Every Thursday night, PBS NewsHour profiles people and their passions in the series Brief but Spectacular.  In this video author and former monk Jay Shetty has a message for those living alone during the pandemic, encouraging them to strive to do one thing each day that brings them joy — and emphasizing that despite social distancing, we can still nurture essential human connection.

Whether we live alone or with others, we all need some time for solitude and coming back to ourselves, so we can better be there for others — however we’re connecting with them right now.

A What’s your “Brief but Spectacular” Take? lesson plan from PBS NewsHour can be found at

PBS LearningMedia.  Designed for grades 7 and higher, the lesson allows students to create and share their own Brief but Spectacular videos!  Find it here.

In addition to the lesson, you can explore a collection of Brief but Spectacular videos at PBS NewsHour.