World Gratitude Day, a September 21 holiday, is your opportunity to show your gratitude and appreciation. The United Nations Mediation Group created World Gratitude Day to express appreciation for the great things that individuals and groups do. This recognition is on a global basis. According to their website: “World Gratitude Day presents an award to someone who we feel has done something outstanding in the spirit of Globalism.” But, you do not have to have some huge global accomplishment. Rather, look for something that fits this description in your local area. 

The United Nations Mediation Group also suggests that you find something to be grateful for, and remember the feeling.

On a smaller scale, seek to give gratitude and appreciation to people in your life who have done good deeds. It could be something as simple as a “thank you” or a card of thanks to someone. Or, you could offer some type of certificate or plaque of appreciation from a group you belong to, for contributions from individuals inside or outside of your group.

When is the biggest day to express gratitude? Why, it’s of course Thanksgiving!

Happy World Gratitude Day!

Trim your beard in preparation for this holiday. Today is World Beard Day, a day of celebration around the world. It is a day to celebrate your beard and to celebrate those whose face is covered with hair. One of the goals of this international day is to promote and elevate the status of beards throughout the world. If you have a beard, there is to be no work for you today. Of course, trimming a beard is not work. Rather, it’s more like a fun activity. Simply relax, enjoy, and proudly show off your beard. It is a day for those who wear beards to be pampered by beardless folk. On this day, those around you are supposed to wait on you hand and foot…. and beard. 

Back in the day, as in the day of the Caveman, all the guys wore beards. There were no shaving kits or shaving cream. Back then, the modern Caveman always wore a full, and I’m certain, stylish beard. The idea of shaving didn’t catch on until much, much later. By about 4,000 B.C., we know people began shaving their beards. A rudimentary form of shaving cream was developed at the time by Sumerians in Mesopotamia. Nowadays, a significant minority of men wear beards. The exception to this is the Arab world, where beards are customary.

Sporting a beard is a way to express yourself and your individuality. There’s a huge variety of beard styles. The full beard often comes to mind first. But, let’s not forget stylish goatees or the Fu Manchu beard. One of the most popular styles today is a short beard of just 2-3 days growth or a week at most.

Have a Happy World Beard Day!

Historically, World War II ends with the surrender of Japan. There are three key dates.

• August 14 – Japan surrenders
• August 15 – Surrender announced to the world
• September 2 – Ceremony and formal signing of the surrender

VJ Day marks the end of WWII and the cessation of fighting against Japan. It is called “Victory In Japan Day or “Victory Over Japan Day”.

The confusion over three dates:

There is some confusion over what when to V-J Day. You can consider any (or all) of the three dates as V-J Day. President Harry S. Truman caused some of this confusion……..

On August 14, 1945, the Japanese government sent a cable to the U.S. stating their surrender. As a result, this is the date of most modern observances.

On August 15, 1945, news of the surrender was announced to the world. This sparked spontaneous celebrations over the final formal ending of World War II.

On September 2, 1945, a formal surrender ceremony was held in Tokyo Bay aboard the USS Missouri. At the time, President Truman declared September 2 to be VJ Day.

Regardless of which day you view as VJ Day, World War II was finally over. Thus, the world rejoiced at the conclusion of the worst war in history.

Working Parents Day, a September 16 holiday, gives recognition to moms and dads who work hard to provide for their children. They have two jobs. First, they are raising kids and taking care of the family. Then, everyday dad, and often mom, go off to work. They work hard to earn money to make ends meet. They work hard to be able to afford the extras that kids want and need. This includes things like school trips, funding the proms, athletics, music, dance classes, clubs, and much, much more.

Thus, today is a chance for the kids to show a little appreciation. We suggest doing the dishes, cleaning up, and overall doing extra chores around the house. If you are old enough, make dinner for the folks.

Important Note: This day speaks to “working parents”. However, we believe that “stay at home moms and dads” fit this classification, too. They just might work harder than anyone.

National Women’s Friendship Day is a great day for us/you ladies. Women make friends very easily. However, their busy lifestyles often keep them from making new friends. Today encourages women to make friends.  It’s a great day to be a woman. The objective of this day is to promote special friendships among women. For example, it can be family, friends, or coworkers. 

Ladies have a happy National Women’s Friendship Day!

The objective of this special day is for wives without children to receive appreciation from their husbands. Mother’s Day is for wives with children. So, today is an opportunity for husbands in a childless marriage, to recognize the value of their wives. Let her know how important she is to you, and how much she is appreciated. Wife Appreciation Day is a day that she truly deserves. Thus, if you know what’s good for you, all of you guys out there will remember and fully participate in this holiday.

It should be very easy to show appreciation to your wife, for who she is, and for all the great things she does for you. You know her well, her likes and dislikes. Begin the day by telling her that she is appreciated. Give her a few examples of why. Then, select a couple of things she likes or likes to do, and make it happen. Giving her a gift is perfectly okay, but it is not a requirement.

While this day was originally intended to honor wives in a childless marriage, we encourage all husbands to show appreciation for their wives on this day. Showing your appreciation today is a basic ingredient for a long and happy marriage. As the old saying goes: “Happy wife, happy life.” Certainly, this is true.

Gentlemen, you will get your day, too. It’s in April……. Husband Appreciation Day

Uncle Sam Day celebrates an important and powerful symbol of America. It is a September 13 holiday. Uncle Sam is certainly one of America’s most recognized symbols. He is second only to the American Bald Eagle. He appears on everything from military posters to cartoon images to advertising media. On military posters, he is usually shown with the caption “I want you!” He is perhaps, the most recognizable symbol in the world. 

Did you Know? There are other human symbols representing our country. However, none are anywhere near as popular. They include Brother Jonathan, who largely disappeared after the arrival of Uncle Sam, and Columbia, a female.

Today is UK National Fitness Day in the United Kingdom. It exists to celebrate the fun of fitness and physical exercise. According to the creators, this day is intended to “inspire people to commit to changing their routines by adding physical exercise and workouts for a lifetime of better health”.

Most people know full well, that physical exercise and a regular routine of working out leads to a healthier, more energetic life. Perhaps best of all, it can extend your life by many, many years. So, why is it so hard to do? Why is it so easy to slip and get away from taking the best of care of our bodies? For one thing, it takes time and dedication. We all have busy schedules. It is an easy “cop out” to say we’re too busy to go to the gym. Secondly, going to the refrigerator to grab a bite to eat or a bottle of beer, is much easier than working out or jogging for a half hour or so. And, walking back and forth to the refrigerator is exercise, isn’t’ it!?

By all means, today the excuses must stop. Today is a call to action, a call to help you to live years longer and to live healthier for longer. Put on your jogging shorts and shoes and hit the pavement. Or, head off to the gym and begin to tone up those muscles, while you improve your lung capacity and heart health. Before your head hits the pillow tonight, you have one more task that you must perform. Pull out your calendar for the month and pencil in a regular and routine time on your calendar to continue what you’ve started today.  Better still, mark it on your calendar in ink, so you can’t erase it!

Today is Teddy Bear Day, a September 9 holiday. A Teddy Bear is a special friend to children all over the world. He’s cuddly. He makes you feel secure in an otherwise insecure world. And, children need both comfort and security. He’s lovable, too. Your bear is both a companion and a comforter. And, he’s not afraid of the dark. He’ll keep you safe. While we may think of them as a child’s friend, many adults have teddy bears, too.

As we become adults, some find it difficult to give up our teddy bears. We feel there is no reason to give him up. Many adults keep their childhood bears around all their lives. And some adults buy new ones for their own comfort. It’s perfectly normal….and okay.

Have a happy and cuddly day with your favorite bears!