Sometimes shining is as simple as making someone laugh.

A week later, I am still laughing about some of my memories from the week I spent at Leadershape in Iowa City.

Lots of things made me laugh, but certainly some of the heartiest laughing of the week happened each night for thirty minutes immediately following our staff meeting.

We played a word game.  Nightly, the nine faculty members secretly selected a random word that Mike and I would, in turn, have to skillfully build into the next day's curriculum.  Skillfully meant that our use of the word had to be creative, but clear and appropriate but entertaining.  Of course, at no point during the week were the students to have an inkling of our shenanigans.

There was more.

Though the word was decided the night before, it was not revealed until Mike and I were standing in front of the room each morning. Our trying to keep a straight face as the banner paper was unfurled was, I am sure, part of what made it fun for the faculty.  Mike and I even sweetened the pot by agreeing that the winner would receive a University of Iowa sweatshirt (we both pitched in to buy) and that the loser must perform during the Leadershape Review.

The idea of the game was funny.

Eavesdropping on the faculty's muffled voices and uncontrollable laughing was funny.

Watching me and Mike roll our eyes each morning, when the outrageous word selection was revealed, was funny

The act of creatively integrating the word into the day's events, without students knowing, was funny.

And, the penalty for losing was funny.

Twelve days later, even their choice of words was funny: "Shrubbery," "Candleabra," "Fo'-Sho" (which I learned is a more hip way of saying, "For Sure"), "Moist," and "Succulent" (surely you can see where their minds were headed as the week wore on).

Sound fun?

Let's all do something a little out of each of our comfort zones today.  Play along with me.  There are no students, no panel of twisted faculty to select a word verging on x-rated, and no penalty if you don't participate.  Still, playing along will be fun and maybe even a little memorable.

At some point today, in a discreet and clever way, commit to using the word, "rocketry."  Then come back to the Community Forum labeled, Today's Post and tell us where you were when you used it, who you were talking to, and if you got any interesting looks.

It'll be fun.

Oh, and in case you are wondering, let's just say I'm down a sweatshirt and crossing my fingers no photos show of the Leadershape Review show up on Facebook.

Shining off until tomorrow.