Why National Days Matter

Depending on how connected you are to social media, or how much fun your Human Resources department likes to have, you probably know there is a “National Day” for just about everything.And we mean everything.

September alone is packed with hundreds of official and unofficial observances recognizing everything from important causes and cultural traditions to favorite foods and lighthearted celebrations. Just take a look at a small sampling from the calendar:

• September 11: Patriot Day & National Day of Service
• September 16: National Guacamole Day
• September 18: National Cheeseburger Day
• September 19: Talk Like a Pirate Day
• September 20: National Fried Rice Day & National String Cheese Day
• September 21: National Chai Day & National Pepper Jack Cheese Day
• September 22: Ice Cream Cone Day & Elephant Appreciation Day

At some point, you have to wonder: Do we really need all of these National Days?

Maybe not.

But some of them matter a lot.

National Days and awareness observances give us a reason to recognize our shared history, values and experiences. In a world where there seems to be another celebration every time we open our phones, it can be easy to dismiss the whole concept as another social media trend.

At SurfMed, however, we pay particular attention to health-related observances—not simply because we work in healthcare, but because health is one of the few things that can ultimately affect every one of us.

Take September 18.

Yes, it was National Cheeseburger Day. But it was also National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day, an opportunity to encourage education, testing and conversations about HIV among older adults.

Anyone who remembers the fear and stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS during the 1980s and 1990s also knows how dramatically the conversation has changed. Medical advances, education and greater awareness have transformed what it means to live with HIV. Those advances didn't happen because people stopped talking about the issue. They happened, in part, because people continued bringing attention to it.

Then there is September 21.

You could celebrate National Chai Day or National Pepper Jack Cheese Day—and we're certainly not going to stop you.

But September 21 is also World Alzheimer's Day.

That is an observance worth remembering.

Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia affect not only the person diagnosed, but spouses, children, grandchildren, friends and caregivers. For those families, awareness isn't something that lasts for one day. It becomes part of everyday life.

September also brings attention to childhood cancer, blood cancers, suicide prevention, healthy aging and numerous other health issues that touch families throughout our communities.

That is why these days still matter.

They make us pause.

They remind us about something outside our daily routine. Maybe that reminder encourages someone to schedule a screening. Maybe it starts a conversation with an aging parent. Maybe someone learns the warning signs of a disease, checks on a friend, thanks a caregiver or supports research.

Sometimes awareness is where action begins.

At SurfMed, we think there is plenty of room for both kinds of National Days.

So enjoy the cheeseburger. Order the guacamole. Drink the chai. And if you really want to talk like a pirate for the day, go for it.

But when the calendar asks us to think about Alzheimer's, cancer, mental health, HIV/AIDS, healthy aging or another issue affecting the health of our communities, take a moment for that too.

Some National Days give us a reason to have fun. Others give us a reason to pay attention.

And those are the days that truly matter.