September 12th recognizes the National Day of Encouragement each year. This day is dedicated to uplifting people around us and making a positive impact.
Offering encouragement to someone is free. It never costs us anything to say a few words to inspire a student, coworker, or friend. Even a reassuring word to a stranger may make a difference in their lives.
Encouragement lifts up someone when they are down. It also motivates a person who has their eye on a goal. When we’ve failed, the right words remind us to keep trying. A little dedication to finding the right message may create a spark that changes a loved one’s perspective.
Sometimes, the act of noticing a job well-done improves someone’s day. Developing a habit of recognizing emerging talents motivates us to speak up and offer a kind word or helpful tip. It’s a practice worth having, to improve relationships at work, home, and in the world around us. There really is no simpler way.
NATIONAL DAY OF ENCOURAGEMENT HISTORY
The Encouragement Foundation at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, launched an effort to get Americans to participate in this Day of Encouragement. Mayor Belinda LaForce of Searcy, Arkansas made the first proclamation for Day of Encouragement on August 22, 2007. The following month, Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe, signed a proclamation making September 12, 2007, the “State Day of Encouragement” for Arkansas.
Later, President George W. Bush also signed a message making September 12th the official National Day of Encouragement.
I can tell you from first hand experience that tomorrow is not guaranteed. Never miss an opportunity to share a kindness with someone. The last thing you want in your life is to leave appreciation, and encouragement unsaid. So make someone smile today. If you’re doing it right you’ll smile more today too.
Make deliberate acts of encouragement. Provide reassurance and inspiration to the people around you. High five someone for a job well done. Take notice when a friend is getting close to a hard-earned goal, encouraging them to keep going. Send a card or give a call or text to a family member who may be struggling. Remind them how important they are to you. Use #NationalDayofEncouragement to share on social media.
National WebMistress Day recognizes women in web development on August 26th.
A WebMistress is a woman who designs, develops, markets and maintains websites. The term has existed since the mid-1990s. In June of 1995, the term officially entered technology’s lexicon. That month, Kat Valentine secured the domain name WebMistress.com. Taking the name a step further, Valentine then began web development under the job title WebMistress. Comparatively, the term WebMaster arrived on the scene as early as 1986, according to various classified ads.
Now, thousands of women work under the job title WebMistress. More than 20 years later, the word still raises eyebrows. However, WebMistress has a place not only on the résumé but is a legitimate job title in the business world. Take the time to acknowledge the women in web development to promote the job title in the business and lose the stigma associated with the word.
I taught myself both web design and blogging. After not being able to have a regular or structured job I was trying to figure out what I could handle. My health disabilities keep me from a normal job. So, I once again considered web design.
I’ve dabbled over the years and while I may not be capable of some things my computer skills are still there just a little more dusty….lol. Timelines, strict schedules, and other stresses dont work for me so I started this blog as a hobby.
SEO, affiliate marketing, social media management, promoter, and other aspects were a foreign language. I’m still learning but I’ve gained a basic understanding and best of my hard work has paid off at least a little. My readership and views have increased and my page views are still climbing. I even gained a few high profile fans.
So while I can’t handle the everyday rigors if a 9 – 5 job this gives me the flexibility to work at my own pace. Now, if I can just learn to make it pay better than a hobby…. please remember to follow and share if you’ve found both this article and my blog.
Kat Valentine founded National WebMistress Day in June of 2016 to promote women in web design. Additionally, the day celebrates the legitimacy of the job title.
HOW TO OBSERVE #nationalWEBMISTRESSday
Share your experiences in web design. While you’re at it, give a shout out to an outstanding WebMistress you know.
Use #nationalWEBMISTRESSday on social media to show you are a woman web designer. Also, use the hashtag to demonstrate pride in working under the title WebMistress. Visit www.nationalwebmistressday.com for more information.
I do the majority of all my web work on my Note 10 plus, or tablet. I have a Dell laptop to help with bigger projects. If you’re reading this I’m simply using my cell phone to create.
Each year on the 7th day of March, National Be Heard Day encourages small businesses across the country to make their presence known. The day recognizes the over 145 million small businesses in the United States striving to be heard over the big-business-dominated noise.
As small businesses ourselves, it definitely about making ourselves heard. My husband is a local Musician who caters to adults only. Yes he could teach, but the pay is lousy and alot of children are not there because its thier passion.
My business venture is what you are reading here. It takes patience to invest your heart and soul hoping others will see at least a part of what I see. In todays challenging world, being heard is both easier and harder. I don’t have millions to spend on marketing.
While the internet and technology has made it easier to publish, I am one of so many. So if you’re reading this i cannot express how grateful that you found me. If you would share this with others it would totally make my day. Alone I am but one voice but, together we are strong enough to be heard.
Around the United States, small businesses employ approximately 47% of the workforce. Standing out amongst the crowd can be a daunting task. But small businesses are unique in many ways. Not only do they supply cutting-edge services and products, but they also reinvest in small-town America and local neighborhoods in many ways. When small business owners live, work, and play in our communities, their dollars stay and grow. Many of these businesses create custom products solving unique problems for big businesses. Not only that, they support our schools in dollars, as mentors in the classroom, and on the field as coaches.
The day supports small businesses as they stand up and grab the attention of consumers. National Be Heard Day encourages small businesses to stand out through creative marketing, smart publicity tactics, a strong visual appearance, or any other inventive ways of making their presence known. When small businesses thrive, so do our communities.
NATIONAL BE HEARD DAY HISTORY
Business Mentor Shannon Cherry founded National Be Heard Day in 2004 to help small businesses stand up and be heard above the big business marketing.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalBeHeardDay
Join in this small business celebration! Whether you’re a business owner, shopper, or interested in growing your community, this day is for you.
Small businesses, raise your voices! Let your communities hear you, your goals, and what you have to offer.
Review your marketing approach.
Take a look at trends in social media.
Make your presence known.
Ask your customers what works and what doesn’t. Then, make the changes that draw positive attention.
Showcase your unique qualities and make them shine!
Network with local businesses. Pairing your unique product with another merchant’s displays doubles the wow!
Communities, offer small businesses your support.
Provide seminars on mastering social media.
Invite small businesses to take marketing courses.
Generate interest in coffee shop networking to build your small business culture. Your civic pride won’t be sorry!
Organize events that bring shoppers to your merchants.
Consumers, frequent your local small businesses.
We know you love your local businesses! Shop, eat, drink and order! If you don’t, they will not be around long. Small businesses do not survive without clientele.
When you like a service, tell others about it. Share their social media handles, specials, and invite others to join you on your next visit.
Give a positive review. All businesses hear what they are doing wrong, but they also need to know what they are doing right.
Can’t make it to your favorite local shop? Check their website. Many traditional small businesses also run an online store, too!
Purchase through our affiliate links. For those of us striving for a voice on the internet, our only income is through affiliate links. These are products that you might buy already, but doing so through an affiliate link pays us back, from the retailer. This support allows us to continue bringing you this content.
Short for Software Application, apps quickly appeared as our mobile cellular phones incorporated smart technologies. As the power of our phones increased with processing chips, internet connectivity, and touchscreens, so did the apps that became available.
Since that time, apps continue changing how we work, live, and play. They offer opportunities, too, by creating thousands of new companies, millions of new jobs, and billions of dollars in revenue.
Apps accelerated in growth with the advent of Apple’s iPhone in 2007. In 2008 Apple introduced OS 2.0, which included approximately 500 apps and allowed third-party app generation. Today there are over 3 million apps on both the Apple and Android platforms and thousands more introduced daily.
From social networking to productivity, apps function in every part of our lifestyle. They control the lights in our house and keep our playlists at our fingertips. We stay in tune with the world around us through news apps customized to our interests and stay connected to the people who mean the most to us.
NATIONAL APP DAY HISTORY
Platinum Edge Media and its founder CJ Thompson created National App Day in 2017 to celebrate the importance of apps as they change our collective culture by organically promoting creativity and innovation.
My goto Apps that I use practically everyday include:
Prism – Money and Bill Pay. We use this App for almost all our bill paying. It not only keeps track of when it’s due, but gives me balances, and real time payments directly from the App. Actively helps me from being a victim of identity theft.
Digical – All calendar. Appointments, To Do, reminders, and blog reminders.
Medisafe – Keeps my prescription medications on track with scheduling and reminders. Also a very conventional way to have a current medicine list on your phone in case of emergency, hospital stay, Dr visits and more.
My Sugar – As a diabetic this app links to my meter and gives both short and long term readings on my blood sugar. Helps me stay informed and make good diet decisions as well.
Lose It! – Calorie counter, dieting App. Keep track of what you eat, calories, carbs, food diary, and fitness logs. I was amazed at how much more contentious just keeping the food diary helped me choose healthy eating and loose weight.
News Break – News source that gives local, State, National, and worldwide news.
Google Weather – Accurate conditions
YoWindow – the weather both now and forcasts
WordPress – If you are reading this post, it’s where I blog. Easy to use visual and html, let’s me build my site.
Canva – create stunning social media posts, pins, and graphics.
Calligraphy – Add text to photos, and create graphics like you see on my site.
Polaris Office – Write, spreadsheet, newsletters, slides, slideshows, word and text documents.
My Drive – Cloud storage. Store pictures, documents, receipts, and backup info. I regularly keep digital copies in cloud storage. If you’ve ever lost or broken a device or need to access legal documents cloud storage gives me access no matter what device I’m using.
Googl Keep – My husband swears by this App. He keeps everything from grocery lists and To do lists to passwords and reminder notes.
Samsung Notes – I like this one as my Notes can even be written with stylus. Keeps notes, lists, observations, and reminders at my fingertips.
Walmart – Like most of we do our shopping for groceries and household often. Shop in store or online, checkout on your mobile device. Have it delivered or shipped straight to your door. Saves me so much time and money.
Shipt – Publix, Winn Dixie, Target, Walgreens, CVS, Petsmart, Office Depot Office Max and even GNC. Groceries or even better imagine not having to trudge through a store. Get it delivered.
Instacart – Get everything I need for dinner in 2 hours or less. Gives me delivery from stores like Aldi’s in my neighborhood.
Amazon Shopping – Amozon is so well known now. My Prime membership gives me perks, savings and access to products simply not sold locally.
Ibotta – Cash back at the grocery store! We all have to eat. So why not get cash back on what’s you’re already buying. Seriously I make enough cash back to get Thanksgiving dinner free! This year it’s Christmas dinner too.
Fetch – Shop & Save Money! Scan Receipts to Earn Gift Cards. Your Shopping & Saving Superpower! Fetch brings you a fun and exciting way to shop and save, turning all your receipts into rewards in a snap. Earn points by scanning receipts, then choose from hundreds of your favorite rewards. Shop personalized offers, play free point games daily and connect with your friends.
Rakuten – Cash back on the most popular shopping sites online. Great deals from the app or browser extension. We save on things like Daytimer, Amazon, Chewy, and do many more.
Temu – While similar to Wish the shipping deals have made this my new favorite this holiday season. Gifts for lots and something for myself too.
Restaurants and food delivery – Uber Eats, Door Dash, Postmates, Grubhub, we learned about during the Covid pandemic. Now delivery from your favorite restaurants is at your fingertips. We love getting McDonald’s, Burger King, Popeyes, Panda Express, Captain D’s, Chili’s, Texas Roadhouse, Taco Bell, Applebee’s, Cheddar’s, Greek, Mexican, American, you name it they can probably deliver it.
Prime Video – Streaming is so much better than high priced cable bills. Live Football, original series and movies all directly to your smart tv. What to see a new movie, simply purchase and stream. Pausing when you need a snack, or a break is ultra convenient.
Kindle – Amazon’s answer for Ebooks. I love my Kindle! Not only is it available on Amazon devices but you can seamlessly change from phone, tablet, Kindle, or even a desktop computer. Now I can take my book literally anywhere my phone goes. As a bibliophile, you’ll never find me without a great read.
Amazon Music – Load your favorite playlists, and let the music play. Prime members enjoy lots of tunes. No need for a separate device. I just load my phone widget and press play. Bluetooth connection let’s me play it on the surround sound system, my personal Bluetooth speaker, ear buds, air pods or headphones.
Love Nikki – We all need to unwind. This dress up game is like having both a fantasy adventure and a never-ending closet. Put your fashion sense to the test to save Mirland.
Facebook – Who hasn’t heard of this one by now? This allows family and friends to communicate, check up, check in, and share easily. Pictures of the grand babies, how school is going, or just video chat with Mom. Remember to check you feed!
Pintrest – My #1 bookmarking spot. Recipes, lists, books, movies, celebrities, crafts, shopping, new products, home decor, gardening, games, Journaling, you name I’ll bet there’s a pin. Pin your likes to your own boards. Keep ideas, thoughts, planning, and even wishlists and vision boards.
Nextdoor – Do you know what’s going on in your neighborhood? Giveaways, Yard sales, stolen packages…. Communicate with each other. Chances are even if your just curios you’ll find something near you.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalAppDay
Post your favorite app on social media. Share how apps make your life easier, too. Beyond games, what tools do you use to save money and time? While you expound on your favorites, explore new apps, too. What kinds of apps do you predict for the future?
Join the conversation using #NationalAppDay, and be sure to include why you couldn’t imagine life without your favorite apps.
Every year on November 1, millions of people celebrate authors and the books that they write on National Author’s Day.
Books have a mind of their own. They take time to develop, research, draft, edit, revise, and rewrite. The stories we devour and indulge in as we drift off to sleep, travel, or allow to collect dust on several flat surfaces in our homes may take years to reach a publisher. We may have only one favorite author or many collected works with which we cannot part. Whether we prefer fiction, non-fiction, or a mix of both, authors have been telling stories to fill our heads for thousands of years.
Authors keep a record of history through their stories. They mark time through their observations. Their tales create remarkable memories of place, sealing it between the pages of the binding. Their books allow us to keep coming back to visit again and again.
After her grandmother’s death in 1968, Sue Cole promoted the observance of National Authors Day. She urged people to write a note to their favorite author on November 1, to “brighten up the sometimes lonely business of being a writer.” She also suggested flying the American flag as another way of showing appreciation for the writers who have created American literature.
In 1928, Nellie Verne Burt McPherson, president of the Bement, Illinois Women’s Club, had an idea of setting aside a day to celebrate American authors. McPherson was a teacher, and throughout her life, an avid reader. While she was recuperating in the hospital during World War I, she wrote a fan letter to fiction writer, Irving Bacheller. She told him how much she enjoyed reading his story Eben Holden’s Last Day A’ Fishin.
Upon receiving her letter, Bacheller sent her an autographed copy of another story. It was then that McPherson realized she would never be able to thank him adequately for his gift. McPherson decided to show her appreciation by submitting an idea for a National Author’s Day to the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. In May of 1929, the club endorsed a resolution for National Author’s Day to be observed honoring American writers. The United States Department of Commerce recognized this day in 1949.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalAuthorsDay
Purchase some books by your favorite author to support them. Share your favorite novels online while encouraging an aspiring author. Use #NationalAuthorsDay to post on social media.
