Serene | But I Smile Anyway...

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 85

02 Oct 2016 29 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Calm, Quotes, Serene, Smile, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sundays, tired

“I never get tired of smiling. I’m just the kind of guy who likes to smile.” – Jason Ritter

I can really relate to this one, but I am, instead, the kind of ‘girl’ who likes to smile!

I am shattered today, had a busy day yesterday, and we slept at 2am, and kids, as they are, woke me at 7am… so Ritu on 5 hours sleep is not particularly attentive, but I can still raise a smile!

Yesterday, as I was doing the grocery shopping, I danced the aisle dance with an elderly gentleman, you know the one where you meet at the same point on each aisle, as you are walking in opposite directions, but going the same way?

Every time we passed, we smiled. And it developed into a short comment exchange with a giggle.

Ultimately we stopped to have a proper chat. (Thank goodness the kids weren’t with me, they would have been pulling at my sleeve to walk away!) The first thing he said to me was “How lovely to see someone with a smile for a stranger, and a sense of humour too!”

He went on to comment that it’s so rare to see people sparing a smile for others they don’t know, or to have a little laugh at a situation they find themselves in.

He was in his 70’s and in the 5 minutes I spoke with him, I found out that he had gone to the school I taught at in the 40’s, that he had a son and a daughter, and 4 grandchildren he was very proud of, and that they played sports like my kids. We discussed the benefits of hands-on parenting vs. electronic parenting too….

This little exchange only occurred because of a stray smile…

I love these little random conversations that I end up having at odd times!

So, go on Peeps, smile at a stranger today (not in a creepy way, though!), you might make someone’s day!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 84

25 Sep 2016 48 Comments

by Ritu in Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: baby, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Calm, Quotes, Serene, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday, Storm

“Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” – Anon

Have you ever done that?

Realised that a situation is not good, and you have sat back patiently, or impatiently, waiting for whatever is happening to finish, before getting on with whatever you needed to do?

Sometimes, it is a good idea, but a lot of the time, it becomes a good excuse, a delay tactic, which ultimately means you may miss some amazing opportunities as you sit back, waiting.

If I may, I will tell you a little story…

Many moons ago, around 13-14 years ago, Hubby Dearest and I were at that stage in our marriage where we were discussing starting a family.

Of course we both wanted children, but it was never the right time. My job, his job, money, space… excuses were easy to find.

But in the end, an episode of Friends made us realise we had to get on this horse and ride it, for however long the journey, as there was never going to be a ‘right time’. WE had to make that time right. Monica and Chandler were having the same discussions as us regarding starting a family, and Chandler was hesitant because nothing was how he imagined it would be when he decided to become a dad. But something, I can’t remember what, made him realise he had to take the bull by the horns, as it were, and start the process, no matter how unprepared he was.

I made Hubby Dearest watch this episode, after watching it myself, and it struck a chord with him too.

And it’s a good thing too. If we hadn’t started trying then, goodness knows how long before we would have found out all my problems. It could have been too late, We may not have been able to be parents to the two nutcases we are now proud to call our kids!

It wasn’t an easy dance through that storm you know. Maybe it would have been easier to just sit it out… but then we would have been sat here, regretting not trying, and possibly still childless…

We did dance.

We let that storm wash right over us, and we picked the right steps to waltz through a tough rhythm of rain beating down on us. It was hard, but we did it, and boy are we glad we did!

The saying ‘Every cloud has a silver lining’ is a shorter version of the above quote. Each storm we weather, makes us stronger, and able to cope with the next…

So, when things are beating you down, when you think things are just too tough, try.

Seriously, try and face it, work it to your advantage. Most situations can be turned around, if you have the courage to face them.

And on that note, I wish you a very positive, happy Sunday Peeps!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 83

18 Sep 2016 23 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Calm, Positive, Quotes, Serene, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“Keep looking up… That’s the secret of life!” – Snoopy

Who’da thunk it? We found wisdom in the words from a dog this week!

I gotta say this Snoopy quote kinda encapsulates everything that I base my thinking in general on.

You have to believe that there is better to come. If you look up, think positive, then positive things will come to you, and you will stay serene yourself!

I know things are not always easy, heck sometimes they are so bad, you think you will never be able to look up, so scared are you of stepping in another pile of sh*t, but you need to believe that the path before you will clear.

Have faith in what is to come.

I have always been taught to believe that He will only throw what you can handle at you, so if things are looking really bad, that means that He thinks you are strong enough to handle it and come out the other side smelling of roses.

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and hey, we are all still here, arent we!

Stay positive Peeps and have a wonderful Sunday!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 82

11 Sep 2016 25 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Calm, Education, foundations, Learning, Quotes, Serene, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday, Teaching

Instruction does much, but encouragement, everything. – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The start of the academic new year, Spidey thought it warranted a quote regarding education.

I like the thought behind this quote. In fact, I live it.

I am a totally firm believer that we can teach a child, or rather try to teach a child all that he needs to know, but without that warmth and encouragement, they may not ever really ‘get it’.

It’s not a case of rote learning, nowadays. There are many aspects of a curriculum that we have to teach children, and we can write on a board, we can get children to copy theory into their books, we can throw worksheets about like the next person, give homework and spend time marking it all, rewarding with ticks and chastising with crosses.

But that ‘instruction’ alone is not enough for many children. The confidence to try something new, to make a mistake before being corrected, it is all quite a scary process.

And as educators, it is our responsibility to not just teach, but to encourage all our class members, whether they are whizzing through work, or if they are struggling, and not forgetting those that are ‘managing’.

I think back to my school days, and the teachers that I remember are the ones who were always there, by my side, saying “You can do it!”, “Try this” or “Have a go”.

That encouragement and faith in me pushed me to get my GCSE’s, and A-Levels, and go on to get my degree.

Now, as a teacher, I may not be teaching the upper echelons of the school ladder. In fact, I am laying the foundations.

My job is to give these tiny 3-4-year-olds a firm base for the schooling they are going to receive in the future, to teach them to love school, and encourage them to try their best, whatever their best may be.

I want to ignite a passion for learning, a thirst for knowledge, that they understand with be quenched when they go to school. My wish is to send these tots off at the end of the year with an excitement for ‘Big School’, so the more encouragement I can give them, the better.

Every scribble will be cheered, every instance of sharing will be lauded, each day with no tears will be prized. Each sound they learn, every time they count whether correctly or not, every story their imagination plays out in that home corner, will be a moment to celebrate.

It doesn’t sound too academic, right? But if you can’t share, mix with others, separate from your carer without tears, how can you step into an environment to learn?

We encourage these very traits at the beginning, and once we have secure children, we begin to ‘teach’. Some will be secure straight away, some may not feel that security until much later, but the biggest thing is to get that security first.

Once these children can trust us, we can mould them, with our encouragement, and create vessels that are waiting to be filled, like books with pages void of words, waiting to be written in.

And they’re ready for that next step in their academic life….

Have a restful, blessed Sunday Peeps!

Spidey’s Serene Sundays – Part 80

28 Aug 2016 33 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Calm, Pride, Quote, Serene, Serene Sunday, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“Do not be so proud and do not laugh at others or the less fortunate, your boat is still out at sea and who knows what is yet to come your way.” Kabir Ji from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Fishing through wonderful quotes, Spidey and I found this one. It is from the Sikh Holy Book, the eleventh and ever-living Guru, the Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

It is so easy to find humour in the misfortunes of others. I think no one could really be able to promise, hand on heart, that they have never had a giggle at that stranger tripping up in the street, or the countless videos that circulate social media, cashing in on others and their unfortunate circumstances.

We are all a little guilty of that, and to some extent, I feel that it is ok, if the joke is being laughed at, by the person who is the subject of it.

But the reality of this quote is more to do with those who have plenty, are lucky in life, and still find the time in their pampered lives to sneer at those who don’t have it all.

Thing is, no one knows what the future holds. Who knows if and when your life could get upended, and those with it ‘all’ lose it at the drop of a hat, and equally, those with nothing, by some stroke of luck, or through sheer hard work, end up the ones with all they could want.

We are all born equal.

Our location, circumstance, colour, wealth, health, means nothing to a baby, and even to a small child. Watch small children and how they interact with everyone without prejudice. It is only as they grow that the seeds of doubt are planted.

So if you are one of life’s more fortunate ones, be grateful for what you have, and never ridicule others for what they don’t have. And if you are still waiting for that luck to hit you, never lose hope, no one knows what is round the corner!

Have a blissful Sunday Peeps!