APR 30, 24 .. NATIONAL TODAY..

National Today..

As she has been for the past two days, Patti was my “go to lady” as to selecting the below National Holidays. 

HEALTHY KIDS DAY..

I mean this should have been a “no brainer” for me but Patti resonated with it and I didn’t.

Healthy Kids Day is an annual event held that takes place right before the summer — the exact date on which the event is held is made public only a few months in advance. This year, it takes place on April 30. It’s held by the National Council of Young Men’s Christian Associations of the United States of America (the Y.M.C.A. of the U.S.A.) and celebrates the well-being of the kids in the community by encouraging activities related to sports, health, and arts and crafts. Most of the locations that promote it are open to the public on Healthy Kids Day, so everyone can participate.

The National Council of Young Men’s Christian Associations of the United States of America (the Y.M.C.A. of the U.S.A.) is a non-profit organization, founded in 1851, in Boston, Massachusetts by missionary Captain Thomas Valentine Sullivan. The goal of the organization was to bring the Christian community together within their neighborhoods, strengthening their relationship with healthy ways of living and advocating for a brighter sense of social responsibility.

Ever since its foundation, the organization has been developing and growing all around the world and the country, becoming one of the main non-profit organizations to receive donations. Different programs and events are hosted every year, bringing people all over together to celebrate their differences and promote a better lifestyle through sports and educational activities.

The Y.M.C.A. of the U.S.A. has since been aiding multiple events nationwide, most of which are open to the public, and the entire community is invited to participate. One of these events is Healthy Kids Day, a day hosted in celebration of children’s mental and physical well-being. This special day features many activities related to physical exercise, baking, and cooking healthier food options, and even arts and crafts. By introducing kids to healthy special interests and potential hobbies, we provide them with more tools to become well-balanced adults and live fuller lives.

In the Summer of 1955, I worked for the Peoria, Illinois, YMCA, as a counselor at a Summer Camp for youth in the Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, area.

It was a wonderful experience!

– – – – – – – –

NATIONAL THERAPY ANIMAL DAY..

It’s National Therapy Animal Day on April 30 every year. Let’s face it. We’ve all had days when we would rather hang out with animals than humans. This day recognizes and honors the invaluable work done by these creatures. It also celebrates the thousands of dedicated handlers, the human members of therapy animal teams, who volunteer their time during visits. The day also aims to raise awareness and educate people about the important role therapy animals play in enhancing the health and well-being of humans. Having a therapy animal can be life-changing in the best way. Ask any pet owner, and they’ll tell you the same.

National Therapy Animal Day was created by Pet Partners, an American nonprofit organization specializing in therapy animals. It promotes the health and wellness benefits of animal-assisted therapy, activities, and education. It has more than 10,000 registered teams making more than three million visits annually. It also registers handlers of multiple species as volunteer teams. Animal therapy or pet therapy refers to using animals to help people cope with and recover from certain physical and mental health conditions. Depending on the function of the therapy, people can choose from many animals including dogs, horses, and birds.

This form of therapy can enhance other treatments as animals can perform direct actions to help a person’s condition when they are in need and even alert others if someone is in danger.

While animal therapy can be traced back to Ancient Greece, the first formal research on animal therapy began just a few decades ago. Dr. Boris Levinson found that his dog had a positive effect on mentally impaired young patients. He discovered that these patients were more comfortable and likely to socialize with his dog than with other humans.

Sigmund Freud’s findings on this subject were translated and published years after Levinson’s death, which is when this research started to be considered valid. It might be surprising to know that there was a lot of controversy on animal therapy just a few years ago when today it is widely accepted and so extensive.

The noticeable changes in human behavior when interacting with animals are the main reason why this form of therapy is so attractive and why it has become such an integral part of today’s therapeutic practices. All sorts of animals are used for therapy, including the usual pets, rabbits, pigs, and birds.

– – – – – – – –

We also liked the below.

National Animal Advocacy Day, celebrated on April 30 every year, is a special day to honor, respect, and celebrate every animal advocate who works tirelessly to save animals from abuse, exploitation, and cruelty. Did you know that in the United States, millions of animals are abused to death annually? Yes, according to statistics, annually, over 10 million animals in the United States die of abuse. In fact, more shocking statistics reveal that one animal is abused every minute in the world. This is why the work that animal advocates across the world do to promote the protection and rescue of animals is so important.

– – – – – – – –

Friends of Bill..

To “carry the message of recovery”, I published a “fun” Post you all may enjoy.

https://aaphotoshere.blogspot.com/2024/04/apr-29-24-sobriety.html

Below is a “sneak peek” at it. 

Smiling!!

– – – – – – – –

Cap and Patti

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.