VALUES FOR THE YATRA February 2014

Values for the Yatra
Embrace Values: Enrich Lives

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter
FEB 2014
This months Value for the Yatra focuses on INTELLECTUAL VALUES. Id like to draw your attention to the value in the power of ones WORDS. A person is as good as his words!!! Nathaniel Hawthrone rightly expressed it in this quote: Wordsso innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them. Brian Hall and Benjamin Tonna, in over a twenty-year study period, came to identify 125 Values along every singly journey of a person that plays a significant role in their human development. They clarified that these Values are concepts that are expressed in words that activates a persons behaviour and that these values can be learned and measured too. Interestingly, the Hall-Tonna Value Inventory rated WORD as the highest of all the 125 Values. I just saw the film The Book Thief based on Markus Zusaks novel. The film revolves around a young German girl named Liesel who tender life is punctured by the ravages of World War II. In the midst of all the darkness of loneliness and abandon, she finds solace and peace in WORDS. The message of the movie is sandwiched between her discovery of books and her love for reading and the intolerance of the Fascist philosophy to destroy and burn books! A powerful conversation by Max Vandenburg to the young Liesel is found in these lines, Words are life, Liesel. All those pages, theyre for you to fill. The movie ends with Death speaking these words, the human heart is a line, whereas my own is a circle, and I have the endless ability to be in the right place at the right time. The consequence of this is that Im always finding humans at their best and worst. I see their ugly and their beauty, and I wonder how the same thing can be both. As we come closer to the end of another scholastic year, the only concern for many students at this moment is how to pass the examinations. The purpose of education is not just passing examinations but to live life on a higher qualitative level. The best way to start towards that level is to take control of the words we speak. Let our words be less abusive, untruthful and high toned. When we care for the words we utter we build a more loving, peaceful, and quiet world to live in.
Embrace Values Enrich Lives
~Fr. Glenford Lowe sdb

FEB 2014
Question for Personal Reflection and Action 1. Do I use my words wisely? 2. Do I think about what I want to say before I speak? 3. Do I regret about things I say after I have already said it? 4. Do I hurt others through what I say? 5. Do I find myself getting into trouble because of what I say and how I say it? 6. Is it true that my words have power? 7. Do I spend time reading intellectual books? 8. When I read, do I look out for new words to improve my vocabulary? 9. Do I use the magic words often (please, sorry, excuse me, thank you)? 10. Do I inspire others with what I say?
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Always

FEB 2014
e of u l a V e Th ding a e R y Health
GoodReadinghelpswithMENTALSTIMULATION DevelopthehabitofreadingHealthyLiterature.GreatLeaders spenttheirtimeinprisonsreadingbooksandthatiswhatstimu latedthemindtobefree... REDUCESSTRESSREDUCTION: Sometimesthebestwaytorelax,istopickupamagazine,astory book,adigestandithasbeenprovedthatreadingreducesonce stresslevel.Getintothehabitofreadingsomethingbeforegoing tobed. READINGIMPORVESCONCENTRATION: Peoplewhohavetheabilitytofocusandconcentratelongerare thosewhodeveloptheValueofreading.Haveyoueverwon deredwhypeoplearestillabletoreadabookinabusytrainor bus?Theyhavedevelopedthepowerofconcentrationthrougha goodreadinghabit!
TheCHOICESYOUMAKE: Weliveinaworldofinfinitepossibilitiesandalternatives.. Ittakesawisepersontomaketherightchoices. WEIGHYOURALTERNATIVES: Wisestudentsareabletoweightheiralternativesagainst eachotherandthroughthelawofplannedneglectare abletoletgooflesseroptions. ANTICIPATETHECONSEQUENCES: Lifedoesnotofferanyconsequencefreechoices.Every Choicehasitsconsequence.BeresponsiblefortheChoices youmake.Wrongchoicesleadtoalifeofpainandregret.
aking m f o e Valu ces i o h C Valued
Power in Debates
GOODSTUDENTSVALUEthePOWEROFDEBATING: DevelopyourcapacitytoDebateoveranytopic.Debatingisanartthat hastobeacquired.ListentodebatesonTV,participatesinschool debates. LEARNTOLISTENTOOTHERSOPINIONSandCOMMUNICATEYOUR OWN: Runningawayorsimplybowingdowntootherpeoplesopiniondoesnt Embrace Values Enrich Lives make youlook good.Have thecouragetoarticulateyouropinionina convincingmannerandspeakitout.Youwillberespected!!!

THEVALUEOFCRITICALTHINKING: Nevertakedecisionsinlifebasedonyourim pulse.DevelopthePowerofCriticalThinking ratherthanmakinglighthearteddecisions. STEPSINCRITICALTHINKING:: StartbybeingObjective!Understandtherealprob lemathand.Evaluatethevariouscausesandroot problem.Usereasoninallthatyoudo.Neverworkonyour feelings.ThenstartAnalyzingtheprosandcons,theconse quencesandonlythen,boldlytakeaDecisionthatisright.
FEB 2014
e of u l a V e Th ing k n i h T l Critica
ife L a f eO u l a V e Th Career
BEFOCUSEDONYOURCAREERIN LIFE: ACareeranswersthisimportant question:WhatdoIwanttodo withmylifeformyself? SEEKHELPFROMCAREERCOUN SELLORS Itisimportantthatyoumakethe rightCareerChoiceinlife.Find outyourstrengths,likings,moti vations,aptitudesandattitudes thatarenecessarytogetintothe careeryoudesire.
DEVELOPTHEPOWEROFVISION: VisionistheINSPIRATIONthat drawsyoutosomethingbiggerand higherandbeyondyou. DEVELOPTHEPOWEROFGOAL SETTING: TheVisionthatisbeyonduscan onlybeachievedthroughtheartof GOALSETTING. SetsmallergoalsthatareSpecific, Measurable,Attainable,Relevant andTimeBoundandtheimpossible becomespossible.
BEFOCUSEDONYOURVOCA TIONINLIFE: AVocationanswersthisimportant question:WhatistheDivineask ingofmeinrelationtoHumanity? SEEKHELPFROMASPIRITUAL DIRECTOR: AVocationisalwaysalifelived forothers!Itgivesmeaningand purposetoourlivesandweleave alegacyforotherstofollow.
e of u l a V e Th nal o i t a c o aV

FEB 2014
With board exams round the corner parents feel the heat more than students do, what we must consider is how are we help our kids to do the best they can, take every step with them and not pressurize them. EXAMS- a dreadful term that sends shivers to quite a few students not because they wont excel but because they are terrified of failure. Our society has broadcasted failure as a sin that is not to be spoken of. We do not understand that winners are often born from the ashes of failure. During exams the only way to escape all the unnecessary fuss is by preparing yourself with a fool proof plan to help you relax for the battle! Prepare a time-table: A well-planned systematic day makes for better performance. Dividing the hours of your day and allotting them to specific activities, makes you more confident. Allotting specific time slots to subjects can make you study easier. Meditate: Meditation is one of the best techniques to improve confidence and boost mental health. Regular meditation improves concentration; you'll be less distracted and more focused. You can set out 10-15 minutes daily. Practice with mock tests: Getting yourself familiar to what's coming up is one of the best steps to ace your boards. Practice mock test and previous question papers; it gives you a good knowledge about the kind of questions that may come up. Take a break: Dont exert yourself that you are exhausted and mentally drained. Take a 10-15 minute break between your studying so that you can relax and refresh your mind and body. Listen to a little music or just go for a walk. Sleep properly: Adequate sleep is very important, especially during exams. A sleep-deprived body can affect your health and you paper. Always think positive: Positive thinking should be implemented by all during exams. Stay focused on your stronger points, subjects you can score well, and stand up with confidence. The 'I-can-do-it' attitude can help you kill all the fear. Lastly, do not panic whatever may be the situation. Breathe deeply and move on to your next task and do your best. Always remember that this is not the end, rise like the phoenix from the ashes and you will do well. Angel Abraham

FEB 2014
Olympians draw their inspiration from a set of core values that prepare them to do their best as they compete. Cool Runnings a movie that released back in the year 1993, is a perfect example of, how no matter what the circumstances or how impossible it may seem to win, you have it all embedded in yourself to decide your fate to go all the way towards victory and earn respect or give up! Heres how many of the worlds top athletes gather in Sochi, Russia for the 2014 Olympics in February, 1. Help them develop a strong work ethic. Olympians are known for their hard work practicing their sport over and over again to develop their skills to the highest level possible. Olympians have to make a lot of sacrifices in order to focus on working hard, but that in doing so is worthwhile for those who love what they do. You have to love what you are doing and when you do you put your heart and soul into it and that takes it to the next level. 2. Encourage them to approach both success and failure gracefully. Whether they win or lose, Olympians often respond with graceful attitudes that inspire others to consider what matters most not the results of a single event. We can look back and be upset or choose to learn from it, see what we can take out of it and just choose to be stronger and better people. 3. Teach them excellence. Excellence is one of the core values around which the Olympic movement is constructed. Olympians strive to put their best effort into each practice and competition. They aim to do their personal best, no matter what circumstances or other competitors they may be facing at the time.. 4. Teach them friendship. Friendship is another core value. Olympic athletes gather from around the world to compete, and in the process they form friendships with each other. They watch each other work hard, encourage each other, and sometimes make sacrifices to support each other. 5. Teach them respect. The last of the three official core values is respect. Olympians respect each others value as people, and also as team players who make valuable contributions to others. Choosing players whose specialties complemented each other, so they could work together with respect and maximize their chances of winning a gold medal. Watching the 2014 Winter Olympics can be can be an inspirational time that help your children or teens develop stronger character. (Whitney Hopler, Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer) Edited by Rochwyn Fernandes

FEB 2014

FEB 2014
AVEC E-Letter Values for the Yatra is an initiative to provide Animation Resources for Teachers involved in Value Education in the ABE schools/ Jr. Colleges .Values for the Yatra will be published every month and is for Private Circulation only. Your valuable suggestions are most welcome to assist us in making Values for the Yatra a useful tool of animation and bonding among the teachers and students of the ABE schools in Mumbai. CONTACT: AVEC Team Fr. Glenford Lowe, SDB / Rochwyn Fernandes / Sr. Vera / Ms. Carissa / Ms. Angel Abraham AVECDon Bosco Youth Services, Matunga 400019 , MUMBAI Ph: 24154477 e-mail: avecmatunga@gmail.com Blog: avecmumabidbys.blogspot.com / facebook: avecmumbai

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Values for the Yatra

Embrace Values: Enrich Lives

Embrace Values Enrich Lives

~Fr. Glenford Lowe sdb