...between two people!
A happy start to the blog for July, and reminder of the positive difference that we can have on each other. July brings the International Day of Friendship as well as Share a Hug Day, and an opportunity for us to share joy with those around us, through small but considerate actions such as a hug, strengthening friendships or simply laughing together...
“A friendship is someone who accepts your past, supports your present and encourages your future”
The picture above is a snapshot of a wonderful day which I spent out on the water with a dear friend recently. One of the reasons why it was such a great day is linked to the quality of spontaneity. We both decided to meet up and made plans on the Sunday morning, which meant that there were no expectations and we both were able to enjoy the day and all the fun in the sunshine. There was a lot of laughter, hugs and good feelings of friendship...and we were able to stay present with each other, reminisce about the past and look forward to the future.
Naturally, we don't always have days that we feel so positive and so, it is useful for us to consider a couple of days which feature in July, and which may be of help to us in the coming months, particularly as the long days on sunshine start to decrease. These can help us increase our levels of positivity, sharing laughter and joy with everyone around us...
July 30th is Share a Hug Day, and a great opportunity for us to share love with loved ones around us. The idea behind the day is to let the people close to you know that you love and appreciate them by hugging them. Anytime is a great time to share a hug with someone willing to receive or give one, and often a hug with a friend leads to joy.
Thinking about the history of the word, the 1560s brought around the first use of the word ‘Hug’. The actual origin of the word is still unknown, but it has been compared to words from German, Old Norse, Old English, and many more...therefore, we can see how over a word over 500 years old can remain strong and permeate our lives...
The creator of Share a Hug Day was an individual called Mike Brundritt. He used to be married to a woman he had been in a relationship with for 19 years, and they had two sons. On the afternoon of July 30th, 2017, they were returning home from a camping trip, when a transport truck hit them from behind while they were travelling on the road. Mike Brundritt and his youngest son survived the tragedy, but his wife and oldest son died instantly...
Since then, Mike and his son have suffered with some mental issues, and Mike is still also recovering from back injuries. They both experienced an accident which took a great toll on their lives, both physically and mentally. Nevertheless, they were able to find hope. One year later, a few days before the first anniversary of the accident, Mike started thinking about ways to honour and remember his wife and son in a long-term way. He remembered how often he and his family would share hugs, either as a greeting, as a goodbye, or simply just to show their love. He also remembered the many hugs shared with his friends after the accident. So, he decided to start a hug day to honour their lives.
On July 30th, 2018, he wrote a post on his Facebook profile: “We have days of the year designated for different things: National Coffee Day, National Ice Cream Day, etc. I would like your help in starting National Share a Hug Day. July 30th is the anniversary of the loss of my son and wife and I want to try to honour the love that we shared by starting something special. I am not sure how to get this going, but for now, I think word of mouth will work. Please go and hug someone today to help get this movement started.”
What a wonderful way to share love and positivity, in honour of loved ones now and always, and I encourage you all to share hugs as soon as you have finished reading this blog. Some of you reading this may not think that a physical hug could make a difference in someone's life, but why not try it out with a loved one? I can assure you that it will definitely brighten someone's day...
July 30th also marks the International Day of Friendship - a day to appreciate and promote friendships from all backgrounds.
This is a day focused on bridging the gaps between factors such as race, language and culture, promoting the idea that fostering friendships between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace and build bridges between those communities.
Friendship and connections with loved ones are synonymous with bonding, and building those common bonds goes beyond sharing a trait, characteristic, or favorite hobby with another person or group, but it also includes promoting a global commitment and understanding of diversity and inclusion.
We may often think that such a day is designed purely for people who experience different cultures, live in different locations and perhaps even speak different languages, but it may be just as powerful with loved ones who are physically near and similar to us in location and language.
Even in our differences, we can find common ground with each other. Physical appearances, differences of opinions, political views, tastes, music, and more are not reasons to separate us. Relationships are beyond than that, and we can find reassurance in moving beyond our differences.
Why not have a coffee, take a walk, or even go to a concert with a friend and remind each other of the memories you have shared with each other?
I encourage you to take a moment now to think about your loved ones - whether it be friends or family - and think about your connection with them. It is worth remembering that a friendship doesn't rely on one person, but is a mutual understanding and respect. Think about what made you laugh together most recently, and perhaps create another opportunity for you to laugh again?
And why should we laugh, you might ask?
Laughter has been proven to have short-term and long-term benefits for the physical body. In the short-term, laughter can enhance your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulate your heart, lungs and muscles, and increase the endorphins that are released by your brain. In the long-term, laughter can relieve pain, improve your daily mood and even boost your immune response.
It is no wonder that laughter has been called the best medicine, and the aforementioned days in July are a great opportunity to cultivate laughter for the rest of the month and beyond...
I am delighted to continue sharing content as a Rooster Ambassador for 2022, representing the brand and its ethos to “Inspire, educate and facilitate access to the freedom of being on the water #InYourElement…I hope you enjoy watching the regular content which can be viewed by my personal instagram account, and I would welcome any suggestions for new creations, especially as the summer months bring the best opportunities for watersports...many of my photography and videography opportunities have resulted in a lot of laughter and many entertaining bloopers, but they will always remain alongside the best memories. Whether it be watersports or motorsports, I hope you are able to keep enjoying the activities which may you laugh and happy.
And maybe food is something which brings you joy and happiness...
Thank you for all your continued support for the brand instagram account, and I hope you were able to enjoy some summery food to match the sunny weather...the photos above highlight some of my July plates of foodie extravaganza!
Wednesday Wind down With Sitara continues every week 8-10pm on Lymm Radio with a fantastic variety of weekly themes, songs and quotes! Please do message in with your song requests and special mentions as it is a pleasure to include your favourites!
Tune into the radio show via your smart speaker or via this link...a positive way to start the day! #localradio
I conclude this month's blog with beatiful words to match the gorgeous sunset above which I was able to catch on camera:
“Laughter is the language of the soul”
I hope you have a great end to the month of July, and enjoy many more summer days that are still yet to come...keep laughing!
Love,
Sitara xxx
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