Every day is different. But one thing is common: every day has its ups and downs. June 6th is a prime example. June 6th is a day that celebrates a lot of different things, but also mourns some tragedies. We celebrate freedom, entertainment, sports, and video games through events like D-Day, the opening of the first drive-in theater, the establishment of the NBA, and the release of TETRIS. However, we mourn the Great Seattle Fire, and the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. Today is a day that should never be forgotten because of its impact in the United States, and maybe even the world...
Some things weren't so great.
On June 6, 1889, A fire had broken out in downtown Seattle, Washington. The fire had spread across 25 blocks, and had killed one young boy. The city had chosen to rebuild the central business district instead of relocating. The damage caused by the fire cost $20,000,000 which is now worth $673,000,000.
On June 6, 1968, Robert F. Kennedy, brother of John F. Kennedy, had died as a result of gunshot wounds received the day before by Sirhan Sirhan. Kennedy was celebrating his victory in the primaries for California and South Dakota, and was shaking a busboy's hand when he was shot in the kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California.
But days aren't always always about the negative. Sometimes they are about the positive things that happen for example:
On June 6, 1933, the first drive-in theater was opened in Camden, NJ. Drive-in theaters are something we all enjoy going to. Even if the movie isn't good, it's the experience of being with family or friends in a car and watching something together. These theaters grew in popularity in the '50s and '60s but became less and less popular over time with land values and rent prices. Now it's really hard to find drive-in theaters in big cities, but if you do, go and enjoy yourself.
On June 6, 1944, the Allied Forces, during World War II, had stormed the beaches of Normandy, France and surprised the German armies allowing us to win this battle. This battle was essential as it had given the Allies the upper hand, leading to them liberate Paris and the rest of France from Axis control. Diversions were set up to mislead the German armies into thinking a landing was to happen further north of Normandy. With the Germans distracted, air strikes, followed by charging infantry prevented France from being fully under Axis control.
On June 6, 1946, the National Basketball Association (NBA) is established. For all my basketball fans, we know that Canada first created basketball when James Naismith came up with the idea in 1891. It wasn't until 55 years later that the Basketball Association of America was created and rivaled the National Basketball League. They eventually merged and held seasonal games that continued until the present day. With the national championships coming around soon, we can all sit back and think about how long this league has stayed strong in the USA.
On June 6, 1984, a game we all know and love as Tetris was released by Soviet programmer Alexey Pjitnov. The game is a tile-matching game that is one of the most globally known video games. The game can be found on almost every platform and can be played by people of all ages. Tetris can improve cognitive skills while serving the entertainment necessary in everyone's lives. Game Informer Magazine gave it the title of #3 best game of all time saying "If a game could be considered ageless, it's Tetris"
So everything has positives and negatives. But it is up to you to decide whether to focus on the good or the bad. Make the most of every day, and try to always stay on the bright side.