A Compilation of All Things January
Five Fun Facts About January
- January is the coldest month in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Scholars say the name January derives from the Latin word for “door.”
- With the exception of leap years, January begins on the same day of the week as October.
- The birth flower for the month is the carnation.
- The third Monday of January is recognized as Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Ongoing Gratitude
January is National Thank You Month, an observance worth celebrating all year. Try
expressing genuine gratitude to someone every day. Those two little words pack a lot of power.
A Tribute to Trivia
In honor of Trivia Day on January 4, enjoy this random assortment of fun facts:
- Redwood trees, the tallest in the world, have fire-resistant bark. Sometimes fire reaches the inside of a redwood through cracks in the bark creating “chimney trees” that survive even after being hollowed out by fire.
- It takes only seven shuffles to thoroughly mix a 52-card deck.
- Alaska, which became the 49th state on January 3, 1959, is nearly one fifth the size of the rest of the United States and accounts for over half of the country’s coastline.
- The lifespan of a major league baseball is about seven pitches. Why so short? Rarely is a ball ruined by a powerful crack of the bat but rather foul balls and home runs are usually lost to fans and balls that are scuffed are taken out of the game and used for batting practice.
- The worlds largest snowflake was found by a rancher on January 28, 1887 in Fort Keogh, Montana. It was 15 inches across.
- U.S. “paper” money is actually made of 75% cotton and 25% linen.
Humor and Health
January’s winter doldrums paired with the post holiday blues can start to wear on a person. Perhaps that’s why Global Belly Laugh Day is celebrated each January 24. What’s so great about laughter? To begin with, it’s a great way to bond with other people while improving your own mood. The more you laugh the more resilient you are to negative events. Laughter is great for your health too. It burns calories and raises the heart rate, like a mild workout. A good laugh also releases tension and stress and increases your immunity and infection fighting antibodies.
Give a Compliment
National Compliment Day is also celebrated annually on January 24. What a wonderful way to brighten someone’s day or to give credit for a job well done. A compliment has a powerful effect. It can instill confidence in a child, or validate someone’s hard work. A compliment not only improves the receiver’s mood, but it also says something about the giver. It tells them you noticed. Whether we recognize someone’s achievement or their classic style, a compliment can go a long way.
To give a great compliment, first be sincere. People have a way of knowing when we are fake. If you don’t mean it, it’s worse than getting a thoughtless birthday gift. Complimenting character versus a new haircut are different rewards. The first says you respect the person and the other tells them you paid attention. Sometimes the receiver needs to hear one or the other, or both. Human beings like to be unique, original. Strive to compliment what makes a person stand out above the rest. Take the time to reflect on what you admire about the person.
