As the final trick-or-treater heads in for the night, away goes the spooky decorations and in comes the Christmas excess. Every year on the first of November, we are greeted with the occasional-yet-overwhelming Christmas-filled house; every square inch is covered in bright lights and blow-up reindeer. 

While the holiday season brings me only joy, the early decor rushes me into a mindset of wishing time away, forgetting Thanksgiving and ignoring the special month that is December. 

As soon as the first Christmas tree is strung with ornaments, I find myself wishing that Christmas was nearer and that time would move faster. This feeling of longing for the future distracts me from what is right in front of me. I become too caught up in what is going to happen and too far away from things that are happening. Wishing away the late fall months can cause people to take for granted how rewarding time spent in the present really is. 

Every year, we mark Thanksgiving as the holiday of thankfulness and food, two very important things. Whether you spend time with family and friends or just take time to acknowledge things around you, it is a time of recognizing what you are truly grateful for, and with that comes personal growth.  

With the Christmas season comes a certain feeling of joy, from the treats and decorations to the time spent with family and friends. I associate the feeling with my favorite time of year; however, that feeling depends upon the idea that it comes once a year. As soon as Christmas begins spreading into the fall season and doesn’t end until well into the spring, the special feeling of festivity begins to dwindle. I believe that Christmas time – and its decorations – belong solely in the winter.  

As you wait patiently – or not-so-patiently – for the holiday season, remember to cherish time spent in the present and not move too fast. Everybody has different opinions on Christmas time and how early we should acknowledge its arrival, but don’t forget the special moments between Halloween and Christmas, along with the merit it brings to your life.