“That Time of Year”
As we enter into the last two months of the year, we see before us holidays, celebrations, seasonal transitions and year-end events. We hold dear the time spent together and the tremendous meaning this time of year can generate in that togetherness. It is also a time of mourning if there has been a loss, through death, divorce or employment. All of this adds up to a time of great significance, which we need and tend to experience uniquely as individuals. My encouragement is to slow down this time of year by:
Setting boundaries in your schedule by creating “black out” times (term borrowed from airlines).
- Keeping celebrations simpler (though people appreciate the extras, they enjoy together time most).
- Keeping your focus on what you are learning about others’ lives and what you appreciate/love about them.
The diversity of these last two months is incredible, so I decided to include all commemorative dates. I apologize if I have missed anything. If I have, let me know:
NOVEMBER
- National
- Diabetes Awareness Month
- National American Indian & Alaska Native Heritage Month
- NYPD Awareness Month
- National Novel Writing Month
- National Epilepsy Awareness Month
- Lung Cancer Awareness Month
DECEMBER
- Political Correctness Awareness Month
- Safe Toys and Gifts Awareness Month
- Learn a Foreign Language Month
- National Drugged/Drunk Driving Prevention Month
- Identity Theft Prevention/Awareness Month
- Read a New Book Month
- National Hand Washing Awareness Month
- Universal Human Rights Month
- Cancer Related Fatigue Awareness Month
- The Christmas Seal Campaign
- International Calendar Awareness Month
- International Sharps Injury Prevention/Awareness Month
- AIDS Awareness Month
- Write to a Friend Month
- Art and Architecture Month
- National Made-in-America Month
- National Sign-up for Camp Month
- National Write a Business Plan Month
- Operation Santa Paws
- Seasonal Depression Awareness Month
Specific December Dates:
- Hannukkah (Chanukah) – November 27 – December 5
- National Aplastic Anemia Awareness Week – December 1—December 7
- Tolerance Week – December 1—December 7
- World AIDS Day – December 1
- Hand Washing Awareness Week – First Week in December
- Human Rights Week – December 10—December 17
- World Percussion Day—December 18
- Las Posadas – December 16—December 24
- Christmas – December 25
- Kwanza – December 26—January 1
- World Peace Meditation Day – December 31
Maureen O’Donnell