays and special occasions....

And those impolite cutting short of every conversation with them....

And those sudden outbursts and extreme rage / loss of temper....

*******

Sometimes I wonder how we can go on doing and living like these....

Or have someones in the family, social circles and work places bragging like these....

Time for us to make a positive change and be a good man.

A little appreciation....

A lasting satisfaction will be nice for a start....

A friendly smile and some kind words will be cool for the day....

And a nice parting smile....

Just be nice.