On This Day: July 7th … Strange Holidays
National Father/Daughter Take A Walk Day
National Dive Bar Day
Tell The Truth Day
Chocolate Day
Global Forgiveness Day
National Strawberry Sundae Day
From Dive Bars to Global Forgiveness, we have a mix here, but if the weather is good, take a walk with your daughter dad, and talk about stuff. Okay, I’m on it.
Tell The Truth Day
Today encourages people to always tell the truth, even if it is often times inconvenient and hard.
Honesty and truthfulness are virtues that are emphasized by all world religions. Cultures around the world put a premium on integrity and sincerity - people who tell the truth are always honored and celebrated over people known to tell lies.
Supposedly, Ben Franklin coined the phrase, “honesty is the best policy.”
The truth shall set you free. The inmate said,
“Yes, I did it. Can I get out of prison now?”
National Dive Bar Day
Today, make a toast where friends gather and memories are made.
From the one-time speakeasy to the little hole-in-the-wall, the dive bar is like an old pair of jeans; it just fits right. During the week, we can stop in, our team will be playing on the TV, and the beverages will be icy cold. The same dart and pool leagues meet every year, and familiar faces go head to head.
Dive bars last. On Friday nights, even their sweethearts still show up for date nights at the beach shack where they met 20 years ago. If we drive the back roads of small towns, the dive bar serves the best steaks for miles around.
The dive bar is more than just a place to kick back and relax. It’s where we mark out life’s plans, celebrate its successes, and make memories to treasure. We make friends who become family and remember those who have left us behind.
This holiday is about the first place to come to mind when it’s time to celebrate, to hang out with friends or just feel at home once again. We may use the term dive bar with a bit of fondness, however, many of these places have been around a long time. “I remember when…” is a familiar phrase heard often enough. Raise a toast to the bars and pubs where they know us and take care of us.
Global Forgiveness Day
This is a time to forgive and to be forgiven. It must be a pretty good thing, because there are two major organizations in particular that lay claim to creating a Forgiveness Day. If you dig deeply, you will discover that there are a number of other "Forgiveness" days, created by primarily religious organizations, or organized groups promoting the concept of forgiveness. These holidays are world or international events. There's enough trouble and strife in the world. The existence of multiple forgiveness days can only help to make the world and your life a little better. We agree with the sponsors of this day, that a little more forgiveness will help to make the world a much better place.
All of the holidays promoting forgiveness, have one thing in common: to forgive and forget wrongs. Put aside the grudges. Bury the hatchet. And, end the feuds. Life is too short to hold in the pain and anxiety. Instead, forgive people and you will find your life is calmer, and more peaceful. Forgiveness goes both ways. While much of the focus of these days encourages you to forgive others, it is also important to seek forgiveness to both God and others, for any wrongs you have done.
Global Forgiveness Day began in 1994. It was created and is sponsored by the Christian Embassy of Christ's Ambassadors. This holiday originated in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Depending upon a variety of sources, this special holiday is sometimes called World Forgiveness Day and National Forgiveness Day.
International Forgiveness Day was created by the World Forgiveness Alliance, a non-denominational, educational foundation. According to their website: " International Forgiveness Day dedicated to evoking the healing power of forgiveness worldwide." The founder is Robert W. Plath, from Mill Valley, California.
Use today to clear your conscience and your soul. Take a few moments to sincerely forgive someone and to ask forgiveness of others. If possible, make it public. That way forgiveness will spread.
** The Jewish celebration of Yom Kippur is a day of atonement or forgiving.
** In Christian religions, the first Sunday before Lent is called "Forgiveness Sunday".
My therapist suggest I have a pre-occupation with vengeance. We'll see about that!
More Strange Holidays Coming!