My first Prayatna......

Fresh from the Heal your Life Workshop in UK, after I got licensed as a Workshop Leader, I was back to my daily job. With regards to my workshops, I was taking my time to decide where and how I would do the first one. How would I start spreading this message? How would I share this wonderful philosophy with everyone?

I kept affirming for the right opportunities to start my workshop journey with. A deep longing had always been within me to work with kids. A conversation with a colleague Naresh at work ( also a junior from my MBA campus SIIB) led us talking about an NGO that he founded. Prayatna sponsors slum children around hinjewadi, Pune to go to English medium schools. After school, they come to the MBA campus, where MBA students take turns teaching subjects, and other developmental skills.

As I discussed the philosophy that I had learnt with Naresh, he invited me to spend an evening talking with these children on positive life skills. I was excited. What a way to begin my workshop journey. The icing on the cake was that I would be going back to my MBA campus as well as giving back to society.

It was a challenge for me to decide the structure of the course. After all, these are underprivileged children. They might be bombarded with many negative messages during the day? Could I really inspire them to think positive thoughts? Would I be able to drill within them the importance of our thoughts?

I decided to stick to 3 simple things which they could incorporate during their day.
As I reached campus, I became more and more confident. I had my team of core assistants with me; my mom and my son. It was wonderful to have my son be a part of this.

When we were waiting in the lobby, we saw some of the kids playing. They were running around, and having a great time. That’s when I felt relaxed. These children radiated positivity. It was going to be a wonderful experience.

And it truly was. We played passing the parcel and introduced each other. We discussed about their day, and how they could start it with positive thoughts. We decorated mirrors, and practiced saying “I love you, you are the best” looking at ourselves in the mirror. Some children did such a fabulous job, that they would put us adults to shame. And lastly, we made vision boards. Vision Boards are charts or collages of what their dreams were. They were encouraged to do it with no holds barred! And they did a fabulous job.

2 hours just flew by, and it was time to wind up. We did a quick re-cap, and ended with telling them the importance of gratitude before going to sleep. We need to be grateful for at least one thing before we sleep. It could be as simple as being grateful for food, air water, or being grateful for having two hands and two feet which are in perfect condition.

As we went around asking the children, “What would you be grateful for tonight?”, a petite 6 year old girl, with the kindest eyes raised her hand. Without saying a word, she smiled and just pointed in my direction.
To say that I was touched would be an understatement. That one moment is etched firmly in my mind, and I know will remain so. I have saved that moment in a safe place in my heart, and it will be reminder for me to keep spreading this message of love and light to everyone.

Thank you Team Prayatna, for an amazing experience, and Keep up the Good Work!