A Cultural Thanksgiving
- Cynthia Brian
- 3 hours ago
- 6 min read
MIRACLE MOMENT®
“I am grateful for my life because I have been able to do things that help people understand each other better.” — Nelson Mandela
A MESSAGE from Founder/Director, CYNTHIA BRIAN
The season of gratitude and generosity has arrived. America, our global melting pot, is blessed with extraordinary abundance thanks to the countless immigrants who have made the U.S.A. their home. Except for Native Americans, every person here is a descendant of someone who journeyed from elsewhere. Our nation’s greatest wealth lies in the rich tapestry of cultures that converge, each contributing unique talents, traditions, and strengths that elevate us all.
At Thanksgiving and every day, I give thanks for the diversity that shapes our country. As a child, my parents taught us that humanity is one family: one people, in one nation, living in one world. Kindness, tolerance, and inclusivity were the pillars of our home. “We all bleed red,” my mom would remind us—simple words, powerful truth.
As individuals, we must learn not only to accept our differences but to celebrate them. There is no room for hatred, discrimination, segregation, bigotry, inequality, or prejudice. Intolerance of any kind cannot be excused or endured. A peaceful planet depends on our willingness to see one another fully, to offer respect, dignity, and fairness to all, regardless of gender, race, color, creed, religion, or sexual orientation.
The journey toward acceptance begins at home. As a nation, we’ve taken meaningful steps forward, yet the road ahead remains long. Understanding and empathy are built first within our families, whether biological, adopted, or chosen. Cast aside prejudice. Step into someone else’s shoes. When we treat others as we hope to be treated, life becomes richer, kinder, and more fulfilling.
As Thanksgiving approaches, my heart overflows with gratitude for all who support Be the Star You Are!®. A special bouquet of appreciation goes to the remarkable teens who power this nonprofit and to the parents who inspire their dedication to service.
Embrace your heritage. Celebrate the beautiful mosaic of cultures that nourish a bountiful Thanksgiving.
We share this world. Let every day be a day of gratitude, acceptance, and love. Build a community of caring and sharing. Appreciate one another, and keep spreading that love generously.
With appreciation, gratitude, and love,
Cynthia Brian
Founder/Executive Director
Be the Star You Are!®
PO Box 376
Moraga, California 94556
“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, or worn. It is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.” –Denis Waitley
BTSYA TEEN STARTS CHINESE OPERA COMPANY
After realizing how rarely young people encountered Chinese opera outside their grandparents’ living rooms, BTSYA volunteer and Express Yourself!™ Teen Radio host, Julia Howe, founded Jing Shao Nian.
These are her words:
“I first watched Cantonese opera with my popo and was captivated by the painted faces, embroidered robes, and expressive gestures, but when I mentioned it at school, no one else had ever seen a performance. I wanted to change that. Jing Shao Nian began as a small after-school workshop for fourth- to seventh-graders, teaching not just performance but also the history behind the art: Chinese immigration, censorship, and cultural storytelling. We train students in acting, singing, movement, and stagecraft. One of our favorite workshops is the makeup session, where kids paint traditional opera looks on our teen leaders. It always ends in laughter (and a bit of a mess).”
Student leader, Samantha, chimes in: “It’s important for kids to learn Chinese opera because it keeps our culture alive. If our generation doesn’t carry it on, this beautiful art form could fade away.”
Visit the website (with lots of photos): https://www.jingshaonian.org/
Julia is a proud recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Gold Award.
Julia will host a radio program about cultivating cultures on November 16th at https://sites.libsyn.com/560220 and will be available thereafter wherever you listen to podcasts.
THANKS ON THE TIP OF YOUR TONGUE
by Karen Kitchel
While we celebrate one special day of giving thanks this month, we can enjoy making someone feel appreciated every day. It’s also a great way to energize our body and our soul.
There are big thanks, like when you run out of gas on the highway and an angel appears with a tank full of gas. Or a stranger who picks up all the spilled candy that your little darling scattered on the supermarket floor. Then there’s little thanks, like every time you check out at the convenience store. Acknowledging the cashier, who continues smiling at an unending line of customers, might be the only recognition she’s felt in a week.
In all cases, we’re trying to communicate that we appreciate whatever someone has done. What we sometimes forget when our mouths quietly say “thanks” is to look the person in the eye to acknowledge their positive presence in our day. Adding a couple of words beyond ‘thank you’ usually is what gets remembered — “Thanks for your great service!” or “You are awesome!”
Who To Thank?
You know your favorites, but in case someone has slipped your mind, here are a few others to consider.
Maintenance workers Receptionists Mechanics Coaches Nursing assistants Childcare workers Construction laborers Editors Fast food cooks High school principals Ice cream servers Snow shovelers Butchers Caregivers Organists Truck drivers Pizza makers Librarians Bank tellers Bus drivers.
And A Few More:
The person cleaning the restroom
The guy mopping the floor
Neighbors who pick up trash in the road
Puppies waiting at the door for you to come home
People who anonymously scatter kindness wherever they go
The millions of folks who may never have been thanked
Find someone to thank today. And have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Karen Kitchel is the Kindness Coordinator volunteer with BTSYA. She purchased the book, No Barnyard Bullies, as a gift for every kindergarten student where she is a volunteer teacher. www.scatteringkindness.com You can read more about Karen’s adoption story in the book Be the Star You Are! Millennials To Boomers.
PRESERVING CULTURE, GRATITUDE, AND THANKSGIVING
by Gowri Kamatchi Vijayakumar
‘Preserving culture is about cherishing traditions, languages, and values that shape who we are. In a world that moves fast and blends everything, cultural preservation reminds us to pause, to celebrate where we come from. It can be as simple as cooking a family recipe, learning a traditional dance, or speaking a few words in your grandparents’ language. These moments keep stories alive.
Thanksgiving, at its heart, is a perfect time to express your gratitude not just for what we have, but for the cultural roots that ground us. Sharing tradition across generations or even across communities builds appreciation and understanding. When we honor our heritage with thankfulness, we create a bridge between the old and the new. Preserving culture isn’t about staying in the past–it’s about carrying its beauty forward, with gratitude guiding every step.’
Gowri Kamatchi Vijayakumar, a 16-year-old junior, is a content creator and book review volunteer with Be the Star You Are!®. She has a deep interest in global issues, journalism, storytelling, and climate policies. Her hobbies are reading, running, and rollerblading!
GIVE BOOKS FOR HOLIDAY GIFTS
Books are gifts that keep on giving, as they can be read and re-read not only by you, but your family, friends, and colleagues. For a $140 tax-deductible donation to Be the Star You Are!®, you will receive seven first-edition, autographed books and extras with the proceeds benefiting our youth outreach programs. Visit https://www.bethestaryouare.org/book-gift . If you prefer to purchase individual books, click on the ONLINE STORE at https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org
RADIO BROADCASTS COMMUNICATE, COLLABORATE, AND INNOVATE
Every week under the auspices of Be the Star You Are!® charity and produced by StarStyle® Productions, LLC, listeners are encouraged and inspired on our two international radio broadcasts, StarStyle®-Be the Star You Are!® and Express Yourself!™ Teen Radio. StarStyle® is a lifestyle program bringing information and innovative ideas that will aid with daily living, while Express Yourself!™ is hosted by teens, for teens, with discussions about everything and anything that interests youth today. Both programs are unedited, uncensored, and unapologetically authentic.
Listen to all Express Yourself!™ Teen shows at https://sites.libsyn.com/560220
Listen to StarStyle®-Be the STAR You Are!® shows: https://sites.libsyn.com/556617
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR SANTA DAY
The annual Santa Day at 5 A will be Saturday, Dec. 6th, from 11 am to 2 p.m. in Moraga. It’s always a fun event with treats, hot chocolate, and a photo with Santa. Our Be the Star You Are!® elf, Keerthi, will be available to help little ones get their picture with jolly St. Nick and create holiday crafts. 5 A, 455 Moraga Rd. #F
Moraga, CA 94556 More info and photos at https://www.bethestaryouare.org/events-1/santa-day-at-5-a
DONATE with GIVE BUTTER
ABOUT BE THE STAR YOU ARE!®
Be the Star You Are!® is an all-volunteer organization that operates through contributions, in-kind donations, and proceeds from fundraising events. Be the Star You Are!® does not receive state or federal funding and is solely dependent on contributions from the community and corporations. Be the Star You Are!® is consistently honored as a TOP NON-PROFIT by Guidestar and Great Non-Profits.
Be the Star You Are!® supports all ethnicities and has no religious or political agendas or affiliations. Be the Star You Are!® is proud to have been serving the community, country, and world since 1999.
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” — John F. Kennedy
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A Cultural Thanksgiving : https://cynthiabrian.substack.com/p/a-cultural-thanksgiving?
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