American Heart Month
“Do your part. Care for your heart.”
Heart Healthy practices – Exercise regularly, quit smoking, maintain a healthy weight, eat heart-healthy foods, eat chocolate and drink wine (in moderation), don’t overeat and learn ways to manage stress.
“A healthy heart is the main source of your strength.” – Michelle Parkerton
Black History Month
“I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
“One day our descendants will think it incredible that we paid so much attention to things like the amount of melanin in our skin or the shape of our eyes or our gender instead of the unique identities of each of us as complex human beings.” – Frank Thomas
“Have a vision. Be demanding.” – Colin Powell
“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.” – Muhammad Ali
“Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about embracing one another’s uniqueness.” – Ola Joseph
Chinese New Year begins – Year of the Tiger – February 1
“Wishing you a happy New Year, great luck and all your hopes fulfilled.” – Chinese greeting
“Wishing you luck in the year of the Tiger.” – Chinese greeting
Langston Hughes’ birthday – February 1, 1902
“My soul has grown deep like the rivers.” – from The Negro Speaks of Rivers, 1920
“Hold fast to your dreams, for without them life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.” – Montage of a Dream Deferred, 1951
Weatherman’s Day – February 5
“Weathermen merely forecast rain to keep everyone off the golf course.” – Larry David
“Weather forecast for tonight: Dark.” – George Carlin
“The weatherman is always right. It’s just his timing that’s off.” – Bill Cosby
Hershey’s Chocolate founded – February 9, 1894
“Everywhere in the world there are tensions – economic, political, religious, so we need chocolate.” – Alain Ducasse
“There is a simple memory aid that you can use to determine whether it is the correct time to order chocolate dishes. Any month whose names contain the letter A, E, or U is the proper time for chocolate.” – Sandra Boynton
“Dear Diamond, we all know who really is a girl’s best friend. Sincerely, Chocolate” – Unknown
Valentine’s Day – February 14
“To love at all is to be vulnerable.” – C.S. Lewis
“Take my hand, take my whole life, too, but I can’t help falling in love with you.” – Elvis Presley
“Keep love in your heart. Life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead.” – Oscar Wilde
“You can’t blame gravity for falling in love.” – Albert Einstein
“Love doesn’t make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.” – Franklin P. Jones
Random Acts of Kindness Day – February 17
“You cannot do kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” – the 14th Dalai Lama
“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you. “ – Princess Diana
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world” – Desmond Tutu
“Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly and most underrated agent of human change.” – Bob Kerrey
Love Your Pet Day – February 20
“I think having a pet in your life makes you a better human.” – Rachel Ray
“If having a soul means being able to feel love, loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.” – James Herriot
“Pets are humanizing. They remind us we have an obligation and responsibility to preserve and nurture and care for all life.” – James Cromwell
“Dogs come when they’re called; cats take a message and get back to you later.” – Mary Bly
Presidents’ Day – February 21
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – John Adams
“99% of failures come from people who make excuses.” – George Washington
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power,” – Abraham Lincoln