“We become just by performing just actions, temperate by performing temperate actions, brave by performing brave actions.” Aristotle
A Message from our Founder, Cynthia Brian
Happy Easter, Happy Passover, and Happy Spring!
This is a time of rebirth, resurrection, and redemption. The vernal equinox provides the impetus for us to become the person we want to be. While cleaning our closets, we clean our minds and refresh our souls. I love this time of year when all of nature is singing the praises of renewal.
The Moraga Faire is our big event on Saturday, May 13 from 11-4pm. Thanks to Michael VerBrugge for once again sponsoring our event and Brooks Olbrys and Diana Zimmerman for donating books to be given to children and teens. Read Chelsea Pelchat’s, our event coordinator’s note below. We hope to see you there. If you’d like to sponsor or volunteer, email me Cynthia@BetheStarYouAre.org Make sure to visit www.BetheStarYouAre.org to find out more about our events and projects.
The volunteers and I are working on the third book in the Be the Star You Are!® series titled Be the Star You Are!® for Millennials. We are excited about this outreach project and hope to have it published by the end of this year.
With the April 15 tax day nearing, remember you can still make tax deductible donations to Be the Star You Are!® Donate by check to PO Box 376, Moraga, Ca. 94556 or directly on-line through PAYPAL where 100% benefits the charity with no fees attached. https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/search-cause?charityId=1504&s=3
Our greatest pride are our two positive message outreach radio broadcasts. Tune into our two radio shows for positive, upbeat information and entertainment. Our YA show, Express Yourself! airs Tuesdays at NOON PT on the Voice America Kids Network. http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/2014/express-yourself with descriptions at www.ExpressYourselfTeenRadio.com . If you are a young person interested in becoming a radio personality, email me for details. Every Wednesday from 4-5pm PT LIVE, our radio broadcast StarStyle®-Be the Star You Are!® brings you the information and inspiration you need to thrive on Voice America Network, Empowerment Channel. http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/2206/be-the-star-you-are . Check out more at www.BetheStarYouAreRadio.com .
We were very honored to receive a letter of recognition of California Assemblywoman, Catherine Baker. You can read it by clicking here.
Read a book this week. Buy a copy of our Be the Star You Are!® 99 Gifts for Living, Loving, Laughing, and Learning to Make a Difference from our store at www.StarStyleRadio.com/store.
Our motto is “Read, lead, succeed. To be a leader, you must be a reader!”
Have a beautiful rejuvenating April.
Cynthia Brian
Founder/Executive Director
Cynthia@BetheStarYouAre.org
Moraga Faire News
The annual Moraga Faire is coming up in about a month. Every year, Be the Star You looks forward to running a booth at this event, as it’s always been a great success and experience for all volunteers. For the most part, our volunteers will be helping out at our booth and offered a variety of tasks to choose from (e.g. face painting, photography, “scouting” for donations and bringing people to our booth) Although I will be providing the volunteers with some snacks and water, you can also bring money to buy from food trucks at the festival. And of course, we won’t keep you confined to the booth at all times- you can take a break from time to time and walk around the park (it’s held at the Moraga Commons Park) to take a look at the other booths. Last year I collected a bunch of pens, notebooks, flashlights, and first aid kits.
The shifts are from 8:30-12:30 and 12:30-4:30. If you choose to stay for the entirety of the event, you will get 8 hours of community service. Each shift counts as four hours. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me via email or text (9252866338). I will be sending out a reminder in a couple of weeks, as well as a few days before the event. Once again, we greatly appreciate your help 🙂 See you there! Chelsea Pelchat
Spotlight on Volunteer, Joven Hundal
“Be the Star You Are is one of those unique nonprofits that helps its volunteers just as much as it helps the community. I can personally attest to the many different benefits and opportunities that it provides. Whether it’s empowering young people through various forms of media or sending books to relieve victims of natural disasters, Cynthia Brian and Be the Star You Are truly care to help. On a weekly basis, teens are able to share their viewpoint on important issues that affect them and others. Our thoughts get broadcast for the entire world to hear. At its core, Be the Star You Are fosters the next crop of world-shakers to develop into their full potential and express themselves!”
Tune in to Express Yourself!™ Teen Radio where Joven is a reporter: www.ExpressYourselfTeenRadio.com
INTERESTED IN BECOMING A RADIO REPORTER
Express Yourself Teen Radio is looking for talented and dedicated individuals to join our radio family of reporters. Young adults ages 13-30 are encouraged to apply. Email Cynthia@BetheStarYouAre.org for information.
The Power of a Smile!
By Karen Kitchel
The power of a smile has been documented by activists, singers, and authors since time immemorial. When we feel great, a smile comes naturally. It’s an outward sign of joy, happiness, appreciation, amusement, excitement, or contentment. Scientists have found that smiling on purpose can help people feel better. Smiling on purpose changes brain chemistry. So it can be a big help to people who are dealing with depression and anxiety. In one study, researchers discovered that people who intentionally smiled, ended up feeling happy.
There was an interesting article in Forbes magazine called “The Untapped Power Of Smiling” written by Ron Gutman, CEO of Health Tap. A study examined the smiles of students in an old yearbook, and measured their well-being and success throughout their lives. By measuring the smiles in the photographs, the researchers were able to predict how fulfilling and long lasting their marriages would be, how highly they would score on standardized tests of well-being and general happiness, and how inspiring they would be to others. The widest smilers consistently ranked highest in all of the above.
3-D ultrasound technology now shows that developing babies appear to smile even in the womb. After they’re born, babies continue to smile, mostly in their sleep, and even blind babies smile in response to the sound of the human voice.
A smile is one of the most basic uniform expressions of all humans. Smiles have the same meaning in all cultures. More than 30% of us smile more than 20 times a day and less than 14% of us smile less than 5 times a day. Children are said to smile as many as 400 times per day! Have you ever wondered why being around children who smile frequently makes you smile more often? Two studies at Uppsala University in Sweden confirmed that other people’s smiles actually suppress the control we usually have over our facial muscles, compelling us to smile. They also showed that it’s very difficult to frown when looking at someone who is smiling. This occurs even among strangers.
In a study conducted in the UK, British researchers found that one smile can provide the same level of brain stimulation as up to 2,000 chocolate bars. And unlike lots of chocolate, lots of smiling can actually make you healthier. Smiling has documented therapeutic effects and has been associated with reduced stress and lowered blood pressure. If that’s not enough, smiling also makes us look good in the eyes of others. A Penn State University study confirmed that when we smile, we not only appear more likeable, but we’re actually perceived to be more competent.
So now, whenever you want to look great and competent, reduce your stress, or whenever you want to feel as good as when you’ve enjoyed a stack of chocolate bars, or if you want to help yourself and others live longer, healthier happier lives, just SMILE!
Karen Kitchel is a Community Volunteer who is passionate about helping those who are homeless or disadvantaged.
Shop, Give, and Get Connected
If you would like to make a direct donation to our giving fund, please visit our Paypal page!
https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/search-cause?charityId=1504&s=3
Ways to Help
1. AmazonSmile donates .5% of purchases http://smile.amazon.com/ch/94-3333882
2. Discounted books at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/shops/be_the_star_you_are_charity
3. Buy or Sell on EBAY:http://givingworks.ebay.com/charity-auctions/charity/be-the-star-you-are-501-c-3/1504/?favorite=link
4. Use GoodSearch to search the web & buy from your favorite stores,. Choose Be the Star You Are as your charity to support. You can log in with Facebook, too! http://www.goodsearch.com/goodto-go/be-the-star-you-are
5. Shop at over 1300 stores on IGIVE: http://www.iGive.com/BTSYA
6. BTSYA Logo Store: http://btsya.rylees.net
7. Giving Assistant: Shop. Earn. Give! Use Giving Assistant to earn cash back at 1800+ popular online stores, then donate a percentage to BTSYA: https://givingassistant.org/np#be-the-star-you-are-inc
If you would like to make a direct donation to our giving fund, please visit our Paypal page! https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/search-cause?charityId=1504&s=3
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Thanks for supporting Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3
Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3
PO Box 376
Moraga, California 94556
www.BetheStarYouAre.org
