National Don’t Fry Day!

Today is National Don’t Fry Day! (No, we don’t mean french fries, go ahead and eat those!) We mean don’t fry your skin in the sun!

Each year on the Friday before Memorial Day, National Don’t Fry Day aims to raise awareness of all the risks of overexposure to the sun. It is important for everyone, no matter their skin tone, to remember to use sun protection and sun safety practices.

Unfortunately, skin cancer is increasing in the United States, and the American Cancer Society estimates that one American dies every hour from skin cancer. The risk for ultraviolet (UV) damage to the skin increases as we spend more time enjoying the outdoors now that warmer weather is upon us. We need to take precautions when we are outside in the sun. Using a good sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher, wearing sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat are a few ways to get started with sun safety.

Sun safety should be practiced EVERY day of the year, not only during the summer months! Even if it is cloudy, you can still get a sunburn or have sun damage to your skin. Make it a habit by putting sunscreen on at least your face and hands every day, or using moisturizer in the morning with SPF in it.

Skin cancer is curable if it is found early. Be aware of changes on your skin with growths and in moles. See your doctor if you have any concerns. Be safe!

Celebrate Your Furry Friends!

Today, May 20, is National Rescue Dog day! National Rescue Dog Day recognizes all the benefits of allowing a four-legged canine to adopt you into their immeasurably lovable life. Tails That Teach founded National Rescue Dog Day on May 20 to honor the inspiring ways rescue dogs become apart of the human family and increase awareness about the number of dogs in shelters. Given a chance, they would fill their forever homes with unconditional love and un-abandoned joy with every belly rub.

Bringing home a new pet is incredibly exciting. And adopting a pet from a shelter or rescue group is not only exciting, but it’s truly a feel-good experience as well. Every day, about 2,000 dogs and cats are killed in America’s shelters simply because they don’t have safe places to call home. By adopting, it means that each time you look into your pet’s eyes, you can feel good knowing that you truly did save a life. Use #AdoptDontShop on social media to help spread awareness!

According to the ASPCA, approximately 3.3 million dogs enter shelters every year. When these abandoned and abused animals find their way to a shelter, each one needs a forever home and their potential is limitless. They’re rescue dogs. No matter their size, color, or breed, dogs will find a way to nuzzle, fetch, or beg their way into your heart. You’ll find it hard not to scratch one behind the ear.

Rescue dogs often overcome extreme obstacles and yet provide comfort, security, and friendship as family pets. But, rescue dogs are capable of much more. With training, they contribute to the independence of people with disabilities as service animals and give comfort to the elderly. In these circumstances, they become our eyes, ears, or legs as well as our best friend.

Rescue dogs provide a variety of therapeutic benefits. Children, teens, and adults with autism may benefit from services provided by trained rescue dogs. As emotional support companions, rescue dogs help to relieve anxiety, depression, and PTSD among the military or those who suffer from mental illness.

They make excellent teachers, too. Rescue dogs show children about caring and kindness. Rescue dogs can even be trained to rescue us from dangerous situations or help to investigate the cause of a fire.

When it comes to four-legged friends, they improve the human condition by leaps and bounds, barks, and yips. It’s hard to imagine a more helpful, worthy companion. Give them a treat!

Is there a rescue dog in your life? Share your rescue dog stories and use #NationalRescueDogDay on social media!

Gratitude for National Mental Health Awareness Month

Another wonderful tool for improving mental health is gratitude. Gratitude a strong feeling of appreciation to someone or something for what the person has done to help you. It helps improve your mental health and life your spirits by reminding you of the good things in your life. Like mindfulness, gratitude is scientifically backed and proven to help improve your mental health and overall well being!

A great way to practice gratitude is to regularly remind yourself of what you are grateful for. It can be helpful to write a list every single day of three things you are grateful for, either when you wake up or before you to go sleep (or both!) It can be as silly being grateful for seeing your dog chase it’s tail and it made you laugh, or as deep as gratitude for the love of your family and friends.

Writing a gratitude list with just 3 items takes only one minute, it is absolutely possible to squeeze it into a busy schedule, and it immediately makes you feel better. You can even download a gratitude phone app! Give it a try!

Mindfulness For Mental Health Awareness Month!

If you are struggling with mental health challenges or just trying to manage every day stress, mindfulness and gratitude are great tools to use. They are simple, research backed ways of improving your mental health and your overall well-being.

Mindfulness:
Mindfulness is the quality of being present and fully engaged with whatever we’re doing at the moment — free from distraction or judgment, and aware of our thoughts and feelings without getting caught up in them.

The best part is, mindfulness exercises can be done by anyone, at any time, at any age or level of ability. A breathing exercises like the one below takes just one minute, and the results are immediate! One can do this mindfulness breathing exercise when you are in any unpleasant situation such as sitting in traffic, or before a job interview, or if you are feeling really blue. A mindfulness meditation may at first sound like funky new-age medicine, but rather it is a simple, common-sense breathing exercise that anyone and everyone can benefit from!

More National Devil’s Food Cake Day!

National Devil’s Food Cake Day

Ina Garten, our patron saint of baking (and cooking!) shares her famous Devil’s Food Cake Recipe. (Make sure to do right by Ina and use GOOD vanilla extract!)

DID YOU KNOW: Although there are conflicting tales, and published cookbooks to contradict the story, legend has it that the devil’s food cake was created at New York’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel. One account even suggests that a customer loved the cake so much, that she asked for the recipe. The customer got the recipe, but it came with a price—the Waldorf also served her a bill for $100. Now that’s an expensive cake!

Choosing the cake – our administrator’s great-grandmother was an esteemed baker. When she asked her son if he wanted a bicycle for his 12th birthday, he said that he wanted her Devil’s Food Cake instead! Who knew the power of Devil’s Food Cake?!

National Do Something Good For Neighbor Day – Part 1

May 16th was National Do Something Good For Your Neighbor Day!

https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2020/03/18/want-to-help-out-your-neighbors-during-coronavirus-here-are-the-dos-and-donts?fbclid=IwAR2FBIcIjKfUhb5LCFfDta36rELuxTWBO4ml4S2C61yekJhOehN7gcNWZM8

National Do Something Good For Your Neighbor Day on May 16th each year encourages individuals and organizations alike to be neighborly to each other.

A neighbor is defined as:

-A person who lives near another.
-A person or thing that is near another.
-One’s fellow human being.

Our neighbors are our community, and it is important to show them kindness at every opportunity. This day is a reminder that we are all neighbors, and that we should treat each other with love and respect. This is especially important right now when we are all going through this challenging time together!