Spirit Week! I loved Spirit Week as a student at Sugar Salem High School, I loved it as a young teacher at Ben Lomond High School and I love, LOVE it as an old teacher, facilitating instruction from a computer next to my kitchen. Lexi Cunningham, SLC School District, has invited all students, parents, teachers and community members to participate in statewide Spirit Week. (Details at #utahschoolspirit ) What a fabulous idea! If I can figure out how hashtags (#) work, I will be participating and I invite you to do the same.
Based on the following truisms, that 1) mimicry is the best form of flattery AND 2) it is a sign of intelligence to recognize utilize good ideas, I decided to institute my own version of Spirit Week and I invite you to join me.
For the next 7 days, starting Monday and continuing through next Sunday, I will be doing a Spirit Week activity every day. Please join me. In the spirit of unity, let’s do this together.
Monday: SCATTER the SPIRIT
In the spirit of the song “Scatter Sunshine” today’s challenge is to spread smiles
In a world where sorrow ever will be known
Where are found the needy and the sad and lone,
How much joy and comfort you can all bestow,
If you scatter sunshine everywhere you go.
Scatter sunshine all along your way.
Cheer and bless and brighten
Every passing day.
Cheer and bless and brighten those around you. Scatter smiles, scatter flowers, scatter seeds, scatter good will and kind words. Wave (with all fingers) at a passerby. Smile at the people in the toilet paper aisle. Leave nice notes on car windshields. Here are some more ideas: https://www.appreciationatwork.com/blog/5-ways-scatter-sunshine/
Tuesday: STRENGTHEN the SPIRIT
The spirit and body are intimately connected; when we strengthen one, we strengthen the other. Today’s challenge is to strengthen the spirit by exercising the body. Take a brisk walk, a leisurely bike ride or see how long you can hold a plank. (The longest time in an abdominal plank position (male) is 8 hr 15 min 15 sec, and was achieved by George Hood (USA) in Naperville, Illinois, USA, on 15 February 2020.)
And do it outside! Just being outside is spirit strengthening.
Wednesday: SEEK the SPIRIT through SERVICE
Look for opportunities to serve. “First observe, then serve” advised Sister Linda K. Burton. (October 2012) Monday’s challenge was broad, today’s is specific. Deliberately, purposefully, intentionally,consciously seek someone to serve. Then do it. Make someone’s day.
Thursday: SALUTE with SPIRIT
Give a shout out to someone. Be it a serviceman or woman, an influential mentor, a kind neighbor, or the newspaper delivery person, choose someone to spotlight. Salute them publicly or privately, with a post on social media or a heartfelt personal note. This is today’s challenge.
Friday: SAVOR the SPIRIT
To savor is to enjoy completely. Today’s challenge is to savor the spirit of gratitude and to reap the benefits thereof.
“..gratitude may be one of the most overlooked tools that we all have access to every day. Cultivating gratitude doesn’t cost any money and it certainly doesn’t take much time, but the benefits are enormous.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/amymorin/2014/11/23/7-scientifically-proven-benefits-of-gratitude-that-will-motivate-you-to-give-thanks-year-round/#397d19d7183c
Look around. Count your blessings. Make a list of the blessings brought by COVID-19…..the forced slowdown, the increased association with family, the decreased association with you-know-who, less traffic, more reading….the blessings are there. List them.
Saturday: SING with SPIRIT
Sing! Or hum...or whistle… My sweet Kath always whistled while she worked. And my friend Ricky has a song for every situation. Singing has amazing benefits, even for those of us who are not musically talented.
https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/21-incredible-benefits-singing-that-will-impress-you.html. Today’s challenge is to sing!
Sing, sing a song
Sing out loud, sing out strong
Sing of good things not bad
Sing of happy not sad
Sing, sing a song
Make it simple to last your whole life long
Don't worry that it's not good enough
For anyone else to hear
Just sing, sing a song
(Made famous by The Carpenters)
Sunday: SHARE the SPIRIT
Share your spirit experiences with others. Share what you felt, share what you learned, share what you know. #spiritweekshare I particularly encourage you to share what you feel, learned, and know about Christ. There is peace in Christ.
Based on the following truisms, that 1) mimicry is the best form of flattery AND 2) it is a sign of intelligence to recognize utilize good ideas, I decided to institute my own version of Spirit Week and I invite you to join me.
For the next 7 days, starting Monday and continuing through next Sunday, I will be doing a Spirit Week activity every day. Please join me. In the spirit of unity, let’s do this together.
Monday: SCATTER the SPIRIT
In the spirit of the song “Scatter Sunshine” today’s challenge is to spread smiles
In a world where sorrow ever will be known
Where are found the needy and the sad and lone,
How much joy and comfort you can all bestow,
If you scatter sunshine everywhere you go.
Scatter sunshine all along your way.
Cheer and bless and brighten
Every passing day.
Cheer and bless and brighten those around you. Scatter smiles, scatter flowers, scatter seeds, scatter good will and kind words. Wave (with all fingers) at a passerby. Smile at the people in the toilet paper aisle. Leave nice notes on car windshields. Here are some more ideas: https://www.appreciationatwork.com/blog/5-ways-scatter-sunshine/
Tuesday: STRENGTHEN the SPIRIT
The spirit and body are intimately connected; when we strengthen one, we strengthen the other. Today’s challenge is to strengthen the spirit by exercising the body. Take a brisk walk, a leisurely bike ride or see how long you can hold a plank. (The longest time in an abdominal plank position (male) is 8 hr 15 min 15 sec, and was achieved by George Hood (USA) in Naperville, Illinois, USA, on 15 February 2020.)
And do it outside! Just being outside is spirit strengthening.
Wednesday: SEEK the SPIRIT through SERVICE
Look for opportunities to serve. “First observe, then serve” advised Sister Linda K. Burton. (October 2012) Monday’s challenge was broad, today’s is specific. Deliberately, purposefully, intentionally,consciously seek someone to serve. Then do it. Make someone’s day.
Thursday: SALUTE with SPIRIT
Give a shout out to someone. Be it a serviceman or woman, an influential mentor, a kind neighbor, or the newspaper delivery person, choose someone to spotlight. Salute them publicly or privately, with a post on social media or a heartfelt personal note. This is today’s challenge.
Friday: SAVOR the SPIRIT
To savor is to enjoy completely. Today’s challenge is to savor the spirit of gratitude and to reap the benefits thereof.
“..gratitude may be one of the most overlooked tools that we all have access to every day. Cultivating gratitude doesn’t cost any money and it certainly doesn’t take much time, but the benefits are enormous.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/amymorin/2014/11/23/7-scientifically-proven-benefits-of-gratitude-that-will-motivate-you-to-give-thanks-year-round/#397d19d7183c
Look around. Count your blessings. Make a list of the blessings brought by COVID-19…..the forced slowdown, the increased association with family, the decreased association with you-know-who, less traffic, more reading….the blessings are there. List them.
Saturday: SING with SPIRIT
Sing! Or hum...or whistle… My sweet Kath always whistled while she worked. And my friend Ricky has a song for every situation. Singing has amazing benefits, even for those of us who are not musically talented.
https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/21-incredible-benefits-singing-that-will-impress-you.html. Today’s challenge is to sing!
Sing, sing a song
Sing out loud, sing out strong
Sing of good things not bad
Sing of happy not sad
Sing, sing a song
Make it simple to last your whole life long
Don't worry that it's not good enough
For anyone else to hear
Just sing, sing a song
(Made famous by The Carpenters)
Sunday: SHARE the SPIRIT
Share your spirit experiences with others. Share what you felt, share what you learned, share what you know. #spiritweekshare I particularly encourage you to share what you feel, learned, and know about Christ. There is peace in Christ.
RSS Feed
