Happy Leap Day!

Happy Leap Day!

This 'extra' day won't arrive again for another 1,461 days, so enjoy the uniqueness of our leap year!  Personally I'll celebrate by baking half of a cake because I only have the opportunity to celebrate my half birthday once every four years :)

Many true Leap Day babies take pride in only aging numerically older at one-fourth the speed of anyone born on another day.  Some celebrate on either the day before or the day after or both days in the years without February 29th.

As suggested by the word-visual above, many people take advantage of Leap Day as a time to be bold and courageous by saying "YES" to everything!  Jim Carrey Could do it!  So Can You!

Coming only once every
four years, the next Leap
Day will be in 2016!

Where did the origins of leap day come from though?

We understand a year to be the 365 days it takes the earth to orbit the sun.  Right?  Almost.  Leap day was added to account for the extra partial day à a technical whole year on earth is 365.24219 days long!  As an extra sense of technical thought, if the year is divisible by 100 (1900, 2100) but not divisible by 400 (2000, 2400) then the leap day is skipped!

In the time of Emperor Julius Caesar, the first 'leap day' was created by simply adding an extra 24 hours to February 24.  This was necessary to keep seasons arriving at the same time each year.  Also, during his reign, the Julian Calendar was in use whereas we now abide by the Gregorian Calendar. 

Does the one extra day on our calendar really make a difference though?  

Yes!  While you may not notice a difference or think leap day as necessary, Julius Caesar estimated that without leap day, the calendar would be "a mess.  If you lived to be 90 years old, your birthday would have drifted by three weeks" due to changes in the seasons!  Crazy to think about, Right?

Let me know what you think!  Post a comment below and tell me how you celebrated your Leap Day and said YES!

It's A Great Day!

Happy Monday Everybody!

Hopefully you are receiving this in the A.M.  I want you to tell yourself that TODAY WILL BE A GREAT DAY!!!  Why is it going to be a great day?  You were blessed enough to wake up and start a new day.  You have the option to start well by telling yourself it will be a great day!

I don't want to hear any more of this from YOU:

 I want to hear more of this from everyone:

And more of this!  Even if I wasn't involved, it always makes me feel better knowing my friends are doing well!

As the beginning of a new work week, YOU have the power to make it start on good terms!  Think positively as your Monday begins and it will progress smoothly!

Post below and let me know how your day is beginning!  Even if your day begins on the wrong side of the bed, remember:

"It's great to be great, but its greater to be human."

-Will Rogers

(If you don't know who Will Rogers is, ask Google!

He is very interesting to read about!)

Presidents Day: Washington and Lincoln

Today is set to be an AWESOME day for me.  I have a paid day off at the bank.  I get to hang out in new UC pajamas, drink pumpkin spice coffee, and re-watch a movie I have already seen a dozen times.  Plus I get to meet Mom and Dad for lunch as they head home from a mini-vacation.

As much as I enjoy days like today, I should also take a few moments to remember why today is a federal holiday.  It is supposed to be  more than weekend sales and days away from school/work!

The third Monday in February has always been known to me as Presidents Day.  I have a distant memory (or figment of my imagination) of being told during elementary school that President's Day is the day we celebrate both birthdays for both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.  Officially, the US Office of Personnel Management cites today as Washington's Birthday.  

From what I can gather from a variety of online sources (yes, I'll admit--I did check wiki first) George Washington's birthday is actually February 22nd and Abe Lincoln's birthday is actually February 12th.  I suppose for the purpose of productivity in the workplace, it is more economical to celebrate all the great presidents on one day as opposed to each of their individual birthdays.  For the purpose of uniformity, it also makes sense to shift all of these days of celebration to a specified Monday in the designated month.

Washington's birthday is a day that has been celebrated in the United States for a long time--even before Lincoln took office!  This little known tidbit explains (at least to me) why some sources cite today as Washington's Birthday as opposed to President's Day.

In addition to the two great presidents that we celebrate, I believe all of the presidents deserve an extra bit of recognition today.  If you want more information, as I am definitely not a reliable source, please ask Google!

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To help you enjoy this day a little bit more, I'll share this entertaining video I found today.   While it is educational, it is also quite entertaining!  Enjoy!

44 Presidents rap song

For more entertaining and educational songs, please

visit EducationalRap.com. There you will find other

songs as well as alternate renditions so that you may

test the knowledge you may have learned! Have Fun!

T.H.I.N.K. Before you Speak

Want to see more? Find the website here!

As a child, my parents always told me "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."  

I found this picture earlier today and was reminded of the lesson in kindness and respect my parents strived to teach me such a seemingly long time ago.  While it is such a simple thing to do--I have found that it is also an easy lesson to forget or ignore.

Taking a moment to think before you speak is simple.  And it only takes a moment of your time.  Consider the possible consequences by spreading gossip and rumors that are NOT true and NOT helpful and NOT inspiring and NOT necessary and NOT kind.  Remember your childhood lessons and T.H.I.N.K. for just a moment before you say anything.  It is an easy thing to do!

I have watched one of my close friends from college make it a point to be a positive person and surround herself with good influences.  I've told you before, but thanks again for your inspiration KT.  In making the effort to follow KT's footsteps and find all the positive sides to my life, I have had to tell other friends on numerous occasions that I don't want to hear the latest gossip and drama.  Why?

1. I do not need gossip as a continuing necessity in existence.  I do need positive influences.
2. Gossip isn't helping anyone in positive ways.  Talking about people behind their back is hurtful!
3. I find that hearing some of the latest gossip brings me down.  I want to be inspired--not deflated!

Sure...being a part of the gossip circle may make you feel 'in the loop' or 'part of the group.'  Whether your gossiping intent is innocent or malicious, what you are really doing to yourself is creating negative karma and unnecessary conflict.  Lets not do that!

Lets turn the gossip around for a minute.  Would you appreciate your friends talking about YOU when you are not around in the same manner that you talk about them?  If you answered 'no' then you might want to start thinking more about what you say.

Positive Results

"The person who sends out positive thoughts activates the world around him positively and draws back to himself positive results." 
                                                           --Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

The Power of Positive Thinking--it is a book we have all heard about.  Dr. Norman Vincent Peale is the author of that book and is a progenitor of the idea of thinking positive.  He was also a minister and public speaker during his life as well as an Ohio native.

This is an example of my skills as a Lighting Director! I
interviewed with a local company that does everything--
lights, video, graphic design, and full event planning!

As a recent grad still on the job hunt, I am constantly telling myself that by not being hired as a result of any previous interviews is really a good thing!  I'm just still waiting to find the job that will best complement the skills I have thus far attained.  By being positive about the situation, I am not giving myself an opportunity to feel let down.

This more suggestive still is another example I brought.
Good (left) was meant to change throughout this short
into nothing better than Evil (right).

The way I see it, if I am meant to fail, I will.  On the other hand, if I believe in myself and take the appropriate actions toward finding the right job, I will be able to find the perfect fit; time is the only question.  I don't think I am going to fail myself in my job search, so I will not be able to fail.

Knowing I had an interview today, I told myself that it would go well.  With this mindset, I was able to maintain a confident attitude.  I believe the experience was extremely positive.  Also, knowing that I was not interviewing for a specific job took away the nerves :)

"Watch your manner of speech if you wish to develop a peaceful state of mind. Start each day by affirming peaceful, contented and happy attitudes and your days will tend to be pleasant and successful."

                                                           --Dr. Norman Vincent Peale