Not a Box, But a World full of Possibilities
Sonal Sanghmitra 
More than a box
On the occasion of World Happiness Day, we at Children’s Book For All came together to read ‘Not a Box’ by Antoinette Portis. The session was facilitated by Aarushi Panwar— a Psychotherapist, an Expressive Arts Practitioner and a very dear member of our community.
A ball of clay molded into what our heart desired
The reading brought us a step closer to accessing the inner child that lives within all of us— a means to foster play, creativity and imagination that all of us carry. It is a voice that echoes at all times, however fades out in the background due to the external noise. The session was just the right space for us to listen to that inner voice and let our imagination run wild and free.
We often tend to be fixated on labels, concepts and boxes within which we try to fit in. But, I wonder who decides what the ‘box’ is or how it looks or how many uses it can possibly have?
In order to think outside the box, we first need to define whether or not it is a box at all! It takes courage and holding to step outside that box, and that is exactly how the session was anchored.
A box transformed by imagination
At one instance, the box was transformed into a sailor’s ship by our imagination. Next, it was a rocket with the spaceman taking a flight to the skies. At another instance, it was a mirror showing reflections of all that we are, and all that we can be! Throughout the session, one thing stuck and that was the narrative that everything is multi-storied. That there are always multiple ways of seeing, understanding, and being. It is all about the lens we choose to hold up to the world.
After all, what is happiness if not this? Being around your favourite set of people, from across the world, and accessing play, creativity and imagination: Together!
Play and Joy are foundational - not extra
This reading was facilitated by Aarushi Panwar.
You can register for our upcoming readings here