December Is Not a Month

 
Instead, December is a series of events, time sucks, and ponderings. Between the holidays, three family birthdays (including mine), end-of-year assessments, and next year planning, I don't get much done. Productivity happens in fits and starts. Focus is scattered across a variety of chores and necessities. Stress levels go up for a variety of reasons, related and unrelated.
 
In spite of all of that, though, I enjoy December.
 
Back before the turn of the century, when I still had a "real" job, I never took vacation time in December. Didn't need to. Even though the company's "year end" didn't match up with the calendar, all of the company's employees's "year end" certainly did. December was like a month of paid vacation taken at work. Especially since it seemed everyone else did take vacation time in December. Silly people. Along with subsidized health care and a 401k, December is one of the few things I miss about being employed.
 
I like the chaos of December. And the low expectations. I even like my birthday.
 
I like looking back over the year. I like anticipating the New Year and seeing how everything plays out.
 
Every December I take the time to write down what I accomplished in the year now ending, and then make plans and set goals for the year about to begin. So December for me is both about looking back and peering forward, reflection and introspection and prognostication.
 
It's fun.
 
December isn't a month. Not really. But I love it.
 
-David