Blogs

1. National break-up-with-your-shi**y-abusive boyfriend day!

A day encouraging women to finally end that terribly masochistic relationship that brings them nothing but pain. There are lots of guys out there - some won't destroy your life.

2. National why don't you just clean up after yourself a bit more day?

The gym? Your own kitchen? Your room? Your work space? Just spend a few minutes cleaning it up - you'll feel better and so will everybody else. Who knows, could be the beginning of a new habit.

3. National think-for-yourself day.

I know, I know. How can I think for myself? There are tons of television programs, pop stars, celebrities, politicians, aggressive men, colleagues and friends to tell me what and how to think about everything from diets to television shows to political ideals. On this day, you get to tune out all the white noise and just think about something all on your own. Try to spend the day coming up with an idea all your own.

4. National pretend all celebrities and pop stars don't exist day.

Pop stars. Celebrities. Can we go 15 minutes without some inane article about them? What are they wearing? With whom are they sleeping? Where are they vacationing? What are they eating? What is the point of it all? On this day, there is a total ban on all celebrity-related news. You get to be the celebrity for once.

5. National help somebody else day.

Charity. Good will. We hear about these vague concepts, but what are they? And why should we care? This is your day to find out. Everybody in the nation must help somebody with something. Assist an elderly neighbor with cleaning or carrying things. Tutor a deprived child. Help your mom with the gardening. Just do something for somebody else. It will feel good, we promise.

6. National trigger warnings day.

Basically nobody can say anything. A little peace and quiet, for once.

7. National stay at home day.

Nobody leaves their house. It is quiet for once. There are no crowds, or traffic jams, or fights, or yelling. In other words, it's nice.

8. National read a book day.

Remember those little events when you were a child to encourage reading? Well, on this day, you are required to read an entire book. There will be a test at the end.

9. National say sorry day.

Say sorry for something. Make somebody feel better and get rid of your guilt.

10. National prejudice is punishable by death day.

You can be racist all year. You can talk to your friends in a sexist way, objectifying women any time. You can say you hate minorities every other day. But on this day, you can't. You can't say or do anything prejudiced. You have to treat people as…humans.

- Matthew Pflaum

Matthew Pflaum is 31 and hails from Florida. He worked abroad in health and development for a number of years and now studies Africa and international development at the University of Edinburgh.