Joy to the World!

Merry Christmas from All of Us!

GIVE THE GIFT OF JOY TO THE WORLD!

MIRACLE MOMENT® "Find a place inside where there is joy, and the joy will burn out the pain." Joseph Campbell

A MESSAGE FROM FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CYNTHIA BRIAN It’s the season to be jolly and goodness knows, we are all trying. The Chinese have a powerful proverb that states, "If you want joy for an hour, take a nap. If you want joy for a day, go fishing, if you want joy for a year inherit a fortune, but if you want joy for a lifetime...help someone else!" Joy is a feeling of fulfillment. It can be found at work, at home, and anywhere when you are willing to experience it. How can we bring more joy into our lives? Start by taking one day this week to share joy with everyone you know. Offer a smile, a kind word, a compliment, help with a taxing project. Increase your offerings until you are joyful seven days a day. No need for a seventh day break. Your joy will bless them, but it will bless you more! This Christmas, give the gift of joy and rejoice in the feeling of helping someone else to be happy. You are the star of your own performance. From our family to yours, have a healthy, happy, joyful Christmas. And thank you for being part of our Be the Star You Are!® family. You are the reason for our joy! Cynthia Brian Founder/Executive Director Be the Star You Are!® PO Box 376 Moraga, California 94556 Cynthia@BetheStarYouAre.org https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org http://www.BTSYA.org DONATE: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504

i’m almost there by ruhani chhabra my entire life i was drowning pushed down by my own hands i longed to find those on the shore craved their sweet validation not knowing so many of them were sinking alongside me eventually i realized air that held love for myself was a much better alternative than this bottomless, murky ocean of meaningless negativity my hands relinquished their hold when i understood my flaws are just features i was scared to appreciate the beautiful body and strong spirit i always looked down upon is bringing me to the surface and i’m almost there Ruhani Chhabra, is a 16-year-old girl from California who is a radio host and reporter of Teenship on Express Yourself!®. She says that having the opportunity to be a radio host and reporter is the highlight of her year and she greatly appreciates the opportunities that being part of Be the Star You Are!® has granted. Ruhani enjoys writing, reading, and listening to music. When she’s older, she wants to travel around the world and teach literature. Listen to Express Yourself!® at https://www.voiceamerica.com/show/2014/express-yourself

SHOP and GIVE! We have suggestions for you to shop, save, and stay safe. Please use these web sites for all of your shopping essentials. 1. AmazonSmile donates .5% of purchases https://smile.amazon.com/ch/94-3333882 2. Discounted books at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shops/be_the_star_you_are_charity 3. Giving Assistant: Shop. Earn. Give! Use Giving Assistant to earn cash at 3500+ popular online stores :https://givingassistant.org/np#be-the-star-you-are-inc 4. Shop at over 1300 stores on IGIVE: http://www.iGive.com/BTSYA 5. Buy “Read, Lead, Succeed” black tanks and books at StarStyle® Store: http://www.starstylestore.net/ 6. Are you a gamer, lover of new software, or other digital content? Buy all of your favorites at Humble Bundle. http://ow.ly/cYs130iN6n4

BLESSINGS, GRACE, GRATITUDE, AND JOY OF THE SEASON! HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Be the Star You Are!® has been honored with a Top-Rated Award for 2021 from GreatNonprofits! We appreciate all of your contributions! https://greatnonprofits.org/org/be-the-star-you-are-inc DONATE! https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504

FAREWELL AND THANK YOU! For almost two decades, The Reading Tub has been a literacy partner of Be the Star You Are!® publishing book reviews written by our teen volunteer Star Book Review Team. Founder and Executive Director of The Reading Tub, Terry Doherty, and Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!®, Cynthia Brian, have worked closely together throughout the years to bring literacy home to families, teachers, guardians, librarians, and all those who love books. Although the website for the books that have already been reviewed will remain available for viewing at https://thereadingtub.org/books/be-the-star-you-are/, The Reading Tub will be retiring its collaboration at the end of 2021. We want to thank Terry for her incredible devotion to literacy and our collaboration throughout the years. Bravo Terry. But worry not! Terry's love of reading and her passion for literacy have not waned!! She has piles of books still to read and review and will continue to share literacy tips and reading ideas through the Reading Tub's social media, as well as via the Cybils Awards, a literacy nonprofit where she serves on the board. (http://www.cybils.com/about-the-cybils-awards) Terry initially created The Reading Tub as a hobby website, and after 20 years, is going to return to those roots. She will be contributing to our Be the Star You Are!® newsletter so stay tuned for more. Thanks Terry for your dedication to the minds of our youth. Reviews from Be the Star You Are!® teen volunteers will continue to be available at http://www.btsya.com/book_reviews

CANDY CANES AND PUPPY DOGS by Karen Kitchel Candy canes to share and plush puppies to hug were the highlights of today in kindergarten. Each Monday and Thursday I have the distinct honor of helping these amazing students learn to read. During our time together, I get to hear their stories, and enjoy some fun times. Because I believe Christmas is a time for sharing, everyone was given a bag of candy canes and treats which they can share with their family. To brighten their break away from school, a little puppy dog is now in their backpack. A treasured gift I received today, in addition to many heartfelt hugs, was a framed drawing signed by each kindergartener and a beautiful towel with a beautiful saying. Many thanks to all the wonderful students and teachers. Merry Christmas to all! Karen Kitchel who penned two chapters in the book, Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers Celebrating Gifts of Positive Voices in a Changing Digital World, is the Kindness Coordinator volunteer with BTSYA. She serves meals to the homeless and is a volunteer teacher, writer, job coach, and mentor. www.scatteringkindness.com

DIRECT LINKS Results: https://www.bethestaryouare.org/positive-results About Us: https://www.bethestaryouare.org/about_us Programs: https://www.bethestaryouare.org/programs How to Help: https://www.bethestaryouare.org/how-to-help Blog: https://www.bethestaryouare.org/blog-1 Events: https://www.bethestaryouare.org/events Contact us: https://www.bethestaryouare.org/contact

EMBRACE A WORLD OF JOY! Listen to our two empowering radio broadcasts! LIVE on Wednesdays from 4-5pm PT, be entertained, informed, amused, and educated on StarStyle-Be the Star You Are!. Then be inspired and motivated onSundays from 3-4pm PT, it's Express Yourself! Teen Radio with our Be the Star You Are! star teen hosts and reporters. VISIT https://www.StarStyleRadio.com for our line-up of guests.

• “Everything is a gift of the universe–even joy, anger, jealously, frustration, or separateness. Everything is perfect either for our growth or our enjoyment.”-Ken Keyes Jr.

MAKE A JOYFUL DIFFERENCE! DONATE NOW!

contact : PO Box 376, Moraga, ca. 94556 www.BTSYA.org www.BetheSTARYouAre.org

Joy to the world