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Stillpoint Meditation, Flagstaff, AZ (2026)

02/03/2026

Happy Golden Retriever Day! Get ready to celebrate a furry friend, because National Golden Retriever Day is every February 3! The Golden Retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds in the US, and for good reason. The calm temperament, intelligence, and playfulness make them ideal best friends for any dog lover. Plus, they make great disability assistance animals, like seeing eye dogs for the blind and hearing dogs for the deaf. They’ve ended up saving lives in these roles—no wonder they have a holiday named after them. Read more and you might just have to go out and adopt a Golden yourself!

History of National Golden Retriever Day

While the holiday itself only began in 2012, Golden Retrievers have a long and storied history starting all the way back in Scotland in the mid-19th century. Here’s a quick dip into the origins of this beloved canine.

A need for the breed arose when common hunting dogs of the day were proving inadequate for retrieving felled game over land and water. Guns had improved by the early 1800s, so Scottish hunters were shooting from much greater distances over swampy marshland and finding their dogs were losing or maiming their precious birds. They needed a dog with a soft mouth and excellent fetching capabilities, so they bred their best water spaniels with retrievers, and voila! The first Golden Retriever was born.

Nowadays, Golden Retrievers have evolved well beyond retrieving felled fowl. Not only do they make great disability assistance dogs, but they also specialize in detection and search and rescue efforts due to their stellar sniffing abilities. Their patience and gentleness makes them perfect for children or hectic households.

National Golden Retriever Day was founded when a woman named Kristen Shroyer realized there was no day set as a tribute for these dogs. She set the date, March 3, as the birthday of her late Golden, Quincy, who was sadly lost to cancer at only 7 years old.

In modern times, you might recognize Goldens in famous roles movies like Air Bud, Homeward Bound, and Napoleon. And as recently as 2019, a Golden Retriever named Kira went viral for saving two dogs trapped in frozen ice, fetching them and rounding them up for her owner, all captured on video. They truly are a one-of-a-kind breed!

Information by Nationaltoday.com
Photo by Shayna Douglas on Unsplash

02/01/2026

Did you know? The Abolition of Slavery in Mauritius, also known as Abolition Day and observed annually on February 1, commemorates the abolition of slavery in the nation. The Slavery Abolition Act of 1833, helmed by the British parliament, took effect a year later, with most British colonies freeing enslaved Africans spanning the Caribbean and South Africa. In 1835, Mauritius followed suit, officially becoming the last British colony to gain freedom. Planters were compensated with two million pounds sterling for their slave loss. Mauritius (colonized by the Netherlands), France, and Great Britain became independent in 1968.

History of Abolition of Slavery Day

Although today the tropical island with a population of 1.2 million people tops the list of luxury destinations boasting some of the most beautiful landscapes, beaches, lagoons, and reefs, Mauritius’ early beginnings show a staggering irony. Before the Arabs, the island lay uninhabited by humans. But, the history of Mauritius would not be complete without a delve into slavery. The history of Mauritius dating back to the first period lacks documentation. Hence, the earliest dates of the country’s history sink deep into the mystery.

Mauritius, said to be over 702 miles east of Madagascar, situated off the south-eastern coast of Africa, traces its roots to the discovery by Arabs and Malays in 1507 before the Europeans-Portuguese, came into the picture in 1510 naming the island ‘Cirné.’

By 1598, the Dutch took and renamed it after their head of state, Maurice, Prince of Orange, and Count of Nassau, and from there, it officially started to gain recognition in the early 16th century.

The 1640s saw the Dutch usher in the first slaves. Through the leadership of the commander of Mauritius, Adriaan van der Stel, a hundred slaves were brought. The Dutch administration meted untold treatment on slaves, and any attempt at confrontation brought dire consequences.

By the 17th century, the island played host to about 200 Dutch alongside slaves from Madagascar, Africa, India, and Java. In 1710, following no longer favorable conditions for the Dutch, they left, and the British took over in 1810. By then, the Island was made up of a great percentage of slaves from Madagascar and East Africa.

In 1834, the British Empire had already proclaimed the abolition of the slave trade following the passage of the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833, but Mauritius dragged its feet for months before the apprenticeship system convinced slave owners otherwise. They followed suit on February 1, 1835, becoming the last British colony to abolish slavery.

Information by Nationaltoday.com
Photo by SAKO Sarah Koenig on Unsplash

01/31/2026

Happy Zebra Day! International Zebra Day is observed every year on January 31. With their natural environment diminishing and increasing human development, these gentle animals are in danger. When habitats are threatened, animals, too, become endangered. International Zebra Day is all about raising awareness and what you can do to help in the conservation of this animal. Zebras are mostly found on the African continent, in the semi-desert areas of Kenya and Ethiopia, and the hilly areas of Namibia, Angola, and South Africa. You can easily identify a zebra by its unique black and white stripes.

History of International Zebra Day

International Zebra Day was most likely founded by a consortium of conservation organizations such as the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and the Conservation Biology Institute. International Zebra Day aims to help raise awareness about the living conditions of zebras and how their numbers can be protected from further decline.

Presently, three types of zebra can be found in the wild. They are the Grévy’s zebra, plains zebra, and the mountain zebra. Although the Grévy’s zebra, found in the northern regions of Kenya and are extremely rare, they are an endangered variety having suffered a loss of more than 54% of its total population. The loss has occurred rapidly in the last three decades because of zebras being poached for their hides and pelts.

Zebras are found in the African Savannah where their natural habitat has been well preserved and not all zebras are in danger of disappearing. The other two subspecies of zebra are less endangered than the Grevy’s zebra. Plains zebras are thriving and don’t face threats of endangerment. The mountain zebra lives in South Africa, Angola, and Namibia. Along with the dangers of poaching, these zebras are also in danger from locals who might hunt them for meat when the going gets tough. Zebras have been battling many concerns regarding preserving their population.

Information by Nationaltoday.com
Photo by Ron Dauphin on Unsplash

01/29/2026

Happy Freethinkers Day! What are your thoughts about celebrating Freethinkers Day annually on January 29? Are you ready to open up your mind to new odds and ideas? Freethinkers Day is a day when people are not only entitled to think outside the box but are even cheered on to do so. In some places, it is also called Thomas Paine Day, or Common Sense Day. It encourages people all over the world to have the freedom to think and express themselves.

History of Freethinkers Day

Freethinkers Day is observed on the birthday of Thomas Paine. Paine is a well-known thinker whose works and books, which expanded on a philosophy of enlightenment, enormously affected the course of the French and American revolutions. Paine was a noble and bold man whose entire life work was inspiring and a strong motivation for those who yearned to find their independence. His efforts especially promoted the rejection of abstract authority that symbolized power and self-promotion over motive.

Although Paine was English-born, at the request of Benjamin Franklin, he came to America in 1774. Paine’s many significant books and pamphlets throughout his life included “Common Sense,” “The Age of Reason,” and “The Rights of Man.” He was also one of the first persons to call for universal human rights and an end to slavery. Paine’s writing has inspired a lot of other activists to seek their political, economic, and social progression.

Although Paine rose to prominence hundreds of years ago, it was only until the 1990s that he was acknowledged with a day. “The Truth Seeker” magazine initiated the celebration of this day on January 29, as a celebration of Thomas Paine’s memorable history and birth on January 29, 1737. The sole objective of this day is to bring around education and awareness as well as the common benefits of freedom and liberty. A symbolic way that the magazine suggested the day be celebrated was by exhibiting a white rose with thorns. The color white symbolized purity, fragility, and beauty; and the thorns represented danger.

Information by Nationaltoday.com
Photo by The New York Public Library

01/27/2026

Did you know? Auschwitz Liberation Day, observed on January 27, is a day that sums up the history of the Holocaust — to commemorate the Jews that were killed and abused. A genocide of these victims by N**i Germany occurred between 1941 and 1945. So much history, so many stories, and propaganda came about from these critical years. It’s been more than half a century and we are urged not to forget. This day reminds every one of us that nothing good came about from the Holocaust, a true event in history, that only condemned and killed six million Jews.

History of Auschwitz Liberation Day
Auschwitz, also called Auschwitz-Birkenau, was the N**is’ biggest and most known concentration and extermination camp. Auschwitz was known to be the “final solution” because of its devastating ways of abuse and murder, especially of Jews. Located in the southern part of Poland, known as Oswiecim, the largest N**i camp consisted of three parts: a prison camp, a slave-labor camp, and an extermination camp. These camps involved gas chambers and cremation furnaces. Auschwitz’s doctors would perform medical experiments and inhumane procedures on some prisoners, using injections, radiation, and sterilization.

Germans decided to forgo the camp by the start of 1945. On January 17, 1945, 67,000 prisoners were prompted to attend a “death march.” Prisoners who were too weak to walk were killed on the spot. While this happened, the Germans were trying to remove and erase any semblance of the camp and the crimes they’ve committed. On January 27 of the same year, Soviet soldiers of the 60th Army of the First Ukrainian Front entered Auschwitz, and thus a mere 7,000 prisoners were finally free of the wretchedness and affliction of the camp.

Upon investigation after this discovery, the Soviet Commission investigated all of the Holocaust’s history, especially N**i acts, and crimes done in the campground. Today, it is known that 1.1 million people died in Auschwitz, mainly consisting of Jews. Aside from the anniversary of the Auschwitz liberation, January 27 is also appointed as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Information by Nationaltoday.com
Photo by Frederick Wallace on Unsplash

01/26/2026

Australia Day is a g’day, mate, to celebrate all things about the Land Down Under on January 26. We join the 26,000,000 Aussies in their festivities observing the anniversary of the country’s settlement in 1788. Australia is widely deemed as a great place to live and a top travel destination. There is much to learn and appreciate about the oldest, driest and flattest inhabited continent in the world. So, read on for a fun history lesson and cool ideas for having a fantastic Australia Day!

History of Australia Day

The official national day of Australia is celebrated annually on January 26 commemorating the arrival of British ships to establish the first European settlement in Australia in 1788. These eleven ships carried over 750 criminals who had been tried and convicted in Great Britain for mostly petty crimes and then transported to penal colonies established by the British throughout the world, including North America and the Pacific. An additional 300 citizens from military and medical backgrounds made the trip to Australia, establishing the new colony.

The first celebration of British sovereignty over the eastern coast of Australia occurred in 1818. Other names used throughout the years to refer to the date of this historic event have been “Anniversary Day”, “Foundation Day” and “Australian Natives’ Association” (ANA) Day. All Australian states and territories adopted “Australia Day” as the name of the day in 1935 and then in 1994, January 26 was official marked as a public holiday.

Serving as a day of national unity and the largest annual civic event in the country, Australia Day is filled with a variety of community and family traditions, the presentation of national awards and the welcoming of new Australian citizens. However, not all Australians feel the same about the day.

Indigenous Australians have long referred to this date as “Invasion Day” or “National Day of Mourning” in protest of the arrival of the British peoples. Some still observe counter-celebrations and the holiday has sparked a controversial debate. In 1938, William Cooper, a member of the Aboriginal Progressive Association, declared it as a “Day of Mourning,” alluding to the annual re-enactment of Phillip’s landing.

On Australia Day, many Aboriginal people mourn their forebears who suffered and and perished during colonisation. Now, the day is also infused with deep respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. Protests to change the date of Australia Day to respect the Indigenous Australians also take place. The Australian government has acknowledged the traditional owners of lands which Australia Day takes place, in hope that Australians from all backgrounds come together to celebrate Australia as a multicultural society.

Information by Nationaltoday.com
Photo by Josh Withers on Unsplash

01/24/2026

Did you know? Change a Pet’s Life Day is celebrated annually on January 24. This day isn’t only life-changing for our pets, it changes our lives for the better too. Everyone can agree that having a pet brings a limitless amount of happiness and solace since they give us their eternal love, devotion, and support. This day enables us to provide a new home for one or more of the millions of animals in shelters. If you aren’t ready to get a new pet just yet, we’ll go through different ways you can improve the lives of the animals below.

History of Change a Pet’s Life Day

At first, glance, altering anyone’s life may seem impossible, but doing it for a pet is a whole other ballgame. Today, any one of us may contribute to history by giving a pet a fresh start or a better future.

By now you might be wondering how this can be achieved and where you can start. Well, Change a Pet’s Life Day was created primarily to encourage pet adoption all over the world, which is the number one way to change a pet’s life forever.

There are millions of stray and abandoned pets left in shelters all through America and across the world. These pets are left lonely in cold shelters for most, and sometimes, all of their lives, or even euthanized at some point to create room for more.

The first of these shelters debuted in Pennsylvania in 1896 when the Women’s Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals joined forces to create a facility for horses. Later, they expanded their services to include lost and abandoned dogs and allowed people to adopt such animals. Since that time, shelters have been established all around the world to care for various animals, and several rules and regulations have been put in place to stop animal abuse.

One such initiative is Change a Pet’s Life Day. Although the history of this holiday cannot yet be traced, its objective remains clear — to support and encourage pet adoption. However, individuals that are not quite ready for a new family member are also encouraged to change the lives of one or more pets through other means like sponsorship and volunteer work.

Information by Nationaltoday.com

01/21/2026

We love you, Grandma! In Poland, Grandma Day is celebrated annually on January 21. The day is widely celebrated across Poland, and children and adults gift their grandmothers cards, flowers, and small gifts — often these gifts are homemade. Schools and kindergartens may host small events and celebrations on this day. Grandparents are an integral part of the family dynamic in Poland and spend many hours with their grandchildren. According to research Polish grandparents spend on average more time, than any of their European counterparts, with their grandchildren. Their average is around nine hours per week. Grandparents will also help with childcare, and instead of hiring a childcare helper such as a nanny, grandparents will adopt the role of caregiver for their families.

History of Grandma Day
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
Unlike many holidays in other countries, Grandma’s and Grandpa’s day are two different holidays that fall back to back in January. Grandma’s day is celebrated on January 21 and Grandpa’s Day is celebrated on January 22. The separation of the days is a testament to the country’s fondness for the older generation, many other countries such as the United States, Spain, Britain, South Africa, and others have just one day dedicated to celebrating both grandparents.

Grandma’s Day was created by “Kobieta I Życie” magazine, in 1964. It began to grow in popularity the following year when the “Express Poznański” newspaper began to popularize the new holiday. Then, the “Express Wieczorny” newspaper joined in the festivities and Grandma’s Day grew to become a popular holiday among the Polish.

Polish grandmas and grandpas are referred to as ‘babcia’ and ‘dziadek’ and are known for treating their grandchildren to sweets and delicious meals. It is noted that this may be a result of growing up during the war or in the rigid communist eras.

There are no particular customs or traditions associated with this day except to spend the day with your grandmother of course. Polish grandparents, on average, have three grandchildren — lots of opportunities for hugs, gifts, and cards! Of course, adult grandchildren celebrate this day as well and shower the matriarchs of the family with gifts, flowers, and cards.

01/20/2026

Join us every Thursday - Drop into Mindfulness!
http://www.StillpointMeditation.weebly.com/

An open meditation space with instruction, and guided and silent meditation, Thursdays 6:30–8:15 pm, Mountain Standard time.
These Zoom sessions are free and open to everyone. Feel free to come and go at any time - it isn't necessary to remain for the entire session. For meditation instruction, please arrive at 6:30; guided meditation at 7:00; and silent sitting from 7:25-8:15 (All times MST, GMT-7)
Beginners welcome. Instruction and meditation guidance is always available.
Mindfulness Meditation has its roots in early Buddhism. While some of our discussion draws from Buddhist teaching, the practice of mindfulness is found in some form in most world religions. We are not a religious group, and followers of any faith or of none are equally welcome.
If you wish to donate to support ongoing instruction, you may do so here with PayPal, or use Venmo to -Owen

01/19/2026

Calling all alchemists! Brew a Potion Day is celebrated on January 19 every year. It’s a fun day to put on your witchiest best and get to brewing. Potions have become a part of popular culture through games like “Minecraft” and fantasy series like “Harry Potter;” with a full inventory of potions and witches and wizards brewing them. Potions are liquid concoctions popularly expected to be magical in some way. For the most part, they were and are still brewed to cure different diseases, but some make people immortal or fall in love!

History of Brew a Potion Day

Potions, taken from the Latin ‘potare,’ meaning ‘to drink,’ have long been associated with women. In the 1100s to 1400s Europe, women were the most respected source of medication for all the illnesses people experienced. Women would brew potions made primarily of herbs, oils, and other natural ingredients with specific healing properties. These homemade potions would be accompanied by soup or restorative teas and were an important part of early medicine on the continent. Apothecaries were the early pharmacies, and just about anyone could set one up. Owners of the apothecaries would make potions from scratch that they would sell as medicine, and female-owned apothecaries were highly respected – a lot of the famous ‘potioneers’ in the world were women. These potions were for humans and animals.

Of course, there would always be people selling concoctions for money without really thinking about what went into it. Love potions were very popular, as were potions for luck, general good health, and immortality. People would get duped into buying these potions that made false promises and sometimes had dangerous ingredients. There wasn’t a lot of information about the properties of some plants and herbs at the time so it was very common for poisonous ingredients to be used in potions, causing harm to those who drank them.

The different types of potions include restorative potions to cure sicknesses, immortality potions for people who wanted to live forever, and hallucinogenic potions for spiritual practices. Brew a Potion Day encourages making potions to support health and well-being so choose your ingredients wisely!

Information by Nationaltoday.com
Photo by FlyD on Unsplash

01/17/2026

Happy Ben Franklin Day! Benjamin Franklin Day is celebrated on January 17 every year, to pay tribute to one of the greatest Founding Fathers of the U.S. on the anniversary of his birth. Franklin was a notable polymath of his time. He was a poet, politician, scientist, writer, diplomat, statesman, political philosopher, printer, publisher, and inventor. He is best known for co-drafting the Declaration of Independence. He is also one of the most important founding figures of America. He is also the only Founding Father who signed all four key documents that laid the foundation for the U.S.

For those of you who did not know how big a deal he was, just take a look at $100 bills, commonly known as ‘Benjamins’. The number of hats Benjamin Franklin wore is mind-boggling, with inventor, author, printer, politician, musician, diplomat, and scientist being but a few. So join us as we dive into the life of this polymath — someone who is an expert in many different subject areas. He was a man of many exceptional talents, and that fact alone is worth celebrating.

History of Benjamin Franklin Day

Though the origin or founding of Benjamin Franklin Day is not known to us, it is worthwhile deep-diving straight into the life of the man himself to better understand why he so richly deserves a day of his own, especially for the contributions he made to society at large. The day has been created to honor a man, born of humble circumstances, who quickly worked his way up in the world while making immense contributions that would go down in history. Since he was a man with his fingers in many an important pie, we’ve highlighted some of his key accomplishments according to category.

Science — Benjamin Franklin made many contributions to studies in the field of electricity, with his most notable one being the invention of the lightning rod, in 1752. He also coined common terms related to electronics today, such as ‘battery,’ ‘charge,’ ‘conductor,’ and ‘electrify.’ In the 1740s his scientific pamphlets helped found the American Philosophical Society, the first of its kind in the colonies. He also invented bifocals and the Franklin stove.

Education — In 1731, Franklin founded the first subscription library, the Library Company of Philadelphia. In 1741, his pamphlet on the need to educate youth in Pennsylvania resulted in the founding of the modern-day University of Pennsylvania, which remains one of the top schools in the country.

Civics — In 1757, he began to serve as a representative for Pennsylvania and by the 1770s, he also became the first American Ambassador to France. He also was a part of the committee of five who were responsible for drafting and signing the Declaration of Independence. Another feather to his cap was becoming the first Postmaster General of the United States, and he was put on the first U.S. postage stamp after his death.

All this, and more, from a man who dropped out of school, but continued on an enduring path of learning, sticking to his guns, and committing to making the world a better place. It’s no wonder he gets a day all to himself!

Information by Nationaltoday.com
Photo by Ronak Ramnani on Unsplash

01/15/2026

Did you know? Spring Festival Golden Week, often coinciding with the Chinese New Year and taking place between late January to mid-February, is celebrated from January 15 to January 21 this year. The celebrations go on till the Lantern Festival, which is on the 15th day of the New Year.

The Spring Festival is an important part of Chinese culture and one of the largest celebrations among the Chinese people, no matter where they are. The festival has a lot of focus on activities that bring luck, to make sure everyone celebrating has a great new year.

History of Spring Festival Golden Week holiday

Spring Festival Golden Week Holiday, also known as the Chinese New Year, Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year, refers to the weeks of celebration around the new year and the arrival of Spring. The festival is one of the most important festivals on the Chinese calendar, and the celebrations have influenced similar celebrations in countries around China as well.

Like a lot of Spring Festivals in the region, the Chinese New Year is also a time for family and ancestor worship, as well as honoring and praying to important deities. People clean their homes in preparation, to sweep away the bad luck from the previous year and make room for better luck in the New Year.

The Chinese New Year is supposed to have originated under Emperor Yao, one of the legendary Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. The day he took the throne was marked to be the beginning of the year, and people have celebrated it ever since.

A popular folktale about the Chinese New Year and its celebrations is the tale of the beast called ‘Nian,’ sometimes known as ‘Xi.’ The beast was supposed to be a terrifying creature that would eat people, especially children. As the people of the villages went to hide, an old man reassured them that he would take revenge.

The old man set up red paper and firecrackers, which scared Nian. So when the villagers returned from hiding, they saw that nothing had been destroyed. Ever since, people have worn red near New Year’s Day and set off crackers to keep Nian away.

Information by Nationaltoday.com
Photo by 阳晨 on Unsplash

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