Did you know today is National Inconvenience Yourself Day?
National Inconvenience Yourself Day is celebrated on the 28th February, yearly. The day was created in the year 2006, by Julie Thompson, an environmentalist consultant, in Florida. She invented Inconvenience Yourself Day, as “an incentive for others to acknowledge their appreciation for acquaintances or strangers and to promote respectful attitude, and an attentive demeanour.”
While there is no clear definition of how it should be celebrated, it is obvious that the day is a day dedicated to celebrating success and other people.
Rather than focusing on our normal routine, it is only right that we inconvenience ourselves to celebrate those around us.
If you’re wondering, here’s how you can celebrate
- Pay close attention to things and everyone around you; from the office cleaner to the driver.
- Be ready to make sacrifices. If knocking on the door of your neighbour would make you get to work late, or be behind in school runs, do exactly that.
- Reflect on what others need; it is only by paying attention that we can really know what others need.
- Decide on how you want to help and go ahead with it. In a world where we are too busy making ends meet, we forget the value of neighbourliness.
- If you are unsure of how to help the next person around us, ask questions.
- Finally, it is true that this day puts us in an uncomfortable position, the simplest way to celebrate the day is to go out of your comfort zone and routine, by doing something different. Just look for ways to inconvenience yourself but make sure you are making a positive difference in your own little way.