Since tomorrow is Independence Day here in the US, I started wondering what things are celebrated the day before.
If you didn’t already know, every day has its own set of weird holidays. For example, my younger daughter’s birthday is January 4th, which also happens to be national spaghetti day. Strangely enough, spaghetti and red sauce is her favorite meal. Although, these days, hot pot is coming in a close second.
So, what about July 3rd? What kind of interesting things are happening today?
National Stay out of the Sun Day is an obvious choice for today. Partly because it is the height of summer in the US. Although I do wonder if it’s partly due to knowing everyone will be out and about all the following day for July 4th celebrations.
In a similar vein, July 3rd is also Air Conditioning Appreciation Day. So, um, hug your favorite HVAC guy, I suppose?
Ways to celebrate: The first two really do go hand in hand, don’t they? You celebrate staying out of the sun by staying inside and thanking the Powers that Be for the all mighty air conditioning.
On July 3rd, it is also International Plastic Bag Free Day, which is an important one. We should honestly be practicing this as much as possible every day, but starting small can also have a long-lasting impact as well. As a side note, I’ve seen a lot of my favorite sites promoting a plastic free July.
Ways to celebrate: Bring your reusable bags! Most stores in my area have them for sale in-store. And, if you have a Trader Joe’s near you, they always have the cutest reusable bags. On the flip side, if you knit (or crochet), you can make your own. I have a good friend who has knitted me several and they’re perfect for produce.
Another important thing to celebrate today is National Compliment Your Mirror Day. We should all be kinder to ourselves on a regular basis, me especially. I could probably start by cleaning the nose prints off the glass… dang cats.
Ways to celebrate: Acknowledge your positives, no matter how small. The more you do this, the better you’ll get, and you might be surprised the things you like about yourself.
Today is also Thirsty Thursday and, with rising temps and crazy hot days in places where it isn’t usually very hot, remember to stay hydrated. It’s good for your skin, it’s good for your organs, and it’s also essential to keep your body working and cooling itself properly during the summertime.
Ways to celebrate: Drink that water! Add some frozen fruit or citrus for a fresh kick of flavor. There are also a ton of flavor enhancers out there that work wonders if you find plain water boring as well as flavored sparkling waters. One of my favorite alternatives are fruit infusion teas. Light, refreshing, and many are caffeine free.
One last thing to think about today is Start the Conversation Day. This reminds us to reach out to our loved ones and check in on them and their mental health. When someone’s struggling, they often withdraw and isolate themselves, making it harder for them to get help at a crucial time.
Ways to celebrate: Call or text the people who matter to you. Send cat pics or links to your favorite songs. You never know what a simple check in can do for someone who might be having a difficult time.
Which of these holidays appeals to you? How would you celebrate them if you decided to?
I have a daily reminder to drink a glass of water. It’s easy to forget!
Here in Canada you can no longer get those thin plastic bags at grocery stores at all. They sell thicker reusable bags instead, so I’ve learned to always carry a reusable bag or two with me when I’m out and about.
And, yes, air conditioning is definitely something to celebrate.
It really is easy to forget!
I discovered that last year when I visited Montreal. Honestly, I think it’s a great idea. A few states here in the US have banned them as well and some states charge you for them. It’s a step in the right direction at least.
Agreed 100% – our high is 102 today, which isn’t much here in July, but it’s too much to not have AC!
Was traveling on the 3rd (to the coast for the weekend activities… so much fun!!) and then again on Sunday to come home…so today is my first day to chime in. And.. I’ll share what is most special about July 3 to me 🙂 It’s my oldest daughter’s birthday!! Where we lived when she was young had fireworks on the 3rd instead of the 4th. For the longest time, she was convinced they were for her birthday 🙂
I hope you had a great trip. And that’s a fabulous reason to celebrate! And July babies are the best, although I might be a tiny bit biased there. 😀 Love that she thought the fireworks were for her, too.