April 22, 2024: INTERNATIONAL EARTH Day

Each year, on April 22^nd is the annual celebration of Terra, and the chosen theme for 2024 is “Planet vs. Plastics” – an excellent occasion to be reminded about the significance of environment conservation and sustainability, while encouraging all humans to join efforts by taking better actions for a healthier and happier world!

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed.”

● Basic background info:

Earth Day is an annual event celebrated around the world on April 22 to demonstrate support for ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. First celebrated in 1970, it now includes events in more than 193 countries, focusing on engaging more than 1 billion people, governments, institutions and businesses to recognize our collective responsibility and to help accelerate the transition to an equitable, prosperous green economy for all.

⚪ ARTICLES:

“10 Surprising Facts About Earth Day” | “A renewed SOS for survival: Earth Day 2024” | 
“International Mother Earth Day: Why we need to celebrate it every year?”

         ⚪ VIDEOS:

“One Earth - Environmental Short Film”  | “His Epic Message Will Make You Want to Save the World - Short Film Showcase” (via National Geographic) | “The Beauty Of Earth”

● My previous greetings on the same theme: International Earth Day – 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019

March 2024: Happy EASTER!

 EASTER (Pascha) – an annual observance, honoring an old tradition while sending along appropriate compliments!

Warm greetings to all my friends who celebrate today (March 31’24) this special holiday!

Also, at this time, early greetings to all my Romanian & Greek friends who will celebrate this holiday few weeks later. 

💮 HAPPY EASTER! 💮 PAŞTE FERICIT! 💮 FROHE OSTERN! 💮 ΚΑΛΌ ΠΆΣΧΑ! 💮 JOYEUSES PÂQUES! 💮 BUONA PASQUA! 💮 

● Additional background info:
Going beyond the religious significance of this holiday, here are few reference materials of general interest, depicting the secular & the cultural facets of this feast.  

⚪ ARTICLES:

“Easter Traditions in Romania: A Cultural Celebration” |  “5 Romanian Easter Traditions (Orthodox Easter traditions)”  |  “Romanian traditions on Easter”

|  “Seven Easter Traditions from Around the World” (promoted by Martha Stewart)   | “27 Traditional Easter Foods From Around the World”  |  
“35 Popular Easter Traditions From Around the World to Celebrate the Holiday”  |  “How Countries Around the World Celebrate Easter”

⚪ VIDEOS:

(In English language): “The incredible ROMANIAN Egg Art That Will Awe You” (Short Film Showcase by National Geographic) |

(In Ro language): “Exclusiv în România: Cel mai mare muzeu din lume dedicat ouălor încondeiate” (via archiva TVR1)

(In Ro language): “Taina încondeierii ouălor sau, cum o numesc localnicii, ‘scrierea ouălor’”

(In English language): “Traditional Easter Eggs in Romania”

● My previous greetings on the same theme: EASTER – 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019

Positive ATTITUDE, positive THINKING

”Joie De Vivre” – by Frederic Francois Chopin (classical music) 

       Once upon a time, I’ve read in one of Dale Carnegie’s books something that caught my attention and stayed with me for a number of years....here it is:  “Remember, happiness doesn't depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely upon what you think. So start each day by thinking of all the things you have to be thankful for. Your future will depend very largely on the thoughts you think today. So think thoughts of hope and confidence and love and success.”
       Yes, I’m more and more convinced that a significant part of the entire whole, it is about gratitude and positive thinking!
For some people it might be obvious that having a positive attitude could help them live a happier life, but the actual practice of expressing it, it is something that not very many people do.
       The wonderful opportunity for a greater peace of mind is lost, because many choose to focus on what others do, to criticize them every way they can, to blame everyone and everything hoping that by blowing someone’s candle their might shine brighter, but history has shown us time and time again that this is not the way things work.
       It you desire more happiness in your life, it is important to be positive, to live in the moment and to do things that bring you joy. When you are joyful, you shine and you will attract more like minded people into your life!

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”