I used to have a policy that I would not listen to holiday music until after Thanksgiving. It seemed like the right thing to do, for otherwise Thanksgiving would be forgotten amidst the Toys ‘R’ Us ads and Bing Crosby’s White Christmas.

But then I realized a weird thing happening. All the holidays after Thanksgiving were being forgotten.

I remember as a little kid thinking the holiday season dragged on. It seemed like the Advent calendar took ages to get through. I watched every holiday movie we owned twice.

But in the past six years especially, I’ve desperately tried to cling on to every moment of the ‘joyous’ holiday feeling between the end November and the end of December. And those moments have been few and far between.

With classes and finals and the little things we have to do every day, there is hardly any room to appreciate the holiday season and to anticipate its arrival.

Thus, this year, I owe Thanksgiving an apology. I started listening to holiday music on Nov. 1. My roommate and I have fragranced our room with evergreen air fresheners and have paper snowflakes hanging from the ceiling. I’ve broken out my red and green flannel shirt that makes me look like a walking gift.

And have I gotten chastised for this? You bet I have.

But my intention is not to forget Thanksgiving. In my mind, Nov. 1 is the start of the holiday season, and for me, Thanksgiving and Christmas are my two holidays.

Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and all other holidays are about being thankful for what we have and the people who surround us.

But I bet many people, surely with exceptions, haven’t stopped to think what they are thankful for in the beginning of this holiday season. Thanksgiving is 10 days away. Sure, some people probably plan on giving their thanks at the dinner table on Nov. 22.

But I want to start before that. I think we need to start before that. College is a time when we are constantly focused on ourselves — our major, our goals, our career path — and it’s easy to put ourselves on top of the pedestal.

What is healthy is to take the time to stop worrying about ourselves and turn our attention to others in whatever way we can.

As much as I love decorating and listening to holiday music, this is not the only way to get that fantastic holiday feeling that we had when we were five years old. As with most things that come with age, a little more effort is necessary on our parts.

I encourage everyone to look for ways, big or little, that they can give back this holiday season. This is a way to make others’ days brighter, as well as a way to feel like you are taking part in something that is bigger than yourself.

Try putting together a Thanksgiving meal for a needy family. Until Wednesday, you can register with the Office of Volunteer programs to donate a basket with the makings for a Thanksgiving meal.

Starting Wednesday, The Salvation Army starts their season of bell ringing, and they are looking for volunteers to keep the “kettles” manned.  

Send a holiday card to an old friend. Drop in on an old teacher or professor and wish them happy holidays.

And start all of this now. Honestly, it’s never too early to spread some holiday cheer.  But it easily becomes too late. While life is crazy and hectic, it’s important at this time to think about all that we do have and to be thankful for that, and to seek out ways to make others thankful as well.

So with that, happy holidays. And crank up that Bing Crosby.

Kirsten is a sophomore in Media. She can be reached at kekellr2@dailyillini.com.