Ode to November

Of all the seasons, fall ranks pretty low on my list of favorites. However, November happens to be one of my favorite months on the calendar, higher up than even my own birthday month.

November is the twilight of the year; fall is winding down, and winter is picking up. The holidays are in sight, and with it the beginning of a new year just around the corner. The days are darker, the nights longer and the temperatures are far colder than many of us would like.

I do not like the dark nor the cold, but November is still amazing.

Thanksmas

November is Christmas without the pressure, plus the pleasant Thanksgiving. I know, I know, the age-old argument of “No Christmas Before Thanksgiving” is a big deal to many of us. I choose to let Christmas start a little bit at the start of November. We have the cozy vibes, the cold temperatures and more often than not, snow. The best part is that you can enjoy the spirit of Christmas without worrying about gifts or parties or family gatherings quite yet.

I also love Thanksgiving as a holiday. For my family, it’s mostly low-pressure to show up at my Grandma’s with a dessert, enjoy the parade and Black Friday advertisements and play cards. It’s a big change from the hustle and bustle of December and all the responsibilities that come with it.

Holiday Specials

Is there any better time to watch TV than during the holidays?

Most people start to break out their favorite movies and shows this time of year. I love watching a good Hallmark movie in November before the “serious” Christmas season, and because I love watching cable TV instead of streaming, this means that channels start running their holiday specials. This is the only time of year that it is acceptable to watch a holiday special, so I will enjoy it as long as possible.

More Breaks

After August, September and October, when we only get Labor Day off, November is more than welcome. Not only do we get several days off for Thanksgiving, but we also get to enjoy Veterans Day off. Having a few days to break up the pressure of the end of the semester is something that we all need.

End of the Semester

And, of course, we have the end of the fall semester staring us in the face. It’s not quite finals season, so the stress hasn’t fully hit, but we can see the sun on the horizon. We can start to count down the final weeks before winter break and know that the longest parts of the semester are behind us.

November is an amazing month. Even though we still have plenty of time left before winter break, and even with the loss of sunlight and warmth, there are still plenty of reasons to appreciate this time of year. Take some time to appreciate where we are right now, and enjoy the extra days off, the holiday season and how far you’ve already come this year.