NATIONAL CHEER UP THE LONELY DAY
Each year on July 11th, people across the United States make a special effort to give someone a lift on National Cheer up the Lonely Day.
#CheerUpTheLonelyDay
If you know someone who is lonely or going through a difficult time, be a bright spot in their life with a little extra thoughtfulness today. Whether their loneliness is due to health issues, financial reasons, grief due to loss or personal reasons, isolation can be overwhelming. Use this day as a reminder to contact those people in your life who need a little extra love and attention. Your small act of kindness can make a big difference to them. One word or special consideration may brighten their world at just the right moment.
A burden shared is a burden halved. ~ T.A. Webb Let’s Hear it for the Boy
We are all lonely from time to time. The gift of companionship and support when we least expect it may not solve our problems, but it eases the burden a little.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL CHEER UP THE LONELY
While visiting may be the number one thing to do on this day, here are a few other ideas to try:
- Deliver a few spare magazines to an ailing friend.
- Watch a movie with them and share some freshly popped popcorn.
- Read a book out loud to your friend.
- Set up a playlist with inspirational music.
- Offer to go for a walk with them.
- Mail a sweet or funny card.
- Bake one of their favorite foods.
- Call and visit on the phone.
- Email funny jokes every day to remind them to laugh.
- Play a board game.
- Go for a drive.
- Play 20 questions.
- Watch funny YouTube videos.
Use #CheerUpTheLonelyDay to share on social media.
NATIONAL CHEER UP THE LONELY DAY HISTORY
Our research found Francis Pesek of Detroit, Michigan created this day. His daughter, L.J. Pesek reports that he “was a quiet, kind, wonderful man who had a heart of gold. The idea came to him as a way of promoting kindness toward others who were lonely or forgotten as shut-ins or in nursing homes.” July 10th was Mr. Pesek’s birthday.