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It's National Physician Assistants Week!

What is National Physician Assistants Week?

Celebrated yearly from October 6th-12th, National Physician Assistants Week is a week that recognizes the physician assistant profession and the contributions they've made in the medical field. (msm.edu, National PA Week)

Why do we observe National Physician Assistants Week?

Not only is this a week to celebrate the contributions and hard work of all PAs but it also allows us to show our gratitude towards them, raise awareness of the profession, and inspire others to take up as a career as well. (drcatalyst.com, The Thoughtful Ideas for Celebrating Physician Assistants Week)

How to celebrate National Physician Assistants Week

Participate in PA Student Service Week: Help them out at canned food drives and charity runs where the give FREE health services to communities.

Participate in op-ed writing: Spread awareness of this profession by educating your community about how PAs contribute to the nation's health (drcatalyst,com, The Thoughtful Ideas for Celebrating Physician Assistants Week)

Y'all, Mr. Attitude is at it again!

If you're new to my journal and don't know who Mr. Attitude is he is one of my co-workers who firmly believes he can do no wrong and ALWAYS cops an attitude whenever someone corrects him (hence the name Mr. Attitude).

Anyway, yesterday morning (surprise, surprise) Mr. Attitude did something wrong and my fiance tried to correct him. And, shocker, he gets in his feels and cops an attitude. He starts a verbal dispute with my fiance and some things were said. Eventually it gets to the point that my fiance brings up the fact that Mr. Attitude used to abuse his ex and his son! Tell me why this boy decided to say to my fiancé's face, at work, "I'll show you abuse! How about I beat up your fiancee?!" Or something to that extent.

How stupid and cowardly do you have to be to look at someone like my fiance and threaten physical violence against their significant other at work knowing they can't do anything or they would get fired?! Not to mention, this is supposed to be a 30 year old "man" (y'all this ain't no man, this is a little boy) threatening physical violence against a petite, 110 lbs, 22 year old woman.

I've already spoken to one of the head cashiers about switching into to her team before I even knew about this happened but now I need to make an appointment with the new general manager to see about having the process of switching sped up because I no longer feel safe working the same shift as Mr. Attitude! My fiance may be there but he works a totally different job, in a totally different department, on the other side of the store. So if Mr. Attitude decides to do something to do something when he passes my department on the way to receiving my fiance won't be there help me.

It's World Teacher's Day!

What is World Teacher's Day?

World Teacher's Day commemorates the signing of the International Labour Organization (ILO) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers. This document set international standards for the treatment of teachers, including recruitment, training, continuing education, and labor conditions.

It was first celebrated in 1994 and is a holiday meant to recognize the importance of teachers all over the globe. It's a day used to consider the issues related to teaching and education.

Each year has had a theme. This year's theme is "The Teachers We Need for the Education We Want: The Global Imperative to Reverse the Teacher Shortage". Current studies show that 55% of teachers expect to leave their profession earlier than planned, with 35% expecting to leave within the next two years.

It's become hard for teachers to teach in many states and communities with the new laws regulating what can and cannot be taught in schools. Funding cuts have stripped away vital educational resources and lowered teacher salaries.

How to celebrate World Teacher's Day

Spend the day appreciating teachers, publicly and privately, for their hard work
Thank a teacher with a heartfelt message
Find a way to make their jobs easier
Encourage local businesses to offer a teachers discount, freebies, or contribute food/drinks for the teacher's lounge
Fulfill their wishes. Have them make an Amazon wish list and encourage people to donate items they need for their classrooms
Give them a gift to show your appreciation
Buy them lunch and give them time to actually enjoy it
Bring attention to the major issues teachers face, including the reason for this year's theme. Be their voice and fight for them. (weareteachers.com, World Teachers Day 2023: How To Recognize and Support Teachers)

I actually have a teacher I wish I could thank in person. I was placed in an academic recovery class due to my poor grades in English and Math during high school. My grades were so bad that it looked as if I wasn't going to graduate. But this teacher did everything she could and helped me so I was able to graduate high school. For that I will always be grateful to this teacher.

It's World Animal Day!

Why do we celebrate World Animal Day?

It's not so much a celebration as it's a day of action for animal rights and welfare.

Why are animal rights important?

Animals all over the world are being used for entertainment, food, medicine, fashion, scientific advancement and as exotic pets (worldanimalprotection.org.nz, What is Animal Welfare and Why is it Important?)

115 million+ animals are used as lab experiments worldwide (712,683 in the U.S. alone) (hsi.org, About Animal Testing and crueltyfreeinternational.org, The U.S. is Still Failing Animals and the Public)

10 million+ animals are abused in the U.S. and only 0.01% of such cases are reported (worldanimalfoundation.org, The Ugly Truth: 50 Eye-Opening Animal Cruelty Statistics)

How to celebrate World Animal Day
Donate or volunteer at an animal charity
Eat vegan or vegetarian for the day
Spread awareness about the cruelty these poor animals face everyday

It's World Space Week!

What is World Space Week?

World Space Week, celebrated October 4th-10th, is an international celebration of science and technology and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition.

There are two important dates celebrated during this week:

October 4, 1957: The launch of the first human-made satellite, Sputnik 1, leading the way towards space exploration

October 10, 1967: The signing of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies. (worldspaceweek.org, About World Space Week

How to celebrate World Space Week

Make your own model space craft
Have a space/SciFi themed movie marathon
Have a space/SciFi themed costume party
Visit a planetarium or observatory (worldspaceweek.org, Event Ideas)

Yesterday was Hummingbird and Butterfly Day!

What is Hummingbird and Butterfly Day?

Well, it's exactly what it sounds like: a day to celebrate two of the world's most beautiful creatures and amazing pollinators, hummingbirds and butterflies!


Facts About Hummingbirds and Butterflies:

Butterflies:
There are about 17,500-24,000 species of butterflies with about 500-750 in the U.S. alone!
A butterfly has 6,000 lenses in it's eyes and can see ultraviolet light
Butterflies are found on almost every continent, the only exception being Antarctica
Many adult butterflies don't go to the bathroom, everything they eat is turned into energy
Butterfly wings are actually clear, color/patters come from the reflection of the tiny scales covering them
Males drink from mud puddles (known as puddling) (stories.sandiegozoo.org, 19 Fascinating Facts About Butterflies)

Hummingbirds:
They are the smallest migratory bird and migrate alone for up to 500 miles
They have no sense of smell but great color vision (especially for red and orange)
There are 5 ways to refer to a group of hummingbirds: a bouquet, a glittering, a hover, a shimmer, or a tune
There 300+ species of hummingbirds throughout North and South America (kaytee.com, Fun Facts About Hummingbirds)

How to celebrate Hummingbird and Butterfly Day

The best way is to plant wildflower, especially in red and orange, for them pollinate!

Today is the beginning of Mental Illness Awareness Week

Why do we observe Mental Illness Awareness Week?

To think about mental health, tackle the stigma surrounding mental illness, and find a way to create a society that prevents mental illnesses from developing and that protects our mental wellbeing

What constitutes mental illness?

A mental illness is defined as a clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotional regulation or behavior.

Types of mental disorders:
Anxiety disorders
Depression
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
Schizophrenia
Eating disorders
Neurodevelopmental disorders (ADHD and Autism)

Why am I talking about it?

I have, and still do, struggled with mental illness. Namely, depression and eating disorders. At about 9 or 10 I developed anorexia. And at about 13 or 14 I was diagnosed with depression.

Not only that but people in my life also struggle with mental illness (my fiance, my brother, former roommates and classmates, friends)

What to do?

Spread awareness and help end the stigma surrounding mental illness. Mental illness is a serious topic that should not be ignored.

Yesterday was Child Health Day.

What is Child Health Day?

Child Health Day, celebrated on the first Monday in October, is a day to support the physical, mental, social and intellectual health of children in the U.S. This day was first celebrated in 1929, almost 100 years ago. (livewellkingston.org, National Child Health Day)

Why is Child Health Day important?

We celebrate this day to raise awareness about the fundamental necessity for programs to protect and develop the health of all children in the U.S. Did you know: it wasn't until the mid-1800's that the first children's hospital was founded. And before the last century, before the 20th century, children were treated- medically, socially and intellectually- as small adults. (livewellkingston.org, National Child Health Day)

How to celebrate Child Health Day

If you are a parent/guardian get involved in your child's school's wellness committee or PTO. These committees can help make system-wide changes to benefit the health and wellbeing of children

Things to do with your child(ren)
Go outside: go for walk, go to the park, garden/yard work
Get in the kitchen and have them help you
No screens: play a board game instead

Make sure child's healthcare is up to date
Vaccinations
Physical exams
Dental Care

It's October 1st, which means it's International Coffee Day!

Take today to share your love of coffee and support the farmers who work diligently to grow the beans that are used to make the drink!

Go to your favorite coffee joint and see if they're doing anything to celebrate this awesome day or, better yet, make your own coffee at home!

Now how do you take your coffee? Personally, I like mine with A LOT of cream and sugar. I've also been known to enjoy hot or iced mochas and even mocha frappes with extra chocolate drizzle. My fiance, on the other hand, takes his as is. Very rarely does he use creamer and I don't think I've ever seen him use sugar!

No matter what you do make sure to show your thanks to the farmers and enjoy your International Coffee Day!

It's October which means it's ADHD Awareness Month!

What is ADHD?

Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is a chronic condition that includes difficulty with paying attention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness.

This condition often begins in childhood and carry on through adulthood. Individuals with ADHD may struggle with low self-esteem, have trouble with their relationships, and have a hard time in school and/or work. (cdc.gov, What is ADHD?)


Why do we observe ADHD Awareness Month? Why is it so important?

The main goal of ADHD Awareness Month is to spread awareness of this condition. To help end the stigma associated with ADHD and support individuals who struggle with it. Not only that but by spreading awareness we can hope to have more accessibility in schools and the workplace for these individuals. (theminiadhdcoach.com, Why Do We Need ADHD Awareness?)


Why am I talking about it?

Well, for starters, I have a younger brother that struggles with ADHD. He was diagnosed in elementary school after getting in trouble in school for not being able to sit still. Not only that, but I believe I may have it, as well.


What can be done during this month?

Continue spreading awareness
Find sources with ACTUAL facts about this condition
Print out flyers about the condition and put them up in libraries, at school or at work. (adhdawarenessmonth.org, What You Can Do)