"An invaluable chance to become better versions of ourselves" ❤️

“You have to choose to engage in it!”

28th July 1994

HSC Days | MCC School, Chetpet, Chennai

[This day, 31 years ago, from my personal diary entry]

#memoriesfromdiaries

A home away from home offers us an invaluable chance to become better versions of ourselves.

We have the privilege of learning a host of life skills, all by ourselves, staying far away from the comforts of home! Right from budgeting our days and our weeks, to managing our finances, to acquiring new skills by the day, doing our own laundry and arranging our cubicles – again – all by ourselves.

This particular day, as part of my hostel life in MCC School, had helped me gain a host of such invaluable life skills.  

Firstly, running. It was customary for us to go around the ground once, to get clocked for our dawning attendance, you see! 😊

Secondly, had coffee in the dining hall, and also filled coffee in a flask, to last me and my friend Sunil, the whole morning.

Thirdly, after bath, got dressed up, and then sat for my morning study.

Fourthly, cleaning the dormitories, was yet another customary action, that we were taught to do first thing in the morning.

Guess what? Ever since, till date, before stepping out of my room / or at home, I always remember to ensure that my room / home is cleaned – and it is spic and span, before I leave the house! 😊

Fifthly, writing letters, was yet another customary action that we were taught in our hostel days. Today it’s akin to calling our friends and parents on our mobile phones.

We also had the habit of connecting with our school friends of the past through letter writing (snail mail), as they called it back then! 😊

Sixthly, we used to regularly go for our evening swimming in the lovely swimming pool, towards the back gate of our School, which also sported the MRF Pace Foundation.

[Well, on an aside, the MRF Pace Foundation is located within our MCC School. It was established in 1987 in collaboration with Dennis Lillee, Aussie cricketer - the outstanding fast bowler (154.8 km/h) of his generation, with the avowed aim of developing quality fast bowlers in India]

[The foundation aims at offering training facilities, coaching, and guidance to aspiring fast bowlers, including both Indian and international players].

And finally, it was also customary for hostelers to come together, sit under the shade of a lovely Gulmohar tree in our ever-green campus, and start strumming the guitar to our favourite B’s – Billy Joel, Beatles, Bon Jovi, Bee Gees, Boyzone (which was just beginning to storm the pop-scene across the world) 😊 Today it was my turn to strum to some of our favourite B’s. 

And the key takeaway for today -  😊 

Customs aren’t random acts but repeatable patterns of behaviour, that embody the actions, norms, values, and beliefs of and individual, and thereby the community.

Hence, customs, like discipline, requires conscious effort, and sustained practice.

You have to choose to engage in it!!!