The learners and staff then had one month in which to reflect and write positive messages about the good points of others and put them in the appropriate envelopes. Each person was supposed to make at least one contribution to everyone else’s envelope. The learners were specifically instructed to focus on people’s strengths and good points, not on faults. It was a good exercise for the learners to highlight the good points of all the other people around them.

As prearranged, the envelopes were opened on Valentine’s Day. Staff members added Valentine’s cards and candies to the envelopes. One staff member baked a large cake to make the envelope opening even more festive. Each individual at the community learning centre was then able to read over twenty encouraging, positive messages, pointing out his or her strengths and good points. The results were very powerful. The learners were visibly beaming.

Valentine’s Day was deliberately chosen as the time for this activity because staff thought that perhaps the learners might resist it as being too sentimental or mushy at any other time of year. Because it was a special Valentine’s Day activity, they readily participated and accepted the positive compliments in their envelopes as sincere and authentic. This activity is very simple, requiring little instructor time or community learning centre resources; so it can be implemented anywhere. All adult learners can benefit from self-esteem boosts, so this activity is relevant in any learning environment.