I know you won’t believe me, but the highest form of Human Excellence is to question oneself and others.
Socrates
Developing critical thinking.
While reading a student’s thesis on developing critical reading using a reader response strategy, I was asking myself what is critical thinking and how can we develop students’ critical thinking? This TedTalk by Erick Wilberding on the Socratic Method is really helpful. It explains how Socrates, who was the philosopher, developed his students’ critical thinking by asking a series of questions and most importantly, every answer leads to further problems. It is intriguing and a must watch video.
Hadith about Gossip
Backbiting is more grievous than adultery, and god will not forgive the backbiter until the one wronged has forgiven him
Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H)
I have to think twice, thrice before gossip.
Quote about gossip
If you didn’t see it with your own eyes or
hear it with your own ears,
don’t invent it with your small mind &
share it with your big mouth
Constructive Gossiping is Good for an Organisation
I was listening to BBC and the topic discussed was gossiping. And it was said that constructive gossiping can be turned into feedback and in turn will help for the improvement of an organisation. Can you believe it, they are promoting office gossip? Personally, I don’t think so. Let’s take a look at the meaning of gossip by the Cambridge Dictionary:
Gossip is conversation or reports about other people’s private lives that might be unkind, disapproving, or not true
Apparently, gossiping is considered as bad habit and how can we have constructive gossip? This is totally unacceptable.
This is how Gen Z learns #1
through social media platforms, for example, TikTok.
Take care of one’s health is an obligation in Islam
Muslims are requested to take care of their health. As mentioned in the Ql-Quran and followed by hadith, health is important because without good health one will not be able to carry out his or her duties, for example, perform prayers, observe fasting in Ramadhan and make a pilgrimage or Hajj to Mecca.
Quran (2:195)
And make not your own hands contribute to (your) own destruction (harm).
The Prophet (PBUH) said: “There are two blessings which many people do not appreciate: Health and leisure.”
Go for work-life balance. Don’t exert yourself and moderation in whatever you do is necessity.
Karoshi #2
Karoshi is becoming common in Japan and more women are suffering. Working at the risk on one’s life is part of Japanese social culture and it is known as selfless devotion. 24 year old Matsahuri Takahashi who was a victim of Karoshi, worked 20 hours a day. Can you imagine how much time she had for sleeping and resting? Miwa Sado who was the journalist of NHK, who did not have enough sleep which was less than 6 hours a day, died of karoshi at the age of 31. Hence, don’t overwork and make sure you have enough sleep and rest. Take a good care of your health, since health is wealth.
Karoshi #1
Karoshi refers to death due to overwork among career women in Japan. The main reason could be the multifaceted responsibilities faced by career women, for example, as a wife, mother and so forth.
Is this what we call kindness?
We rise by lifting others.
Robert Ingersoll