- T A LA T H E SH I NELES S S TAR -
For _____________________________________ to help you find your shine.
Up in the great, great sky, a star sat looking at the
distance, wondering again about how the other stars can twinkle so brightly—
“Siiigh. How are they doing that? Why am I not like them?”
That star is named Tala. Unlike the other stars you see in the night sky, Tala is shineless. But just like the other stars, Tala also wants to find his shine. Restless to do so, he decides to go on a journey.
Before you get to help Tala on his journey, you first have to finish these tasks:
- C H E C KLI S T -
On his first stop, he met a Floating Rock. Tala asked him, “Excuse me, do you know where I can find my shine?” Floating Rock said, “Yes…but I can’t tell you.” Tala asked, “But why?” “Because it’s something you need to work for,” said Floating Rock. “What should I do?” asked Tala.
Suddenly— “Oh no, look out!!” Tala shouted before Floating Rock could give an answer. Floating Rock got hit by an even bigger rock!
“Help! Can you help me become whole again?” Scared and afraid to make mistakes, Tala said, “No, I don’t think I can.” “Yes you can!” “No, I can’t…” “Just try!”
Do you think Tala can? Because if she can help Floating Rock, you can finish your tasks too!
- C H E C KLI S T -
Now help Tala connect the pieces of Floating Rock.
“You did it!” Floating Rock cheered. “I didn’t think I could do it at first...” Tala murmured. “But you did it.” “Yes, I did!” Tala exclaimed.
Tala felt good about himself. He left Floating Rock with a small smile on his face, and went on with his journey. Little did he know that he was slowly changing.
On his way, Tala saw a Fiery Comet wooosh! in front of him. He got distracted with what he saw, and for a moment, he forgot about his goal...
But again—Fiery Comet woooshed! in front of him! Tala tried to chase Fiery Comet. They passed by other planets and other stars, but Tala couldn’t catch up with her!
Will Tala be able to catch Fiery Comet? Finish these tasks and get a boost from your stars so you can help Tala!
- C H E C KLI S T -
Help Tala catch up with Fiery Comet!
Finally, Fiery Comet stopped. Tala got very excited. When he was about to approach her, Fiery Comet asked, “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
Tala was confused. What was he forgetting? He just remembered wanting to chase her. “I see that you are confused. I guess my fire distracted you,� said Fiery Comet.
Then, Tala suddenly remembered. He wanted to find his shine. “How can I forget? How can I be so easily distracted?� Tala worried.
“I can’t believe I forgot about finding my shine!” Tala was embarrassed. “That’s okay. Don’t feel too bad about it. We all make mistakes.” said the Fiery Comet.
“But this keeps happening to me. I guess I will never be able to find it…” “Giving up is the only thing that will keep you from finding it,” Fiery Comet said.
“So what should I do? I just want to be like the other stars. Do you know where I can find my shine?” Tala asked. “I cannot answer that,” she said. “But why?” he asked.
“You don’t need to understand everything right now. Just go on with your journey and don’t feel bad about yourself too much. Goodbye.” Fiery Comet rushed away right after. Tala was confused, but he thought about what she said. He realized that he should not be easily discouraged when he makes mistakes. He realized that he should learn to forgive himself.
Tala felt good about himself.
Tala is slowly starting to shine. Help him shine more by finishing these tasks:
- C H E C KLI S T -
Tala went on with his journey to find his shine. On his way, he met Saturn, the planet with rings. “Hello, Saturn.” greeted Tala. Saturn smiled and greeted back, “Hi Tala. What can I help you with?”
“I’ve been searching for my shine. Do you know where I can find it?” “Uhm…” Saturn was nervous. “Please, I need to know. Nobody wants to tell me.” Tala said, tearing up.
“Oh…please don’t cry. Why do you want to know, anyway?” asked Saturn. “I just want to be like the other stars.” “Why? Don’t you think you’re good as you are?” Tala didn’t know what to say.
“Comparing yourself to others will not make you happy. I used to wonder why I have these rings while the other planets do not…I wanted to get rid of it, but I couldn’t.” “How do you feel about it?” Tala asked. “I used to be so sad and envious, but then I realized that my rings made me unique. They make me who I am. Because of that, I’m happy.”
Show off the rings that make Saturn unique!
“But I don’t have anything that makes me special...I don’t shine, and I forget, and get distracted a lot.” Tala wept. “Of course you have something that makes you special! You have travelled this far and you didn’t give up. You are very persistent.”
Tala was pleased. “I am…persistent,” he said. He felt good about himself and he shined a bit more.
Are you as persistent as Tala? Show it by finishing your tasks!
- C H E C KLI S T -
“You’re shining!” Saturn exclaimed. They were both surprised.
“I am?!” Tala couldn’t believe it. “Do it again!” Saturn demanded.
“I am persistent!” Tala shouted. He shined once again. “There you go! Go on with your journey so you can find out how to shine even brighter!”
Tala and Saturn said their goodbyes. Tala left Saturn feeling great, his smile getting bigger.
Tala headed on with his journey. He passed by a lot of stars, comets, meteors, planets, and moons. This was the longest part of his journey. He was thinking about many things. He remembered what his friends told him. “Floating Rock taught me to believe in myself and to not be afraid to try.�
“Fiery Comet told me to forgive myself when I make mistakes. Saturn convinced me that I am special because I am very persistent.� Tala thought. His realizations made him more satisfied with himself. He shined just a little bit brighter.
Near the end of his long journey, he realized that he was getting close to the brightest stars. “Wow, you’re shining bright today Tala!” Someone said.
Who do you think will be Tala’s new friend? Show us through the box below!
Finish these tasks to know who Tala’s new friend is!
- C H E C KLI S T -
A friendly star who seemed a bit dimmer than the other stars appeared. “So I see you’ve figured out how to shine?” asked Friendly Star. “Well...I think so? But not as bright as the others yet. How about you?” Tala answered.
“Watch me!� Friendly Star jumped and stretched her five points out wide, with the biggest smile on her face, and shined the brightest shine Tala has ever seen. He was in awe.
“Wow!!!” Tala exclaimed. “How did you do that??”
Friendly Star beamed at him. She lowered herself to Tala’s level again and explained, “It might not be obvious at first, and it might even be difficult. But all you have to do is look inside yourself, Tala. Think of the things that make you feel good about yourself!”
Tala was surprised because finally, someone told him where to find his shine… It was in him all along. Looking back, he also realized why his other friends couldn’t have told him sooner. If they had, he wouldn’t have gotten this far. If they had, he wouldn’t have had all those experience with them which taught him to appreciate his strengths
“Go on, try it Tala! What are you waiting for?” Friendly Star shouted excitedly.
So Tala thought of the things that made him proud of himself. “I am very persistent. I never gave up. I listened to my friends well. I am friendly. I am nice. I am smart.” “Don’t stop Tala! Keep going!” Friendly Star cheered. “I am forgiving. I love myself! I believe in myself!!”
And at that moment, Tala—once the shineless star— shined the brightest up in the great, great sky.
Congratulations! You’ve helped Tala find his shine, now it’s time to find yours! Spot the changes Tala went through to find out how.