When I was a teacher, I had student teachers in my classroom. Pokemon cards were very popular and I saved all the energy cards and kept them in my pocket. When I saw a teacher who was feeling really tired or frustrated, I would just quietly lay an energy card on the table in front of them and it would bring them a big smile and they would get back at it. I like your idea of giving people stickers for everyday things. Keep doing your good work, Brad.
Brilliant. Haha. You’re out here restoring HP and boosting morale, like a one person Pokemon Center for teachers. You’re better than a Max potion and Lucky egg combined. A real MVP.
"benevolent ruler of minor celebrations" is a beautiful thought and something I am going to carry with me... to think, just a sticker in my pocket is a minor celebration waiting to happen.
Natalia, I'm embarrassed to admit how happy I was when I wrote that part of the email. So, thank you for noticing it. Haha. GOLD STAR FOR YOU. I love bringing a dramatic intensity to something so silly and minute, but it doesn't erase that it feels this important sometimes to the recipient! And it *is* a big deal! You're a big deal.
Thank you Brad for this wonderful read and perspective!! I actually started giving myself star stickers for each day there is physical movement in my life (read: not hours at the gym, movement 🙂)! Stars for us all ⭐️
I lead a weekly storytime at Barnes & Noble. After we read a book (we've read Fail-a-bration and The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination - both of which the children loved!), I hand out a coloring page and stickers!! The children color and decorate their pages with stickers. Parents tell me it is something they look forward to each week. The children get stickers for something - being their amazing selves and acquiring a love of books <3
Now you’re really speaking my language STICKERS and BOOKS? Plus coloring? I’m so in. Honored you’d share the books too! Thank you! I’m sure those kiddos and families are grateful for the way a sticker giver outer like you is at the helm! Thanks for being generous with the stickers, the fun and the noticing
You are hilarious and wise. I have this little feature in my newsletter called Feat of Adulting in which I award myself gold stars for various grown-up accomplishments, most of which are invisible. Anyone who shares their feat of adulting in the comments gets a gold star too. Emoji gold star, that is. Come to think of it, maybe that’s why I ❤️ emojis so much? 🤔 anyway, may we all notice and appreciate being noticed. PS: free stickers on all your produce!
Okay, first of all: YOU are the best, Asha. Thank you. I am honored to receive a gold star from the Official Feat of Adulting council. *I shall wear it proudly on my metaphorical chore chart.*
Second: I love your thought of awarding ourselves for the invisible victories. Putting on real pants? Star. Answering an email and not overthinking it for three hours? Double star.
Thanks for the joy and the stars. Grateful to be noticed by a fellow noticer. You're truly one of the greats, friend.
Now that's an excellent idea. Someone mentioned that water bottles and laptops are the new canvas with which we feel it's socially acceptable for grownups to embrace the sticker life. I say keep expanding it! Stickers on all the things, Brandon! GO!
YES to stickers! Love this post! I'm in a writing group and some of us have a virtual sticker chart to track our daily writing... but I think I'll make myself a real one. And some for my 10-year-old girls (twins) who also love stickers!
Love love love this and yes we all need more stickers in our lives.
We went to our 9-year-old’s Rocksteady concert last week at school (a non-competitive battle of the bands). The teacher gave out something to the kids as the left the stage. I couldn’t see what it was, but of course it was a stickers. Huge ones with BAND LEGEND in big letters. P stuck hers straight to the middle of her forehead 🤘 She played keys - 2 notes 🎹
That sounds amazing! What a blast I'm sure it was to experience hearing these young performers and even better knowing that they're supported on all sides. GET YOU SOME STICKERS, DEB!
I'm disappointed that my dentist hasn't given me a sticker for over thirty years now! They always smelt faintly minty, and I was never sure if they were meant to, or if they were just absorbing it from being somewhere toothpaste-adjacent.
These are the beginnings of a great mystery novel. (Or a great question to ask the next time I meet a dentist and want to start a good conversation) There really shouldn’t be expiration dates on medical folks giving out stickers, or banks giving out lollipops either. Some things we should not outgrow!
My dentist used to give out little rings after your appointment and the last time I was there I asked if they still gave out rings and he asked if I would like one. (I'm 67 years old). He said he never thought that adults might like a ring and he would start offering those.
I'm the person who commented that I wanted to go to the conference a few posts ago. And turns out, I can't. I have a work obligation. And since my work is with a children's museum...well, the children of my community need me to be a better grown up that day.
But! I love being the bearer of stickers. I have a whole bag I keep with me. And sometimes, I give them away to myself when I really need them. Just because your a grown up doesn't mean you can't get a sticker when you finished that load of laundry that's been sitting on the floor for weeks.
The only problem now is what do I stick them to? :)
When I was a teacher, I had student teachers in my classroom. Pokemon cards were very popular and I saved all the energy cards and kept them in my pocket. When I saw a teacher who was feeling really tired or frustrated, I would just quietly lay an energy card on the table in front of them and it would bring them a big smile and they would get back at it. I like your idea of giving people stickers for everyday things. Keep doing your good work, Brad.
Brilliant. Haha. You’re out here restoring HP and boosting morale, like a one person Pokemon Center for teachers. You’re better than a Max potion and Lucky egg combined. A real MVP.
"benevolent ruler of minor celebrations" is a beautiful thought and something I am going to carry with me... to think, just a sticker in my pocket is a minor celebration waiting to happen.
Natalia, I'm embarrassed to admit how happy I was when I wrote that part of the email. So, thank you for noticing it. Haha. GOLD STAR FOR YOU. I love bringing a dramatic intensity to something so silly and minute, but it doesn't erase that it feels this important sometimes to the recipient! And it *is* a big deal! You're a big deal.
Thank you Brad for this wonderful read and perspective!! I actually started giving myself star stickers for each day there is physical movement in my life (read: not hours at the gym, movement 🙂)! Stars for us all ⭐️
Might seem silly to some, but that kind of positive reinforcement is no joke! Would get me moving! All the best to YOU!!!
I lead a weekly storytime at Barnes & Noble. After we read a book (we've read Fail-a-bration and The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination - both of which the children loved!), I hand out a coloring page and stickers!! The children color and decorate their pages with stickers. Parents tell me it is something they look forward to each week. The children get stickers for something - being their amazing selves and acquiring a love of books <3
Now you’re really speaking my language STICKERS and BOOKS? Plus coloring? I’m so in. Honored you’d share the books too! Thank you! I’m sure those kiddos and families are grateful for the way a sticker giver outer like you is at the helm! Thanks for being generous with the stickers, the fun and the noticing
You are hilarious and wise. I have this little feature in my newsletter called Feat of Adulting in which I award myself gold stars for various grown-up accomplishments, most of which are invisible. Anyone who shares their feat of adulting in the comments gets a gold star too. Emoji gold star, that is. Come to think of it, maybe that’s why I ❤️ emojis so much? 🤔 anyway, may we all notice and appreciate being noticed. PS: free stickers on all your produce!
Okay, first of all: YOU are the best, Asha. Thank you. I am honored to receive a gold star from the Official Feat of Adulting council. *I shall wear it proudly on my metaphorical chore chart.*
Second: I love your thought of awarding ourselves for the invisible victories. Putting on real pants? Star. Answering an email and not overthinking it for three hours? Double star.
Thanks for the joy and the stars. Grateful to be noticed by a fellow noticer. You're truly one of the greats, friend.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for pants every weekday!
Funny you mentioned holographic stars, I just got myself a pack the other day to embellish all the things I think are awesome!
Now that's an excellent idea. Someone mentioned that water bottles and laptops are the new canvas with which we feel it's socially acceptable for grownups to embrace the sticker life. I say keep expanding it! Stickers on all the things, Brandon! GO!
YES to stickers! Love this post! I'm in a writing group and some of us have a virtual sticker chart to track our daily writing... but I think I'll make myself a real one. And some for my 10-year-old girls (twins) who also love stickers!
Tella, thanks so much! You're definitely on the right track by having a supportive writing group PLUS stickers. Unstoppable combo. Cheering for you!
still have a drawer with loads of stickers
stickers for "using the potty"
Stand outside public restrooms and distribute them? haha.
OMG, that would be hysterical. i just might.
Love love love this and yes we all need more stickers in our lives.
We went to our 9-year-old’s Rocksteady concert last week at school (a non-competitive battle of the bands). The teacher gave out something to the kids as the left the stage. I couldn’t see what it was, but of course it was a stickers. Huge ones with BAND LEGEND in big letters. P stuck hers straight to the middle of her forehead 🤘 She played keys - 2 notes 🎹
That sounds amazing! What a blast I'm sure it was to experience hearing these young performers and even better knowing that they're supported on all sides. GET YOU SOME STICKERS, DEB!
I'm disappointed that my dentist hasn't given me a sticker for over thirty years now! They always smelt faintly minty, and I was never sure if they were meant to, or if they were just absorbing it from being somewhere toothpaste-adjacent.
These are the beginnings of a great mystery novel. (Or a great question to ask the next time I meet a dentist and want to start a good conversation) There really shouldn’t be expiration dates on medical folks giving out stickers, or banks giving out lollipops either. Some things we should not outgrow!
Absolutely!
And when you're old and have fillings and root canals, you really deserve some stickers!
My dentist used to give out little rings after your appointment and the last time I was there I asked if they still gave out rings and he asked if I would like one. (I'm 67 years old). He said he never thought that adults might like a ring and he would start offering those.
Oh, brilliant! This is the sort of change I like to see!
Ahhhhh…scratch and sniff. How very true! Thank you for this, Brad. Lots to think about here!
Haha! YES scratch and sniff! Funny how those strange smells can still exist in our mind when you start talking about the stickers.
Absolutely! And sometimes it’s better to get noticed than rewarded!
I'm the person who commented that I wanted to go to the conference a few posts ago. And turns out, I can't. I have a work obligation. And since my work is with a children's museum...well, the children of my community need me to be a better grown up that day.
But! I love being the bearer of stickers. I have a whole bag I keep with me. And sometimes, I give them away to myself when I really need them. Just because your a grown up doesn't mean you can't get a sticker when you finished that load of laundry that's been sitting on the floor for weeks.
The only problem now is what do I stick them to? :)
It’s these little things of life that make the difference.
I love this so much.
I adore this newsletter!
Thank you, Brad, for this infusion of whimsy and childlikeness. I still love stickers. They rock.