Wednesday Wanderings ... what teaching has taught me

... during my first year of doctoral studies, I had started teaching at a university - I was so excited about the opportunity - but oh I had so much to learn! My father had given me the good advice of emulating all the good things I loved about my favourite professors. In primary school, we could not use the word, “nice” because it was over-used and not descriptive enough. But I have found that being nice is what really matters. I am not always nice – sometimes I am irrational, inconsiderate and unsympathetic – my ego takes over and I think of only myself. But luckily academe grounds me and over the last several years, teaching has taught me that:

• Say something with sincere sunny smiles – and you are winning the room!
• Say anything with a raised voice in anger and irritation – you are so losing the room
• The most aggravating irritating unpleasant person can be turned around – with empathy. The power in the words, “I can see your perspective, but here is another one …” is tremendous :-) You never know what the person is going through, but just giving them the respect of empathy, could melt them.
• The ability to say, “I don’t know the answer to your question, but let’s look into it” is honourable and people respond to it with respect - I learnt this from Cristobal
• Being judgmental and self-righteous are ineffective and unattractive - in fact it’s idiotic. I remember what a colleague on Wall Street often told me, “Nazli, get over yourself!” ;-)
• Sincere charm disarms adversaries and makes friends happy to have you as their friend! And actually it is lovely to be in your own company when you are charming.
• Being irritated and short-tempered does absolutely no good to anyone – it increases your blood pressure, ruins your mood and your day, you make other people feel awful, the bad day follows you around - you don’t solve anything …! On the other hand, being sincerely pleasant puts others at ease, your mood remains sunny, somehow life seems fantastic – and people work with you
• Being hard does not equate to strength - sometimes the nicest, kindest people you will ever meet are the most resilient and self-assured
• Appearance sometimes counts for nothing
• People can sense sincerity - or the lack of
• Underestimating people is folly
• Remembering a name makes a big difference
• When people count on you - it inspires you to never let them down
• You cannot always make everyone happy - and that's just fine!

To sum it up, a winning smile and a dazzling laugh can win a day!

This leads me to "Campaign for Kindness" initiated by the Beautiful Maliha. I LOVE it! So ecxited! Let's got for it. Be nice, be kind, be happy, be dazzling - it only makes you beautiful to be around!

Peace and sunny smiles and dazzling dreams to you!

Music Recommendation: Clay Aiken's new CD - listen to it for free

Callas on La Wally Aria, Ebben, Ne andrò lontana' recommended by Caco

Movie Recommendation: "Little Miss Sunshine" - sunny, crazy, ecclectic - but not ecclesiastic

"O Brother Where Art Thou" recommended by Caco

"Roma" (Spain/Argentina production) - super nice film, "Malena" - a very good one, "Cinema Paradiso" - well we know.. recommended by Fernando

"High Fidelity" recommended by Beth