The sun will rise on January 3, 2024. Martha Beck said, “Every day brings new choices.” What will you decide to think about today? How will you present yourself to the people you meet today? What kind of person do you want to be today? There’s nothing stopping you from being the person you want to be. Just do it. This day’s special occasions begin with the Festival of Sleep Day, Fruitcake Toss Day, J.R.R. Tolkien Day, Remember You Die Day, National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day, National Drinking Straw Day, National Write to Congress Day, and Women Rock Day. It’s also Celebration of Life Week until Jan. 7th. Now the history part of this post: On this day in 1496 Leonardo da Vinci built and tested an unsuccessful flying machine. This is the day in 1521 that Martin Luther was excommunicated by Pope Leo X and the Protestant Reformation began. On this day in 1870 construction of the Brooklyn bridge began. It would be completed on May 24, 1883. On this day in 1910 British miners went on strike demanding an 8–hour working day. On this day in 1925 Benito Mussolini dissolved the Italian parliament and proclaimed himself dictator of Italy. That’s what Fascists do. On this day in 1977 Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs incorporated Apple Computer, Inc. This is the day in 1987 that Artha Franklin become the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. To celebrate the birthday of Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 BC) I’ll use his quotes today. Cicero said, “Six mistakes mankind keeps making century after century: Believing that personal gain is made by crushing others; Worrying about things that cannot be changed or corrected; Insisting that a thing is impossible because we cannot accomplish it; Refusing to set aside trivial preferences; Neglecting development and refinement of the mind; Attempting to compel others to believe and live as we do.” True 2,000 years ago, true today. He also said, “any man can make mistakes, but only an idiot persists in his error.” Last one: “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all the others.” I would like to spend an afternoon with Cicero. Abide.
