MIRACLE MOMENT®
“All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need”
The Beatles
A MESSAGE FROM FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CYNTHIA BRIAN
 February is American Heath Month and Black History Month. It also celebrate two significant holidays, Valentine’s Day and Presidents’ Day.
American Heart Month encourages us to take care of our hearts by motivating individuals to adopt healthy lifestyles to present heart disease.
Black History Month began in 1926 to celebrate Negro History Week because the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas, two Americans who shaped African American history were on February 12 and February 14th. In 1976, President Gerald Ford launched Black History Month.
Valentine’s Day, with its third century roots in the Roman Empire emboldens us to share the love. The Roman festival of Lupercalia, which celebrated the coming of spring and included fertility rites and other activities morphed into a minor Western Christian feast day honoring a Christian martyr named Saint Valentine. Today it is a commercial celebration of affection, love, and romance.
Presidents’ Day, originally established in 1885 to recognize George Washington, has since 1971’s’s Uniform Monday Holiday Act, been a three day weekend honoring all Presidents.
The single message that I understand from all of these commemorations is the necessity for all of us to increase our love quotient. The times have been tough and everyone has been challenged. People are fatigued. We all are looking forward to hugging our loved ones again.
This month share your love in safe, simple ways. Love is more than romance. Everyone craves appreciation, attention, and approval. Write a note to a friend. Pick up the phone. Smile at a stranger. Leave flowers for a neighbor. Offer a compliment. Congratulate a success. Make a donation to charity. (We hope you’ll chose Be the Star You Are!®)
And don’t forget self-care. It may be the most important love of all.
For an hour of power focusing on health at home and staying safe as you navigate the pandemic, vaccine, and life, tune in to StarStyle ®-Be the Star You Are!® self-care special on the Empowerment channel, https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/128331/health-at-home-prune-and-plan-vaccine-rollout
To find other ways to share the love and survive the pandemic happily, read on.
Remember, love always wins, kindness always prevails, and smiles keep us happy.
Wishing you a very loving February. Wear your mask, keep your distance, and be safe and sound.
Sending virtual hugs,
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
SCATTERING VALENTINE KINDNESS
 By Karen Kitchel
We often remember our spouses, kids, or special friends on Valentine’s Day. But how about reaching folks who may not know what it’s like to feel special? Keep it simple. Pick up a bag of little chocolate hearts and put them in your pocket. Wearing your mask, when you are out for a walk or going to an appointment, look for someone whose holiday you can brighten. Maintain social distancing, smile, and say “Here’s a little treat for you, CATCH, and have a Happy Valentine’s Day!” Toss the candy gently while you scatter Valentine kindness.
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 
WELCOME TO NEW EXPRESS YOURSELF! REPORTER, DIYA
HAPPILY SURVIVING THE PANDEMIC: Two Teens Offer Tips
 If you’ve been sheltering-at-home, doing on-line school, and missing getting together with friends and family, two Be the Star You Are!® volunteers who are also reporters on Express Yourself! Teen Radio, Nihal Gil and Andrea Smith, spotlight how you can make this time a very happy and exciting memory. Try bringing a positive outlook, these tips are not just for teens but for anyone who wants to stay upbeat and happy during these trying times. Meet our youth reporters: https://www.starstyleradio.com/expressyourselfteenradio
Nihal Gil offers activities that interest him and keep him excited. Hopefully they will encourage you as well.
- Play sports as it is important to stay active. His favorite sport is golf which he finds relaxing.
- Spend time with family. On the weekends, watch movies together or play board games.
- Volunteer to help your community.
- Game online with friends, cousins, and others to socialize safely and laugh more.
Nihal Gil is a reporter on Express Yourself! Teen Radio with a segment called Spark the Interest. As a 16 year old sophomore at Turlock High School where he plays varsity golf, is involved in Key Club, and expresses his love for music by playing piano. He teaches STEM/Robotics to elementary students and has won an award for Outstanding Community Service. His goal is to spark in interest for health and wellness for teens globally. https://www.voiceamerica.com/show/2014/express-yourself
 Andrea Smith, presents fun, creative ways to hang out with friends safely during the pandemic. You can listen to a full hour of her tips at Voice America Network, Empowerment Channel: https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/128497/how-to-survive-happily-during-the-pandemic
- Socially distanced picnics! Set up a hangout at the beach or other nature place and have each person bring their own meal with their favorite foods! This is a great way to see your friends and eat delicious food all while staying socially distanced and safe!
- Socially distanced yoga! Sick of staying in your room during virtual school or work? Plan a yoga day with your besties to relieve your daily stresses and anxiety. Any park or beach would be the perfect location and of course staying 6 feet apart!
- Socially distanced painting session! Feeling like getting creative during quarantine? This is a perfect way to hang out with friends while doing something to spark your creative juices. Plan to meet in either a park or other outdoor location while staying socially distanced to have an awesome time!
- Birthday drive-through! Is it your best friend’s birthday coming up?! Plan a surprise birthday drive through for your friend and make him/her feel extra special on their big day! Have each person bring a gift and a card and leave it at the front porch of the birthday girl/boy.
Andrea Smith is a senior at Santa Margarita Catholic High school and will be attending Georgetown University in the fall of 2021. She loves the outdoors and is always up for a new adventure. She is extremely passionate about global politics through her devotion to Model United Nations. Andrea finds beauty in the simple things in life, is an avid swimmer, and also loves to share ways on how to live a happy and healthy lifestyle! She is a reporter for In the Spotlight and host on Express Yourself Teen Radio and looks forward to a career as a media personality. https://www.voiceamerica.com/show/2014/express-yourself
SHARING THE LOVE: NEW WORLD—A Choral Production from St. Marys Glee CLUB
 Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, widespread fires, power outages, political unrest, and cold and windy outdoor rehearsals, the Glee Club was able to come together to create this virtual choir video of Björk’s New World. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51faeIB67so
EDU_TAINMENT WITH BE THE STAR YOU ARE! RADIO
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 on
You’ll meet authors, actors, artists, activists, musicians, poets, scientists, educators, and other creatives. Enjoy our upbeat, authentic, and fun radio parties on the Voice America Network Empowerment Channel or wherever you like to listen.
DIRECT LINKS you can use for Be the Star You Are!®
For 2021: Make a DONATION through PAYPAL GIVING FUND and PAYPAL with 100% going to BTSYA with NO FEES: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504
Share the Love, Celebrate Black History Month, Be Heart Healthy, and Happy Presidents’ Day
With gratitude from Be the Star You Are!®
PO Box 376
Moraga, California 94556
https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org
http://www.BTSYA.org
LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED! LOVE!
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