All in Healthy Family

Audible

During the Stay-at-Home order for Covid I thought that I would have all this extra time to read. I envisioned myself as one of those people who would curl up on the couch and read a book during my “down time.” Seven months later, I still do not have down time. When George Floyd died and all of America wanted justice, I knew this was a big issue but I didn’t know what to do to help. I knew one thing, throwing another book onto the pile on my nightstand in hopes to read it someday wasn’t going to work. Some of the books on my nightstand have been there for 2 years! In this case, I needed to learn about racism asap otherwise I wouldn’t understand the civil unrest that was happening all around me. I immediately loaded my Audible library with two books: White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo and How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi.

Knock Knock

I love the meme that is going around social media these days that says: “Anyone else feel like Halloween is unnecessary this year? I’ve been wearing a mask and eating candy for 7 months now, I don’t think I need a day dedicated to it anymore...” We all know what Halloween is about. Candy, candy, candy, right? Maybe costumes and parties too. But did you know that on October 31st our nation also celebrates National Knock Knock Joke Day? Isn’t that so cute? I mean, it’s appropriate. Knocking + Halloween. Although unfortunately, knocking on doors will be rare, if at all, this year. Boo!

Nuts

In a Gwyneth Paltrow interview I learned that she laughs every time she says the word “balls”. Just like her, I giggle whenever I say the word “nuts.” There, I said it and yes, I giggled. Although they are not the same thing - to anyone with adolescent humor - they are basically the same thing. All jokes aside, National Nut Day is coming up on October 22nd and well, it’s another opportunity to be thoughtful. This national food day has been celebrated since 2016 and according to Nationaldaycalendar.com, the day was founded by Liberations Foods (Choose Liberation). It’s inspiring to learn that this company advocates fair trade nuts and they promote healthy living.

Thoughtful Wedding

I’m pretty sure every bride can attest that they put a lot of thought into their wedding day. Some brides hire a wedding planner because there is too much to think about when planning one of the biggest events in a person’s life. I notice that whenever they mention weddings in the Bible, it sounds like even back then, many people contributed to the preparations of a wedding. It makes me wonder - if we are celebrating the union of two people, why is it the couple’s responsibility to cater to and pamper the needs of their guests? Isn’t making a commitment to spend the rest of their lives with one person enough responsibility?

Online Learning Day

I hesitated to write about this national day because I feel like it hits too close to home too soon. Most of us are living a virtual lifestyle daily and we don’t want to get comfy with this new normal. Celebrating National Online Learning Day this year seems so BLAH. After all, if we have school-aged children, online learning is a double-edged sword. On one hand, we’re so grateful that learning can happen virtually and on the other hand, we are so bummed that learning can happen virtually.

National Be Late for Something Day

For the past week, I have been on a natural high about my special national day - National Thoughtful Day. I didn’t think it could get any better than that but I was wrong. When I was on the Nationaldaycalendar.com website, I came across another national day that was so perfect for me. National Be Late for Something Day. Ha! How is it possible that two national days which describe me can be celebrated within weeks of each other?

Pinch Links

I am about to admit something very unthoughtful. Up until a week ago, I would judge family members when they would ask me what they should get my kids for their birthdays or Christmas. I have been very narrow-minded in thinking that they didn’t know my kids well enough to have their own gift ideas for them and I felt resentful that they had to ask for help. I felt like they were taking the easy way out; wanting me to give them the answers to the test. I considered this “cheating”. Boy was I dumb for thinking that way!

Mind Shift Mondays

I procrastinate. It’s not due to lack of drive or inability to get the job done. I procrastinate because my sense of time management is ruled by deadlines. If my due date is in a week, I will put out all the fires that are happening in the moment and then I will squeeze my project in; barely making the deadline. I’m not proud about this but it is how I operate.

Thoughtful Day Top 5

Every time I write about a national day, I use the resource Nationaldaycalendar.com. If it weren’t for this site, I would not have so many thoughtful topics to choose from. Over at nationaldaycalendar.com, they celebrate everyday and multiple occasions within the day. I am proud to be one of their ambassadors because it’s inevitable that every time I write about a national day, I bring awareness to someone who didn’t know that the day existed. I consider that a WIN because whenever there is awareness, thoughtfulness is sure to follow.

The Loaded Text

When I was deciding on what thoughtful topic I wanted to write about this week, I had many choices. National Dive Bar Day (7/7), National Pina Colada Day (7/10) and National Mojito Day (7/11) all fall within my weekly parameter of Tuesday 7/7 to Monday 7/13. Lately, my posts have been very much celebratory of the national days; fun and light-hearted. In fact, National French Fry Day is on 7/13 and who doesn’t love a good french fry?