October 10th- National Holiday and World Mental Health Day
Wikipedia provides this information for the Holiday we celebrate today: Indigenous Peoples’ Day[1] is a holiday in the United States that celebrates and honors Native American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures. On October 8, 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden became the first U.S. President to formally recognize the holiday,[2] by signing a presidential proclamation declaring October 11, 2021, to be a national holiday.[3] It is celebrated across the United States on the second Monday in October, and is an official city and state holiday in various localities. It began as a counter-celebration held on the same day as the U.S. federal holiday of Columbus Day, which honors Genovese-born explorer Christopher Columbus. Some people reject celebrating him, saying that he represents “the violent history of the colonization in the Western Hemisphere”.[4]
Today is also World Mental Health Day. The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) announced the theme for World Mental Health Day 2022, which is ‘Make mental health for all a global priority”.
Activities to support World Mental Health Day
- Communicate about mental health with others to offer support and provide resources to help make it easier to talk about.
- Talk about mental health at work so others can feel comfortable, can ask for help, share, and resources are available.
- Practice gratitude for positive mental health.
- Hold a mental health fundraiser at work, school, or community.
- Ensure there is an open-door policy around mental health.
- Consider mental health training and support at work, school, or organization.
Where I come from it is Hunting, Harvest and Haunting time!
October brings many things, but we can see the combines, tractors, trucks, and dust coming from the fields as farmers work to bring the crops in to wrap up the year.
Then you can look toward the tree lines closely to find the camouflage and tree stands with hunters ready for the deer to emerge. As you continue to drive, you will find the pumpkins carved with lights to shine bright, fall signs, and haunting creations to scare the trick-or-treaters who will be coming soon!
Zeke and I enjoyed our short drive to check out a few things. People were busy doing all of these things! We watched a family putting out all their Halloween decorations, saw a farmer getting in his combine, watched a doe with two young ones cross the road in front of us and a hunter leaving the woods. Probably the best thing we saw was the beautiful full moon!
Blessed and Reminded
October is a month that reminds me of something I love and something that took my breath away. Principal Appreciation month is October, and so is Breast Cancer Awareness!
I loved being a Principal! I enjoy coaching/mentoring Principals and leaders in education. It is the best job ever to have. Principals work with students, staff, families, and the community. I smile when I even type about it. Yes, there were absolutely faith shaking days for me. But when you add all of them together, the positives are so much more.
On December 22, 2021, my phone rang thirty minutes before leaving for a Christmas celebration. My doctor’s voice came through with the words, “I wanted to talk to you about the results of your biopsy you had done. Well, it came back positive for cancer.” I stopped breathing and listening, and I stood up. I was walking into the kitchen. I remember Zeke was on the phone with another person. I finally started breathing and said, please, doctor, I have to have my husband get on the phone to listen. I am not hearing.
I completed my treatments on April 25th, 2022, and continue to take my medication. I go every six months for continued re-checks. I am a survivor because I regularly got my mammograms and God.
There are many more things to celebrate and recognize in October, but one I have always loved is Make a Difference Day! It will be coming soon, and I hope you make plans on what you, your class, your school, your community, or your organization can do. It is the best way to be part of the solution! October 22nd is Make a Difference Day!
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