The fourth day of March is the only day of the year that is a complete sentence given as a command: March Forth! According to ehow.com, March Forth was created by Deborah Shouse, a famous writer, speaker and creativity coach. Celebrated on March 4th, it invites us to march forth into our lives, take on new experiences, and celebrate our accomplishments. Here is how to celebrate this holiday in seven easy steps:
Step 1
Tell everyone you know about March 4th and encourage them to celebrate and march forth in their own lives.
Step 2
Take some quiet time for yourself to reflect on your life and the year that just passed. Think about the future and where you would like to see yourself in one year, five years, and 10 years.
Step 3
Forgive yourself for any shortcomings you might have and let go of any guilt you are carrying for not keeping your New Year's resolutions.
Step 4
Write down a list of goals that you would like to achieve by March 4th of next year. Keep the list someplace handy where you will see it every day. Work on meeting one goal at a time during the year.
Step 5
Try something new on March 4th. Take tennis or drawing lessons, explore a hobby, or tackle a fun project that you haven't made time for.
Step 6
Play inspirational music while you are celebrating March Forth. Choose songs that make you feel upbeat and motivated.
Step 7
Spend some time during the day doing something just for yourself. Celebrate March Forth by pampering yourself. Take a long hot bubble bath, crawl into bed with a good book, or go for a long walk
In addition, National Grammar Day is also celebrated on March 4. Launched in 2008 by Martha Brockenbrough, founder of the Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar, or SPOGG, National Grammar Day is being observed for the sixth time this year. Brockenbrough, indeed, has selected a most appropriate day to celebrate.
As Mignon Fogarty, of "Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing" fame, puts it:
"Language is something to celebrate, and March 4 is the perfect day to do it. It's not only a date, it's an imperative: March forth on March 4 to speak well, write well, and help others do the same!"
To help those interested in improving their grammar, veteran educator and trainer, Ron Mead has published a valuable resource A Concise Grammar Book for Those Who Hate Grammar. D.R. Ransdell, Director of English Studies, University of Arizona, had this to say about the publication:
“Ron Mead's A Concise Grammar Book for Those Who Hate Grammar is a useful handbook for both students and professional writers. Mead succinctly explains a number of errors frequently made by writers and shows alternative forms. When I used this book for a three-hundred level grammar class at the University of Arizona, the students appreciated Mead's clarity. They were surprised to find that they made a number of the errors that he talked about in his book but felt more confident about their writing after working their way through it.”
Having recently moved from Arizona to Central Ohio, Ron was pleased to learn about National Grammar Day and looks forward to other occasions to celebrate the merits of good grammar that is associated with good writing.
Whether we are enjoying an opportunity to move forward and march forth by taking on new experiences, and celebrating our accomplishments or celebrating the merit of good grammar, March 4 is “a doubly lovely day.”
Listen and enjoy “March Forth: The Grammar Song” on the accompanying video.
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