Ah, Presidents Day. (Or, do you say, Presidents’ Day?)

In 1885, George Washington’s February 22nd birthday was made a national holiday.

In 1971, as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, the official date of this observance was changed to the third Monday in February, making it possible for government, school, and bank workers to have the day off as part of a long weekend.

Conveniently circled in the same month of the calendar, it was easy to celebrate Lincoln’s birthday (February 12th ) the same day. Soon, the third Monday of February became the day for honoring all US presidents.

I’m not sure when the date attained such commercial significance. Maybe the third Monday in a winter month proved to be too cold for fireworks and barbecues, so, it became a holiday for shopping.

In a weekly flyer thrown onto my building’s front steps every week, I saw that chuck roast was available at a great price (in honor of Presidents Day). Radio spots announced special DOORBUSTER sales at department stores, and — this one was new for me —  I received the following email blast.

“We’re offering a 20% OFF Presidents Day discount, code SAVE20, when you register tor our next Spiritual Activism training.” 

How would the faces chiseled on Mount Rushmore react to this?

I have to confess, the notion of honoring all US presidents flummoxes me. The current occupant of the White House seems to be doing his best to destroy the very foundation of our long-running experiment as a democratic republic.

I could say that the quartet of visages on that stony mountaintop in South Dakota represent a wide range of personal histories, temperaments, and achievements.

Washington, insisted on developing a country based on rule of law and limitations to executive power even though, as a highly successful military leader, he could have wielded more authority.

Lincoln, in leading the way for blacks to fight for their own freedom, instrumental in the abolition of slavery, heralded an important change in our understanding of federal government as a champion of civil liberties. What he accomplished In a very divided country is amazing to think about.

And Teddy Roosevelt, maybe not quite the trust buster that he was often labeled, accepted the pluses of capitalism but tried to protect workers from the excesses of power in the hands of a small minority.

…  All of these leaders kept an eye to the future. Their decisions and actions reflected concerns for making things better for others and for generations not yet born.

The current president only seems to care about himself. In this moment. In this news cycle.

I felt compelled to find a way I could celebrate the occasion and be honest with myself.

I decided not to think of it as Presidents Day, a day to recognize ALL men that attained this office, but as Precedents Day.  On this day, I can take inspiration from leaders who were motivated by their interest in setting a good example, a positive precedent. Their actions reflect the opposite of a quid pro quo.

Instead of doing something based on the promise that someone would do something that would benefit him first, Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt, and other presidents wanted to further the long-term interests of all concerned in their decisions and actions.

Many leaders have acted boldly and wisely, without an expectation of thanks.

A definition for the word precedent that I noticed online read “action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances.”

I am not in a position to celebrate Presidents Day by buying a king-sized mattress for the price of a queen, and I am in no mood to honor “all” presidents when the current one is hell-bent on destroying the best in our country out of greed and selfishness.

So, I decided to celebrate PRECEDENTS DAY by taking inspiration from our country’s great leaders.

I want this day to be a reminder of the precedents I can set. I want to live as if my actions are examples to others of how I’d like more of us to live.

Considering how your actions can be examples to others is no small thing.