While we celebrate Teachers Day today – September 5, 2022, and the theme is – ‘शिक्षकः बढ़ते संकट के बीच भविष्य की नई कल्पना’ (Teachers: leading in crisis, reimagining the future), we never forget to thank our teachers, who made our lives meaningful.

Teachers’ Day is celebrated on September 5 to honour educators and recognize the effort that they put into shaping young individuals. Teachers’ Day also marks the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the first Vice-President of India and the second President of India.

We all know that the future of a country lies in the hands of its children, and teachers, as mentors, can mould students into future leaders who shape the destiny of India. They play an important role in our lives in helping us become successful in our careers and business. They help us to become good human beings, a better member of society, and an ideal citizen of the country. Teacher’s Day is celebrated to acknowledge the challenges, hardships, and special roles that teachers play in our lives.

When teachers play such a critical role in shaping our lives, without giving a thought about their own lives, how can we not be full of gratitude for them?

There are lots of reasons to be grateful for teachers: their support, their kindness, their ability to teach kids, and of course, their dedication. In fact, not everyone is aware of the more unusual efforts teachers make for their students. You can express your gratitude in several ways, by writing a letter, expressing it in poetry, being there for them in hard times, wishing them on festivals, appreciating them on any of your achievements, or just wishing them on Teachers’ Day. Why just on one designated day? Thank them whenever an occasion demands or even doesn’t demand.

As defined in positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships. Motivational and spiritual Gurus make us seamlessly sail through difficult times, particularly emotionally distressing times. It adds to your happiness quotient.

So, it is a two-way phenomenon for both – the one who is expressing gratitude and towards whom it is expressed. The feel-good vibes enrich both lives – the giver and the taker.

As we are aware that Teachers’ Day in India is celebrated on 5th September to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. He was born on 5 September 1888. As an educationist, he was an advocate of edification and was a distinguished envoy, academician, and above all a great teacher.

A nation full of gratitude remembers him on his birthday, is celebrated as Teachers Day.

As the common adage goes, the future of a country lies in the hands of its children, and teachers, as mentors, can mould students into future leaders who shape the destiny of India. They play an important role in our lives in helping us become successful in our careers and business. They help us to become good human beings, a better member of society, and an ideal citizen of the country. Teacher’s Day is celebrated to acknowledge the challenges, hardships, and special roles that teachers play in our lives.

How do we define gratitude? Can it be defined? It is an expression that can be expressed through our deeds. It can be saying a simple thank you or just expressing with your eyes, how grateful you are when someone does something nice to you. Yet it’s a more nuanced expression than simply expressing thanks.

However, gratitude may be defined as a positive emotional reaction that serves a biological purpose. It’s the appreciation of the valuable and meaningful things in our lives.

Robert Emmons, explains in his essay on gratitude: “It’s an affirmation of goodness. We affirm that there are good things in the world, gifts, and benefits we’ve received.”

Countless studies have shown that gratitude can bring a variety of physical, psychological, emotional, and social benefits. It helps us appreciate all the positive elements of our lives and the people in them.

While it might not be a panacea or cure-all for everything, gratitude can help to keep us grounded and feeling positive, particularly in times of uncertainty.

It can enhance positive emotions and being a positive emotion in itself, gratitude also tends to bring out the best in other sensations. Research from 2017,  positive emotions allows people to build psychological, intellectual, and social resources. What’s more, practices such as gratitude may play a role in motivating individuals to engage in positive behaviours leading to self-improvement.

The study found evidence that expressing gratitude helps people with emotions such as connectedness, elevation, and humility. All of these, along with other aspects, are crucial to maintaining a mindful life.

Be grateful, Be thankful, Be thoughtful!!