It was September 28, 2023, and I missed it. I mean completely missed it. There are a great many "Hallmark holidays" that people contend are primarily or perhaps solely monetary or commercial purposes. The dictionary includes in this category:
"Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day, along with lesser-known or less-established holidays like Sweetest Day and Boss’s Day."
While we can all see some imprimatur for the first three, "sweetest day?" Really? Yes, Sweetest Day 2023 is October 21, 2023. Its purpose is stated as "a day to be sweet by sharing a kind thought, a small gift, or a gesture of kindness." That is a nice sentiment. You still have time for that one.
Boss' day? Really? That is a curiosity perhaps. But there it is. Where? Well, sorry for the short notice but it is October 16, 2023. This one dates to 1958, and it reportedly took Hallmark 20 years to come up with a card for the celebration. I am guessing a fair few did not engage in celebrating and thus the profit motivation was just not there on this one. Advice on how to navigate through this one may be of assistance.
But I digress. As usual, distracted down yet another rabbit hole. I never see a rabbit, but I do chase down a lot of tunnels.
No, I missed my chance. September 28, 2023, was "Ask a Stupid Question Day." And, in my inimitable style, I missed it. There are so many I want to ask. So many that cloud my mind each day. So much doubt and only one day each year to strive to address the banality that is circling my frontal lobe in search of an outlet. And I deprived it of a chance. Well, blame it on the hippocampus.
Ask a Stupid Question Day is generally only celebrated in schools on the "last school day of September." The idea is novel and is focused on empowering those who fear the attention of class participation. So often a student suffers in silence, obeying the old maxim (perhaps from the Bible, Proverbs 17:28): "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." There are those who attribute this to Lincoln and Twain.
So, we have this opportunity to ignore the consequences, "removing all doubt" and "letting it all hang out." There is some expectation or intent that disguising ability with this "holiday" will prevent "being ridiculed by classmates," and encourage questions as they are "an integral part of the educational process." The intentions are laudable and perhaps effective. I do my teaching in night class and the odds are not great on my class falling naturally on September 28, though no doubt there will be a " "last class day of September" I might substitute.
How many times have you heard that "there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers." Google's Artificial Intelligence search attributes that quote (or something similar) to Dear Abby, Margaret Hamilton, Ramon Bautista, Carl Sagan, and more. They are some pretty smart folks, but did they realize we celebrate the stupid question with a holiday? And who are they to decry or belittle the stupid question? Next, they will tell you there is no "Great Pumpkin" (thanks to Charles Schultz for that one).
So, if you missed "Stupid Day" too don't feel too bad. First, there is some chance your question is not nearly as stupid as you might think. Perhaps it is not stupid at all and you merely lack the depth to discern the brilliance of your own query? Why not ask the question? Even if it is not as deep or cerebral as you might like, why not ask it anyway? Will anyone really laugh out loud? Who knows, if they do perhaps they simply are not bright enough to see your brilliance?
Or, call it quits on "Stupid" for 2023 and start saving those questions for next September? But in any event, take a moment to say hello to your boss Monday and simply say "thanks" for making this a great place to work. It does not require "ribbons . . . tags, . . . packages, boxes or bags." (How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Theodor Geisel, 1957). There is no need to grab a Hallmark card or really go to any trouble. The best course is a simple acknowledgment of whatever you value and appreciate.
Come to think of it, do we really need a day for such acknowledgment? Whether praising or expressing gratitude for those you work for, with, or manage, why not let such recognition be a more frequent opportunity? Or, you could wait until next October, but let's face it delaying positive feedback in your work environment would be truly stupid.
