If you are going to work on Labor Day, you should be working to spread shine.  At least that's my philosophy.

Last month Heather, Cheryl, and I inaugurated Shineworks - a monthly ritual we stumbled on in June, during our House of Shine 5k.

The idea behind Shineworks is simple.  Power the planet with shine by using an everyday item to spread a little kindness in your corner of the world.  I select what item we will use, but you decide: (1) how you will use it, (2) where and to whom your shineworks will be revealed, and (3) when during the week your Shineworks will be completed.

Last month the everyday item participants were assigned to use was a paper towel roll.

I turned my paper towel rolls into magic wands.  I covered them in black paper and added white tips and stars.  I stuffed the paper towel rolls with magics tricks, a $2.00 coupon to Baskin Robbins, and a note wishing the recipient a "magical" day.  The best part was having my boys, and family friends, join me at Starbucks where we gave them away.

The worst part is I took ZERO pictures to share with you.

Another participant cut her paper towel rolls into smaller pieces and then used them to make mini flower vases.  She filled the makeshift vases with flowers and placed them in public places.  Still another reader turned her paper towel roll into a Shine Baton.  She painted the roll yellow, wrote words on it, and encouraged anyone in possession to do an act of kindness and then pass the baton along.

You could dismiss me, thinking you are too busy, that you have too much on your mind, or that you are too much of a realist.  Or, you can accept that powering the planet with shine requires this small, but distinctive tribe of readers, to be positive, tenacious, and relentlessly passionate about doing what others will not make time for. 

Instead of dismissing me, how about:

• Calling a friend and make a Shineworks date for later this week?
• Forwarding this to a colleague and then trading text messages about what unsuspecting person in your office you will target?
• Using dinner time to brainstorm with your family all the ways you can join forces to have some Shineworks fun?
• Challenging your boyfriend or girlfriend to do something different than the usual dinner and a movie?

Whether going it alone or finding a Shineworks partner in crime, there are a few more things you will want to know:

You will want to know that you have until Friday, September 10 at midnight to complete you Shineworks.  You will want to know we have a Community Forum labeled, "Shineworks" where participants can post pictures or tell stories about your adventures in spreading shine.  You should definitely know that anyone who participates in Shineworks can order a Powered By Shine t-shirts for $12.00, instead of $20.00.  And, last but not least, you should definitely know that the item you must use this month is...

POPCORN!

Shining off until tomorrow...