An inspirational guide and planner on how to be a Lantern
Let's be Lanterns
featuring
Sunny the Sunshine Bear
How to be Lanterns This planner, journal and calendar are designed to help you become a lantern by creating happiness and fulfillment in life by embracing the power of positive thinking, mindfulness, gratitude, and self-development.
Our practices will help you become your best self, adopt a positive outlook on life, practice gratitude, and reflect on your days, weeks, and months - mastering success and happiness, one day at a time, becoming your very own lantern.
You will be encouraged to:Â
- Set goals & dreams to help you become a lantern. - Write down goals that you want to achieve and the action plans you will take. - Integrate more of what makes you happy into your daily life. - Plan to make changes to the things that make you unhappy. - Learn to see the positive in every situation. - Learn to harness your own personal power, build mental strength, and adopt a growth mindset - Start each day with a positive and exciting thought. - End each day with gratitude - Evaluate your energy and happiness level. - Reflect on your week & month and the lessons learned. - Set goals for improvement.
We glow when we have
Unity HAPPINESS
DETERMINATION
CELEBRATION
FRIENDSHIP
Relaxation
GRATITUDE
"If we are to have any hope for the future, those who have lanterns must pass them on to others."
Schools United
St. Thomas More Middle School - Malta The Observatory School - England Gymnasio Paralimniou - Cyprus Escola Pia - Spain 2nd Primary School of Giannitsa - Greece EB São Domingos - Portugal Collège Elsa Triolet, - France A. Volta High School - Italy EB S. Pedro da Cova - Portugal
ł
Publiczna Szko a Podstawowa - Poland 1rst Junior High School of Markopoulos - Greece
Š Simona Kosa Podbrdo - Slovenia
O
Elementary school Kajzerica, Croatia St. Cyril and Methodius - Bulgaria
Unity Dear Lanterns, Unity means two or more people, groups joining together to act as one. This always involves compromise. Everybody has to give up something. The amazing thing is that the individual parties usually get back far more than they put in.
This project is unique. We brought unity by building bridges of friendship and happiness with our European friends who are different from us in terms of culture, religion, etc. All Schoolmates have created a network of schools. The classrooms around Europe are in touch and learn about each other’s cultures and how each one is already working to build a united world. We want to make a change. Being a lantern is a challenge. We can’t keep what we have learnt or experienced for ourselves. We should share it among all people. When we give we get twice.
My lanterns understand that we should try not to label people because they come from another faith, cultural, social and ethnic background. This project has also shown that, despite many differences, unity is possible.
“No matter where we come from, there is one language we can all speak and understand from birth, the language of the heart, love.” Imania Margria, Secrets of My Heart Remember – ideas are not just ideas. They are the seeds of action that change the world!
Always United Sunny
Sunny
the
Sunshine
Bear
Lets
be
Lanterns
So powerful is the light of unity, it can illuminate the whole world
Meet the Authors Coming together is beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is successÂ
Our true nationality is mankind.
“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.� Buddha
Introduction Lets
be
Lanterns
Dear Lanterns, I am Sunny I have come down a rainbow to brighten up your days. I will share with you my happiness and tips on how to be happy, but I need helpers to spread out the cheer. I invite you to be my assistants, my lanterns, together we can really light up the world.
You need to be happy, to know how to take care of yourself and relax, make friends, work for unity, make a positive change and be thankful for what you have.
You, yes you, have the power to make the world a better place, simply by being your special sparkly self. I hope you will enjoy this book.
Lots of love, and bear hugs, Sunny, The Sunshine Bear
Lets
be
Lanterns
Sunny
the
Sunshine
Bear
Sunny the Sunshine Bear DATE
2018
THINGS TO DO
Travel around Europe Meet my new friends Say thank you Spread happiness Set myself goals Inspire others Use my calendar
NOTES
"Hi! I am Sunny the Sunshine Bear. I am travelling to all of the schools to meet the authors of this beautiful book. With this guide and calendar you too can become a Lantern."
LIVE SIMPLY. DREAM BIG. BE GRATEFUL. LAUGH LOTS.
If you light a lantern for another it will also brighten your own way Nichiren
Lanterns of Europe We have taken photographs of lanterns from our countries, we hope you enjoy them. "You are not one you are a Thousand. Just Light your Lantern".
France
Spain
Portugal
England Greece Spain Poland Our family is growing.
Greece
Cyprus Hillary and Chris Johnson are expecting their third child!
Poland Portugal
Portugal Cyprus
Malta
Italy
Lanterns of
"If you light a lantern for another it will also
Europe
brighten your own way."
Cyprus
France
Poland
England
Cyprus Greece
Malta
Croatia
Spain Slovenia
Greece England Poland
Spain
Poland
Unity is strength. . . when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.
Unity With Sunny we join together.
Happiness Lets
be
Lanterns
Dear Lanterns,
Shedding some light into our personal growth, we understand the value of giving as well as having gratitude even for the smallest of things . As light providers, we hope our souls are always filled with kindness and if at times of weakness we fall, then we catch each other with love and patience.
We try to have wisdom, so we transfer it to those in need. Our aim is to be able to give love and hope in times where people tend to forget how much important these virtues are.
We, within our school communities, are happy to be having this opportunity, with eTwinning, to create, engage and collaborate with so many countries, to learn from and with each other aiming on only giving and receiving good.
My lanterns have shared with you what makes them happy... use the planner to plan activities to put some happiness into your life.
With love and happiness, Sunny
Lets
be
Lanterns
Sunny
the
Sunshine
Bear
“The most important thing is to enjoy your life —to be happy— it's all that matters.”
"Hap pine ss is ... pla ying Bask etba ll."
g velin ...tra ess is in p "Hap ces." w pla to ne
"Happ iness is... sp endin g time w ith Su nny."
!" riting is...w iness p p a "H
Happiness The Art of being Happy is....making "Happiness y!" others happ
ing ... sing iness is "Happ " iends. with fr ncing and da
"Ha ppin ess is ... spen ding time with natu re."
y ating m ess is...e "Happin " e foods. favourit
"Happ iness is...wa tching my favou rite TV progra mmes ."
"Hap pines s is... makin g card s for peop le."
ying ...enjo ess is in p p "Ha ing." danc
"Happin ess is ... playing with friends."
g silly ...takin iness is "Happ " friends. s with photo
boxing!" ess is.... "Happin
"Hap pines s is .. workin g togeth er on proje cts."
iving ...rece iness is "Happ hugs"
"Happ iness is...pla ying footb all."
Happiness The Art of being Happy "The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or even touched-they must be felt by the "Happin ess is...h elping others."
g .listenin ess is.. "Happin c." to musi
"Happ iness is...th e flow ers in Spri ng."
cuddle ess is...a "Happin pets."." from your
Discove "Hap pin ring the beau ty and treasure ess is...e xplo s in our ring town m our cit ake us y." happy
heart"
"Happin ess is...p laying with m y dolls."
a eeing s is...s pines p a H " " unset. tiful s beau
"Happiness is...helping the environment."
e is...th iness "Happ ." er sea summ
"Happin ess is.. .the su n setting over th e sea"
g ...havin iness is "Happ iends fr r u h yo fun wit mily." and fa
"Happ iness is...sta ing a ring a read .. is t the n ss e in ig p ht sky p a H " with y ." k our boo good friend s."
t ing ou is...go iness p p a "H ds." y frien with m
"Happin ess is.. .being the passen ger on a motorb ike."
r ts fo g gif akin m is ss pine "Hap rs." othe
"Happ iness is...cre ating piece s of A rt."
ing .spend ess is.. "Happin ." r family ith you time w
be happy today Use this page to plan things to do that make you happy
THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK
DATE
6 THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY
1 2 3 4 5 6 MAKE NOTES ABOUT THINGS THAT HAVE MADE YOU HAPPY TODAY
LIVE SIMPLY. DREAM BIG. BE GRATEFUL. LAUGH LOTS.
Celebration Lets
be
Lanterns
Dear Lanterns, Let's Celebrate life!
Let's Celebrate our every day lives by feeling contempt, happy, grateful and positive!Â
We are so blessed to be living in peace and having this opportunity to say it, feel it, celebrate it!
Celebration is an opportunity to value some important things in life, such as the gift of life, or the beginning of creating a family, or love, or success, or even a breakthrough!Â
We are celebrating the light in our hearts and the opportunity we have to become lanterns!
My lanterns have shared festivities together and taken photographs of their celebrations. They have included a calendar for you to plan your celebrations this year.
Â
With cheer in my heart, Sunny
Lets
be
Lanterns
Sunny
the
Sunshine
Bear
The more you praise and celebrate in life, the more you have to celebrate
Celebration
Lets come together to celebrate
Here are some World Celebration dates for you to celebrate. From September you can use the 'Let's be Lanterns' calendar.
Relaxation Lets
be
Lanterns
Dear Lanterns,
Our stress and tiredness make us unhappy, impatient and frustrated. It can even affect our health. We are often so busy we feel there is no time to stop and meditate! But meditation actually gives you more time by making your mind calmer and more focused. A simple ten or fifteen minute breathing meditation can help you to overcome your stress and find some inner peace and balance. Meditation can also help us to understand our own mind. We can learn how to transform our mind from negative to positive, from disturbed to peaceful, from unhappy to happy.
My lanterns have taken time to meditate and relax. They have taken photographs for you to see and to show you how to meditate too.
Wishing you peace and calmness, Sunny
Lets
be
Lanterns
Sunny
the
Sunshine
Bear
Calm minds bring inner strength
Relaxation Calm minds bring inner strength
Dalai Lama
Top Tips for Meditation by lanterns of Europe
Regular meditation helps in relieving stress and thus improves the quality of sleep. Less stress means more happiness. You will live a happier and healthier life with meditation.
GROUP MEDITATION
People who meditate are less stressed, healthier, they sleep better, and they have a more positive outlook on life. Simply put, meditation makes you a happier person! Try our tips and techniques from the following pages.
MEDITATE WITH A FRIEND
TAKE TIME TO RELAX
TAKE TIME TO REFLECT
Relaxation Calm minds bring inner strength
Colour Meditation – At the beginning of the day, o choose a colour and decide to notice that colour on a given signal (This could be the ringing of a bell, code word, etc.)
– Take a minute to notice the objects and people wearing that colour. (I like to choose colours that I think will be more difficult to come across as it does make me really stay focused in the moment.) – Guide them by asking them questions: -Have you noticed something or someone you have never noticed before?
You are important. Taking time for yourself is important. Use this jotter to make sure you plan at least a few moments for yourself every day to enjoy life.
Friendship Friendship,
Love
and
Kindness
Dear Lanterns,
This is the most important aspect in the lives of all young people! People who we can relate with, people who we treasure as friends, people who teach us to connect, to understand, to communicate, to sympathise, to empathise. People we can trust and can be trusted.
Our friends are invaluable to us. Therefore, we are all invaluable to each other. We are here to uplift one another while we are on our down site, we are here to feel the happiness and celebrate with each other on out up site, we are simply here for each other!
My lanterns have written poems about love, friendship and kindness...I hope they have inspired you to write one too.
From one friend to another, Sunny
Lets
be
Lanterns
Sunny
the
Sunshine
Bear
Don't expect your friend to be a perfect person, help your friend be a perfect person.
Poetry A SELECTION OF POEMS ABOUT FRIENDSHIP, LOVE AND KINDNESS
Malta Life can be sunshine On sunny days with bright blue skies, or life can Be raindrops that fall Like tears from our eyes Buth with love we will rise and shine. Shania Rizzo & Dyan Scicluna
Portugal May they practice daily good deeds because kindness turns into kindness May they know how to listen with attention and talk with their heart because that way they will learn better May they cherish school because it is their second home
Cyprus Love is… Everything. Love is… Happiness. Love is… The first bite after being hungry. Love is… When you look at someone you love.
Poland Love is red, friendship is colourful, we are happy and the world is beautiful.
England Love is ...butterflies in your tummy. Love is ...trust and loyalty. Love is...love and lust. Love is...not being lonely Love is…I mean really is, the answer
Greece We are laughing along, I am happy you are strong, We are excited, we are beautiful. All lazy all day long.
Bulgaria Love is my small world where I can see my friends and my family Love is a time when I can smile When I can play….
Italy When I look at you I feel less empty It is as if the sun took the place of the moon, Love gives energy to the world!
Spain Love is the only word that describes these feelings All, everything that I understand, I only understand it because I love. You don’t love someone because they’re perfect You love someone for their imperfection.
France Love is... A touch Hearts Hugs Kisses Beauty
Write your own poem on this page
Poetry is truth in its Sunday clothes. (Joseph Roux)
Determination Lets
be
Lanterns
Dear Lanterns,
We are here to succeed, we have come to this earth so show our magnificent light and to become a lantern for the rest of the world!
Feeling the need to accomplish, comes the will to survive, thrive and achieve! School work, exams, university goals, career aspirations, living goals.
Determination is very powerful, as it is a strong weapon for never giving up and always striving for more! Always being humble and respectful, we value our need and determination to grow strong and be fair!
My lanterns have completed tasks to make a change. Use these as inspiration to plan your own goals and make a change in the World.
With fire in my heart, Sunny
Lets
be
Lanterns
Sunny
the
Sunshine
Bear
When people are determined they can overcome anything
Determination Making a difference in the world together
Everything is daring for those who dare not do anything - Fernando Pessoa
Environment
Pupils in Bulgaria have made different green activities to help the environment, to make it better for living. They have created posters and presentations. They also have made feeders for birds. Pupils in England did a litterpick to clean up the school and the surrounding community.
We have united together to make a difference. On this page you can see some of the actions we have taken. We hope this inspires you to make a changes and actions to change the world to a better place.
Peace
Human Rights
Pupils in Poland have collected words/sentences related to what peace means for the people around them The words were written down in small colourful flowers, to create a blossoming garden. This garden represented the colourful life we all share.
Slovenian pupils have joined Write for Rights organised by Amnesty International. They are making a difference by sending letters for those whose human rights are violated. We strongly believe every individual can help to change the world for the better.
I have the dreams of the word inside me - Alvaro de Campos
BE DETERMINED TO DO LIST
PLANNING
DATE: WHAT I WANT TO ACHIEVE
CHALLENGES
WHAT I NEED TO DO
ACTIONS
GOALS
RESULT
NOTES
Gratitude Lets
be
Lanterns
Dear Lanterns,
We are living a fast and busy life: school, private lessons, training, studying etc. Sometimes we go on social media and get envious of our friends and acquaintances, unappreciative of what we have. We forget how lucky we are that have friends, family, our health, food, a roof to live under, and so much more. We are so blessed.
As soon as you wake up in the morning, thank God or your lucky stars that you are alive. Make sure that you show others your appreciation to your loved ones, give thanks. Close your eyes and feel the wind on your face, enjoy the moment. Before you go to sleep, remember all the good things in your life. Be happy!
My lanterns have been busy showing their appreciation and gratitude. They have planted flowers, written cards and letters and baked cakes to show gratitude to others. Use their examples as inspiration and say "thank you" to someone today!
Gratitude is the best attidude.
With love and gratitude, Sunny
Lets
be
Lanterns
Sunny
the
Sunshine
Bear
As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them
Gratitude Time to appreciate and say 'thank you'
John F Kennedy
We sent gratitude postca rds to people who wor k in our school
'thank ants to say We gave pl you'
We se nt 'tha nk you cards' to people import ant to us.
ns with the shared Lanter We made and s and Christma ht Lig ce Bethlehem Pea ors. ghb nei s and ong relative greetings am
We ha ve ma de card s to sa y 'thank you' to the pe ople w ho work in our sc hool..
nk you s to tha e card d a m We nes. loved o to our
We have made card s to say 'thank you' .
say akes to made c e v a h We rents. our pa you' to 'thank
We sen t cards to Sunn y to thank h im for v isiting u s.
My Gratitude Planner We hope we have inspired you to show your appreciation. Use this planner to help you plan how to show your own gratitude.
DATE
THINGS I AM THANKFUL FOR:
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
DAY
PEOPLE I AM THANKFUL FOR:
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
EXPERIENCES I AM THANKFUL FOR:
ACTIONS TO TAKE: