Making my BFF happy

Marks can tell you what a child knows, while small gestures like this often tell you who the child is becoming. This Teacher’s Day, one of my LifeToolbox students made something for me by hand. Of course, the gift made me happy. But what stayed with me more was the effort behind it. Because before a child creates something for someone else, a lot has already happened inside. She has to think beyond herself. She has to notice what might make another person happy. She has to take initiative. She has to imagine, plan, create, make mistakes, correct them, and complete what she started. And finally, she needs the courage to express what she feels. That one gesture carries so much — empathy, gratitude, initiative, creativity, patience, responsibility, expression and follow-through. That is emotional intelligence in action. And this is exactly why I believe social-emotional learning cannot remain limited to teaching children how to identify emotions or manage anger. It has to show up in behaviour. In how they treat people. In whether they take responsibility. In whether they can express appreciation. In whether they think beyond themselves. And in whether they are willing to put effort into making someone else feel valued. So for me, this was not just a Teacher’s Day gift. It was a small but beautiful reflection of the person this child is becoming. A huge round of applause for her, and equally, kudos to the parents who create the space for children to become thoughtful, expressive and emotionally aware. And on Teacher’s Day, a heartfelt shout-out to every teacher, trainer, mentor and coach who is quietly investing in another human being’s growth. You may not always see the result immediately. But somewhere, in someone’s confidence, courage, choices, behaviour or character, your work continues. Happy Teacher’s Day to all those who are helping others become a better version of themselves. ❤️ — Himanshu Founder, LifeToolbox