பிள்ளையார் சுழி முதலில்
Pillaiyaar suzhi mudhalil
Meaning
Just as a Tamil learner draws Pillaiyar's symbol before writing the first letter, any undertaking deserves a proper, thoughtful start.
Story
A young girl rushed straight into writing in her new notebook, skipping the customary Pillaiyar symbol. Her teacher smiled and said, "don't hurry - give it a proper start first, and the rest tends to fall into place."
Reader's Note
Starting anything with the right preparation and mindset is already half the work done.