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Insight Timer Quote:
Wishing a season filled with light and joy to all celebrating Hanukah and Christmas this year.—Insight Timer Team.
Daily Insight:
Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.—Ralph Waldo Emerson
I AM:
I feel love in every inch of my body.
Action for Happiness:
Treat everyone with kindness today, including yourself!
Fitness Quote:
Motivate the mind; the body will follow.
Fun Fact:
CHRISTMAS DAY
Every year on December 25th, over 2 billion people around the world celebrate Christmas Day. Traditionally, Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Nonreligious people and those of different faiths celebrate the day as a cultural event.
#Christmas
Also known as Christmas Day, this holiday is derived from the Old English Crīstesmæsse which means Christ’s Mass. Today, Christmas is a public holiday in most countries. Only about a dozen countries do not recognize Christmas as a public holiday. Christmas traditions vary around the world and have evolved over time. They borrow from other traditions and cultures, too. Over time, beliefs and customs blended as peoples migrated and attitudes changed.
One of the most popular Christmas customs is gift-giving. This custom has its roots in the Magi who brought gifts to Jesus shortly after his birth. Unfortunately, the gift-giving aspect of Christmas has led to its commercialization. On average, Americans spend $700 on Christmas gifts and goodies. Altogether, this equals $465 billion. In recent years, there has been a call to simplify the holiday and to get back to the “reason for the season.”
Christmas Traditions
• Candy canes While plain, unflavored candy sticks and canes existed as early as the 1600s, it wasn't until 1920 that the hooked version became exceptionally popular. Bob McCormack of Albany, Georgia took the peppermint candy, gave it a red and white striped twist. His handmade candies were given a manufacturing boost when his brother-in-law and priest, Gregory Keller, invented the machine that launched Bob's Candies into mass production. However, Keller's invention wasn't the first of its kind.
• Poinsettia Another tradition that blossomed in the United States during the 1920s, the poinsettia's legend takes place in Mexico. According to the legend, a girl wanted desperately to celebrate Jesus’s birthday. Worried, the girl feared she would have no gift to offer because she was so poor. An angel tells her to give any gift with love. After gathering weeds from alongside the road, the young girl placed them in the manger. Miraculously the weeds bloomed into beautiful red stars.
• Christmas trees Evergreens, fir trees, and other plants have been a part of the winter festivals and traditions since ancient times. The first person to place a tree in a house for the purposes of Christmas may have been the German preacher Martin Luther in the 16th century.
• St. NicholasLegendary stories about the third century St. Nicholas later become part of the inspiration for the modern-day Santa Claus.
• Mailing cards In Victorian England, sending Penny Post was inexpensive and frequent. Not responding to it was equally inexcusable. Being popular and busy led Sir Henry Cole to invent a holiday card nearly out of necessity. In 1843, he asked his friend, J.C. Horsley to illustrate a design he had in mind. Soon, Cole was off to the printer and the first Christmas card mailed in the Penny Post.
• Caroling Wassailing and caroling history go hand in hand. Originally, wassail referred to a mulled, sweet drink. It came to be known as going from house to house during the winter months and eventually as caroling. The carolers are often given hot beverages to drink to keep them warm as they travel. Learn more about 7 Beloved Christmas Carols & Their Origins.
• A Christmas Carol A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens was published on December 19, 1843, and tells the story of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge. So popular was the novella, the first theatre production took place within weeks of its publication. Since then, films, stage, and novels have presented a variety of adaptations much to the audiences' delight.
• Fruitcake The American tradition of eating - or giving - fruitcake at Christmas is somehow connected to the Victorian tradition of serving Christmas pudding. Both are molded, but that's about where the similarities end.
HOW TO OBSERVE CHRISTMAS
Most Christmas traditions are celebrated in the days leading up to Christmas. In the morning, see what Santa has delivered. Gather with family and open presents around a decorated tree or have a meal together.
Other traditions include:
• taking pictures with Santa
• baking cookies and goodies to exchange, such as fudge and gingerbread men
• hanging lights
• making ornaments
• going to holiday concerts
• watching holiday-themed movies, both old and new
• opening Advent calendars
• No wonder many people call this the most wonderful time of the year! On Christmas Day, many families open their gifts in the morning. A special Christmas dinner follows complete with lots of goodies for dessert. The best thing about Christmas is that you can choose which traditions you want to keep. You can also have fun coming up with new traditions. Share your favorite Christmas Day traditions on social media with #Christmas.
• CHRISTMAS HISTORY
• It is debatable whether Jesus was born on December 25th. Nowhere does the Bible provide the exact date of his birth. If this is the case, why does the world celebrate Christmas on this day? The first Christmas ever celebrated happened in 336. It was during the time the Roman Empire was ruled by Constantine. He was the first Christian Roman Emperor. Under Constantine, Christianity spread into Northern and Western Europe.
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Diane: Yeah I will be okay. Have not set up them up yet. Will wait until after Christmas.0
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@Patti241 , hopefully the set up will go well.0
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I emptied the break room of all the goodies on Xmas eve. I ate like a normal person yesterday. Let's stay on the holding path till the next challenge. Today everyone in charge took off. I have a knee length sweater so with boots I am wearing the purple leggings. 😂 Life is short why not plus you only see 6" of my legs. Have a great day everyone!2
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Diane: Me too0
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Insight Timer Quote:
We are never far from wonders.—John Green
Daily Insight:
Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.—Thomas Jefferson
I AM:
I am grateful for money flows freely to me.
Action for Happiness:
Get outside. Pick up litter or do something kind for nature.
Fitness Quote:
When I lost my Excuses, I found all my Results.-gymaholic
Fun Fact:
NATIONAL THANK-YOU NOTE DAY
National Thank-You Note Day on December 26th recognized the time-honored tradition of thanking people for their gifts, hospitality, and generosity. It is a day to get some note cards, paper, pen, envelopes, and stamps to write those special thank-yous.
#ThankYouNoteDay
Taking the time to thank family and friends with a personalized message has special meaning. The receiver of the “thank-you” will enjoy getting the card in the mail and the message you have written. Personal messages also convey to friends and family a deeper, more intimate sentiment. These handwritten notes, however brief, carry a tactile expression of thanks that verbal communication often lacks.
Never underestimate the power of saying “THANK YOU!”
HOW TO OBSERVE THANK-YOU NOTE DAY
Writing a thank-you has become a bit of a lost art. We have provided a few tips to help along the way.
Begin your thank-you by acknowledging the specific gift and how thoughtful it is. If the gift was delivered, then assure the sender it arrived safely and how much you enjoy it.
If the giver presented the gift personally, mention something you remember from your visit. Then thank them for the perfect gift they took the time to bring by describing it and how ideal it is for you.
Close your thank-you by gushing about how kind the giver was for remembering you!
Within a few lines, you will have the knack of writing thank-you cards. Share your tips using #NationalThankYouNoteDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL THANK-YOU NOTE DAY HISTORY
National Day Calendar will send a personal thank-you note to the founder of this correspondence day when we hear from them.
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I used to get on the treadmill during lunch. This office has no treadmill. Now I hit the yoga mat and stretch. I feel more relaxed 😌 I feel like I am actually taking time for myself. Something I should be able to keep up with. I can't wait for January 1st! I can request off my vacation to my daughter's. Everything is booked and my sister says she will come home to care for our parents. I can't wait!1
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Good morning0
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Insight Timer Quote:
To question what you believe is an amazing gift to give yourself.—Byron Katie
Daily Insight:
It is better to travel well than to arrive.—Buddha
I AM:
I trust the process of life and its timing.
Action for Happiness:
Call a relative who is far away to say hello and have a chat.
Fitness Quote:
I put in my time: No matter the circumstances.
Fun Fact:
NATIONAL FRUITCAKE DAY
Across the United States, fruitcake lovers young and old, commemorate National Fruitcake Day each year on December 27th.
#NationalFruitcakeDay
Made with chopped candied or dried fruit, nuts, and spices and sometimes soaked in spirits, fruitcake has been a holiday gift-giving tradition for many years.
Dating back to ancient Rome, one of the earliest known recipes lists pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, and raisins mixed into barley mash. Records indicate that in the Middle Ages, makers added honey, spices, and preserved fruits. Recipes for fruitcakes vary from country to country, depending on available ingredients and tradition.
In the 16th century, two achievements crystallized to make fruitcakes more affordable and accessible. First, sugar from the American Colonies became abundant. Second, it was discovered that high concentrations of sugar could preserve fruits. These two actions resulted in excess candied fruit. Consequently, fruitcake making grew.
• Typically, Americans produce fruitcakes abundant in fruit and nuts
• In America, mail-order fruitcake began in 1913.
• Charities often sell commercial fruitcakes from catalogs as a fundraising event.
• In 1935, the expression “nutty as a fruitcake” was coined. The phrase came about as a result of excess nuts some Southern bakeries added to their fruitcakes due to their access to cheap nuts.
• Most mass-produced fruitcakes in America are alcohol-free.
• Some traditional recipes include liqueurs or brandy. Bakers then complete the fruitcake by covering it with powdered sugar.
• Some fruitcake makers soaked their fruitcakes in brandy-soaked linens believing the cakes improved with age.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL FRUITCAKE DAY
Share a fruitcake story or recipe. Or maybe share both. Invite someone to enjoy some fruitcake with you. No matter how you celebrate, use #NationalFruitcakeDay to post on social media.
You can also explore the other5 Time-Honored Christmas Foodsto get a jump on next year.
NATIONAL FRUITCAKE DAY HISTORY
National Day Calendar will continue to experiment with recipes until we get it right. In the meantime, we've not found the origins of this immortal cornerstone of holiday baking, either.
Fruitcake FAQ
Q. I've never eaten fruitcake because I've always heard it is awful. Is that true?
A. No, it doesn't have to be true. There's a difference between quality fruitcakes and those you might find at the convenience store Christmas shelf. Bakers using quality ingredients create rich, nutty, and flavorful fruitcakes.
Q. Why did the fruitcake fall out of favor?
A. Historians point toward a variety of reasons for the fruitcakes downfall including mass production, poor ingredients, and iconic jokes. However, another reason may be that a good fruitcake takes time and effort, sometimes up to a week to complete every step.
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The last time I successfully lost weight on mfp I wasn't in the proper mindset. I did everything and anything to lose the weight. I denied myself food but I didn't learn to listen to my body. The weight is not coming off as fast but I'm getting in tune with what I need. Baby steps..
Enjoy the day everyone!!0 -
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@sweetpeasmom55, love you wore your purple pants! WTG! Good on getting rid of the excess office food. We hope following the healthy habits will help us all to be balanced in our approach for 2025 on being healthy.
@Patti241 , are services being contacted? I'm so sorry this is going on. Please do take time for yourself even if it's a few minutes here and they're.
@Kurtize , how are you and Don?
@Tabatha_Cain , tag! Lol you are it!
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Good Morning VIP friends:
I hope you are all doing well this morning. Today is Saturday. Sorry I have been MIA. super busy with hubby going to work early and the Holidays and all that. Lots to tell. Joe and I got preapproved for a home loan. So we are looking to move. We think we may have found a manufactured home we are interested with a huge pole barn and a carport and a garage. It is a nice lot of land. We would need to put a fence up for Chloe, but that is pretty much all. Oh and possibly add Central air, but that is not necessary as we do have the air conditioners from here in my home. I have a childhood friend coming to look at my house today. Her parents sold my current house to my parents in 1993. So now she wants the house back. So she and her husband are coming to look at it today. I have a lot of cleaning to do. Our realtor comes back from Vacation on 1/6/25. I am hoping that the house does not sell in that time because I really really want that house. It is perfect.
@SweetPeasMom55 - Way to go. I am sure it looked great with the purple leggings. Yay on a vacation.
@Patti241 - I am sorry. It doesn't make sense. I feel like some of these rehab places don't want to actually deal with clients who may need a bit longer rehab.
@Dianedoessmiles1 - I am here to accept your tag. Thank you for checking in with me. I am good and doing well. Still rolling in at 157 pounds so only 2 pounds from my goal weight which is within the 5 pound bounce they say can happen with women when they go into maintenance. I am still working on getting a gym membership. It is something we have to try and afford and not sure we want to get one here if I am going to be moving. We are hoping to move in the place near Joe's parents. The house we are looking at is about 1.3 miles from their house, and they don't have the fitness place in that town that we have here. So we would have to set up elsewhere. I am really excited and cannot wait to move. So I am starting to clean and clear things out even though we don't have an accepted offer on a house yet.
Well I hope you all have a wonderful Saturday
Tabatha2 -
Diane: We have the same home health care and that is great.
Tabatha: I know what you mean.1 -
Insight Timer Quote:
Re-create yourself.—Robert Greene
Daily Insight:
Lost time is never found again.—Benjamin Franklin
I AM:
I spend time with people who make my days magical.
Action for Happiness:
Be kind to the planet. Eat less meat and use less energy.
Fitness Quote:
Look like a beauty, Lift like a beast.
Fun Fact:
NATIONAL SHORT FILM DAY
On December 28th, National Short Film Day commemorates the day the motion picture industry was born, when the Lumière brothers projected a program of short films to a public audience for the first time.
#NationalShortFilmDay
In 1895 at the Grand Café in Paris, two brothers sparked the world's love of cinema. Auguste and Louis Lumière brought that fascination to life first in a paying audience of 33 customers. That day, the film pioneers presented 10 short films, each about 50 seconds in length. To the amazement of all those in attendance, the brothers captured everyday events on film and played them back as moving pictures. The experience of “watching movies” came alive that day. And it all began with those first 10 short films.
Today, short films come in many genres, lengths, and styles. They entertain us with animation, fantasy, comedy, and drama. They also inform and educate us through documentary subjects that provide revealing insights into real-life stories we may have never known before.
In short, short films continue to move us, just as they did that first time over 120 years ago!
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL SHORT FILM DAY
Watch short films all day. Share your favorite short films and use #NationalShortFilmDay on social media.
If you're looking for something to watch, check out these 8 Remarkable Short Films and celebrate the day!
NATIONAL SHORT FILM DAY HISTORY
Film Movement founded National Short Film Day in 2019 and celebrated its first observance on December 28th, 2019. They created the day to celebrate the impact of the short film and to commemorate its long and enduring history.
In 2019, Film Movement registered the observance with National Day Calendar®, and the Registrar at National Day Calendar proclaimed the day to be observed on December 28th, annually.
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Happy Saturday
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Good evening everyone. It’s nice to see familiar names in the chats. I opted out of the Fall challenge, but am in very bad need of getting back into some healthy habits! This Winter Challenge will hopefully help with that.
I can’t post here very often, but do like to check in on how everyone is doing when I can. I hope you all had a great Christmas and have a very blessed new year! 💕0 -
@Tabatha_Cain , oh that would be fantastic if you guys get the new place! How very very exciting! Will you be okay with being closer to Joe's family? I'm sure that Chloe would love a new yard. Reading your post made me smile, again. Please let us know how that goes. For work you are from home right? So that will not change right?
@Patti241, Patti It is wonderful that you can use the same healthcare. It makes it easier all the way around..
@Kurtize dream and dream big hon. May all of us never stop dreaming. We may not always achieve them, but at least it helps our minds and that can be a real pickup when we're going through a hard time. I wish none of us went through a hard time. Continue everybody to work on being healthy. It will only benefit us.
@tjharleygal55, hey, welcome back! Have you seen a list of healthy habits that we will be
working on for week 1 through 8? I'll put the link at the bottom of it just in case you haven't. We are working on a theme "Visions of a Bright, Shiny New YOU! As overall leaders, we realize that many people had gotten stuck over a while and we want everybody to be able to start to be saying refresh renew in our new year 2025. We hope everybody takes the opportunity to look within and revamp and renew. As Joyce wrote about. @Kurtize , let's stream again. Thank you for dropping in. Please do so when you have the time throughout the entire 8 weeks we will be here. And welcome back again. Happy to see you.
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https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10928577/important-please-read-edit-to-add-the-weekly-healthy-habits-theme-visions-of-self-care#latest
Have you all looked this over? Have you worked on your wheel?
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When will invitations go out? I'm always afraid I'm going to miss it!0
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Insight Timer Quote:
Believe in your heart that you’re meant to live a life full of passion, purpose, magic and miracles.—Roy T. Bennett
Daily Insight:
Every wall is a door.—Ralph Waldo Emerson
I AM:
I have the strength to overcome any difficulty.
Action for Happiness:
Turn off digital devices and really listen to people.
Fitness Quote:
Get up every morning and tell yourself “I can do this!”
Fun Fact:
NATIONAL PEPPER POT DAY
National Pepper Pot Day celebrates a soup with deep roots and a mythology to go with it. On December 29th, explore the flavors and history of the filling dish.
#NationalPepperPotDay
Pepper pot soup is a highly seasoned soup prepared with peppercorns, small bits of meat, tripe, vegetables, and broth. The dish may be more familiar by the name of Philadelphia Pepper Pot because it was brought to the area by people from Africa, the West Indies, and the Caribbean. Colonial Black women served the dish in their homes, the homes where they worked, and in markets. It's considered an early street food by many historians.
One legendary story credits this soup to George Washington's chef. The story goes that during the brutal winter of 1777 and 1778, the Continental Army was camped t Valley Forge on December 29th. George Washington asked the army's chef to prepare a meal that would boost morale and warm the troops. So the chef rounded up some ingredients and called it Pepper Pot Soup. The troops received the meal well and nicknamed it "the soup that won the war."
Though the story may be untrue, it receives some credit for increasing the popularity of pepper pot soup in Philadelphia and earning the dish its other name, Philadelphia Pepper Pot.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL PEPPER POT DAY
Experience the flavor of Pepper Pot Soup. If you need a recipe, we've found one to try. Invite some friends to enjoy it with you and share the celebration.
Authentic Pepper Pot Soup recipe.
Use #NationalPepperPotDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL PEPPER POT DAY HISTORY
Our search for the origins of this day resulted in an empty pot. So while we fill it back up with flavorful ingredients, we'll keep looking.
Pepper Pot FAQ
Q. Is there pepper in pepper pot soup?
A. Yes. The soup calls for peppercorns as one of the ingredients.
Q. How do they make pepper pot in Guyana?
A. Guyana claims pepper pot soup as its national dish. The primary ingredient in Guyanese pepper pot soup is cassareep, a thick sauce made from the cassava root.
Q. Did George Washington create pepper pot soup?
A. No. Though the popular story gives credit to the army chef under Washington's command, it is unlikely to be true.
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Diane: Yeah it does make it easier.0
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When I shop I go from store to store and I would get a candy from every stop. Just something small but a nibble at every stop. Yesterday I had my shopping and my parents and I didn't buy any candy or cookies. I got home and was like wow I survived I didn't pass out or even think about the sweets. I was too focused on getting from point A to B. Then over to my parents.
I think I am ready to do my vision board and fill in my wheel. This is my first vision board.0 -
Happy Sunday, hope your are relaxing and having a blessed day.
Today's affirmation:
Trust yourself. Only you can live your life.
Only you can taste your victories.
Only you can suffer the sting of your defeats.
Make your own choices, and accept your own consequences -
for better or worse.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie1 -
Good Morning VIP friends:
I hope you are all doing well this morning. Today is Monday and it is my longest workday of the week. I work 10:30 am to 9 pm. So that is a really long day. I get a half hour lunch, 2 15 minute breaks and a 10 minute break. So I guess not too terribly bad. It is going to be a great day though. I am hoping to hear from the realtor of the home we want to look at today possibly. We did put in a request to view the home. I am hoping they will call today and we can view the home tomorrow.
@Dianedoessmiles1 - Yes I work from home. So my work will not be affected as long as I can get the lights and internet and all that turned on in a proper amount of time. Joe's commute to work will be a little bit shorter depending on where he is going. So that is good. Our trip to church is shortened by 30 minutes. It is amazing. All we have to do is get a fence put up after we move in. So it will be a little inconvenient when we first move in as we don't want to let Chloe out without a leash. Once we get the fence put in then she will have free roam of the property. I wish I could post photos but I feel like if I do I will jinx it. You know.
Well I hope you all have a wonderful Monday.
Tabatha0 -
Good morning everyone0
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@Tabatha_Cain get the whole jinx thing. Fingers crossed it goes well.
I did my wheel yesterday. I realized that if I take the other department's position. It's a position with more money but no downtime. I would be doing work from home or at least prepping every day for the next day. Hmm 😒 this is not what I want. I have enough going on in my home life without adding more. I wouldn't be able to do swim. Well that does it. I love swim and it's me time. I guess that pretty much settles that. I'm going to put my health first and stay in the position I have. Life is short I'd like to enjoy it.
Hope everyone has a good day.2
This discussion has been closed.