Lessons from Kaleidoscope
Posted on March 11, 2022 by Gopal Iyer, One of Thousands of Career Coaches on Noomii.
We can learn through so many things in life - Kaleidoscope was one such! Read on to know more!
#Kaleidoscope
Athrv: Dad, I need your help. Mam asked us to make Caleediscope.
Me: Sure, Athrv! But Are you sure she said Caleediscope and not #kaleidoscope?
Athrv: Maybe – I don’t even know what it is; I heard the name for the first time! So what is Kaleidoscope, Dad?
It was a #DeJaVu moment for me. I had asked the same question to my Dad when I was about Athrv’s age.
I picked up the mobile to look at the meaning!
Me: So Athrv, according to Wiki, “kaleidoscope” is derived from the Ancient Greek word (Kalos), “beautiful, beauty,” (eidos), “that which is seen: form, shape,” and (skopeō), “to look to, to examine.”
So, to put it simply, it’s nothing but a toy tube containing mirrors and pieces of colored particles or paper. So when you rotate the tube, it produces changing patterns due to reflections.
Athrv: Hmm, Have you ever made and Kaleidoscope?
Me: Yes! I was around 9 then. I had seen Kaleidoscope as a toy with one of my cousins when we had gone on summer vacations. And when we came back home, I told my friend about this. Together, we went to a glass factory where they had large mirrors and glass pieces kept as waste. They were happy to give it to us for free. So we brought it home and made one. It was a great experience, you know?
Athrv: But why are we being asked to make this? We can buy one from Amazon, right?
Me: Yes today you can buy. But when I was your age, I had to make it on my own. You can choose if you want to learn something interesting by learning to make one yourself. Trust me you will learn several lessons through the process.
Athrv: Wow! Dad, I’ll make it.
A few days later, Athrv brought a Kaleidoscope that he made with a big smile.
Athrv: Dad, see through the glass – See how wonderful designs it creates. Isn’t that amazing?
Me: Yes indeed. So what did you learn from this?
Athrv: Firstly, it was hard to understand what all I needed to make this. So I had to study the parts I needed and learn how to put them together.
Me: Great – So now you know what it takes to build something new! What else did you learn?
Athrv: I first tried only one small particle – The designs weren’t that great. When I added more colored pieces, the designs were fantastic.
Me: Indeed. It’s great to have diverse colors and shapes, isn’t it? Just like when you have different people with different ideas & thoughts.
Athrv: Yes!
Me: What else did you learn?
Athrv: Every time I see through the Kaleidoscope, I see a different design. It’s NEVER the same!
Kaleidoscope indeed gives us many life lessons. It teaches us the importance of colors, shapes & sizes, and how to maintain a unique, distinctive pattern.
It boils down to the choice of whether you want to lift the Kaleidoscope and allow the light to pass through to bring vibrant, unique designs to life or not.
Are you ready?
#mindfulness #design #experiencematters #people #bestadvice #lifelessons #leadership