…Check out the Happenings at StC Page! Please check out the Happenings at StC Page below the “Did you know?” section for major announcements.

…The Mitford Reading Group went last week to the dahlia gardens of Linda Karamatic for its weekly reading and fellowship. Attendees snipped up generous bouquets of dahlias, read and laughed through a chapter of a Jan Karon Mitford Book, and enjoyed each others company. 

…September Trivia: The Romans often associated different months with different gods. September is associated with Vulcan, the Roman god of fire. We have no evidence that this Vulcan ever said, “Live long and prosper.”

…Our Live Streaming has improved several hundreds percent! Quality and reliability is up. Techno-confusion and breakdowns are at a low. If you see Karl and Toni Schmidt, give them a hearty thank you for their dedication and help in making our services available beyond our walls! 

…Fun Facts About Pencils: 

• The word pencil may have come from the Latin word penicilius, meaning little tail. Worldwide more than 14 billion pencils are made every year. On average, a single pencil can be sharpened 17 times and write 45,000 words!\
• Pencils can write in space with zero gravity, underwater, and upside down. A single pencil can draw a line 35 miles long. Pencil “ink” is made out of a mixture of clay and graphite.
• Pencil makers added the eraser to the pencil in 1858. Before erasers, it was common for people to erase pencils using crumbs from white bread. Teachers resisted erasers. Originally teachers did not want pencils to have erasers because they felt it would encourage children to make mistakes.

… Stair-glide Update: At its recent meeting the Bishop’s Council allocated the funds raised at Blueberry Bash and acknowledged the anonymous gift of $4000, appointing it for the stair-glide project. This brings the total available for this project up to roughly $18,500. According to initial estimates, this should cover cost and installation. 

…Positive Thinking Day: Positive Thinking Day is on September 13 on the National Day Calendar as a day to promote the power of positivity and the impact this simple act can have on your life. 

Positive thinking is an emotional and mental practice that requires an optimistic outlook on life. It’s about choosing to focus on the positive things that empower us despite our circumstances. A positive thinker doesn’t ignore negative aspects of their life. Instead, they maintain a hopeful attitude to get them through the disruption.

Developing a positive attitude takes time and practice, especially as you begin to retrain your thoughts to reflect a better attitude. As you become more self-aware of yourself, your mindset will change. You will develop an attitude of acceptance and gratefulness that focuses on the positive or good things in your life. This self-awareness will also teach you to accept unexpected setbacks, disappointments, or difficulties.

7 Tips Towards Positive Thinking

Changing the way you think is never an easy thing to do. However, we know that when you practice certain habits you will eventually develop a more positive outlook.

1. Start with self-awareness to recognize patterns that cause negative thinking. When you understand what triggers your negative thinking, you will learn how to start changing those habits.
2. Each time you have a negative thought, think of one positive thing about the situation. You may have a list of negatives when you begin this practice, but over time, you will automatically replace those negative thoughts with a more positive mindset.
3. Take time each day to practice gratitude. Focus on what you have rather than what you don’t have. By finding a few things to be grateful for each day, you will quickly realize you have more blessings than you do problems.
4. Limit time spent with pessimistic people to reduce negative feelings and talk. In fact, you should be spending time with people who have a positive outlook on life. Being around people who have positive energy influences the way you think, too.
5. Meditate and practice mindfulness. Whether you use a deep breathing technique or sit in a quiet space, finding time to regenerate is important. During your mindful practices, practice saying positive affirmations, beginning each affirmation with “I am…”. Remember to always be kind to yourself.
6. Instead of focusing on the problems you face, shift your focus to finding solutions. Approaching any situation with a problem-solving mindset will help you deal with any negative emotions that could occur.
7. Visual success and celebrate your small achievements. Each time you make progress or achieve a small task, you deserve to give yourself praise. In fact, recognizing your minor success will boost your confidence, resulting in a more positive attitude.
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