While growing up, this day was always a matter of great excitement for us. We'd make hand-painted cards for our teachers, there'd be a bunch of fun activities in school, special food and snacks etc. In college too, the celebration of Teacher's Day continued, with the professors putting up performances of all kinds - dance, music, theater, elocution etc. The day was about acknowledging the presence and contribution of the teachers in our lives.
Somewhere along the way, as adulthood took over, I think many of us lost this...
It's easy to fall into the current of adult life - work, family, relationships etc. etc. - and let it carry us relentlessly forward, with no time or energy to look back or even think about the people and influences that we've left behind. I don't mean to suggest that we should live in the past - what I offer is a suggestion that we remain aware of who and what has played a role in shaping the people that we are in the present moment. This awareness has the ability to both release the grip of negative influences and strengthen the contribution of positive influences on our lives. And here's an example of the latter...
Early in the morning, on Teacher's Day 2011, I suddenly found myself in possession of the phone number of Mrs. Lal, my third grade class-teacher - someone I hadn't seen since 1996, when I left the school she teaches at. How I got the number is a long story that I might relate at another time - for now, let's stick with the fact that I found it!
As I entered her number in my phone, I found myself rushing through memories that I hadn't visited since - well forever, it seems! There was Mrs. Lal, welcoming me on the first day of school - her face wreathed in a bright smile, full of kindness and comfort. There was Mrs. Lal handing out little seeds that we all had to press into a large pot of soil, that would burst into a gorgeous plant a over our summer vacations. There was Mrs. Lal rapping a piece of chalk smartly on the blackboard, making us understand that sound travels in waves... and so many other memories. But the one that stood out most for me was Mrs. Lal, sitting next to me and helping me through a picture book that told a story about two gorillas. I remembered her sitting on a little chair and patiently introducing me to the wonder of the written word, firing my imagination with explanations accentuated by her naturally expressive face. I realised, most powerfully in that moment of remembrance, that Mrs. Lal had given me an incredible gift, during the time that I spent in her class. The gift of reading - and a love for the written word. Books are my inseparable companions till today and as you can tell, I love writing too! It was in Mrs. Lal's class that we I first got introduced to stories and the fact that we could create them just as easily as we could listen to them.
Within minutes I found myself typing a text message to her - telling her that years ago, had it not been for her, a chubby little fellow (now a still chubby man) would never have picked up his love for books and learning - and I asked her to guess who I might be. A short while after, there came a reply from her with an insight that meant a lot to me.
She wrote back saying that while she could not guess who I was, the little message I sent was the best greeting she had received that day - and it made the last so-many years relevant.
I was amazed - nothing had suggested to me that the little acknowledgement I was sending her would have meant so much! It was something that I did on impulse - guided completely by the heart. I had not stopped for a moment to anticipate what relevance it might have to her apart from the usual feel-good factor of an old student getting in touch again. Her message made me think otherwise!
I called her at once. We connected beautifully and there was no mistaking the warmth and happiness in our voices. Mrs. Lal sounded exactly the same, her voice bringing back yet more memories if the days gone by. Once we had gotten over the excitement of me introducing myself and telling her about what I do today, Mrs. Lal told me that my message had made her feel like her life and contribution had had effects in the long term - at a time when, after so many years of teaching, she was looking back at her life and reflecting on what impact she might have had. It felt wonderful to hear her say that - worded so simply, gracefully...
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Needless to say, I'm deeply grateful for the fact that I got in touch with her that day. Life gave us an opportunity to reconnect after so many years and in that simple, affectionate interaction, I saw a great example of the power of acknowledgement. All I really did was reach to acknowledge the impact that Mrs. Lal had on my life - and not even entirely conscious of what I was doing at the time. And yet, that message meant so much to her. It gave her a perspective on what she had done for her student because it celebrated one of the best things about her - the fact that she is a wonderful teacher and has helped hundreds of children move ahead with their lives.
As I went over these insights, I felt more than ever that in Coaching, acknowledgement is a wonderful gift to be able to give a client. In a coaching session, I listen to what the client is saying and not saying - I see areas of strength, initiative, effort, hope that are sometimes eclipsed by the issue being dealt with. It is these resources that I bring up to the client's attention, to show them how much they have within themselves to deal with the issues at hand. Acknowledgement is one of the keys to unlocking awareness - it's not flattery, it's respect. It's about getting clients to respect their potential and use it with awareness.
A simple acknowledgement did so much for my Class 3 teacher - it can do the same for anyone you are speaking with at any time. Sincerity and attentiveness are the only prerequisites.
Something I want to leave you with: Who would you like to acknowledge for the impact they have had on your life? How comfortable are you with the idea of acknowledging them? What do you want to say? And when are you going to say it. If I may suggest it, now's the time!
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