Rudra was known for his lively spirit—always laughing, cracking jokes, and running around. But not many knew that deep inside, Rudra struggled with staying calm and focused.
"Beta, the mind is like a river—if you don’t guide it, it will flood
you with worries."
But Rudra never paid much attention.
His head was always buried in mobile games after school. Homework was a race.
Meditation was “boring.” His grades dipped, and so did his confidence.
One day, Rudra's class teacher, Mrs.
Malini, announced a week-long 'Mind and Nature Retreat' at Girivan
Ashram. Phones would be kept away. Students would practice yoga,
affirmations, and mindful silence in nature.
Rudra groaned. “A week without my
phone? Ugh!”
But the school rule was clear:
participation was mandatory.
As the bus entered the serene
ashram, Rudra was stunned. Forests swayed in silence. Birds chirped. No honks.
No screens. No rush.
That evening, during circle time,
they sat under a banyan tree. Mrs. Malini asked them to close their eyes and
repeat:
“I am always happy. I am calm and
stable in every situation.”
At first, Rudra giggled. “As if
that’s true,” he muttered.
But something about the wind whispering through the trees made him go quiet.
Day 2 – The Whispering Garden
On the second day, the students were taken to the Whispering Garden, a beautiful section of the ashram where each plant had a name and a story.
A gentle gardener named Uma Didi led them through a maze of medicinal plants.
“Before we begin,” she said softly, “please place your palms on the soil and close your eyes.”
The students obeyed, some reluctantly.
“Now say aloud,” Uma Didi guided,
‘I respect nature. Nature respects me.’
Rudra opened one eye. Was this really doing anything?
But then he noticed something—ants working together, a butterfly landing on his arm, the way the neem leaves swayed as if nodding in agreement.
Later, she gave everyone a tiny plant in a clay pot.
“This plant is your friend. Talk to it. Breathe with it. And remember, nature listens.”
That night, Rudra sat with his plant, whispered stories, and named it “Chintu.”
He didn’t realize it then, but he was slowly learning to listen—not just to
plants, but to silence itself.
Day 3 – The Tree that Spoke
On the third morning, Rudra wandered
into the woods behind the ashram with his notebook. He sat under a peepal tree
and started doodling.
Suddenly, an old sadhu appeared. His
beard flowed like the Ganga. His eyes twinkled.
"You’re not drawing the tree,”
he said. “You’re drawing your noise.”
“My what?” Rudra asked.
“Your thoughts. Chatter. Self-doubt.
Anger. Fear. All that you bury inside.”
He placed his hand on Rudra’s head and said,
“Say this:
I respect everyone. I respect
nature. I use gadgets only for studying.”
Rudra repeated, feeling an odd
calmness wash over him.
The sadhu smiled. “This is the
secret. When your thoughts become friends, your world becomes peaceful.”
And just like that, he walked away.
Day 4 – The Storm Within
By the fourth day, silence had become easier. But that morning, something changed.
Rudra had a misunderstanding with his friend Riya. They were building a compost bin as part of the eco-project, and Rudra accidentally spilled the soil mix they had spent hours preparing.
Riya snapped, “You never focus! This is why no one trusts you with anything serious.”
Her words hit Rudra hard. Old feelings bubbled up—“I mess everything up. I’m not good enough.”
He stormed away, fists clenched, eyes watery.
In the quiet of the bamboo grove, he sat down, heart pounding. He wanted to scream.
But instead, he remembered the old sadhu’s words: “Your thoughts are like a river.”
He opened his notebook, and with trembling hands, wrote:
· I am calm and stable in every situation.
· I am calm and stable in every situation.
· I am calm…
He took deep breaths.
A few minutes later, Riya found him.
“I’m sorry,” she said, sitting beside him. “It was an accident. I shouldn’t have yelled.”
Rudra smiled. “It’s okay. I wasn’t calm either. But I’m learning.”
And just like that, the storm passed.
Day 5 – The River of Thoughts
On the fifth day, the students were
taken to a quiet riverbank for reflection. The water shimmered in the sunlight.
Rudra remembered what his Dadi used to say.
He took out his notebook and began
to write:
- I am always happy.
- I am calm and stable in every situation.
- I respect everyone.
- I respect nature.
- I use gadgets only for studying.
As he repeated these silently, he
noticed something: the river inside his mind had stopped rushing. It was still.
Clear.
He saw how peaceful he felt without constant distractions. How fun it was to climb trees, talk to friends, and sit silently under the stars.
Back to School – A New Rudra
When the week ended, Rudra returned
home—not just with souvenirs, but with a new self.
He began waking up early and
watering the plants with his Dadi.
He used his mobile only to revise math concepts or watch science videos.
He helped his sister with her drawing homework and listened with patience when
others spoke.
At school, he started a campaign called Affirmation Mornings, where every student stood up and said one positive thing aloud.
The principal was so moved that she initiated a Green Mind – Green Campus program, blending nature walks, yoga, and digital wellness into the school calendar.
Epilogue: Rudra’s Journal
Years later, Rudra’s affirmation journal sat on a shelf in his college dorm. On the last page, he had written:
“When you respect yourself, others, and nature—you don’t need noise to feel alive.
You just need stillness and strength. And that begins with one thought:
I am calm. I am happy. I believe in myself.”
🎉🎓Moral of the Story 🎉🎓
Positive affirmations are not magic words—they’re seeds.
When watered daily, they grow into trees of strength, joy, and clarity.
Respect for people, nature, and mindful technology use creates a balanced life.
Happiness isn’t outside. It is a still river inside you—waiting to be discovered.
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Very nice story 👏
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