This Time of Year

November always catches me off guard. September drags on, refusing to let go of summer. October inches along as I wait longingly for fall weather to arrive. Then the build up to Halloween begins and – BAM – it’s Starbuck’s red cup season.
 
Last year around this time, I was speaking with a client on our bi-weekly call. I started with the usual small talk like, “Happy Friday! How’s the weather where you are?” Then I followed up with a common early November conversation piece, “I heard Christmas music playing at the store yesterday. It’s too soon!” My client quickly interrupted me with a sigh and said, “Yeah but you know, I love this time of year so…” The conversation paused until I replied, “You’re right. So do I.”
 
With one comment and one sigh he changed my perspective about holiday decorations, festive music, and Starbucks red cups showing up at the beginning of November. In some ways, I wait all year for the holidays to get here. Partly because it’s hard to shake the happy associations I have from childhood and partly because I know work will slow down for awhile. Also, twinkle lights and hats and scarves and coffee and decorations and music and cool weather make me happy.
 
If we wait all year for the holidays to roll around, why are we pushing them away when they finally arrive? There are no rules on when to start celebrating. No one carved in stone that you can’t listen to holiday music until December 1st or you have to wait until after Thanksgiving to get a Christmas tree. And even if they did, who cares? It’s your life and I’m guessing it’s not easy. Life is hard which is all the more reason to celebrate when we can. So, want to decorate? Do it. Ready to listen to Christmas music? Pump up the jam. Can’t get enough eggnog lattes? Drink up.
 
Time goes by so fast and before we know it January will be here and we’ll be cold and sad and missing the festiveness of November and December. Seize the red cup, fill it with a gingerbread latte, sing your favorite holiday song, and get lost in the twinkle of the lights. That’s what I’m going to do. If you want to wait a few more weeks that’s okay too. More gingerbread lattes for me!
 
Do the holidays sneak up on you too? When do you start celebrating?
 

POSTED IN:
TAGGED:

3 Comments

  1. Heather on November 19, 2017 at 1:44 pm

    Love this! I always put up the Christmas stuff the day after Thanksgiving…it’s a good way to work off the turkey! 🙂 Have a great holiday!

    • Courtney A. Casto on November 19, 2017 at 11:06 pm

      Thanks Heather! I was going to decorate this weekend but I think I will wait until Thanksgiving after all.

  2. Tobia | craftaliciousme on November 23, 2017 at 2:44 pm

    This is so funny for me.
    The Holiday Season for me and most of us Germans starts with December first and not one day earlier. When I spent my year in the US I was really shocked when the Christmas tree was put up right after the turkey was ate.
    Our Christmas tree is put up on December 24th. But my host family took the tree down the 25th. It was the weirdest Christmas ever for me.
    But it did open my eyes how different we all celebrate it.
    Hoever, wishing you happy holidays,
    Tobia

Leave a Comment