Every August 21, the United States observes National Senior Citizens Day. President Ronald Reagan created the holiday on August 19, 1988, with the signing of Proclamation 5847. On it, we honor the contributions that older individuals make to our communities, culture, and country.

If you’re a senior, how can you celebrate this day dedicated to you?

Spend Time with Family

National Senior Citizens Day is the perfect time to see your loved ones. After all, if you’ve touched the lives of anyone, they’re most likely in your family. Spend a few extra hours hanging out with your children and grandkids. Plan a nice meal, go on a picnic — do something special with the people you cherish most.

Treat Yourself

On a day that is all about the importance of seniors, there’s nothing wrong with taking a little time for yourself. If there’s something you’ve always wanted to do, but haven’t had the chance, this is your opportunity to give it a try!

Investigate your favorite local hangouts to see if they’re doing anything special. You can also search the hashtag #SeniorCitizensDay on Facebook (must be signed into Facebook) or Twitter to see what’s happening around you.

Take Care of Yourself

Another way that you can honor yourself on this holiday is to use it to start living a healthier life. This can mean a lot of different things. If you’re trying to quit a bad habit, make National Senior Citizens Day your first day of letting it go. If you want to start eating healthier, begin on August 21.

In other words, treat it as a day to start taking better care of yourself. Make changes to your life that will help you be around to celebrate for many years to come.

Share Your Story

One of the advantages of age is experience. Each of your memories has its own lesson to share. While you’re spending time with your family, impart your valuable knowledge to them. What’s more, your experiences make you and your story unique.

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On National Senior Citizens Day, we take time to show our elders just how important they are to the rest of us. If you’re a senior, enjoy August 21. You deserve it!