I realize Thanksgiving is in less than a week, but that doesn’t mean my Christmas spirit has to wait until the last slice of turkey is devoured.

Every year around this time, folks try to squash my Christmas spirit:

“It’s too early to put up the tree.”

“Can’t we enjoy Thanksgiving first?”

“The thought of Christmas makes me stressful.”

“Bah humbug.”

After they’ve completed their Christmas rant, I stare them in the face and say, “You Grinch!”

For many, the mention of Christmas brings visions of crowded malls and stressful holiday meals.

But for me, the holiday season means making memories with family and friends, enjoying unique holiday-themed events, reminiscing about the year that was and looking forward to the year ahead.

Rather than enjoy the holiday season, though, it seems many people get lost in the abundance of Black Friday fliers and Christmas commercials that take away from the holiday season.

The sight of twinkling lights and animated figures singing holiday songs throughout the store seem to sicken some.

Not me.

I can’t imagine squeezing Christmas into a few days of celebration.

All of the work putting up the trees, decorations, outdoor displays and all of the time spent purchasing that special gift and then wrapping it shouldn’t be something we hold off with until the last minute.

The holidays are a special time of year that are meant to be drawn out and enjoyed, not rushed through like a burden.

Christmas isn’t about buying gifts and creating perfect meals.

It’s the hustle and bustle of the season that forces some to act like a Grinch.

But, as we know, even the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before.

“‘Maybe Christmas’ he thought, ‘doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more!'”