Category: Nonfiction

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Coffee and Contemplation: Inspire Your Heart with Art Day

This is a special day for appreciating the art that inspires us and moves us emotionally. It doesn’t matter if it’s music, painting, writing, or film, the job of the artist is to make people feel something. What are some songs, movies, art pieces, or theatre performances that have moved you to tears or laughter? What inspires your heart? If you don’t already, push yourself to go to an art gallery or theatre performance. You can view these virtually sometimes too. Read a book or write your own. Start whatever creative work you’ve been putting off. Or encourage a friend to work on their art.

Spend the day considering how art in its many different forms affects your life. Show that appreciation. If you have friends who create, show them some love. Buy their art. Write a review about their work. People don’t get famous without the help of their friends. If you don’t know anyone, share some of the works that are most meaningful to you with your friends. Share your favorite book, favorite musician, favorite film, or whatever else is your favorite thing. Share and inspire others. Leave the world with more art than you started with.

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Wacky Wednesday: January 27

We are ending the month with some extra light wackiness. Our first old English insult is Scobberlotcher. This refers to someone who never works hard. It is believed to be derived from scopperloit and old dialect word for a vacation or a break from work. Skelpie-limmer refers to a badly behaved child. Coined by the Scottish poet Robert Burns from the old Scots word skelpie, meaning “misbehaving” or “deserving punishment.”

We have only one token food holiday today, National Chocolate Cake Day. This is the cake that most people prefer, and rumor has it has been around for a couple hundred years. The first chocolate cake recipe was published in 1847. The first chocolate cake is believed to have been made in 1765. Today is also Library Selfie Day, the fourth Wednesday of January. Arrange your collection of books and take a selfie with them. Then go to the library and look at their collections (assuming the library is open right now because of Covid-19). Or even go to the local bookstore and national bookstore. The point is celebrate books and libraries.

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Coffee and Contemplation: National Compliment Day

Today is National Compliment Day. Compliments are important to a child’s development and to someone’s self-esteem. Not only does it improve the receiver’s mood, but it shows that the other person noticed them. Compliments must be sincere. Often people can recognize when someone is being fake. Consider what you admire about someone. Acknowledging a new hair cut or new outfit is a good start. This is also a good way to connect with someone new. Maybe you have a new coworker, or a friend is introducing you to someone. Compliments can help make a good first impression.

The other side of this is being willing to receive compliments. I often don’t receive compliments well. I’ve been forcing myself to reply with thank you and nothing else. I’m trying to be more grateful. If you’re like me and struggle with positive feedback, just accept it and move on. And definitely to reply with something negative or a deflective joke. That was hard for me at first but I’m improving. Accept compliments and give them often. It’s also a good way to keep everyone in a good mood. You know what I would appreciate, compliments about my blog and my writing. Anyone have any feedback to offer?