What is in a Date?

14 February is Valentine’s day and did you know that 15 February is international Singles Awareness Day? Important or not? But why are some dates important and why should we bother to recognise or celebrate dates?

Can you imagine life without significant milestones? Without recalling the start or end of a relationship? the birth of a child? the rite of passage from childhood to adulthood or even the start of a new project, job, or plan in your own life? Now imagine these key moments in the lives of everyone about you and suddenly you see how connected we all are to everyone else. Dates matter.

Of course, there are dates and schedules related to medical or health concerns that can be crucial for our physical and mental well-being. Some dates like exams, tests, and funerals can be stressful and dreaded while other dates mark celebrations in our calendars all year round and we cannot wait for them to arrive. Some dates just pass us by.

Filling in your calendar, completing a diary, or setting reminders on phones and devices all help us to stay on track and manage our lives. They help us to engage and to develop our identity. The factual information of dates for family and friends, professional life, and personal goals all help us also to see our own lives in context.

Historical and future events are also key elements that affect us in our daily lives whether it may be longing for a holiday, recalling an anniversary, or remembering an event that happened in our childhood. Dates play a role that affects how we think and feel as well as giving us a sense of perspective for the present and the future.

Here are some key dates for Spring 2022:

March

April

·         7th Apr – World Health Day

May

Whatever you plan, do note it down as someday it could be a more important Date than you could imagine!

Christine Howson