One very important lesson that a teacher should be able to teach their students especially at a young age is to be grateful for who they are and what they have. This doesn't mean teaching them to be content with what they have and never anymore strive to be better; instead making them see and truly appreciate the good things they now possess. This will then lead to becoming more positive and optimistic, which will result to enjoying life to the fullest and becoming truly happy.The book I am enjoying right now entitled "Find Real Happiness" by Filipino author William Gracian devoted a section on this topic. Let me then share with you how he reminds us of how blessed we are by enumerating some simple facts in life which we tend to overlook.
- If you wake up on a Monday morning feeling strong, healthy and alert... then you are luckier than approximately one million others who will not be alive by the end of the week.
- If you will sit down for breakfast with your parents or other family members... you are one of the shrinking few who eats regularly with their families.
- If you have food on the table and clothes to wear to work or school... you are part of only 25% in this world who can afford such things.
- If you can read the newspaper on the way out... you are far better off than over two billion people in the world who are classified as illiterate.
- If you have money to withdraw from an ATM or change with which to buy some snacks or other luxuries... you belong to the select 10% humanity who have enough money for their daily needs.
- If you can bring out your cellphone and text your friends or family memebrs while at work or somehere else.. you are one of the lucky few who can afford electronic gadgets; it's estimated that up to 70% of the world's population still has no access to the latst telecommunication facilities.
- If you are able to hold your loved ones' hands, hug them or even touch them on the shouldre when you get home... you are lucky because so many people don't have a home of their own.
- And on weekends, if you go to a house of worship freely... you are more blessed than three billion people in the world who cannot.
I'm sure that after reading this, you, my dear teachers, feel truly blessed. Therefore, share such wonderful feeling by letting your students also know how truly blessed they have been.
