Life is a journey that is often filled with unexpected twists and turns, big challenges, and, when we’re lucky, people who go out of their way to remind us that who we are is exactly who we need to be. At Girls on the Run, we call these people ‘Star Sparklers.’ In our Hello, Superstar! curriculum, trained, caring coaches share with girls how to find the Star Sparklers in their lives, using a candle and a story.
Here is a glimpse of the lesson!
After passing out the candle, coaches tell the participants, “This light represents our Star Power—the light that shines in each of us when we are being ourselves!
When our Star Power is activated, our light shines bright–AND PEOPLE CAN TELL! We glow, we smile, we come alive, we are excited, we are fully ourselves, and it shows!
Some people see our Star Power and say, ‘Wow! You’re awesome! Look at that wonderful light!’ Star Sparklers encourage us to shine bright and be ourselves. We call these people Star Sparklers because they cheer us on and keep our light sparkling!”
Star Sparklers help us live true to ourselves, honor our talents and gifts, and feel good about how we present ourselves to the world.
During this season of connection and reflection, pause and think about the person or people who help you discover and appreciate the best parts of yourself. Think about the individuals who make space for you to shine brightly even when others want to dim your glow. Whether your Star Sparker is a family member, a teacher, or a friend who knows just what you need to hear to be proud of being yourself, telling them how they impacted your life can be a powerful way to make the whole world feel a bit brighter.
There are lots of ways to show your appreciation to the Star Sparklers in your life, but the first step is to reflect on what they did and how they made you feel. After that, simply choose one of the ways below to show your gratitude.
Just Say It
Sometimes, when we’re not quite sure what to say, it feels easier not to say anything at all. Finding the words to thank someone for their powerful impact on your life can feel daunting, but your Star Sparkler wouldn’t want you to hold back just because you’re not sure you have the perfect words.
If your Star Sparkler is someone who is still in your life today, take the next opportunity you have to tell them how their support positively impacted you. Let them know how you felt before they helped you shine, what it felt like in the moment when they celebrated you for you, and how their words or actions continue to impact you as time goes on.
Write a Note
We might assume that our Star Sparkler knows what a difference they made in our lives, but never underestimate the value of making it crystal clear and colorful with a heartfelt thank-you note! Pick out a nice card (or craft one yourself!) and put pen to paper to share with your Star Sparkler all the ways they’ve helped you shine.
Everyone likes to hear that they made a positive difference in someone else’s life, so go ahead and make your Star Sparkler’s day by sending a note their way.
Keep Showing Up as Yourself
The words or actions of a Star Sparkler can help us feel confident in who we are in the moment. Star Sparklers help shape the way we interact with the world and make choices as we grow. Their impact plays a vital role when other people or situations in life shake our confidence or make us doubt ourselves.
You can honor the gift your Star Sparkler gave you by staying true to yourself and never letting other people’s ideas of who they think you should be mean more than who you already know you are.
Pass it On
Think back to how it felt when your Star Sparkler first let you know how great they thought you were. (And how great they thought you should think you were, too.) Wouldn’t it feel good to give that feeling to someone else? One of the best ways we can show our gratitude to the Star Sparklers in our lives is to become a Star Sparkler in someone else’s.
Pass your sparkle to the people in your life who might not have as many people cheering them on. Be the one who helps them live brightly with the confidence that they deserve.
The Star Sparkler in your life may be a life-long friend you have been consistently close with since childhood. For others, they might be someone who helped you love all the things that make you uniquely you during just one short season. Whether your Star Sparker is someone in your daily life or not, taking the time to thank them for helping you shine every day will always be worth it!
Are you interested in getting involved or registering your Star Sparkler for the upcoming season? Find a council near you!
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