Celebrate Life!

I’ve been thinking a lot about the brevity of life lately, due in large part to two very recent and tragic deaths that have affected some friends and their families. It’s often easy to let life breeze by without truly taking the time to savour each moment. Unexpected deaths have a way of jolting us back to reality, forcing us to see how short life really is, and prompting us to refocus and reprioritize so that we can truly take pleasure in every moment.

Well-known pastor and radio personality Chuck Swindoll (Insight for Living) tells his listeners of a family tradition that I have been considering implementing in my own family. It’s called the “Red Plate.” His family has one red plate that is used at family meals in the Swindoll home to recognize the big and small achievements in life. For birthdays, accomplishments in school or work, or simply to say “we think your special,” the red plate is pulled out to honour someone in the Swindoll family. What a wonderful tradition, and a powerful way of celebrating the joys in life that often go unnoticed!

This idea, along with a tradition that a friend of mine has to celebrate National Cheesecake Day (July 30th) each year with his family, prompted me to consider how I can help those around me celebrate life. And so, on August 1st, I introduced my “Celebrate Life” campaign both at home and at work, with a pledge to help us all celebrate the “odd holidays” along with the traditional ones that we so often take for granted.

Want to join in and celebrate life? Here’s a look at the “odd” holidays that came up on the Internet for the month of August:

August 1 is Friendship Day and National Raspberry Cream Pie Day

August 2 is National Ice Cream Sandwich Day

August 3 is National Watermelon Day

August 4 is Twins Day Festival

August 5 is National Mustard Day

August 6 is Wiggle Your Toes Day

August 7 is Sea Serpent Day

August 8 is National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Night

August 9 is National Polka Festival

August 10 is S'mores Day

August 11 is Presidential Joke Day

August 12 is Middle Child's Day

August 13 is Blame Someone Else Day

August 14 is National Creamsicle Day

August 15 is National Relaxation Day and National Failures Day

August 16 is Bratwurst Festival

August 17 is National Thriftshop Day

August 18 is Bad Poetry Day

August 19 is Potato Day

August 20 is National Radio Day

August 21 is National Spumoni Day

August 22 is Be An Angel Day

August 23 is National Spongecake Day

August 24 is Knife Day

August 25 is Kiss-And-Make-Up Day

August 26 is National Cherry Popsicle Day

August 27 is Just Because Day

August 28 is World Sauntering Day

August 29 is More Herbs, Less Salt Day

August 30 is National Toasted Marshmallow Day

August 31 is National Trail Mix Day