A Five Star Day

In the high school classroom where I teach, I ask my students a “Question of the day” everyday. Some days they feel like inspired questions directly tied to my curriculum, other days I’m grasping at straws trying to think of a good question that won’t bore my students. As I tried to come up with a question this week I was stuck. My students are in the thick of senioritis which takes on a whole new form when you add the stress of pandemic, innumerable quarantines and the challenge of community building while social distancing. I didn’t want an eye roll question, I wanted to ask them something that could help them see their day in a different light. Suddenly it came to me, “What would make your day a five start day?”

I was not sure what to expect. Would they turn to big events, unlikely happenings, or monumental moments? Of the 68 students I asked last week these were the most common responses: a good lunch, nice weather, time with my family, time with my friends, when someone smiles at me unexpectedly.

We are nourished and sustained through the little things. Sometimes our brain can’t comprehend that. But this exercise reminded me that the small acts of presence are what fill our souls.

This week, what will make your day a Five Star Day?