My Logbook

Here is a simple yet most defining daily routine which I have started for a while now and found most effective. Journal writing. I felt it is an ideal environment, a perfect place to think, feel, discover, expand, remember and dream. writing is great medicine for me. And journal writing has become a ritual of transformation. It's not only life-changing but life-expanding too. For me documenting little details of my everyday life, becomes a celebration of who I am. In the journal, I do not just express myself more as a person. But I create myself. Journaling is a good way to take a setback and to reflect on ourselves. I feel the best way to predict the future is to create. Because the best project you will ever work on is YOU. Make happiness a priority and be gentle with yourself in the process. And right now I am enjoying the best of it. 

Journaling also plays a great role in enhancing a child's behaviour and thinking pattern. It reminds them of their goals and the learnings in life. Children need the freedom to share to explore in all possible ways. Writing a journal is to establish a healthy routine in kids especially during holidays. It allows the kid to direct their focus to what they need to accomplish. It's an introspective tool that helps children identify and learn to express their emotions better because the key to cultivating confidence lies in the ability to handle unpleasant emotions too. Writing a daily journal helps children to improve their reading, writing and overall communication skill by providing a safe place to express themselves freely.

Writing journal has weekly themes aimed at instilling qualities and character traits that help children grow up to be happy and successful. It also has planner features like - habit tracker, weekly and monthly goals. A child's favourite food and places to travel. The daily journal also allows the kid to write down their wishlist. Books to read. My gratitude tree, positive affirmations. It gives ideas to a kid on things to do whenever they feel low. Like - Listen to music, watch a funny movie, clean your room, talk to a friend, indulge in your favourite hobby, go out for a walk etc. 

Now I have introduced this amazing practice to my 7-year-old son too. I have bought him a beautiful daily journal book. Where my son writes a weekly and daily plan of all the activities that he wants to accomplish. Where he has divided his activities including - Things he is grateful for. The favourite activity he loves to do with his family, to rate his day by giving smiley. And how to make his day more meaningful or change something about the day he wants to. Habit and mood tracker - A new quality and hobby which he wants to follow in the coming week. Making a gratitude tree. Doodle corner.

Journal is nothing but learning beyond the curriculum. It enhances kids reading, writing and comprehension skills. It has become our favourite bedtime routine, where we discuss happenings and recollect the day's events and fill it out in the journal. We discuss thoughts and how we feel about different things. This also helps in sharpening their memory. We discuss spellings, we talk about the prompts asked in the journal and try to relate them to our life scenarios. And we are following it religiously and enjoy doing it. 

So if you have been considering getting your child into journaling, this is the best practice. This one simple habit comes with immense benefits. With no academic pressure, kids will enjoy the new writing routine and open up to parents beautifully. So what to wait for go and grab a beautiful journal book and gift it to your child. One of the best gifts you can give it to them. Early the age better is the results. 

Hajabba - Our Akshara Santa

A very inspiring story of a humble fruit vendor in rural Karnataka which moved me so much, that I couldn't stop myself from penning about this superhuman. If you want to make a difference in others life - age, time, place, money nothing matters. A strong willingness in helping others is the key to have a remarkable life. This is a story of an ordinary Orange fruit vendor who made an extraordinary contribution to society, despite his own relatively constrained circumstances. This is a story of Harekala Hajabba born on 17th October 1952 in Tumkur, Karnataka. Currently living in the Mangaluru district of Karnataka. 

Harekala Hajabba sold Oranges for the past 10 years and used to get Rs.75 from selling fruits and provided with a family of 5 members. One day, when he was selling oranges, a few foreign tourists asked him the price of the fruit in English. The man couldn't understand their question. This is when he decided to set up a school for children from families like his, using his savings. He saved money from his vendor business to build a school in his village called "Newpadapu" so that the children in his village could be educated. Hajabba himself had no access to education. But he decided not to let children go through the suffering that he had. He tirelessly fought to build a school, which has grown with government support and donations from private individuals is known as " Hajabba School". He is affectionately known as ' Akshara Santa" ( Letter-Saint). Today, the school has 175 students with classes up to the 10th standard. Hajabba's next dream is to build a Pre-University college in his village. 

Inspired by Hajabba, many social activists and writers have published a book on Hajabba's life, titled - "Harekala Hajabbara Jeevana Charitre. (The life story of Harekala Hajabba). The life history of Hajabba has been included in the syllabus of Mangalore University. Also, the BBC has published an article on Hajabba with the tilled called " Unlettered fruit-seller's'' in the Indian education dream. Hajabba was also conferred with the Real Heroes award by CNN IBN and Reliance Foundation. Reading all this left me so inspired that willingness to help others and having a vision is very important in life. From having nothing Hajabba raised funds with his fruits business and contributed to society. 

In the year 2000, Harekala Hajabba invested all his life's savings to build his dream school in his village. The vision of his dreams took wings and his noble deed was recognised in 2020 when the government of India named him as one of the recipients of India's fourth-highest civilian award - Padma Shri award, for creating a revolution in the field of education by opening a school in his village. This award event could not be held last year due to the Covid pandemic. Which took place this year on 8th November 2021 in Rashtrapati Bhavan. I was so touched seeing Harekala Hajabba walking barefooted wearing a white shirt and a white dhoti walking with humility towards the dais looked unruffled by the occasion, to receive the honour from President Shri Ram Nath Kovind. So humble, innocent, down to earth human, with an ocean full of dreams in his eyes. The whole county saluted this 69- year old man.

Upon returning to his village, Hajabba was moved and overwhelmed to see hundreds of people gathered at the Mangaluru International Airport to welcome him. As soon as he walked towards the lobby, his fans surrounded him and facilitated him with bouquets and shawls amid cheering and clapping. It was a feast to my eyes to witness the victory of Mr Hajabba. 

While penning down this article, my 7-year-old son was beside me and watching my happiness reading it. He asked me to narrate what I have written. When he heard the story he was spellbound, and asked me how in Rs. 75 he saved money to build a school. And after a while, he told me Mumma even we should do something to the society. I was moved by his gesture and for his thoughtful mind. 

I as a parent always try to inculcate certain values which deeply influence my kid behaviour and his attitudes which should reflect in his decisions and relationships from a tender age. I talk explicitly about values and tell him why it is important to him to follow them. Because for a value to be truly own, they must act on it and it should reflect in their behaviour. Not just verbally accept it or think they should follow it.

A true influencer, a hero who made us proud. Poor by money, rich by heart. Our very own Mr Harekala Hajabba, we salute you.