National Vision Board Day on the second Saturday in January encourages us to set our goals in a visual way. Get out the sticky notes, markers, and inspiration and start plotting your goals for the new year!
Vision board parties began in 2010 between a group of friends as a way for people to get together in a fun environment to set goals, cast a vision and dream out loud in a tangible way. They then mount on their completed vision boards on their walls where they would see them every day. Seeing their hopes and dreams helps set in motion these visions and ideas to become a reality.
Many actors, musicians, fashion and entertainment-based people have been participating in this since its inception. Vision boards help people remember their goals and concepts on a daily basis.
Host a vision party for your friends, family or co-workers. Set goals for the coming year and put them where you can see them. They will help motivate you to attain your goals. Do you have a vision board from last year? How well did it work? Share the results and get ready for an outstanding vision board for this year, too!
Post photos using #VisionBoardDay on social media.
NoSHAVEmber is an annual designation observed in November. During this time, men and women all across the United States put down their razors, trimmers, and shears to let their hair grow shamelessly. That’s right, all (or at least most) body hair goes untouched by blades this month, and what many people don’t know is, it’s all for a good cause.
NoSHAVEmber, also known as No Shave November, was created with a goal in mind to raise awareness about different kinds of cancer and to donate the money you would typically spend on a haircut or facial groom to cancer research charities. So this month, everyone is encouraged to come together for this growing campaign and let the hair grow wild and free!
OUR FAVORITE NOSHAVEMBER QUOTES
“Kissing a man with a beard is a lot like going to a picnic. You don’t mind going through a little bush to get there!”-Minnie Pearl
“No-Shave November is the one month a year I can excuse my poor facial hygiene for being festive.” -Unknown
“I will never shave off my beard and mustache. I did once, for charity, but my wife said, ‘Good grief, how awful, you look like an American car with all the chrome removed.” -Rolf Harris
HISTORY
In 2009, No Shave November was founded on Facebook, and in 2013 it began a partnership with the American Cancer Society.
Use #NoShaveNovember to post a hairy picture on social media, whether it be the hair on your head, face, or even legs! The main thing you can do, though, is donate the money you would normally spend on a haircut or a fresh wax, to cancer research. And if you’re not fully committed to growing your hair out, show your support to those who are. Since No Shave November is a web-based nonprofit organization, there are many ways you can show your support and participation online even if you decide not to grow out the mane this year. If you want to register online to be apart of the official movement, click here.
April 10 means today is National Erase Self-Negativity Day on the National Day Calendar. We are spending the day encouraging everyone to take steps toward erasing the influence negative self-talk has on our lives. It’s also a day where we will focus on changing this negative habit into a time of personal empowerment.
Some people think speaking negatively to themselves is a way for them to identify their downfalls or shortcomings and move forward. Even though we may believe negative self-talk is a reasonable and a harmless thing to do, this type of behavior can significantly damage self-esteem over time. We are here to tell you speaking negatively to ourselves is a habit. A bad habit. The good news is we can begin to erase the habit of negative self-talk starting today on National Erase Self-Negativity Day.
Identifying 5Cs of Negative Self-Talk
Each of us has a critical inner voice. This voice can be motivating, or it can do more harm than good. Many of us can easily become trapped in a cycle of negativity, with one critical thought leading to the next. This cycle can stop us from being able to move forward and damage our confidence. These words, if left unchecked, could potentially lead to mental health issues. It is important that we are aware of the five key types of negative self-talk.
Complaining is voicing dissatisfaction about something. Complaining is a form of negative self-talk and over time is a habit that prevents growth and progress. Complaining becomes less negative when we provide a solution or alternative to the complaint.
Criticizing is pointing out what you don’t like whether that’s about yourself, someone else or a situation. Criticism is often a negative habit that starts from within that works its way out into our environment. Rather than criticizing, try framing it as positive feedback to help yourself learn and grow.
Concern can happen when we feel we are losing control, thus creating a spiral of negative thoughts. The best way to show concern is to present ideas that counteract your negative thoughts.
Commiserating is when we gather with our friends and family to share “life” experiences, including things that are upsetting. Sharing grievances can be therapeutic, but it can also be the perfect time for negative self-talk. By simply adding a few positive remarks to any negative conversation, your mind will create a positive outlook and allow for encouraging responses from others, too.
Catastrophizing is negative self-talk that paints a picture of the worst case scenarios in our mind and makes problems seem bigger than they really are. Learning to accept situations for what they are will help you focus on finding a more constructive way to deal with the problem at hand.
Self-negativity is a habit that can be changed with work and commitment. In fact, the key to erasing self-negativity is through awareness and small habit changes. As negative thoughts arise, lighten them by reframing your mind with a positive mindset by catching, checking, and erasing it.
In 2024, Dr. Elizabeth Scott, PhD., the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), Pilot Pen, and National Day Calendar began working together to create National Erase Self-Negativity Day on April 10. This new National Day encourages everyone to take big, empowering steps toward erasing the influence negative words have on our lives. Each year on April 10, we focus on changing the negative habit of harmful words and focus more on increasing a positive outlook to live a healthy life year-round. Pilot Pen also invites you to join us as we focus on facing and erasing the damaging words and phrases that encapsulate our negative self-talk.
Founders
Dr. Elizabeth Scott, PhD., the NAMI, the nation’s leading mental health organization, and Pilot Pen are partnering to help individuals take meaningful steps toward decreasing stress and improving emotional well-being through the Erase Self-Negativity Day exercises.
An Exercise to Erase Negativity
To erase self-negativity, we need to start by identifying the primary, negative self-talk words that we play over and over again in our minds. After we recognize what those words are, we can take the necessary steps to actively embrace our personal power to face our negative self-talk and erase this damaging habit.
Find a quiet, restful location, get some paper, a FriXion pen, and follow the guided exercise below.
Join us as we celebrate National Erase Self-Negativity Day across social media using the hashtag #EraseSelfNegativityDay. Share your stories, suggestions, and support to empower and encourage one another to speak to ourselves with compassion. It’s time to begin spreading positivity, starting with yourself.
Celebrate nine years of love, commitment, and cherished memories with anniversary gifts that are as unique and meaningful as your journey together. The ninth anniversary is traditionally associated with pottery and willow, symbolizing strength, flexibility, and the beauty of a relationship that has been molded and refined over time. However, modern interpretations also embrace leather and lapis lazuli as timeless symbols of durability, luxury, and wisdom. Whether it’s a handcrafted leather journal filled with heartfelt poetry, a sleek leather accessory, or a stunning piece of lapis lazuli jewelry, these gifts offer a perfect blend of elegance and sentiment. Poetry, with its ability to capture emotions in words, adds a deeply personal touch, making your gift a true reflection of your bond.
Leather gifts, such as personalized wallets, photo albums, or custom-bound books, represent the resilience and enduring nature of your relationship. Pairing these with the deep blue hues of lapis lazuli, a stone historically revered for its connection to truth and harmony, creates a gift that is both meaningful and luxurious. Consider combining these elements—perhaps a leather-bound book of love poems adorned with lapis lazuli accents, or a piece of jewelry featuring the stone engraved with a line of poetry. These thoughtful and artistic gifts not only honor the past nine years but also inspire a future filled with continued love, growth, and shared dreams. Celebrate this milestone with a gift that speaks to the heart and stands the test of time.
The Friday before Easter commemorates the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ in the Christian Faith and is called Good Friday.
Christians around the world recall the biblical story of Jesus’s crucifixion on this day. The day goes by other names as well, such as Holy Friday, Black Friday, and Great Friday. Though sources conflict, the phrase “Good Friday” may have been derived from “God’s Friday,” though sources conflict.
The observance is central to the Christian holy season that leads up to Easter when Jesus Christ was resurrected. While Easter has become a traditional celebration in the secular world, Good Friday has remained a holy and spiritual observance.
GOOD FRIDAY HISTORY
The celebration of Good Friday has been observed for centuries, some say since at least the 4th century.
Since Easter is based on the lunar calendar, Good Friday can happen anytime between March 20th and April 23rd depending upon when the first full moon occurs after the spring equinox. Different cultures around the globe celebrate Good Friday with varying traditions.
El Salvador – Artists create alfombra de asserin (sawdust rugs) using colored sawdust. The artwork depicts a variety of scenes or patterns in honor of Good Friday.
London – Reenacts the crucifixion as a passion play. The performance is free to the public.
Ireland – Eggs are marked with a holy cross and are then eaten on Easter Sunday.
Israel – Christians walk in Jesus’s footsteps in Jerusalem where he was crucified.
HOW TO OBSERVE GOOD FRIDAY
Churches across the country hold services.
Depending on the denomination, their services and traditions may vary.
Many spend the day in meditative reflection.
Some churches will fast, selected hymns are chosen for services and a black cloth is draped over the altar and cross.
Other churches will include specific prayers such as the Stations of the Cross.
Similar to making Easter bread, some make hot cross buns for the observance. Learn more about the biblical story of the crucifixion.
