WIN Reading for Wellbeing

A TEAM WELLBEING INITIATIVE

Reading is one of the most enriching hobbies one can nurture – books educate, inspire and entertain. Reading also gives wellbeing a big boost. Reading as little as 6️ minutes a day can have paramount influence on your wellbeing – it lowers stress, helps you relax, deepens empathy, boosts your mood, helps you sleep better, increases focus, and it boosts memory and stimulates the brain. Reading and wellbeing are intrinsically connected. To celebrate the UAE Month of Reading , we invited the WIN Family to tell us about books that made them smile or inspired them and evoked a sense of wellbeing and positivity.

Mr. Gaber Sayah, Head of Arabic and Islamic Education

بولسأ يه ةداعسلاو ،ريكفت ةقيرط يه ةيباجيلإا كلعجي ام وه هلعفت ام وأ ،هكلمت ام سيل .ةايح كلذ لكب كريكفت ةيفيك لب ،اديعس . ىوصق ةيولوأ ةيباجيلإاو ةداعسلا موهفم لتحي يف امهلوانت ثيح دشار نب دمحم خيشلا ىدل رداصلا "ةيباجيلإاو ةداعسلا يف تلامأت " هباتك نع هللاخ نم هومس ربعي يذلاو ماع2017 ثيح ةيباجيلإاو ةداعسلا يموهفمب ريبكلا همامتها جلأا ماهلإب باتكلا موقي نونف مهميلعتو ةمداقلا لاي هون امكو ،مهل تاربخلا لقنو اهسوردو ةايحلا ،فدهو ةياغ يه سانلا داعسإ نأ دمحم خيشلا نأ امإ :نارايخلا هيدل تايدحتلا مامأ ناسنلإا نأو ةيباجيلإا ،زواجتيو عدبي نأ وأ ،عجارتيو فقي امئاد . ظنم كيطعتكلوح نم روملأل افلتخم ارو ناسنإ لك دنعو ، ةصرف كانه دحت لك يف اهيدل ةركف لكو ،ةقاط هيدل صخش لكو ،ةبهوم تايدحتلا ،اهناكمو اهنامز يف حاجنلل ةيناكمإ عادبلإ ةصرف لب ،ةياهنلا ةطقن تسيل تابقعلاو ةيباجيلإا نأ لوقلا اننكمي كلذل ،ةديدج لولح حاجنلا دلوت ةداعسلاو ،ةداعسلل يدؤت

Positivity is a way of thinking, happiness is a lifestyle. Not what you own, or what you do is what makes you happy, but how to think of all this. The concept of happiness and positivity occupies a top priority with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid as discussed in his book 'Reflections on Happiness and Positivity' issued by His Highness in 2017, through which he expressed his great interest in happiness and positivity. The book inspires future generations and teaches them the art of life and transfers experiences to them. Sheikh Muhammad notes that making people happy is a target, and that a person in face of challenges has two options: either to retreat, or to innovate and transcend. Positivity gives you a different perspective on things around you. There is always an opportunity in every challenge, and every person has a talent and energy. Challenges and obstacles are not the end point, but an opportunity to create new solutions. So we can say that positivity leads to happiness, and happiness leads to success.

Ms. Dina Elemam Head of Year 7 Secondary French Teacher

Ce recueil, qui ne fut pas compilé par Mallarmé qui n'eut pas l'occasion de publier un recueil de ses poésies de son vivant, la mort l'ayant pris de court) comporte les deux phases de la poésie mallarméenne : la première où le poète poursuit, dans un langage d'influence baudelairienne, une quête du beau et du rêve à travers un langage à mi chemin entre romantisme tardif et symbolisme, et la seconde plus axée sur une recherche de l'absolu à travers le langage et le symbole, allant jusqu'au point de donner une plus grande importance à la forme et à la beauté et la sonorité des mots qu'à leur sens

This book, which was not compiled by Mallarmé as he did not have the opportunity to publish a collection of his poems during his lifetime, death having taken him by surprise, includes the two phases of Mallarmé's poetry: the first where the poet pursues, in a language of Baudelairean influence, a quest for beauty and dreams through a language halfway between late romanticism and symbolism, and the second more focused on a search for the absolute through language and symbol, going so far as to give greater importance to the form and beauty and sound of words than to their meaning.

Ms. Veronika Lambova Primary Librarian

The book that makes me happy is 'The Little Book of Hygge'. The book gives the message that happiness is in experience and not in things. Happiness is about being with the people we love - a feeling of home. Happiness is the feeling that we are safe, that we are shielded from the world.

Ms. Akifa Ijaz Head of English, Secondary

A story based on profound heartbreak, compassion and perseverance, ‘And the Mountains Echoed’ by Khaled Hosseini reflects on how familial bonds define us as individuals. This story speaks to me of the love between families and the sacrifices parents make to give their children the best of life. Distinctly, the bond between Pari and Abdullah distinctly reminds me of the love for my own siblings and the extent to which I will go to protect them.

Ms. Debbiejo Miranda Head of Wellbeing

Despite all the comforts and advancements of the modern world, modern lifestyle is filled with perpetual tension and worry. Minds have never been so negatively affected as they are today, the main cause being stress. Life calls for growth, choice and adaptation. “Use Your Stress to Keep Away Distress” by J. Maurus endeavours to point out how one can cope with the inevitable and develop more positive attitudes that can lead to a one's wellbeing.

Mishal Faraz Year 10 Secondary Student Head of Wellbeing

Unputdownable, inspiring and unforgettable- just few of the words we can use to describe "My Story: 50 memories From Fifty Years of Service" written by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

In this book His Highness Sheikh Mohammed has recorded the milestones in his life. As valuable as the book is in chronicling several milestones, national and international, it is just as special in giving us endearing glimpses into His Highness Sheikh Mohammed's life- the influences and special people who shaped him as an individual. The chapters in which His Highness Sheikh Mohammed talks about his love for his mother are beautiful beyond words.

It’s a book for readers of all ages. While the grownups and older children will absolutely love the brilliant read that it is, young children would surely enjoy the personal anecdotes being read out to them. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed is one of the greatest leaders the world will ever know, and each word written in this book is a pearl of wisdom which will make the readers feel deeply inspired.

Sophia Pogorelova Year 13 Secondary Head Girl

"Emma" is one of the most ironic novels by J. Austin. Almost every detail and event is ridiculed here: the behavior of the characters, the inconsistency of words and actions, complacency, fears, many qualities are considered under an enlarged prism. Caustic, ironic, this novel gives the most vivid ideas about the life of the beginning of the 19th century customs. The plot, as always, is about love, although here it is presented through Emma's blindness and delusions, gradually the characters are transformed, grow up and find their happiness.

I have many favourites; however, my recent one is "The Little Book of Friendships" by Tiddy Rowan, which I bought a few days back. Throughout my life, I have been finding myself looking for friends and being in connection with many people in all walks of life. They have made me who I am today, and for that, I will be forever grateful. This book teaches me how to be a better version of myself so that I can deepen the bond I have with them, double the joy I felt when I am surrounded by them or even sometimes divides the grief we feel inside.

Michelle Peter, Year 12 Wellbeing Coordinator

A book that always makes me happy is Arundhati Roy's 'The God of Small Things'. The language she uses, the imagery she describes, the plot that she narrates, makes you find comfort and home in an otherwise tragic tale.

Marcus Fernandes, Year 6, Primary Head Boy

Akshita Popat, Year 6, Primary Deputy Head Girl

My favourite book is 'Harry Potter and The Philosophers Stone'. This is the very first Harry Potter book written by JK Rowling in 1995. I love this book because it is actionpacked, filled with mystery, laughter, and adventure. After reading the book, I learned that there are many similarities between the book and in our real life as it teaches us life morals. For example, I learned that friendship and loyalty can always beat wealth and status, love conquers hate, and we should never give up. My favourite part of the book that made me laugh was when Hermione Granger said, “We could die or worse, get expelled!”.

'Wish' by Barbara O’Conner is about Charlemagne Reese, whose family is not exactly the ideal one a child would want. But to fight it all, she has her wish. She has made the same secret wish every single day since fourth grade. However, when she moves in with her aunt and uncle, it seems less and less likely her wish will ever come true. But when she meets the Odoms, she sees life in a new perspective and realizes her wish came true after all, just not in the way she expected.

Jaimee Reyes, Year 6, Primary Head of Pastoral Care

'Geronimo Stilton-The Kingdom of Fantasy" is a series consisting of 13 books in which the main protagonist, Geronimo Stilton, ventures into the unexplored fictional world of The Kingdom of Fantasy. There, he meets many other magnificent creatures and wonderful new friends. The adventures and travel the characters have excite the hodophile in me. The positivity it evokes is inspiring and puts a smile on my face whenever I finish each part. I read the books one after the other. Once I started, I just couldn't stop!