School teaches us math, science and English, but school doesn’t teach us 10 lessons. Teachers talk about this in front of us, but we actually never learned the true definition. We have never learned this elaborately like we learn our science chapters or English lessons. Here are I learned these 10 lessons-
Patience- Winter had brought along with it days of cold and wrapping up in dozens of warm coats and blankets by the TV with hot chocolate and popcorn. Rather than spending cozy days in our warm house, I wanted to go outside and plant a tomato. I had always wanted to do it, but in the summer I went vacationing in India. In autumn school filled up the days and spring was full of going over to the neighbor's with baskets of cookies and bouquets of daisies. I found winter the only time, because we usually didn’t have snow and sleet but days of cold and wrapping up in covers. One day, I covered myself up with a thick fur coat, scarf, and hat from Canada, put on my gardening gloves and set out to plant my tomato plant. I waited a while, hoping some green sapling would sprint out but no. I read to it, I sang to it, I sat next to it, I kept it warm, I gave it water, I put a flashlight above, I slept out in the cold beside it, but unfortunately nothing happened. I waited for a few months, daily walking beside it, sometimes munching on cookies or reciting my homework or just telling it about my 2022 vacation to India. Finally, something happened. As I was taking my daily walk while chewing my pencil thinking about math sums, I was overjoyed to see a sapling in the seed’s place. It was not weed, it was a tomato sapling, and I had taken so much time out of my days and I finally did it. When the plant grew, we had so many tomatoes that even the neighbours were telling us to give it to the donation center. I learned how to be patient in those types of times and still use my lesson wisely.
Perseverance- It was spring and our tomatoes had finished, but now I wanted more. I wanted cantaloupes. Those juicy ripe melons which come at a few markets only. I bought some seeds from a grocer who sold them nearby and quickly buried them in the dirt. I added a tinge of fresh water and let it rest outside in the sunlight. Those spring days always added a bit of energy to plants. For a few weeks, I thought about the melons and how we would eat them like we ate our tomatoes. But weeks passed, then a month, and finally something green sprouted. We waited a few more weeks and then the day came that I persevered. I had waited 2 months and maybe a few more days but finally I got what I wanted. Our breakfast, lunch, and dinner was full of cantaloupe. Even when I got up to get a snack, I was given cantaloupe with cantaloupe juice. We had a cantaloupe feast. I learned after a long time of waiting we can persevere.
Unselfishness- My next lesson was unselfishness. I wanted my plants to grow faster. Now it seemed like there were crops growing in our garden. One of my plants was a cherry. Now I always devour cherries when our relatives send some. I had once planned to grow cherries in our garden. I knew cherries came from colder climates, so I put some refrigerator ice and made snow at home right next to it. But I had overdone it. The ice and snow melted leaving behind a pool of icy water. The cherry tree was not growing. I had made that plant a type of plant which leans on human power and we couldn’t get nutrients for it so it withered away. I had made the plant selfish. But when I thought about my other plants I realized how generous they were. I had given the perfect things in a limited amount. I now realized my mistake. From this lesson I understood that selfishness leads to big problems.
Adaptability- I used to live in the United States of America. We had a home full of luxury and a vast garden. Our life was great and then we moved to India. In India, our family moved to a tiny apartment close to our school. I used to have friends in America who I missed so I kept asking my trustworthy science teacher if the kids were nice and I wouldn’t be friendless. She would chuckle at my questions, shoo them away, and assure me I would have lots of friends. By the first few months my friends and I knew one another pretty well. I remembered my friends in the US often, but I told myself- When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Instead I was in India. We kept visiting our vast house, and I learned about the power of adaptability and what it can do.
Resilience- Animals and plants can teach us the power of resilience. I learned that this year, just a few days ago. My grandma had given me a Curry Leaf Plant for our new apartment’s decoration and we kept it out on our balcony in a shady spot, under the roof. We gave it half a glass of water daily for it to survive the heat, but let it stay outside, and not inside. This summer when I went to America for my vacation, I gave my plant to one of the ladies my mom knows. She had a green thumb and kept a variety of plants at her house, but she left our plant outside in her garden. Our plant grew and grew and grew more and by that time it was time for me to come back to our apartment, it was the size of half my arm. My plant has survived Jaipur’s summer heat and it’s cold too. I kind of respect my plant, because when my grandma gave it to me it was the size of my pinky and was standing on death’s doorstep. My mom and I had helped it survive and I had learned the power of resilience.
Balance- Wild animals eat what they want but they never overeat. Us, humans eat plates full of burgers, packets full of French Fries, and cups full of juices, but every time we eat we waste something or the other. If we order fast food, we waste a piece of lettuce, and if we eat Indian we waste flatbread. Animals teach us balance. Every time they eat something, the life cycle keeps going on. We waste salads and bread. We waste butter and cheese and deli meat and other food, knowing that it will go somewhere where humans cannot eat it. That’s why nature tries teaching us power of balance, whether life of food. We should appreciate their lessons and learn them like we learn math sums or science chapters.
Harmony- I learned harmony in a different way. It was not in my vast garden, or crowded Indian villages, or even the snowy Canadian mountains. I learned it through our forests, rivers, oceans and soils that provide us with the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we irrigate our crops with. We also rely on them for numerous other goods and services we depend on for our health, happiness and prosperity. I love that the nature around me teaches me this.
Respect for Life- Nature respects life, unlike us. Do you ever go to national parks and see deer turning their heads here and there? It is because they are worried about bears. They have respect for life. Those lumbering polar bears in the Arctic care for life too. Who wants to be shot down by hunters and sold for their fur and meat? We too should learn from animals to respect life when we have it in our hands. We should eat healthier food and do exercise to help our body and respect life.
Appreciation- My second last lesson was appreciation. Plants and animals appreciate what they have. Animals appreciate that they can get food, water, shelter, and air and so do plants. Have you ever seen a deer looking here and there before grazing? It is because they appreciate life. Who knows if a bear can just lumber out of a nearby bush and attack the deer? At least the deer will be prepared. A few days ago, my Hindi teacher was explaining why we should not be disgusted by the foods others bring and that we should appreciate them. My friends slowly understood her lesson and realized that appreciation is the right thing.
Finding Beauty in Simplicity- “Next design. This is too simple!” - I heard this line when I was watching a cartoon. A posh lady was moving into her fancy estate and was looking at cupboard designs at a nearby shop. I thought this was wrong. I paused the TV and thought a cupboard is a cupboard. No matter what the design is, it’s made of wood and just has a simpler color. I texted my friends and they spread the news on some social apps they knew about. I changed the channel and started watching the News.
After using these 10 lessons in life, my life was better and more simple. Everyday when I am about to get up from bed, I tell myself the same rules and start a new day with a fresh, wise mind.
Excellent!