Hoping that the new year brings luck and happiness!
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source: roseswordsearch.com
Word Search: Welcome, 2023 and Farewell, 2022
Month: December 2022
New Year’s Traditions from Around the World
New Year is one of the biggest festive days around the world and is mostly observed on January 1st in all the countries. The day is occupied with lots of practices starting with food, parties, toasts, fireworks etc. with people following different traditions. The traditions usually differ from country to country depending on their culture. Below are some typical New Year’s Day Traditions practiced by people in different countries.
anationofmoms.com
Uh, please pass the lucky food!
Source: theoldfarmersalmanac.com
The Kindness of an Amtrak Conductor
I’m closing out 2022 with a few photos of a kindness that I viewed several nights ago. The venue is the Amtrak station in La Plata, Missouri on a snowy, wintry night. The famed Southwest Chief had just pulled into the station, and I spotted the conductor doing something I hadn’t seen before. He was rolling 2 pieces of luggage down the platform. Note the two people at the far end of the platform.
Ok, I thought it was time for a crew change and he was leaving the train. But no. This is what he was really doing!
Look closely and you will see the two passengers holding white canes being assisted by the conductor.
He has their hands leading them to safety as they are visually disabled.
As he escorts them to a waiting relative.
That you, sir, for your graciousness on that cold night in La Plata.
New Year’s Resolutions-Conversation Questions
alamy.com
Some tips for surviving party chit-chat.
More convo questions to keep things moving.
The Best New Year’s Resolutions (And How to Keep Them)
One of the best parts of the New Year might be going out to a celebration with friends and family. But, when the first day of the year rolls around, that means it’s resolution time! For many people, making New Year’s resolutions can be an important part of welcoming what’s to come. It can be pretty hard to keep those resolutions year after year though. Luckily, with the right resolutions and a few tips, you may be on your way to an improved 2023.
What’s a Good New Year’s Resolution to Make?
There’s a different resolution for every person when the month of January rolls around. While there are no wrong resolution ideas, here are some options that might make you want to start early:
- Lose Weight – It often comes as eating healthy or exercising, but weight loss is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions. After the holiday indulgence, January can seem like a particularly good time to change your diet. .
- Manage Your Money – The word budget strikes fear into the heart of many people all year round. The New Year, however, can be a good time to broach financial challenges. Whether by making more or saving money, financial well-being is an important goal!
- Learn New Skills – Whether it’s carpentry, calligraphy or kickboxing, there is a world of hobbies waiting to be pursued. For many Americans, New Year’s resolutions can be a great time to broach a new hobby! Share your own ideas with others on your favorite family app.
- Get Organized – Life is pretty busy for most of us, and that means it can be hard to stay on top of things. Organization can be a great way to get a handle on all of the things going on in our life. However, it’s only in the New Year that many resolve to come up with a plan!
What Are Some Good Tips on Succeeding at Your New Year’s Resolutions?
It can be hard to maintain lifestyle changes once the luster of newness has worn off. If you’re determined to achieve your goals and establish new habits this year, the following tips might offer the key to success!
- Does It Inspire You? – Many people end up making resolutions that aren’t meaningful to them. Whether it’s being healthy or exercising more, a goal you’re not invested in won’t go anywhere. The best New Year’s resolutions will be things that you can get excited about.
- Make It Manageable – It’s easy to get carried away when the New Year is a few weeks away. But making a resolution that’s too challenging may not lead to success. Instead, choose resolutions that you can see yourself doing. For more difficult ones, you can even do them in parts to make it easier. Share your ideas with others on FamilyApp!
- Write Them Down – It might seem silly, but writing down your goals can actually cement them in a different way. Not only will it help you clarify what you really want, but it will also ensure you don’t forget them. Down the line, it can also be a reminder of progress made!
- Go Easy on Yourself – New Year’s resolutions ideas aren’t hard to come up with, but staying on track is! That’s why it so important to give yourself wiggle room. No matter what your self-improvement goal is, change is hard. You will fall off the wagon, but getting back on is what’s most important.
Source: familyapp.com
The 25 Best New Year’s Eve Games to Play This Holiday
Two Resolutions and a Lie New Year’s Eve Game
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This is a great virtual game for those who want to celebrate together from different locations. Instead of playing the classic Two Truths and a Lie game, make it New Year’s themed by swapping in resolutions. Have each guest share three resolutions, one of which is a lie. It’s up to everyone else to figure out which resolution is the fib!
End of the Year Charades Game
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For this game, you’ll need to gather up a list of all the important events from the past year, whether related to pop culture, politics, or inside jokes between your crew. 2022 should give you plenty to choose from! Then write each down on a piece of paper and put into a bowl for you to use in a lively game of charades.
Name That Tune 2022 New Year’s Eve Game
KLAUS VEDFELTGETTY IMAGES
Create a playlist of the best songs of 2022 and see which team can guess the name of the song and the artist first. Make a point system for each artist and title named to make things a little more competitive.
Find more ideas by copying and pasting the link below.
Source: 25 Best New Years Eve Games – Fun Games for Adults and Family (countryliving.com)
11 Simple Ways to Prevent the Post-Holiday Blues
It can happen to anyone: the blues, seasonal affective disorder, post-holiday depression. After blasting ahead at full-speed, now you’re experiencing more of a crawl-like motion that’s beginning to get you down.
The post-holiday blues can be real with the emotional let-down that can happen after the festivities end.
Jo Panuwat D/Shutterstock
The end of the holiday season and the long, dreary days of winter can be challenging for a lot of people—even those who don’t have clinical seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or depression.
“Somebody who’s just experiencing sort of like seasonal blues might have some good days and some bad days [similar to] somebody with depression,” says Elise Hall, MSW, LICSW, a clinical social worker and therapist in North Attleboro, Massachusetts. “Even though there might be bright moments throughout their day, [they’re] feeling pretty bad consistently.”
We’ve come up with some simple strategies to cope with those feelings during the cold (or not so cold) winter months by getting active, discovering passion projects and embracing the season.
Try a workout
Whether at home or at the gym, exercise is a commonly recognized and effective mood enhancer, explains Hall. “Exercise just really releases natural chemicals in the brain that have an antidepressant quality to them.” Try a new class, or get outside for a run or walk if the weather allows.
Keep your resolutions realistic
Most people know what it feels like to choose lofty goals, only to come crashing back to earth when those things don’t happen. Keep focused on what you can attain, says Taz Bhatia, MD, an integrative health expert and author of Super Woman RX. “Unrealistic New Year’s resolutions can make someone feel like a failure, but small, definable goals can work to your advantage. It gives us something to focus on post parties, and it’s a great way to jump into the new year.” (Here are the top health mistakes people make in January.)
Go on a vacation
Get away from the stress of the short days and plan a trip—it’s good to have something to look forward to. “Vacations can also improve our mental health by reducing depression and anxiety,” according to the American Psychological Association. “Vacations can improve mood and reduce stress by removing people from the activities and environments that they associate with stress and anxiety.” Here’s why taking a shorter vacation is good for you.
Keep yourself busy with friends and fun
Another thing to look forward to? Time with friends, or self-care. “I think creating joy in the weeks that follow the holidays is key,” says Dr. Taz. “Book another dinner with friends, a massage, or start your self-care. Staying around positive people makes a difference as well.” Plan virtual Zoom dance parties. Or order the same food subscription box as your friend and cook the same meal together, virtually.
Click on the link for more blues-busting ideas:
https://www.thehealthy.com/mental-health/post-holiday-blues/
Use a Candle to Find Mystery Air Leaks in Your House
With temperatures around the country plummeting over the past few days, any air leaks in your home have likely become particularly noticeable. Perhaps you knew these cracks and crevices were there, but hadn’t gotten around to dealing with them yet. Or maybe, you did take the time to properly seal your home, and thought you took care of all the leaks, but the steady stream of frigid air coming from your wall says otherwise.
This seems like it should be straightforward enough: Find the additional leaks, and then seal them up. But sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you just can’t locate the leak. Here’s what to do if you run into that problem.
Photo: bzzup (Shutterstock)
How to use a candle to locate air leaks in your home
One way to find a mystery air leak in your home is to use a candle. Here’s what to do:
Find the right candle
Generally speaking, longer, thinner candles—like the ones you’d put in candlesticks, or use at a candlelight vigil—work better than candles that come in glass jars. That’s because you’ll need the flame to be out in the open and accessible.
Some experts, including those at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), suggest lighting a stick of incense instead of using a candle for this task. While it’ll certainly get the job done, it’ll also make your home smell like incense (which not everyone is on board with).
Turn off any sources of blowing air
This air-leak-locating method is much more effective if there’s not any type of blowing air coming from fans, or forced-air heating systems. Switching off any fans should be pretty easy, but if you don’t want to switch off your furnace, at least wait until it’s not actively blowing air through the vents. (Or close or temporarily block the vents.)
Go through your home
Now, light your candle, and get to work. Starting with the wall, floor, or general area where you’ve felt the air leak, slowly—and extremely carefully—move the candle around the room, paying close attention any time you pass over or near areas prone to air leaks, like windows, doors, baseboards, and switch plates.
If the flame begins to flicker—or extinguishes completely—in a certain area, you’ve probably found your leak. But just to be sure, hold the lit candle completely still near that same spot to see if the flame flickers or goes out again. (In case the first time, it happened because you were moving the candle around.)
Source: lifehacker.com
This Weeks Celebrations
Monday, Dec. 26
- Kwanzaa
- Boxing Day
- National Thank You Note Day
- National Whiners Day
- Day of Goodwill
- National Candy Cane Day
Jacqueline Anders//Getty Images
Tuesday, Dec. 27
- International Day of Epidemic Preparedness
- Make Cut-Out Snowflakes Day
- National Fruitcake Day
Wednesday, Dec. 28
- National Playing Card Day
- National Short Film Day
- Pledge of Allegiance Day
- National Call a Friend Day
- National Download Day
- Proclamation Day
- National Chocolate Candy Day
- Holy Innocents Day
Thursday, Dec. 29
- Still Need to Do Day
- National Pepper Pot Day
- Tick Tock Day
Friday, Dec. 30
- National Bacon Day
- Falling Needles Family Fest Day
- National Resolution Planning Day
Saturday, Dec. 31
- New Year’s Eve
- No Interruptions Day
- Make Up Your Mind Day
- National Champagne Day
Source: womansday.com
Daily Language Practice Week 6
Posting a little late because of the holiday, so let’s get to it.
Answer Sheet
