These days, it seems that we are all running low on patience with regards to the holidays, and while I am all for the fun and excitement that comes with them, I cannot help but also feel a bit overwhelmed by their premature arrival.

“But Jessie, we need all the fun and cheer that we can get, particularly during this pandemic,” you might argue.

My response is, do we really?

Might we be setting ourselves up for bigger issues in the future? I definitely think so. One question that crosses my mind is: what will we be left with when the pandemic and its aftermath come to an end?

While some might argue that businesses are to blame, giving themselves a sense of helplessness, I see this as a 2-way street. They cannot succeed without our willingness to oblige.

Consider, for example, Starbuck’s move to release the Pumpkin Spice Latte on Aug. 25 this year. Previously, the company would make their best seller available closer to Labor Day. Customers responded to the change, increasing traffic at its stores via curve side pickup

Locally, iHeart Media member radio station, Soft Rock 98.9, started its national Christmas Cash contest, giving listeners a shot at $1,000— much earlier than the typical November start date.

Speaking of radio stations, Christmas music is also making an earlier than usual appearance. SiriusXM subscribers get to listen to their favorite Christmas tunes as of Oct. 28.

When I shared this with my wife, all she said was, “I haven’t even finished my Halloween candy or even put the turkey in the oven.”

Being just about the most Christmas loving person that I know, even she felt that this is possibly getting out of hand.

If you thought that you could escape the madness with a little TV, think again. Hallmark Channel has been airing Christmas movies on its two channels since Oct. 24.

Oh, and don’t even get me started on the countless Black Friday emails that I’ve received since mid-October.

It is also important to think of our mental and financial health during this time. The holidays, Christmas being a major one too many, comes with multiple expenses and gatherings.

Understandably, businesses are out to make a sale and I can appreciate that. Just last year, 86% of millennials according to a study by American

Those numbers are expected to increase by 2% this year.

To be frank, I too have done my share of overspending in the past, only to feel extreme buyer’s remorse and scrounging for food shortly after.

If you have money to throw in the air, this obviously would not affect you. However, being a college student on a budget, I cannot relate.

The bottom line is this. You do not have to fall into the trap of instant gratification just because others have an agenda that will benefit their pockets at your expense.

I did not realize it then, but there was a lot more excitement for the holidays when I was growing up. Aside from consulting the calendar, we knew that Christmas was coming more toward the Thanksgiving holiday.

Before, there was the hustle and bustle, but I could also notice the joy that accompanied the holiday season.

Today, that has been replaced with stressed and angry people.

Perhaps the true joy of these special times cannot and will not be found in their earlier arrival. I would hate to realize that as a society, we became obsessed in search of instant gratification