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Kevin’s Peace of Mind
www.kevintharpe.com (770) 503-1022
August 2024
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MISSY! CELEBRATING MY GENEROUS WIFE THIS AUGUST
If you’re a longtime reader of my newsletter, then you know what August means: Missy’s birthday. My wife of 30 years, Missy, was born on Aug. 31. I won’t tell you the year because I’m smarter than that, but for years, I struggled to even remember the day! Now, before you get mad at me, allow me to explain. I’ve always known Missy’s birthday is on the last day in August. But no matter how hard I tried, I could never remember if August had 30 or 31 days. None of the tricks they teach you in elementary school, like using your knuckles to count the months, ever worked. So, to ensure I never missed Missy’s birthday, I would shower her with gifts and happy birthdays starting on Aug. 29. She would always smile and say, “You don’t remember what day my birthday is, do you?” But that’s not completely true. I knew it was the last day of August; I just could never remember how many days there are in August! These days, we have our daughter, Callie, to remind me, and after 30 years,
Missy is a beautiful person both inside and out. She’s a born encourager — someone who is going to make sure everyone else around them is happy and fulfilled. Missy is the person who is always looking out for other people, taking care of every little thing that needs to get done before others can even think of it. For the first 10 years of our marriage, our nieces and nephews were like our children, and to this day, they love their aunt Missy like she’s their second mother. Her connection to her family isn’t surprising. Family is the most important thing to Missy, and she was born to be a mother. When we were experiencing infertility, Missy kept steadfast in her faith that the Lord would make us parents. Her faith kept her strong, and when we were blessed with Callie 10 years after we were married, I had the joy of watching Missy become the best mom in the world to our daughter. And amazingly, this didn’t make her any less of a devoted daughter to her own parents. To this day, Missy cares for her parents as they get older in the most loving way.
time with her family on her birthday, so we try to make that happen every year. Other years, we spend the day at the ballpark cheering for our Atlanta Braves. One thing people may not know about Missy is just how much she loves sports! There are days when Callie and I will be watching something on TV, and Missy will come in to say, “Aren’t the Braves playing right now?” Of course, we have to change the channel to watch the Braves! We all love sports, so it’s enjoyable to get to enjoy the Braves together. No matter how we choose to celebrate, Missy deserves any and all celebrations we can accomplish — and then some. She is the glue that holds our family together. I sometimes say that I hope the good Lord takes me first because I couldn’t imagine life without Missy by my side. So, this August, please join me in wishing my generous, selfless wife a wonderful birthday. Missy, you deserve to feel special on your birthday and every day. Thank you for 30 wonderful years together, and for never giving up on me when I just couldn’t remember how many days there are in August.
I’ve finally figured out how many days are in August. Although, I still make it a point to celebrate Missy in the days leading up to her birthday. It’s become sort of a tradition now! And that’s important because if there is anyone in this world who deserves to have a good birthday, it’s my wife.
Every year on her birthday, we always try to make sure Missy knows she is loved. For someone who is so giving and self- sacrificing, it’s easy for Missy to forget that it’s healthy to be a little selfish, too. All she ever wants is to spend
Happy birthday, Missy!
—Kevin
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Virtual Museum Tours Make Art and History Accessible DIGITAL DISCOVERY
The priceless artwork, artifacts, and other attractions draw tourists worldwide to museums. However, not everyone can travel the globe to view the works of accomplished artists, curious historical figures, and inventions of esteemed engineers. Luckily, famed institutions like the Louvre in Paris; The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia; and Smithsonian Museums in Washington, D.C., all have something in common: Patrons can enjoy them online . The internet helps bring esteemed exhibitions to your browser, where you can take virtual tours free of charge . Here are three incredible museums with virtual tours for all to enjoy! The Louvre Built partly in the ruins of a 12th-century fortress, France’s national museum
and art gallery is the most popular destination of its kind. The French revolutionary government opened the Louvre in 1793, and Napoleon expanded it. Today, it houses some of the world’s most famous works of art, including Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa.” You can enjoy great swathes of its exhibits through virtual tours on its website. National Museum of Natural History Part of the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., the National Museum of Natural History is the most-visited natural history museum in the world . Its 1.5 million-square- foot grounds house a dizzying array of exhibits to delight visitors of all ages. Virtual tours are available on its
website and include spectacular views of its awe-inspiring exhibits. The State Hermitage Museum Founded by Catherine the Great in 1764, the world-famous Hermitage Art Museum is in the Russian city of St. Petersburg. Nicholas I and the Soviet Union, among others, have reconstructed and expanded it since then. While some of its works were sold to fund Soviet industrialization, it is still a tremendous beacon of art and culture. With political tension and despotic rule making it more difficult for those in the West to visit Russia at all , its virtual tours, which you can find on Google’s Arts and Culture website, are the safest way to view its contents.
PSYCHOLOGY OF SUCCESS
HARNESSING THE POWER OF A GROWTH MINDSET While there are no treadmills for the mind or ellipticals for our neurons, science tells us that mental exercise can help us obtain a growth mindset . The American Psychological Association
A growth mindset is the antithesis of a “fixed mindset,” which people exhibit when they quickly give up if they can’t solve a problem. Nurturing a growth mindset, in contrast, can help you view failure or setbacks as opportunities for learning. More Than Effort Having a growth mindset is about more than just effort. It is the belief that you can develop your abilities and talents, as well as a perspective on how you approach life’s lessons and learning. That belief allows you to learn more quickly and achieve greater results, no matter what you aim to achieve. This does not mean simply having an open mind; it also
means finding a way to continue striving to improve your knowledge, attitude, and performance. Some call it having “grit.” Cultivating Success With a growth mindset, success plays second fiddle to self-improvement. Celebrating the effort we put into each task motivates and encourages us to work harder and accomplish more in the future. Rather than focusing on the destination, the focus is on the journey. A growth mindset is a great way to become more positive, successful, and adaptable. By incorporating more facets of a growth mindset into your life, you will be well on your way to changing things for the better.
defines a growth mindset as “the belief that a person’s intelligence and abilities can grow and improve with practice.”
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TAKE A BREAK
Exploring the Origins of Secret Languages HIDDEN MEANING
BACKPACK BEES
MELON MOON
MUSTARD OLYMPICS PEACH SANDCASTLE SCHOOL TWINS
Secret languages, born from a mixture of pragmatism, seclusion, and boredom, are spoken and understood only by a select few. From Pig Latin uttered in schoolyards to whispers of Lunfardo in the prisons of Argentina, the secretive languages of the world have origins that may delight and surprise you. Boontling In Northern California, a small community speaks a unique amalgamation of an Appalachian dialect, Spanish, and the language of the Pomo tribe called Boontling. It originated in the late 19th or early 20th century in Boonville. There, you can find locals referring to doctors as shoveltooths and roaring flames as jeffers . It supposedly originated among the women and children who toiled in the local hop fields and quickly spread throughout the community. Somehow, despite existing only in a small farm town, it has an expansive 1,600-word vocabulary and around 100 fluent speakers! Pig Latin Ancay ouyay understandyay isthay entencesay? You may decipher that question if you remember Pig Latin from elementary school. Despite disagreements about its linguistic credibility, Pig Latin has existed since Shakespeare’s time (around 400 years ago). Ironically, it is completely unrelated to Latin, and the origin of its name is a mystery. Famous speakers of Pig Latin include founding father Thomas Jefferson, who reportedly wrote letters using the light-hearted language. Lunfardo This language is so secretive that it’s practically criminal . Lunfardo began in the prisons of Buenos Aires, Argentina, where inmates masked their words from the nosy guards. The language has components from Portuguese, Galician, French, and German. For example, if an inmate wanted to compliment a pretty woman, they would call them a papirusa , which means “beautiful woman.” These days, Lunfardo exists mainly in the lyrics of Argentine tango music.
VACATION ZUCCHINI
Not Your Average Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
• 2 cups all-purpose flour • 1 tsp baking soda • 1/2 tsp salt • 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup butter, softened • 2 cups granulated sugar • 3 large eggs • 2 tsp vanilla extract • 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F and grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans. 2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. Set aside. 3. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. 4. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until blended; then add vanilla extract. 5. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients; mix until blended. 6. Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. 7. Bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. 8. Cool in pans, then invert onto a plate. If desired, frost and stack the cakes for a double layer!
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(770) 503-1022 www.KevinTharpe.com 405 Broad St. Gainesville, GA 30501
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Why I Celebrate My Wife All Throughout August
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Exploring Famous Museums Virtually
2
The Role of a Growth Mindset in Overcoming Challenges
Not Your Average Chocolate Cake
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Decoding the World’s Secret Languages
The Truth About France’s Marie Antoinette
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HEADLESS OF STATE Facts About the Late French Queen Marie Antoinette
Cake: Not on the Menu Although many ascribe the infamous words, “Let them eat cake,” to Marie Antoinette, she likely never uttered them at all. Many other royals, including the French noblewoman Marie Therese more than a century earlier, had been credited with uttering the notorious sentence. So, someone else had likely said it before the French Revolution ever happened. Young Newlyweds Talk about a crowded household: Marie Antoinette was the 11th daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Francis I, the head of the powerful and influential Habsburg dynasty. She did not spend many years at home, however, because she was just 14 years old when she married the future king of France, Louis XVI.
While France may be known for its artwork, culture, and cuisine, the French Revolution was anything but beautiful, cultured, or tasteful. Instead, it was a brutal, vengeful affair, culminating in the ruthless execution of the French royal family and the end of their royal line. One of the most famous characters from this brutal time was the French queen, Marie Antoinette. She became a symbol for all complaints levied against the French throne, from extravagant spending to their brutal crackdowns on dissent, even though she wasn’t the actual perpetrator. In the end, it didn’t matter. Marie Antoinette, at age 37, was beheaded by guillotine in October 1793. Here are three true facts about Marie Antoinette.
Faux Farmer Despite her regal estate and lavish lifestyle, one of Marie Antoinette’s favorite pastimes was pretending to work as a farmer. She had an entire fake farm built on the grounds of her palace in Versailles, where she and other noblewomen would dress in costumes and pretend to be sheepherders and milkmaids.
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