Today Is National “All Is Ours” Day (plus an April book list)

Have you ever in your life heard of this national day?

There are some very obscure celebrations on the calendar.

For example, last Monday, April first, was not only April Fool’s Day, but it was also National Sourdough Day.

That I can readily understand.

But I wasn’t quite sure about National “All Is Ours” day.

Once I investigated, though, it made perfect sense.

You can look at it and celebrate it in a few ways.

One way is to embrace the idea that everything that we see in the world is ours to appreciate—not to take—and to keep in our heart as something wonderful that our world holds for all of us who live here.

Go for a meandering walk and listen to the birds, look at the spring flowers popping up, smell the rain.

Aren’t we all lucky to be alive?

Another way to look at this day is to understand that what is “their” problem is also “our” problem—because just like in our nuclear family, if one of us isn’t happy, the whole family is out of whack.

Consider ways to ease others’ burdens.

Yet another way to observe this day is share what we have with others.

It’s the mi casa es su casa mentality.

You don’t need to go that big, certainly, but you get the idea.

Consider donating extra or unwanted items.

Bake cookies for the fire department.

Share your gratitude with your child’s favorite teacher, or with someone who made a meaningful impact on your life.

Pay for the Starbucks order of the person behind you. (Quick Starbucks shout out: Have you tried their hot Lavender Oatmilk Latte? It’s delicious!)

Don’t forget to take a deep, cleansing breath and look around today, knowing that all is ours. (Including a little thing called a solar eclipse.)

Here’s the list of April books I want to share with you.

(Adult) 7 Lessons from Heaven: How Dying Taught Me to Live a Joy-filled Life (2017) by Mary C. Neal, M.D.

The author survived a kayaking accident resulting in her death for about thirty
minutes, when she traveled to the gates of heaven and back into her body.

Interesting perspective because she’s a scientist and uses what she knows about life and death to back up and certify her experience.

(Middle Grade) Case Closed: Mystery in the Mansion (2018) by Lauren Magaziner.

This is a “pick your path” book that involves the reader.

I haven’t read a choose-your-own-adventure book like this since I was a kid.

I’m looking forward to reading it.

(Older Middle Grade) Daybreak on Raven Island (2022) by Fleur Bradley.

Kirkus Reviews calls this book “an enjoyable paranormal mystery imbued with social commentary.”

Since this is on the upper end of MG (for 10–12-year-olds), the author can get away with a bit more horror.

This story involves a murder and trying to find the killer.

(Middle Grade) Ferris (2024) by Kate DiCamillo.

For Ferris Wilkey, the summer before fifth grade is full of pandemonium.

Get ready for fun escapades, a love story, a girl, a ghost, a
grandmother and growing up. (I probably had you at Kate DiCamillo, didn’t I?)