It's a new year and I thought I'd start with celebrating each month with something I did when I worked for TELUS as the wellness prime. Bring you fun, whacky, weird and sometimes out of this world holidays that are celebrated. They could be national holidays (Canadian) or international (US and world). I love researching and this one gets me to research for the fun of it.
Hope you enjoy January's choices but before you read those remember that putting some laughter in your life:
releases endorphins and that increases our pain tolerance
increases the amount of oxygen in our blood which is great for our heart
it releases more anti-infection antibodies to help protect our body from infection
lightens the mood, which can lessen depression and anxiety
because our oxygen level increase our cortisol level decreases which can help reduce our stress levels
it relaxes our muscles which in turn gives us better circulation
10 - 15 minutes of laughter per day burns 40 calories
laughing causes lungs to expel more air then they take in, which has a cleansing effect
Most importantly, if we laugh it may be contagious and others will laugh with us. What a beautiful thing. NEW YEARS RESOLUTION ONE - put more laughter into our world!
National Cuddle Up Day
Try as I might I couldn’t find who and when this day was actually started. But one thing I do know is when I cuddle or snuggle someone, my endorphins skyrocket and I feel good all over.
From what I have found, this day encourages us to snuggle someone for health benefits and more. January is typically the coldest month of the year, therefore there is no better way to stay warm and reap the benefits of cuddling. Whether it’s slightly chilly or a three-dog night (a night so cold you need three dogs to stay warm) cuddling with a human or dog, or other pet is perfect for these nights.
Cuddling releases the hormone oxytocin and it has tremendous health benefits. It not only gives us warm and fuzzy feelings, but oxytocin reduces pain. Therefore those muscles and joint aches from the cold can be reduced by cuddling. Oxytocin also helps reduce heart disease, lower blood pressure, stress and anxiety. And it is totally free and doesn’t require an added prescription!
Now a days we are communicating more and more through technology, which mitigates the human touch factor. Physical touch provides safety and reassurance, it communicates trust and commitment, cuddling expresses all these things, which are vital to healthy relationships.
Celebrate National Cuddle day by snuggling and cuddling up with someone you love. Of course it can also be your pet. Or make it a group snuggle in front of the fire watching your favourite movie or listening to your favourite music. Before you start your snuggle, take note of your mood, how is it after you have snuggled. Guaranteed it will be better….I think cuddle day should be year round!
National Bobblehead Day
Bobble, bobble, bobble…
National Bobblehead day isn’t an old holiday as it was registered by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame Museum in December 2014 and first observed on January 7th 2015. However bobbleheads themselves have a long history.
It is documented as early as the 1760s when Chinese nodding-head figures were depicted in a painting of Queen Charlotte in her dressing room at Buckingham Palace. There was great interest during that time for Chinese décor. This pair of nodding-head circa 1800s 15 inch painted-plaster pair sold for almost $36,000 in 2010.
In 1901, Germany started to produce bobblehead antique ceramic animals ranging in 6 – 8 inches sizes. In the 1960s the first paper-mâché and ceramic player specific bobbleheads were being produced. Roberto Clemente, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Willie Mays were the first non-mascot bobbleheads created. In 2014 the most valuable bobblehead sold was a 1961 Yankee bobble that sold for almost $60,000. It wasn’t even a player, it was a giveaway piece at one of the games.
As popularity grew bobbles were no longer animal and sports related. Bobble were made to replicate the Beatles, actors, musicians, mascots, monsters, presidents, kings, queens, and everything in-between. The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame Museum opened to the public on February 1, 2019 in Milwaukee and features over 6,500 unique bobbleheads, dozens of exhibits and a store with over 500 bobbleheads to purchase.
Kiss a Ginger Day
Did you know that less than 2% of the population is crowned with red hair?
I definitely didn’t! The red hair gene is recessive and requires two copies for it to present itself. Even then, there is no guarantee that it will. When both parents have the gene, there is 1 in 4 chances they will have a red headed child. Most-natural born red-heads have brown eyes, followed by green or hazel. The rarest are blue-eyed ginger as they only make up 1% of all red-heads. So if you have one of these gingers consider yourself lucky.
Both my hubby and I have a parent that are ginger therefore our chances were 1 in 4 of having one ginger. Yes we had one in three and our baby girl is rare with blue eyes. Funny how genetics work because our other children are dark-blond hair with blue eyes, and brown hair and brown eyes.
Many red-heads feel like outcasts because of their hair therefore this holiday was founded by Derek Forgie on January 12, 2009 as a way to empower red-heads to feel confident, look amazing and rock their beauty. Red hair is more than a colour, it is a lifestyle and if you are a ginger you are amazingly rare. Therefore this day was created for us to kiss a ginger in our life and ensure they know they are loved for their uniqueness and beauty.
National Compliment Day
You make my day every day! Yes you do!
National Compliment day was created by Kathy Chamberlin and Debby Hoffman on January 24, 1998. It seeks to encourage and promote admiration and politeness. Compliments are known to boost self-esteem and confidence and frankly we don’t give enough of them.
Therefore this day was created to remind us to brighten someone’s day or give credit for a job well done. A compliment not only improves the receiver’s mood, but it tells them you noticed them and you care. On top of it the giver receives the wonderful thank you that comes from having complimented. A win-win!
To give a compliment you must be sincere. If you don’t mean it don’t give it as it will come out in the delivery and that is worse than getting a thoughtless birthday present. For example your girlfriend walks in wearing a new pair of earrings that you don’t like, don’t compliment them. You won’t come off as sincere and she may see right through you.
Here is how to give a great compliment on January 24th:
Link your compliment to a genuine feeling – the complement should be authentic and is connected to your values you hold personally dear. Such as “You look great tonight” or “I love your laugh”
Compliment someone’s point of pride – it feels more special when we receive a compliment that shows someone has taken notice of what we do. For example if your mother-in-law loves to cook, compliment on why the dinner you just had was amazing and that she did a great job
Compliment something that isn’t obvious – non-obvious compliments are the ones people remember the rest of their lives. For example you work on a project with someone and they have done so many things behind the scene, tell them how much you appreciated the great work they did
Don’t compliment everyone the same way – meaning don’t just tell everyone you like the clothes they are wearing. Make it personal to the person you are giving the complement too
Compliment generously not over the top – there is a limit to how many compliments a person can take. Spread the love to many and not just one
Smile don’t laugh – a smile goes a long way when you are complimenting someone but when you laugh it may appear you are joking and can ruin what you are trying to achieve
Make eye contact – it enforces what you are trying to say because the non-verbal contact that happens when eyes connect show your sincerity
Avoid backhanded compliments – this is the worst type of compliment there is. A backhanded compliment is when you are nice at first, but then the real meaning of the statement hits. A great example is “You’re amazing at baseball, for a girl”. Attaching for a girl turns the compliment to an insult
Life is just too precious therefore:
enjoy every moment
learn something new everyday
say I love you more often
get outside and take in the scenery
breath because you want to, not have too
create cherished memories
laugh until your belly hurts
smile because it's infectious
say hello to strangers
just live life well always
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