4 (Year 2)

"We are waves of the same sea,

leaves of the same tree,

flowers of the same garden."

-Seneca

We are in this together

Namaste!Dear Readers,

This was supposed to be an edition for the World Laughter Day, which falls on May 2 this year. However, there seem to be very few things to laugh about anymore. All over the country and around us — the virus is too close for comfort. And the thing that we call courage—the courage to face the danger and rise to the responsibility— is something we cannot pretend not to fear.

I may not overcome the inevitable, but O, it is mine to see that the inevitable does not overcome me. Muriel Strode

Adequate sleep, a well-balanced diet, exercise along with washing our hands regularly, wearing a mask properly, and maintaining social distancing are some of the things we all should be doing. And maybe just a little gargling and gurgling with laughter.

This is a story from the First World War. In one legendary tale from the trenches, a bagpiper starts to pipe to raise morale. Fearing that the sound of the pipes signals an imminent attack, the enemy shoots from their own trench, forcing everyone to take cover and the piper to stop playing. Eventually, the shooting subsides, and the piper starts again, triggering the same set of events. Undeterred, the piper prepares to start for a third time when someone shouts, “For Heaven’s sake, play something they like!”

Sometimes, all that’s left to do is to laugh.

When you work together in Unity, you get the Power of Community

As we navigate our own uncertain times together, let us remember that yes, viruses are contagious, but so is compassion, love, kindness, laughter, and joy.

So, choose wisely. Be safe, be considerate, be kind and keep the light in your hearts on as we

Sing happy songs

Make original art

Ignite and inspire new thoughts and ideas

Listen to the voice of the heart

Energize, electrify and play our part

To join the SMILE, Together We Can contagion, write to us at smiletogetherwecan.nibs@gmail.com

and visit us at https://www.nirmalbhartia.org/smile

https://www.instagram.com/smile_togetherwecan/

When you work together in Unity, you get the Power of Community

In this

Sing happy songs

Boom de yada Make original Art

The Art of Joy Ignite and Inspire new thoughts and ideas

The Secret Weapon Listen to the voice of the heart

Canine Language Energise, electrify and play our part

Why We Sleep

Watch:Boom de yada

Read: Over more than a decade ago, Discovery Channel launched one of its most iconic ads of all time, The World is Just Awesome. The video featured crowds of people from around the world, catchy lyrics and some of the network’s most recognizable faces including DIRTY JOBS host Mike Rowe.

Discovery launched a new campaign – with a spin on this original classic, proving the world is still as awesome as ever as most of us continue to be in lockdown.

“I think the reason it struck a chord is that it was just so humble,” Rowe says of the initial hit, which has more than 10 million views on YouTube. “You’re talking about the entire world, but it’s being sung about in a campfire song by people who, in many cases, can’t sing, which is kind of like what the world is, right? It’s just well-intended, joyful people who don’t really care whether they can sing or not.”

The message is one of optimism and a reminder that even when faced with incredible challenges – we can continue to make the world just as awesome as ever.

Boom de yada

Sing Happy SongsSing Happy Songs

Think:“It does not need to be perfect — or technically correct—to be magic.” — Rasheed Ogunlaru

Do:Doesn’t this one-minute video bring a SMILE to your face? Share it with your friends and family. The song is actually based on a simple sing-along song “I Love The Mountains” – for people who like to sing gather.

Share your version of this song by re-writing the lyrics and send it to us. But remember – you need to sing this with others – gather your friends and family on a virtual platform and sing together.

The magic is in singing together.

Boom de yada

Sing Happy SongsSing Happy Songs

Watch:Romero Britto

Read:Romero Britto was born in Brazil and is known for his neo-pop artwork. A self-taught artist, Britto “combines elements of cubism, pop art and graffiti painting in his work, using vibrant colours and bold patterns as a visual expression of hope and happiness."Later, Britto moved to the USA where Pop Art was flourishing at the time. Since 1989 Britto has worked with multiple companies on their logos such as Disney and Pepsi that helped his career flourish.

Think:For me, art can reflect the celebration of the simple and good things in life. This is most important to me!Romero Britto

Do:• A-4 white sheet• pencil & eraser• black chisel tip marker• assorted colorful markers Follow the directions in this video to create a bright cat.You can also create any design using bold colours, big shapes, simple patterns, and black outline to create something bright, joyful and wonderful. Use lots of colours — just remember to share it with us.Make your art joyful!

The Art of Joy

Make Original Art

The Secret Weapon

Ignite & Inspire new thoughts and ideas

Watch:London 2012 Olympics

Read:Picture the scene: It’s the London 2012 Olympics, and the best athletes from all over the world have assembled to compete. These are the very best examples of human achievement, demigods who can run the fastest, jump the highest, and lift the heaviest.

It’s the opening ceremony and who should steal the show but a frumpy 57-year-old Englishman who (self-confessed) has “never worked a day in his life."

The 2012 Olympics opening ceremony was facing major problems with the majority of the public predicting it was going to be an outright embarrassment. The 2008 Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing was called the “greatest of all time” by critics, praised for its spectacle and extravagance — it was estimated that the ceremony cost £65m alone, whereas the London edition had a measly £27m to work with. With this budget and a high benchmark to meet, almost everyone was pessimistic about the ceremony’s chance of succes

But the UK had a secret weapon— Mr. Bean.

The 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony will be remembered for Rowan Atkinson’s revival of his iconic character, Mr. Bean. Only Sir Simon Rattle, the conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra who Mr. Bean ‘performed’ with, knew the whole truth. And the music – it was all pre-recorded.

Sometimes humour is the secret weapon which can defuse conflict and bad situations, build back bonding and work wonders at putting a tense situation into perspective.

Ignite & Inspire new thoughts and ideas

Think:Our fearlessness shall be our secret weapon.

– John Green

Do:These are tough times, and many of us are feeling overwhelmed and tired. What we need to do is to remember all our efforts, measure them, keep them in mind – we may not be able to exterminate the virus, but we are doing it bit by bit – our fearlessness shall be our secret weapon (along with masks, maintaining social distancing and taking our vaccine when eligible.)What is your secret weapon? How are you dealing – which book or prayer or quote keeps you going? Or is it the vegetables that you are growing or maybe your favourite video which makes you laugh? Please share your thoughts on this with us.

Canine Language

Listen to the Voice of the Heart

Read:GABRIELLE ZEVIN is an internationally best-selling and critically acclaimed author whose books have been translated into thirty-eight languages. Elsewhere is a coming-of-age story and a work of magical realism—a genre in which fantastical elements are woven into an otherwise ordinary setting. First published in 2005, it was writer Gabrielle Zevin’s first novel for a YA audience, and it was the 2006 Bank Street Best Children’s Book.

Think:“By the way, you do speak Canine, don't you?" "Canine?" asks Liz. "What's Canine?" "Canine is the language of dogs. Dear me, you don't mean to say that they still aren't teaching it in Earth schools?" Aldous seems truly horrified at the possibility. Liz shakes her head. "A pity," says Aldous, "as Canine is one of our most beautiful languages. Did you know that there are over three hundred words for love in Canine?" Liz thinks of her sweet Lucy back on Earth. "I believe it," Liz says. "It has always seemed a weakness of an Earth education that children are only taught to communicate with their own species, don't you think?" asks Aldous.”

Do:Do you like animals? Which is your favourite animal? Why? Wouldn’t it be amazing if all the "Earth people could communicate with other species" and understand them and work towards a better and harmonious world?“Did you know that there are over three hundred words for love in Canine?" Think of three ways that you show love — for yourself, for your parents, for your best friend and that brown dog on the road. Share this with a note or your artwork.

Read:George Denis Patrick Carlin was an American stand-up comedian, actor, social critic, and author. Regarded as one of the most important and influential stand-up comics of all time, he was dubbed "the dean of counterculture comedians". With his signature dark and daring humor drawn from everyday life, the world at large, and the vagaries of the English language, George Carlin offers his creative finest in The Best of Braindroppings.

Think:“People say, 'I'm going to sleep now,' as if it were nothing. But it's really a bizarre activity. 'For the next several hours, while the sun is gone, I'm going to become unconscious, temporarily losing command over everything I know and understand. When the sun returns, I will resume my life.'

If you didn't know what sleep was, and you had only seen it in a science fiction movie, you would think it was weird and tell all your friends about the movie you'd seen.

They had these people, you know? And they would walk around all day and be OK? And then, once a day, usually after dark, they would lie down on these special platforms and become unconscious. They would stop functioning almost completely, except deep in their minds they would have adventures and experiences that were completely impossible in real life. As they lay there, completely vulnerable to their enemies, their only movements were to occasionally shift from one position to another; or, if one of the 'mind adventures' got too real, they would sit up and scream and be glad they weren't unconscious anymore. '

So, next time you see someone sleeping, make believe you're in a science fiction movie. And whisper, 'The creature is regenerating itself.'

Energise, Electrify and play your part

Why We Sleep

Energise, Electrify and play your part

Why We SleepDo:'The creature is regenerating itself.' Satire, parody, dark humour spark creativity, and can sometimes function as forms of social commentary with their refreshing absurdity and a touch of the unexpected.

Is there a funny poem or a book which makes you feel deliciously happy even though the day has not been so great? Or even your favourite joke or meme? Share it with us.

WEBSITE

WEBSITE

A shoutout to everyone who is trying right now… Trying to do the right thing. Trying to stay open. Trying to keep going. Trying to hold on. Trying to let go. Trying to find their flow. Trying to stay afloat. Trying to meet each new day. Trying to find their balance. Trying to love themselves. Trying new things and new ways. I see you.

I’m there too. We’re in this together. - S.C. Lourie

Follow us at

Also remember to share your SMILES with us at smiletogetherwecan.nibs@gmail.com.

Here’s a tribute to the magnificent and unstoppable spirit of teachers and children all over the world, who make sure that no matter what, Learning happens with a

SMILE