Category: News, observances, history

“Tis the season to…

The post reflects on the abundance of holidays and special events in the last six weeks of the year, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. It highlights personal experiences around celebrations, challenges of having a December birthday, and the significance of reflecting on life as both a birthday and New Year approaches.

Do we celebrate more special events and holidays in the last six weeks of the year than the rest of the year combined? It feels that way to me.  We have three major holidays-

Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day

Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve have become mini holidays too.

And the shopping days are “holidays” now- Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday

Even more important than shopping is giving-Giving Tuesday.

beautiful large Christmas tree
Christmas at the Chicago Museum of  Science and Industry

Some observe the special celebrations of Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.

In the United States, we observe December 7 as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, the day in 1941 when the United States entered World War II.  That event changed our country forever and created my generation, the post-war  Baby Boomers.

The USS Arizona Memorial
Pearl Harbor Memorial to the USS Arizona

On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made their famous flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, ushering in the age of air travel, another historical turning point.

The shortest day of the year occurs on December 21, the winter solstice and the first day of winter in the northern hemisphere.

light snow on trees and ground

And I suspect there are other special holidays and events observed too.

Besides holidays, other matters demand our time and attention during this season.

College students face the end of a semester by studying for finals and finishing term papers and projects.

Renewal notices for subscriptions, licenses, and memberships show up in our mailboxes or inboxes.

Charities offer us one final opportunity to make tax-deductible donations.

Patients call their doctor’s, dentist’s, or optometrist’s office for that last chance to use medical insurance before the new (and probably higher) deductible kicks in or use medical spending accounts.

red gift boxes
Christmas birthdays can be messy too.

And in the middle of all this, I celebrate my birthday.

Having a  birthday close to Christmas makes both occasions rather messy for you and your family. As my friend , whose birthday is on New Year’s Day, wrote, “You feel like you get cheated on your Christmas/birthday gifts.”  

But there are perks.

Your neighbors remind you your birthday is coming by hanging lights on their houses and turning them on every evening. (My husband claims that’s not the real reason. He doesn’t believe in Santa Claus either.)

You can go to a holiday party and pretend it’s for you.

You can listen to Christmas music on your birthday without seeming weird.

Your husband may hire a limousine to drive you around town looking at holiday lights displays. (No joke.)

boy and woman with birthday cakes
Celebrating a long ago birthday with my son. I don’t know why I had two birthday cakes.

Thank goodness, so far, no one else in my immediate family has chosen to be born or married this month. (Although I was delighted to learn  recently that two  distant cousins also have December birthdays.)

Seasons of Life

But the best part of any birthday, no matter when you observe it, is reflecting on your life, both the successes and failures, the joys and sorrows, and remembering and reflecting on the people and events that brought you to where you are now.

Birth and death comprise this journey we call life. Long ago I recognized that we physicians do not ultimately “save lives” or “prevent death”, but we can sometimes impact the time and circumstances.

A Bible book,  Ecclesiastes chapter 3 addresses the extremes of life in this passage which is often read at funerals or memorials-

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.

2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 a time to love, and a time to hate;a time for war, and a time for peace.

This year I celebrated with friends who welcomed new babies into their families. I watched a friend face a disabling illness and death with the same faith, courage, enthusiasm, dignity, and humor that he had lived life. I have mourned with his family and others who have lost loved ones this year.

Some people dread birthdays, but I believe they are a blessing; I am grateful for another year of life and hope to use whatever time I have left productively.  I agree with Oliver Wendell Holmes, who is quoted as saying,

“To be seventy years young is sometimes far more cheerful and hopeful than to be forty years old.” (quote found at Growing Bolder)

Buzz Aldrin, one of the Apollo 11 astronauts and the second human to step on the moon’s surface, trekked to the South Pole, healthy and active- at 86 years old. (Unfortunately, he had to be evacuated emergently due to developing high altitude sickness.)

A woman made the news recently by celebrating her 103rd birthday. As was her routine, she spent the day at a senior citizen center- as a volunteer!

Next month, January 15, we observe the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I doubt my birthday will ever be named a holiday, but I hope something I do in life will leave this world a little better.

A birthday creates a new beginning and so does a new year.  Perhaps we can all use the New Year’s Day holiday to remember, reflect, renew, and recharge our hearts and minds for another season of life.

find hidden opportunities hidden in each new day

Yes, ’tis the season-Merry Christmas, Happy New Year-

and happy birthday, whenever yours may be.

dessert with a lit candle in the middle
I hope your favorite restaurant gives you a complimentary dessert on your birthday.

Exploring the HEART of Health

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Healthy Holiday Eating: Practical Management Tips

This post shares how holiday foods like marshmallows and eggnog, appear in traditions and songs. Holiday foods can challenge nutritional management of multiple health conditions. Here are practical tips for planning meals to accommodate dietary needs, while offering insights on healthy eating and managing sobriety during festivities. Ultimately, we can celebrate human connections over food.

What do marshmallows, pumpkins, eggnog, popcorn, and pears have in common?

They are foods associated with holiday recipes, and they’re mentioned in songs about Christmas. You’ll also recognize less everyday foods like chestnuts, figgy pudding, collard greens, and wassail.

Recipes from Holiday Carols 

sliced orange, orange with cloves

We enjoy holiday traditions of eating and drinking special foods and beverages; we even sing about them. But these can cause problems for people who need to manage what they eat and drink for medical reasons.

Nutritional management is vital to managing these conditions-

  • diabetes and high cholesterol
  • celiac disease/gluten sensitivity
  • nut and other food allergies
  • lactose intolerance
  • overweight/obesity
  • alcohol dependence
  • heart, kidney, and liver dysfunction
  • pregnancy
  • migraine
  • hypertension
  • irritable bowel syndrome
variety of party cookies on a plate

Practical tips for planning Holiday parties and meals

Planning ahead to manage holiday stress applies to cooking, entertaining, and eating during the holiday season.

If you plan and prepare holiday meals and parties, remember some attendees need to avoid or restrict certain foods. Offer an ample variety of food and drinks so your guests will find something that works for them.

If you have houseguests, they will appreciate your asking them about dietary needs or restrictions so you can have food available to meet their needs.

If you have special food needs, it is wise to offer to bring a dish to an event or take food to eat if you will be someone’s houseguest.

 

a table setting at a holiday brunch I attended

 

Healthy Eating and the Holidays

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers tips for healthy eating for people with diabetes through the holidays. These are also helpful for others. Click the above link to learn how.

‘Tis the season for family, festivity, and food—lots of food. How do you manage diabetes during the holidays when food temptations are just about everywhere? Try these tips to help you stick to your diabetes meal plan this holiday season.

from the Centers for Disease Control

Tips for Everyone at the Holidays

  • You can still enjoy your favorite holiday treats in moderation. Focus on dishes you really love and can’t get any other time of year.
  • Sometimes there are too many holiday treats to fit into one meal. Instead of overeating, ask your host if you can take a favorite treat home for later.
  • Fill at least half your plate with vegetables and leave less room for unhealthy food.
  • Eat slowly. It takes at least 20 minutes for your brain to realize you’re full, so take your time before deciding if you want seconds.
  • Being active is your secret holiday weapon. It can help you digest your food better and reduce stress.
  • You may not have time for a long walk, but even 10 minutes after a big meal helps.

 

Delicious gluten-free recipes

Even if you are not gluten-sensitive, you may enjoy gluten-free dishes. Some taste even better than their gluten-containing cousins.

 

 

 

Maintaining Sobriety Through the Holidays  

from Addiction Hope 

“Be able to understand your limitations. Is it easy to say no to a drink in a restaurant setting but hard to avoid alcohol in a home environment? What types of scenarios are triggering to you? Knowing this ahead of time can help you work through situations and be prepared for what you might encounter.

Having an exit strategy can be a helpful tool to utilize in times of stress or pressure. This might include stepping out to call a trusted friend for support, going out for a walk, or practicing mindfulness techniques.”

 

 

Most of all, remember what the season is about—celebrating and connecting with the people you care about. When you focus more on the fun, it’s easier to focus less on the food.

CDC
Photo by Nicole Michalou on Pexels.com

 Sharing the HEART of the holidays

As a Christmas gift to me and your friends, please share this post with friends in an email or on your social sites. Thanks.

I’d love for you to follow this blog. I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

 

a small cute decorative snowman figure

Dr Aletha

Unfortunately, food allergies don’t take a holiday. This post reviews how those with food allergies can eat well and safely.

How to manage food allergy with confidence

Up to 10% of the population have true food allergy, while 50-90% of people who believe they have food allergy may not. An accurate diagnosis is important so the condition can be managed properly when appropriate, but not needlessly..

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