In 1964 President Johnson issued a proclamation marking February as American Heart Month. The goal was to get Americans to pay attention to the issues of heart disease. For the last 60 years, presidents have followed Johnson's lead. Twenty years ago, to draw even more attention to this cause, and particularly to the issue of heart disease in women (which is often less noticed) National Wear Red Day was started. National Wear Red Day is on the first Friday of February/American Heart Month, when people are asked to, you guessed it, wear red to raise awareness.
National Wear Red Day 2024 is today....Friday, February 2, 2024.
There's something amazing about the idea of the collective coming together to support each other's hearts.
We should always be doing this - supporting each other's heart health and supporting each other's emotions which we ascribe to the heart (A midrash lists over 60 emotions of the heart, saying "the heart sees, hears, speaks, falls, stands, rejoices, weeps, comforts, sorrows. . ." Ecclesiastes Rabbah 1:16).
By thinking of other's hearts, by being together in the world and opening our hearts to each other, there's opportunity for so much good. As the beautiful Israeli song "Shir La'Ahava" (שיר לאהבה) also known as "Yachad" (יחד) by Gaya says:
Together, heart to heart we'll open, and we'll see the light in the sky. Together, heart to heart we'll open, with hope for love.
The heart opens up, embraces hand to the world, And with a big shout we'll sing to love.
(it's better hearing it - take a listen)
So, put on some red. And let's all take care of our own hearts and each other's hearts.
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