Capture the moment! Pull out your cell phone and take a great shot of something in your life. Then, share it with others. Today is World Photography Day. Also called World Photo Day, this August 19 holiday celebrates the world of photography and its history. It also commemorates the invention of the daguerreotype and its inventor Louis Daguerre. Daguerreotype is the first photographic medium to capture images.

Promotors of this day encourage us to take a picture of something in our world and share it with others. It can be a picture of anything. Then share the photo with others. Post it on social media. Or keep it private and send it via text or email to family or friends.

Did You Know? British photographer Sir John Herschel coined the term “photography”. It means “drawing the light”.

August brings a wide array of fresh fruits and vegetables to our tables. For the next several weeks, it’s no more canned or frozen veggies. And, no more bland and tasteless greenhouse-grown vegetables. Hooray! Nothing beats the taste of fresh, home-grown tomatoes where the sun fully ripens them on the vine. And, right now we’re in peak harvest season all across the Northern Hemisphere. So, it’s only appropriate that today is Tomatoes Galore Day. On this August 15 holiday, we are encouraged to eat as many of them as we can. They are a real summertime treat. Fresh from your garden, they taste out of this world. And perhaps best of all, they are good for your health.

This is a holiday we all can enjoy. But, if you’re a gardener, it’s a top ten holiday. If you’re not a gardener, you readily see a plethora of tomatoes in the grocery store, garden stores, and your local farm market. And, along with a bumper harvest, the price for tomatoes is the lowest it will be all year long. So, enjoy them while they are here. 

Go ahead and eat a tomato. Better still, eat them as often as you’d like and enjoy their many health benefits. Tomatoes help to prevent cancer and to control diabetes. They are good for heart health, protect your vision, and also boost digestive health. Tastes good and good for you. You can’t ask more from a vegetable.

Since the birth of our country, many millions of men and women served in the military to protect our country. They keep us safe and protect our freedom. They risk their lives so we can continue to enjoy the benefits of freedom. Some of them do not come back alive. Others return seriously injured with long-term and permanent injuries. Today is National Purple Heart Day. This August 7 holiday exists to honor and respect those who gave their lives or were wounded fighting wars or in the fight against terrorism. Originally known as the Badge of Military Merit, the Purple Heart is one of America’s highest military awards. 

The Purple Heart medal is awarded to American service personnel killed while defending our country. Military personnel seriously wounded in action also qualify. This medal is given as a result of action by an enemy of our country.  This includes wars, military actions, hostilities, and the fight against terrorism. It is a great honor to receive this medal.

We thank all Purple Heart recipients past and present for their dedication, and for their sacrifice. Importantly, we also thank the families of these brave men and women.

Disc Golf is a sport that just about anyone can play. People of all ages love it. It’s a fun thing to do on a warm and sunny summer day. Today is National Disc Golf Day. Once called “Tin Lid Golf”, you can play this game practically anywhere, even in your backyard. Many parks have a disc golf course where you can play for free. You’re up for a challenge, right!? Often referred to as “Frisbee Golf”, many courses are in wooded areas, making it more challenging than an open field.

When we think of flying discs, Frisbees first come to mind. However, there are many other disc designs popular when playing the sport. The avid disc golfer may have several different kinds of discs in his golf bag. There are many different kinds of drivers, mid-range discs, and putters. If you become an avid at this sport, you will need to get a golf bag to hold all of the various discs. For the rest of us, just a regular frisbee will do.

FYI: Frisbee” is a trademark of Wham-O Company.  And they protect their trademark. That’s why this sport is called “Disk Golf”.

Are you or someone you know a budding artist? Are you looking for something fun and relaxing to do? Then, discover the joys of coloring! Grab some crayons, colored pencils, or watercolors as today is National Coloring Book Day. Coloring books are a great activity for both kids and more recently adults. Adults can color as individuals or join a “Coloring Club”. Anyone can do it at any age, regardless of skill level. On this August 2 holiday kids as well as adults can become artists and practice their skill at drawing full-color pictures. It’s a perfect activity for a rainy day, or to pass the time away on an otherwise boring day.

This activity was once looked upon as a child’s activity during rainy days. It is also good to help them to refine their fine motor skills. More recently, it has become a hobby for adults. You don’t have to be artistic. However, the ability to stay between the lines helps. An eye for pleasing color combinations helps to enhance the quality of the pictures, too. Like all hobbies, you will get better with time. And if your work is not award-winning, who cares!? You don’t have to show your work to anyone but yourself. The only thing that matters is that you are having fun. 

I believe in happiness for myself and others, don’t you!? Of course, you do! Everyone around the world should be happy. So, put a smile on your face. Today is Happiness Happens Day. On this August 8 holiday, we are encouraged to let our happiness shine through for all to see. Originally called Admit You’re Happy Day, this holiday also encourages us to take efforts to bring joy and jubilation to others. We should stop at nothing short of sheer bliss and euphoria.

Happiness is contagious. And, it is important to our overall well-being. You can play a big role in spreading happiness to others. Conversely, the negative things you do can detract from it. While the title of today’s holiday says, “Happiness Happens”, it’s not always an automatic thing. Often, to attain it we have to work at it, pursue it, and create an environment for happiness to flourish for ourselves and others. First, put Debbie Downer on notice, that good vibes, happy thoughts, and happy behaviors are the only way to go on this cheerful day. 

Today’s Theme Songs:

• If You’re Happy Clap Your Hands – This is a children’s song, originating from an old Latvian folk song.
• Don’t Worry, Be Happy – by Bobby McFerrin (1988).
• Happy Days are Here Again – Milton Ager (1929).

Our favorite Television Sitcom: Happy Days.

Did You Know? On average, people smile 20 times a day.

Yes, sand does get in everywhere. Despite this, where else would you rather be on a hot summer day? Exactly… the beach. So, you’re really going to enjoy National Beach Day. You’re going to love the natural beauty of the beach and seashore. If you can, call in to work and take a vacation day, as Labor Day is upon us, and summer is almost over. Then, enjoy this August 30 holiday by the shore and savor the cool, gentle breeze as it wafts in off of the water. Beaches first became popular in Europe in the mid-18th century. Now, hundreds of millions of people around the world visit the beach at least once a year.  Also, as you enjoy this day on the beach, pull out your cell phone and peruse our beach trivia and fun facts. 

While working on your suntan sounds like a great way to spend one of the last few days of summer, frolicking at the beach is not the intended goal of the author of this holiday. Rather, Life style expert Colleen Page created National Beach Day to raise awareness of the beauty of beaches around the world. And, we should make efforts to preserve and maintain beaches. It is ecologically important for us to express our appreciation of beaches by keeping them clean and safe for both tomorrow’s beachgoers as well as future generations.

In addition to preserving our beaches, the best way to show our appreciation is to hit the beach on this warm, summer day. Make up a picnic lunch and grab your beach blanket. Pack the suntan lotion and sand toys into your car. Then, head to the beach for a day of fun in the sun. 

Hey Amigo, stand up, and let’s hear a big “Ole”! Today is National Fajita Day. This popular August 18 holiday is definitely something to cheer about. On this holiday, people all over the world enjoy this favorite, Tex-Mex dish in a restaurant or at home. And, Vaqueros out on the trail with a cattle herd have much to celebrate. They invented Fajitas while out on a cattle drive, and suddenly the Tex-Mex culinary scene would never be the same again.

Imagine what it must have been like on a cattle drive. Long, hot, dusty days sitting atop a horse. Every day is filled with danger and peril at every turn. Those long days sure made a cowboy hungry. At night, the campfires were lit for warmth and to cook meals. Occasionally, camp cooks made Fajitas, using inexpensive skirt steak to fill the stomachs of weary and hungry cowboys. They were a simpler form of Fajitas than those we eat today. But, they were delicious all the same. And it was a welcome relief to the usual boring beans served on the trail.

Of course, eating them on National Fajita Day is a must. Other Mexican and Tex-Mex holidays are a great time to put them on your dinner menu. And, there are 364 other days of the year to enjoy delicious, marinated meat and veggies with all the toppings rolled up into a flour tortilla. 

Attending a campfire is a popular summer activity. And, it’s important to have a safe, controlled campfire. Today is Smokey the Bear Day in recognition of the role the US Forest Service mascot plays in reducing forest fires. Raging forest fires have spiked as a result of global warming and carelessness on the part of humans. While individuals may not be able to do a lot about fires caused by the effects of global warming, we can reduce the number of devasting fires caused by our carelessness. Among other places, some of your efforts to reduce fires begin at your evening campfire.

Each year thousands of wildfires in the United States consume millions of acres of forests and cost millions of dollars. And, these statistics are dwarfed by the devastating fires that rage in Canada’s vast northern wilderness. The smoke and toxic fumes from these fires threaten our health.  About half of them are caused by dry lightning hitting dry tinder. But the other half are ignited by careless humans.

Smokey Bear is extremely popular. He plays a vital role in protecting our pristine forests by reducing the number of human-caused wildfires. But, his fire-fighting role is not without controversy as you will discover in this article.

For the Record: Smokey’s proper name is “Smokey Bear”. Some people refer to him as “Smokey the Bear”. While the former is his correct name, he doesn’t mind if you add the word “the” to his name. 

Smokey the Bear’s Slogan: Only you can prevent forest fires.

Bring out the mosquito netting. Grab the bug spray and the citronella candles. World Mosquito Day is today. This August 20 holiday commemorates the day when the relationship between mosquitos and malaria was identified. Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasitic protozoans. Malaria causes debilitating illness and even death.

On this day in 1897, British doctor Sir Ronald Ross discovered the link between mosquitos and the transmission of malaria. Ross also identified that the female Anopheles mosquito transmits the disease. In 1902, Ross was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine for his discovery.

About 1,500 cases of malaria are diagnosed in the United States each year. The vast majority of these cases are travelers and immigrants entering the U.S. from parts of the world where malaria is common.

The goal of this special day is to raise awareness of the causes of Malaria and to learn methods of prevention. With the knowledge that mosquitoes carry other diseases, most notably the dangerous Zika virus, it is even more important today, to be aware, and to understand the necessity of avoiding coming in contact with mosquitos.

The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine celebrates World Mosquito Day annually, since the 1930s, They hold exhibitions and parties designed to entertain and inform people.

Did You Know? At least two million people die each year from malaria and other mosquito born diseases.