December, is the twelfth and last month of the year, at least in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The name comes from the Latin word for ten, decem, because it was originally the tenth month of the year in the early Roman calendar.

December Holidays

Today in much of the world, December is synonymous with holidays, including these observances. Conveniently, they keep the same date every year.

• Hanukkah, December 8
• Christmas, December 25
• Boxing Day, December 26
• Kwanza begins, December 26

December 7-Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

The United States remembers December 7 as Pearl Harbor Day.

On this day in 1941, Japanese planes dropped bombs on American ships at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, prompting the United States to declare war and enter World War II with the other Allied nations. The war lasted another four years, finalized by a nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan.

This photo is of the USS Arizona Memorial, where many of the crew members still lie at rest in the water below.

Medicare Enrollment

December 7 has another meaning. It is the open enrollment deadline for Medicare, one of the U.S. government’s healthcare plans.

Medicare is health insurance for people 65 or older. You may be eligible to get Medicare earlier if you have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS ( Lou Gehrig’s disease). 

Some people get Medicare automatically, others have to actively sign up — it depends if you start getting retirement or disability benefits from Social Security before you turn 65. 

Medicare health plans provide 

Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) benefits to people with Medicare. These plans are generally offered by private companies that contract with Medicare. They include Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C), Medicare Cost Plans, and Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).

Even if you are already on Medicare, you need to check your coverage to make sure it is still right for you. If not, you will need to change by December 7.

Download the Medicare Handbook here.

The Winter or Summer Solstices

Whether you are entering winter or summer depends on where in the world you live.

Where I live, in the northern hemisphere, winter begins on December 21, the winter solstice. We call it the “shortest” day of the year because it has the least daylight hours of any day of the year.

After that date, the amount of daily sunlight gradually increases until June, when we welcome the summer solstice, which is the “longest” day of the year. South of the equator, you get to enter winter.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

In seasonal affective disorder, people feel down and depressed in the winter months.(affiliate link)

Researchers believe this is due to changes in circadian rhythms due to seasonal changes in the length of daylight. People with seasonal affective disorder feel better using artificial morning light to realign their circadian rhythm with their sleep-wake cycle.

December 31-New Year’s Eve

Is New Year’s Eve its own holiday, or just the “eve” of a holiday? Unlike Christmas Eve, it falls in a different month and year.

Or could you say it’s 364 days late in the same year?

New Zealand is one of the first places on Earth to enter a new year. The island nation sits just west of the International Date Line, the boundary where one day becomes the next.

In this map, the International Dateline is the black line along the far right margin. It runs through the Pacific Ocean. Down in the far right corner, in yellow, are the islands that comprise New Zealand.

By the time a new year arrives in Oklahoma, much of the rest of the world has already been celebrating for several hours. When does a New Year arrive where you live?

From Resolve to Renewal

Instead of “resolutions” for the new year, consider reviewing your life, see what you need and want to change, then make goals and create plans to achieve them.

It may sound easy but can be more difficult than you think. We may not see the changes that need to be made. We don’t always tell ourselves the truth about what we need to do to make it happen.

Questions to get you started-

• What do you want to accomplish this year?
• What makes this important to you?
• What will you gain by doing this?
• What will you lose if you don’t?
• Who could support me in accomplishing this goal?

Enlisting the aid of a trusted person, such as a friend, teacher, pastor, counselor, mentor, or coach, is worth the time and expense. Choose someone who will respect your viewpoint and choices, yet give you honest feedback and hold you accountable.

Learn more about Professional Coaching

Everyone should evaluate their health periodically; it is key to everything else in life. This past post gives you ideas to pursue.

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