I cannot believe how quickly this year is flying by. It seems like just yesterday we were ushering in the new year, and now we are prepping for summer. June is always such a busy month for many, with the school year coming to a close, preparing for camp, developing a voting plan (June 25th for New Yorkers), dealing with allergies as the seasons change, and reflecting on how the year has been and what you want to accomplish in the upcoming months. There are so many interesting things to celebrate in June and since the days are long, there is plenty of time to step out of your comfort zone and participate in a few.
Did you know there is a Global Day of Parents on June 1, Hug Your Cat Day on the 4th, National Best Friends Day on the 8th, National Corn on the Cob Day on the 11th, National Weed Your Garden Day on the 13th, National Photography Day on the 15th, National Go Fishing Day on the 18th, National Onion Rings Day on the 22nd, National Chocolate Pudding Day on the 26th, International Body Piercing Day on the 28th, and Meteor Day on the 30th, to name just a few?
There are so many days each month dedicated to fun and sometimes wacky items, I find it’s a great way to continue to celebrate throughout the year with family members and students. I also look forward to the Summer Solstice each June. This year the summer solstice will take place on June 20 in the Northern Hemisphere and will mark midsummer: the longest day and shortest night of the year.
Throughout the month of June we will also celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month, Caribbean Heritage Month, and African American Music Appreciation Month. June is also PTSD Awareness Month, Rebuild Your Life Month, and Zoo and Aquarium Month. I guess it is a perfect time to visit one of the many zoos in NYC or take stock of what is or is not working in your life.
I am always looking for ways to “reset” and make sure I am focused on what is real and true and productive in life. I look forward to the start of each new month so I can focus my energy on something new or recharge as I continue to work on various projects.
Hopefully the month of June is filled with a sense of purpose, not chaos, as we figure out next steps now that the school year has ended and the weather is getting hotter with each passing day. As we move deeper into 2024 and prepare for the Nov. 5 election, it is my sincere hope that you will use June to reflect and recharge.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University; author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream”; and co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC and host of The Blackest Questions podcast at TheGrio. She is a 2023-24 Moynihan Public Scholars Fellow at CCNY