Forget your troubles, c'mon get happy / Shoes for support / Iconic insight

1. Forget your troubles, c'mon get happy

Heading to get a vaccine? Before you go, you might want to watch a cat video or meditate to help the effects. The BBC's CrowdScience explores how your mood may help fight infection.

2. Zero, no hero

There are still more than 600 kids whose whereabouts are unknown since the previous administration's "Zero Tolerance" policy was enacted. The ACLU says these families deserve more than simply Biden's promised reunions.

3. History and soul

Throughout Black History Month, acclaimed Food & Drink writer Audarshia Townsend has been exploring 28 Days of Soul Food. Learn how favorites like okra, pound cake and pulled pork (to name a few) found a place at community tables.

4. Grief fatigue

With the death toll from the pandemic rising, dealing with grief is difficult and sometimes awkward. There are reasons the death of one person can impact us more than a mass of humanity. Join in a conversation and find resources on grief and resilience, take steps to help someone who is grieving, and share information about a loved one you have lost to COVID-19.

5. Get when you give

Remember way back to the days when you could mingle at events with friends and bid on cool silent auction items like limited-edition liquors, jewelry, art, and celebrity autographed items? You can still find those items and the funds still help charities in need! Bid on a Dolly Parton autographed custom-designed 95 Opry Guitar, a 1965 Beatles B&W by German photographer Roger Fritz, a Ron Howard autographed booklet from "A Beautiful Mind," Shaquille O'Neal autographed Lakers framed jersey, or an exclusive one-on-one with Emmy Award-winning soap star Susan Lucci via Zoom, among other items.

6. Shoes for support

As small businesses across the country struggle to survive, Vans' “Foot The Bill” initiative aims to support them with unique limited-edition shoes and t-shirts where all net proceeds go directly to the business. Help out a bookstore, bar, BBQ joint, taco stand, record store, and more.

7. Iconic insight

With concert halls and theaters quiet, these COVID days are a great time to connect with entertainment icons. Hawai'i Public Radio's Off the Road is a series of interviews with musicians who share how they’ve been touched by the pandemic. Especially worth the listen: Linda Ronstadt, Peter Frampton, and George Benson.

 

Sweet temptations / 'Small things with great love' / Abe's big day

1. Sweet temptations

When you're health conscious, Valentine's Day can be tricky. This year, consider gifting your beloved dark chocolate. Research shows there are many health benefits. And if your someone special is prone to allergies, these treats are a sweet surprise.

2. Pants on fire? 

While we don't have a leader shouting "fake news" every day, that doesn't mean it's not still out there. The only way we can live in a world of truths is to stop spreading the lies. If you see, hear, or read something that seems suspicious, do your due diligence, check it out and verify with AP Fact Check, Media Bias/Factcheck, Snopes, Truth or Fiction, PolitiFact, or FactCheck.org. 

3. Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler and learn

Even though the Mardi Gras parades are canceled, you can still celebrate Fat Tuesday on Feb. 16. Cook up one of these classic recipes and follow this video with step-by-step gumbo instruction. If you're gonna bake the King Cake, get some history on why that plastic baby is thrown in.

4. Not simply sadness

With a bulk of the U.S. still working at home during the pandemic, between 22% and 35% of employees are experiencing symptoms of depression. When you connect with co-workers, there are some signs to watch for to spot depression and anxiety. Think someone may need assistance? SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service.

5. 'Small things with great love'

A little goodwill is most welcome in our challenging world. Take advantage of Random Acts of Kindness Day (Feb. 17) to pay it forward and shed light on the darkness. You don't have to spend a lot to show you've got a heart of gold. Here are some inspirational ideas. Bonus: it also helps your psychological and physical health.

6. Invest in your investment

Since we're all spending more time at home, it's no wonder home improvements have surged. Maybe you've noticed areas that need some fixin'? A little landscaping or refreshing paint job helps improve the economy as you put a service provider to work or purchase materials to conquer a DIY project.  

7. Abe's big day

President Lincoln would have been 212 this 2-12. Celebrate his birthday by touring historical sites while sitting on the sofa, including his Kentucky birthplace, Springfield, Illinois home, Ford's Theater, and the Lincoln Memorial.

 

Gut check time / Get a piece of this pie / No soda or suds Super Sunday

1. Gut check time

Research shows bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract may affect the severity of COVID-19 symptoms. Since you are what you eat, it's important to watch your diet, especially now. Consider adding this fruit to meals every day to keep your gut microbes happy.

2. Insects in the news

Just as researchers solved the mystery of butterfly flight, reports also come that the monarch butterfly population is moving closer to extinction. Humans can work to save them by protecting habitats and planting species that bloom in the later winter or early spring (February–April). And expect a noisy summer as you step lightly around billions of these bugs.

3. Put it in writing

The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History wants you to submit your story about how you're coping through the pandemic. Feeling further inspired once pen is in hand? Check out these affordable online writing courses taught by bestselling authors. Then consider entering your pieces in one of many writing competitions.

4. Get a piece of this pie

Perhaps you've lost your job (or know someone who has). Wouldn't it be great if the time you're now spending watching TV and eating pizza could be profitable? It can. Just in time for National Pizza Day (Feb. 9), BonusFinder offers the opportunity to be a professional binge-watcher. The pay? $500!

5. Taking the show on the road

When you think about some of the best live music you've ever seen, it was likely at a small, independent music venue. Now shuttered, many are having a hard time surviving. Black Forge Coffee helps by donating 20% of coffee sales profits to “Support our Stages” with COVID-safe events across the U.S. Get dates they may stop in your town.

6. Small sips

Craft distillers have been crushed by COVID-19. The American Distilling Institute offers a helpful map of independent distilleries so you can help the small guys survive by buying from them. Plus, funds from this 21-and-over coloring book helps support the James Beard Foundation's Open For Good campaign.

7. No soda or suds Super Sunday

Super Bowl LV will be played on February 7. Sure, there's a football game, but look on the field for the first woman to officiate NFL's championship game. Just tuning in for the commercials? There are two big soda brands and this beer you won't see. 

 

Second still sucks / Shaken or stirred / Saving the small silver screens

1. Second still sucks

While COVID-19 takes the health spotlight, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. February 4 is World Cancer Day, a day to raise awareness, bring attention, and inspire action for a cancer-free future. American Cancer Society offers insight on ways to stay healthy as well as advice and assistance whenever you may need it.

2. Weather? Or not?

Will it be six more weeks of winter woolies or is warm weather waiting in the wings? Only the groundhog knows. Check the official forecast on February 2 when Punxsutawney Phil, the world's most famous marmot, is celebrated during Groundhog Day.

3. Shaken or stirred?

If ever there were times that required a good cocktail, these would be it! Quarantine has been the mother of reinvention for many, including actress/author Quinn Cummings who started crafting cocktails as a fundraiser and then evolved the effort into instruction. You can learn a lot of libation lessons during her free weekly mixology demos via Zoom. She'll also connect one-on-one for special group sessions (they make for unique birthday gifts, by the way). Letting the cat out of the bag: a portion of funds from those classes benefit her favorite charity.

4. Beat burnout

The novelty of commuting only to the kitchen and wearing pajama pants during meetings is long gone for many people working at home. Surveys show that more than 50% of respondents admit to burnout and 38% are dealing with video fatigue. Take steps to reinvigorate yourself and help your team of co-workers.

5. Because Black Lives Matter

After all that has occurred during this last year, it seems particularly important that Black History Month 2021 be one of action as well as celebration. While a little change can change the world, a few dollars also make good sense. Consider donating to the Say Their Names Project, Black Lives Matter, or the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund.

6. Saving the small silver screens

According to the National Association of Theater Owners, 70% of small to midsize movie theaters are at risk of shutting down. The Save Our Stages Act provides some assistance, but until it's safe to grab a seat on the aisle, head to Kino Marquee. This "virtual cinema" for temporarily closed independent theaters shows newly released movies, award-winning international films, acclaimed documentaries, and restored classics you cannot view anywhere else.

7. Traverse the family tree

During the pandemic, many people have started to think more about distant relatives they haven't been able to see or talk to in person. As we take stock of our lives, family folklore has become a priority for many. Here is some of the best genealogy software for putting together your family tree. Don't know how to find info or what to ask relatives? Here are some tips.

Mindfulness matters / Hip to be Square / Vacation all you ever wanted?

1. Mindfulness matters

Yale experts say learning ways to be right here right now help patients cope with illness and the anxiety related to it. Here are some simple activities to get you started, including mindful hand hygiene.

2. Hip to be Square

With everything going on these days, it's difficult to keep up with important news. The multi-award-winning Chicago Public Square is one of the best daily capsules you can find. While it's Chicago-based, it's a fantastic read no matter where you are located. Author Charlie Meyerson finds must-know national news and includes links to items you may otherwise have missed. Subscribe for free. Get it sent directly to your email every weekday morning.

3. How do you say...?

Learning a new language requires a huge investment of time (and we all seem to have a lot of that these days). But it doesn't have to wreck your wallet. PC Magazine picked the best free apps for learning a language, including Duolingo.

4. Keeping up with care coverage

Until Medicare for All becomes reality, it's important to have access to healthcare coverage. If you or a loved one has lost your job or are experiencing a lapse of employment, get info on how COBRA Continuation Coverage, Medicaid, Medicare, or other healthcare programs may be an option.

5. Lift spirits with a letter

A paper published by Northern Illinois University's Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Language and Literacy states the act of writing has many positive benefits, including “improve[d] memory function, decreased symptomatology, and greater feelings of happiness." Join "Letters Against Isolation," "Shut In Social Club," or "Love for Our Elders" to bring joy to a senior citizen by becoming a penpal and dropping a special handwritten note.

6. Vacation all you ever wanted?

During the COVID outbreak, you must have wondered (as The Go-Go's did): "how do you get away?" January 26 is National Plan for a Vacation Day. Even if it's not yet safe to get outta town, you can start thinking. This Book with Confidence Guide provides tips and resources about how to minimize the risk whenever you do travel.

7. Puzzles for the pandemic

January 29 is National Puzzle Day. Celebrate by putting your mind to work on a free crossword from The Washington Post or Los Angeles Times. It will cost you a subscription to access the famed New York Times crossword, but editor (and Indiana University graduate*) Will Shortz, explains how each cryptic challenge is created.

*Like Will Shortz, I also earned my B.A. (Video Production/Film Studies) through the Individualized Major Program.

Official transition (whew!) of power / Share like Cher / Mom and Popcorn

1. Hug the one you're with

In the age of COVID, hugging can be a death sentence. Yet research shows hugging is important to mental health. It not only makes people feel happy, but a hug can also reduce stress, change negative moods, boost hormones, and help the body and brain. Studies show hugs are what people are missing the most. That's why an elder care home in France created a "hug bubble" and facilities in Washington and Virginia Beach have done the same. January 21 is National Hugging Day. If you've got your own "pod" of people you can safely hug, throw your arms around each other. It's good for you.

2. Official transition (whew!) of power

Wednesday, January 20 is the inauguration of Joe Biden as President of the United States. Head to the website for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies to find historical insight, event information, and a live feed of the ceremonies.

3. Motivation by Martin

As we commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on January 18, there are still things we can do every day to learn from his wisdom. Here are 5 life lessons as well as local opportunities allowing you to take action and help your community.

4. Suicide prevention hotline

While deaths from COVID-19 have loomed large in the headlines, suicides actually outpaced virus fatalities in some locations. Dozens of cruise employees took their own lives, suicidal behavior in youths is higher, and rates have increased in the Black community. If you or a loved one need help, someone at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7.

5. Share like Cher

Back in December, music icon Cher helped save Kaavan, the world's loneliest elephant, after decades alone in captivity at an Islamabad zoo. You can make a giant impact right here in the U.S.: The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee provides refuge for elephants that were once in zoos and circuses. Financial assistance from donors helps feed and care for these creatures. See for yourself on the EleCam.

6. Mom and Popcorn

Small businesses that rely heavily on foot traffic and impulse buying have been hit hard by COVID. In celebration of National Popcorn Day on January 19, why not help out an independent gourmet popcorn shop by ordering online and getting it delivered to your door? Here are 5 shops worth your dollar: Cornology, San Francisco, CA; Coastal Maine Popcorn Shop, Boothbay Harbor, ME; Garret Popcorn Shops, Chicago, IL; Uncle Bob's Popcorn, Tuscon, AZ; and Johnson's Popcorn, Ocean City, NJ.

7. Essential art

The importance of art in our lives should not be underestimated: "Art nurtures the spirit and calms the mind.” While most museums across the globe shut their doors (some temporarily, some for good) in 2020, here are 2,500 world-class museums and galleries providing virtual tours and online collections.

Only the lonely / Show me the money! / Film freebies

1. Only the lonely

Months of quarantine and shelter-in-place restrictions are making more people feel lonely. Since loneliness may weaken the immune system, check out these ways to improve your mood and stay in good health.

2. Show me the money!

Just because the second stimulus check was sent doesn't mean those who were supposed to get it actually received it in full or at all. There are many different reasons for the hold up. Go to the IRS "Get My Payment" portal so you can check the status of your payment and get more information. If you used TurboTax or H&R Block, you might have to contact them as well.

3. Talk with the hand

Mask wearing has made it incredibly challenging for those who are hard of hearing and rely on lip-reading. If you want to learn how to communicate via American Sign Language, there are a number of resources, many of them free of charge, to get you started. 

4. Hunger relief

Millions of Americans, including an estimated 17 million children, are facing hunger as a result of the pandemic. If you or someone you love is struggling, enter your zip code into the Feeding America lookup tool to find food banks in your area. You can also search by state on FoodPantries.org.

5. Cats don't understand social distancing

Lockdown? Pffft! Frisky kitties are still catting around and multiplying like crazy. In Los Angeles, many of these critters end up at Santé D’Or Foundation needing all kinds of medical help. Learn how you can adopt or help aid life-saving efforts.

6. Skip the app

Covid-19 hit the restaurant industry hard. Closures were one thing, but then delivery apps swooped in like schoolyard bullies who claim to take care of you only if you'll pay up. Establishments in Boston and other locations beg lawmakers for caps on the fees. In Chicago, Cleveland, and Denver, Doordash hit back with additional fees after they were capped. Now owners and employees say the best way to help them survive is to order directly from your favorite restaurant.

7. Film freebies

There's no need to pay for expensive streaming services if you've got a library card from any public library in the U.S. Simply type your card number into Kanopy and watch hours of documentaries, international films, and popular films.