January 2 - Motivation and Inspiration Day:

Welcome to episode 2 of the Weird, Wacky, and Traditional Holiday Show”. I’m your host, Stephen Carter. With each daily episode, we identify at least one of the official or unofficial holidays celebrated that day and explore how that day came to be. 

Today's featured holiday is Motivation and Inspiration Day.

Before we explore the details of Motivation and Inspiration Day, a word about one of the featured activities for the month of January. January is National Blood Donor’s Month. The American Red Cross urges you to give the gift of life in January. You’ll find more details at www.redcross.org.

Motivation and Inspiration Day:

There is more to this actual official holiday than you might imagine. On December 18th, 2001, The United States Congress proclaimed January 2nd as National Motivation and Inspiration Day.

In the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, motivational speaker Kevin L. McCrudden convinced Congressional leaders that the United States needed a special day to remind people about the importance of motivation and inspiration in our daily lives. McCrudden sought to motivate Americans to focus on the many reasons for looking to the future and maintaining a mindset of inspiration and positive outlook.

On this day, I suggest spending a few moments in silent remembrance for those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Then, ask yourself, “What am I inspired to do in the days, weeks, and months ahead to change this world for the better.

I suggest starting small and building upon each success. In the Chinese classic, “Tao Te Ching”, Lao Tsu reminds us that the journey of 10,000 miles begins with a single step. Today is a perfect day to identify your first step.

Tomorrow we’ll have some fun on National Fruitcake Toll Day! To ensure you never miss an episode, click on the "Subscription Options" link.