Know why February was chosen as Black History Month? Because of the birthdays of two important U.S. historical figures–Abraham Lincoln (issued the Emancipation Proclamation) and Frederick Douglass (African-American abolitionist, orator, and author). Maybe you knew that.
But few people know its background–historians seeking truth and awareness. Here’s a short, 4-paragraph article that explains it in a nutshell and, hopefully, inspires people to celebrate it: African American History Month.
During this month of many spiritual observances by many different believers, I wish our world peace, now and in the future.
April is a very earthy month, with Earth Day (today) and National Arbor Day (Friday the 26th). PLUS, we’re in the midst of the season of renewed life, Easter. It’s a marvelous time to think about what we can do for our home, the Earth. No room in your yard for another tree? In my area we have Our City Forest—you probably have such an organization in your area, too. Sign up with them to help with planting projects in your city. Stroll along the banks of a local river, lake, or pond, carrying tools to pick up trash. Spend time around your home, building a birdhouse, creating a habitat in that unused corner of the yard, or planting non-thirsty plants. Take your family to an Earth Day event, or follow up on an eco-activity you learned when attending one. This month, begin a new habit: at least once a day get out of the house and smell the roses and the fresh air, listen to bird-songs, feel cool clean lake water on your toes, bite into a mouth-pleasing, messy orange, watch cloud-swans glide through clear, blue skies. Then, determine to keep all these available for future generations.
Instead of a quote, today’s Thursday Thought is one reason why Suicide Prevention Week (this week) and Month (September) are so important.
I want to die. Life isn’t worth living. I can’t go on like this. You may not feel like this right now, but you probably know someone who does. The U.S. suicide rate is the highest it’s been in 30 years. It’s up to those of us in a good space to help those in a dark one. We can’t erase all the negativity in the world–we don’t control oppression, war, power-hungry dictators, or devastating disease. But we can keep a positive attitude around others (we never know when an affirmative word or action is just what the person we’re with needs). And we can speak up against public people who constantly spew negativity.
In everyday life we can watch for suicide warning signs (read the signs of potential suicide), keep the Suicide Prevention Hotline number (800-273-8255) handy to give to an at-risk person, and lend him/her our cell phone to call immediately.
Together, giving of ourselves and positive, concerned actions can stop that suicide rate from increasing and bring hopeless people back into the light.
(This is Suicide Prevention Week, within Suicide Prevention Month.)
One in every 110 U.S. kids has it, and 3.5 million Americans live with an autism spectrum disorder. Between 2000 and 2010, autism in our nation’s children increased by 119.4%, and it’s still increasing. In fact, autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the U.S.
You probably know someone with it but think of the person as “a little off” because you don’t recognize his or her autism. Today is World Autism Awareness Day, and April is National Autism Awareness Month–a great time to learn about it.
http://www.whathealth.com/awareness/event/nationalautismmonth.html gives an excellent summary of how autism affects a person, the characteristics you might notice, and how the American Autism Society is trying to spread the word about this condition with no known cause (no, vaccines don’t bring it on).
Another very good site is offered by Easter Seals, “Autism Signs and Symptoms,” including a list of behaviors with which you can evaluate your own child.
These sites are worth looking at, if for no other reason than they may lead people to be more tolerant and understanding rather than writing someone off as “odd,” “cold,” or “stand-offish.”
July is National Cell Phone Courtesy Month. (Yes, there’s a Month for just about anything.) Anyone who has been rudely interrupted by people on their phones or been run into by a walker (or driver!) chatting on a phone or…well, you know…will appreciate this month.
But, wait. Maybe I’ve been guilty of being a cell-phone jerk, too. Have you? Probably, since we’re all human.
Anyway, the founder (in 2002) of this Month, Jacqueline Whitmore, has 7 simple ways for us to take ourselves out of such jerk-dom. Take a look.
I pledge to be better at this.
What is that funny ribbon people are wearing–the one with puzzle pieces on it? It’s the puzzle ribbon, symbol for autism, and April is Autism Awareness Month.
3.5+ million Americans live with ASD (autism spectrum disorder). It makes it hard for them to communicate or interact with other people. For every 68 babies born, 1 will have some variation of this developmental disorder. So you probably know someone with it.
ASD is a spectrum, meaning that the symptoms range from very obvious to hardly noticeable. My grandson is on the autism spectrum and is learning how to handle his limitations. He starts college in the fall.
If you learn more about this condition you’ll rethink people’s “odd” or uncommunicative behavior. Can’t hurt. Go to https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism.
I’ve been thinking a lot about how much bullying is going on. Maybe it’s the political climate, or maybe it’s because it’s National Bullying Prevention month. In any event, we see it on the playground, coming through cyberspace, even at our workplace. It deeply hurts both children and adults. Today I’d like to address those of you experiencing it at your work.
Does someone at work love to make people around him miserable? If you feel that way, most likely you aren’t alone. The Workplace Bully never heard of, nor does he care about, the dignity all workers are entitled to. Confront him, not with a solid punch to the jaw but with a calm request for him to be more reasonable. Tell him plainly that he makes you feel uncomfortable or humiliated; explain why specific demands he makes on you are excessive. If you do this in front of others, you minimize the chance of verbal warfare and, at the same time, embolden co-workers who have been suffering silently. Join with them, in a sort of support group, one that doesn’t feed each other’s anger but keeps you from feeling isolated and helps you find ways to counteract the bully’s actions that don’t turn you into a bully. Soon your lagging self-respect will return. Together you’ll make your job site the fulfilling, safe environment you deserve to work in.
April is a very earthy month, with Earth Day (today) and National Arbor Day (Friday the 25th). PLUS, we’re in the midst of the season of renewed life, Easter. It’s a marvelous time to think about what we can do for our home, the Earth. No room in your yard for another tree? In my area we have Our City Forest—you probably have such an organization in your area, too. Sign up with them to help with planting projects in your city. Stroll along the banks of a local river, lake, or pond, carrying tools to pick up trash. Spend time around your home, building a birdhouse, creating a habitat in that unused corner of the yard, or planting non-thirsty plants. Take your family to an Earth Day event, or follow up on an eco-activity you learned at one. This month, begin a new habit: at least once a day get out of the house and smell the roses and the fresh air, listen to birdsongs, feel cool clean lake water on your toes, bite into a mouth-pleasing, messy orange, watch cloud-swans glide through clear, blue skies. Then, determine to keep all these available for future generations.