International Day Of Awesomeness
Rocking life with a confident attitude, spreading positivity, and making everyday situations shine - that's the essence of pure awesomeness!
Are you made of awesome? Of course, you are! Awesomeness runs in the veins of all of us, and we all have little periods of absolutely epic grade awesomeness every day of our lives. We just have to stand up and recognize it!
Did you get up this morning? Then yes, you’re awesome!
Did you manage an 18-hour sleep fest because mama didn’t raise any quitter? Absolutely epic!
Did you mix the whites and the reds and now you’re sporting a pink button-down? You go! Not everyone can pull off that particular shade of “oops” with such aplomb!
International Day of Awesomeness celebrates the awesome that exists in each of us every day, and gives us an excuse to make our awesomeness shine.
Don’t be afraid to be awesome. Sometimes being weird and different is good. When you think you’re working hard, there is always someone else working harder, so always be yourself and know your stuff.
Jacqueline MacInnes Wood
How to Celebrate International Day of Awesomeness
Be Your Awesome Self
Why, just be you! Walk down the street and be your awesome and incomparable self, and then make a point of recognizing the awesomeness in other people! Get together with a bunch of friends and host an awesomelympics, where you demonstrate the most phenomenal feats of awesomeness you can imagine.
Whatever you do, it’s important to remember that the heart of the day is around awesomeness. How are you going to go far beyond the norm on the International Day of Awesomeness?
Learn About Awesome Heroes
You could also spend some time learning a little bit more about Chuck Norris because he is the inspiration for this day! Chuck served in the United States Air Force prior to winning numerous martial arts championships. He was a black belt in Judo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and Tang Soo Do. If that was not enough, he even went on to find his own discipline, known as Chun Kuk Do.
Hollywood came calling, and Chuck went on to train celebrities for roles in films. This naturally led to him featuring in a number of films as well, including Good Guys Wear Black, Breaker! Breaker!, and Way of the Dragon. Reading up on Chuck Norris will definitely inspire you to be the most awesome version of yourself.
Watch Some Inspiring Awesome Films
You could even celebrate the International Day Of Awesomeness by watching one of the films that he starred in. Aside from the ones we have mentioned, we would also recommend An Eye for an Eye, The Octagon, and A Force of One.
Make a List of Awesome Life Goals
Another way for you to spend the Day of Awesomeness is by making a list of all of the awesome things that you want to do and achieve in your life. You can then get to work, ticking off everything on the list!
Learn About International Day Of Awesomeness
A International Day Of Awesomeness is a day that we can definitely get behind! It is a celebration of everything that is awesome, including yourself! After all, people are awesome every single day, yet they don’t recognize it. On this day, though, it is different! Awesomeness in all forms should be appreciated.
“’No one’s perfect, but everyone can be awesome.” – This is the tagline for the day, which we replaced the old tagline: “Because everyone needs an excuse to be awesome.” The first tagline was created by Dan Lurie. The second tagline was created by the daughter of Kevin Lawver, who invented the day.
The day takes place on the same date as Chuck Norris’ birthday, and this is no coincidence. Chuck Norris is an American screenwriter, film producer, actor, and martial artist. It does not get much more awesome than that, right?
Not only is this a good day to celebrate everything that is awesome, but it is also a day that gives us the push to try awesome things if we don’t usually do so! It is a day that is supposed to be fun, so there is no need to take it too seriously. However, if there is something awesome that you have wanted to do for quite some time, whether this is an indoor skydive or jumping out of a plane, perhaps the International Day Of Awesomeness is the perfect opportunity for you to do so?
International Day Of Awesomeness Timeline
1598
“Awesome” enters written English
The adjective “awesome” is first recorded in English with the sense “profoundly awe-inspiring” or “full of awe,” closely tied to religious fear and reverence rather than casual praise.
Early 1800s
From “awe-full” to impressive grandeur
English speakers use “awesome” to describe things that inspire dread, terror, or solemn awe, such as storms or divine power, reflecting its roots in “awe” meaning fear and wonder combined.
https://www.etymonline.com/word/awesome[2]
Mid‑20th century
Shift toward “impressive” and “remarkable”
In American English, “awesome” gradually weakens from a word of religious or sublime intensity to a more general term for something impressive, remarkable, or admirable, especially in journalism and popular speech.
Late 1970s–1980s
“Awesome” becomes youth slang
U.S. youth culture and surfer/Valley slang popularize “awesome” as an enthusiastic synonym for “excellent” or “cool,” a usage that spreads widely through films, television, and music.
2005
“Chuck Norris Facts” meme spreads online
Humorous “Chuck Norris Facts” begin circulating widely on the internet, portraying the martial artist and actor as an absurdly overpowered, comically “awesome” figure and helping cement “awesomeness” as a tongue‑in‑cheek pop‑culture ideal.
2006
Positive psychology highlights individual strengths
Psychologist Martin Seligman and colleagues promote strengths‑based positive psychology in works such as “Character Strengths and Virtues,” encouraging people to notice and cultivate what they do well rather than focusing only on weaknesses.
2010s
“Awesome” as default casual praise
Linguists and commentators note that “awesome” has become one of the most common casual responses in American English, used for everyday approval or gratitude, reflecting a cultural habit of framing ordinary experiences as “awesome.”
https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/awesome-usage-history
History of International Day of Awesomeness
Kevin Lawver spearheaded the Day of Awesomeness in 2007, when it was brought to his attention that his overall awesomeness needed to be celebrated by one of his interns. In true Lawver style, he announced there needed to be an International Day of Awesomeness, and proceeded to post this sentiment to twitter. True to the style of those embedded with unbelievable awesomeness, it took on a life of its own and is now a celebration of epic proportions.
Some of you may be wondering how, precisely, the date was chosen for this auspicious holiday. Well, for those who know the Patron Saint of Awesomeness, it should be no surprise that the date chosen was that of Chuck Norris. After all, there are few as awesome as this incredible martial-artist and inspiration. Not long after the inception of the holiday came the motto: “No one is perfect, but everyone can be awesome”. This is the kind of encouragement you need when your day is spinning around the drain, just remember: The truly awesome are those who take a situation that’s getting wildly out of control and turn it to their advantage.
International Day of Awesomeness Facts
From the surprising history of the word “awesome” to the science behind celebrating small wins, International Day of Awesomeness is more than a feel-good idea.
These facts reveal how language, culture, and psychology all come together to show why recognizing everyday greatness can boost confidence, motivation, and well-being.
-
The Surprising Age of the Word “Awesome”
The word “awesome” may sound like modern slang, but it has been used in English since at least the late 16th century to describe something that inspires awe, such as God or overwhelming natural forces.
Only in the 20th century did it shift in everyday American English from a term for fearsome grandeur to a casual compliment for anything impressive or pleasing, a change documented by historical dictionaries and usage notes.
-
“Awesome” Went Mainstream with 1980s Pop Culture
Linguists and usage commentators note that “awesome” dramatically increased in casual American speech during the 1980s, helped by California surf slang, “Valley girl” talk, and teen-oriented movies and television.
By the end of that decade, corpus and media evidence show the word being applied far beyond religious or sublime experiences, signaling a broader cultural shift toward highly enthusiastic, hyperbolic praise for ordinary things.
-
Why Celebrating Small Wins Actually Works
Psychological research finds that recognizing even minor achievements can significantly boost motivation and well-being.
A diary study of hundreds of workdays by Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer at Harvard Business School showed that people felt more productive, creative, and positive on days when they made little progress on meaningful tasks, a pattern the researchers called the “progress principle.”
-
Self-Compassion Often Outperforms Self-Esteem
Research by psychologist Kristin Neff and others suggests that self-compassion is a stronger and more stable predictor of emotional resilience than high self-esteem.
Across multiple studies, treating oneself with kindness during setbacks is linked to lower anxiety and depression, less fear of failure, and more consistent feelings of self-worth than simply trying to think highly of oneself.
-
Chuck Norris’s Real Martial Arts Credentials
Behind the tongue-in-cheek “Chuck Norris facts” lies a substantial martial arts record.
Norris won six consecutive Professional Middleweight Karate Championships from 1968 to 1973, founded a nationwide chain of karate schools, and holds black belts in styles such as Tang Soo Do, Taekwondo, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, achievements documented by martial arts organizations and sports historians long before the internet turned him into a pop-culture legend.
-
How “Chuck Norris Facts” Helped Shape Internet Humor
The “Chuck Norris facts” meme began in the mid-2000s on online forums and quickly spread to dedicated websites and late-night television, where comedian Conan O’Brien helped expose it to a wider audience.
Internet culture researchers and archivists later cited the phenomenon as an early example of participatory online folklore, in which users collectively invent exaggerated “facts” about a public figure, a format that inspired similar memes about other celebrities.
-
Feeling Awesome Can Be Contagious
Studies on emotional contagion show that people unconsciously “catch” the moods of others through facial expressions, tone of voice, and posture, even during brief interactions.
Experiments by researchers such as Sigal Barsade have found that positive, enthusiastic behavior in groups can raise cooperation, creativity, and perceived energy levels, suggesting that one person openly expressing joy or pride can measurably lift a whole group’s mood.
International Day Of Awesomeness FAQs
How does recognizing personal “awesomeness” actually benefit mental health?
Psychologists note that pausing to notice one’s strengths and small wins can increase positive emotions, reduce stress, and strengthen resilience.
Research on “awe” and positive reflection shows that regularly focusing on what is going well, or on moments that feel extraordinary or inspiring, is linked with greater life satisfaction, more optimism, and a lower sense of daily stress, which together support mental health and overall well-being. [1]
Is there any science behind feeling “awe” or “awesome” moments?
Studies on awe, a close cousin of “awesomeness,” suggest it is a distinct emotion that can shift how people see themselves and the world.
Experiencing awe, whether from nature, human achievements, or everyday wonders, is associated with reduced focus on the self, more prosocial behavior, and lower levels of stress-related inflammation markers, all of which may contribute to better physical and psychological health. [2]
Can celebrating small achievements really make a difference, or is it just feel-good advice?
Evidence suggests that celebrating even small accomplishments can have measurable benefits. By briefly “marking” progress, people train their attention to notice competence and growth instead of only failures.
This kind of positive reflection is linked with higher motivation, more persistence on difficult tasks, and greater confidence over time, rather than being only a superficial boost in mood. [3]
What is the difference between healthy self-confidence and arrogance when someone calls themselves “awesome”?
Healthy self-confidence is grounded in accurate self-knowledge, acknowledges both strengths and weaknesses, and allows room for others to shine.
Arrogance, by contrast, inflates one’s abilities, dismisses others, and often masks insecurity. Psychologists describe confidence as compatible with humility, while arrogance tends to involve entitlement and a need to dominate or be seen as superior. [4]
What is the difference between healthy self-confidence and arrogance when someone calls themselves “awesome”?
Healthy self-confidence is grounded in accurate self-knowledge, acknowledges both strengths and weaknesses, and allows room for others to shine.
Arrogance, by contrast, inflates one’s abilities, dismisses others, and often masks insecurity. Psychologists describe confidence as compatible with humility, while arrogance tends to involve entitlement and a need to dominate or be seen as superior. [5]
Does humor about one’s own mistakes really help people cope better?
Humor that is kind and self-accepting, rather than harsh or mocking, can act as a healthy coping strategy. Research on coping styles finds that “self-enhancing” humor, where people can laugh at everyday frustrations without putting themselves down, is linked to better psychological well-being, lower depression and anxiety, and more resilience when facing stress. [6]
How does not taking yourself too seriously relate to self-compassion?
Self-compassion involves treating oneself with the same understanding offered to a good friend, especially after a mistake or failure.
Not taking oneself too seriously can support this attitude by softening harsh self-criticism and allowing room for imperfection.
Studies on self-compassion show that people who respond to their own flaws with kindness, rather than shame, tend to have less anxiety and depression and greater emotional stability.
Is feeling awe or “awesomeness” only about big, life-changing experiences?
Researchers have found that awe often arises from everyday moments, such as noticing a striking sunset, a moving piece of music, or someone’s act of kindness.
These “micro-moments” of awe can still produce meaningful psychological effects, including a sense of connection to others and reduced preoccupation with personal worries, even if nothing dramatic is happening. [7]
Also on ...
View all holidays
National Mario Day
Join this iconic Italian plumber on his adventures through fantastic worlds, battling fierce enemies and saving the Princess!
International Bagpipe Day
That distinctive sound that's both stirring and traditional, often heard at celebrations and gatherings, adding a unique musical flavor to the atmosphere.
We think you may also like...
National Upsy Daisy Day
Make a conscious effort to turn your usually grumpy mornings around by greeting the new day with warmth, hope, cheer and at least a little enthusiasm.
