Within the first few days of November, carved pumpkins, ghastly ghosts and spooky skeletons give way to wreaths, menorahs and inflatable snowmen. Countless houses are instantly covered with dazzling decorations and the radio waves are conquered by lively holiday music.

I enjoy the atmosphere that the holiday spirit ushers in. Like anyone else, I love seeing the trees draped in colorful lights and the holiday beverages introduced at local coffee shops.

But just like most things, the holiday spirit is really only good in moderation.

I don’t mind listening to the same iconic, holiday-themed songs on the way to school and crunching on candy canes and gingerbread cookies during the first weeks of November. Yet by the time winter break rolls around, I’m sick of driving past the same obnoxious holiday decorations and binging on stale holiday treats.

The winter holidays aren’t the only culprit, however. Whether it’s that one relative asking you where you plan to go to college during your freshman year of high school or back-to-school commercials flooding TV channels in the middle of summer, things are starting too early.

With everything we do, there seems to be an unnecessary rush to move forward before we can truly enjoy the present moment. When back-to-school commercials show up in the middle of July, or when kids become dead-set on their Halloween costumes in August, I’m compelled to ask the question: why does all of this have to start so early?

In our haste to prepare for the next event on our calendars, we lose sight of the moments we are currently living through.

If all of this holiday spirit could be held off until after Thanksgiving, or even early December, then the winter holidays would become a much more enjoyable season for everyone involved.

My desire to cut the holiday season short might put me on the same level as the iconic Grinch. In reality, I just hate to see people ruin the holiday season through impatience and monotony.