If you are anything like me, the holiday season is your favorite time of year. The time from Halloween until Christmas is when you are the happiest, even with the cold winter months drawing near. Something about the holidays just brings people together, which is why it is never too early to start getting into the spirit...well at least I think so. However, not everyone is necessarily found of the holiday season. For example, some people may give you dirty looks when you are blasting Christmas music out of your car windows when it is still 65 degrees out. Although there are MANY things to look forward to with the upcoming holiday season, I guess they could be viewed as things to dread as well. Here are 10 things that will either excite your or make you want to cringe about the upcoming holiday months:

1. Winter

I have a very strong love/hate relationship with winter. It is a beautiful season, don't get me wrong. The trees are breathtaking after the first snow fall. However, I am not excited to have my face burn and my fingers turn numb while I am walking to class in negative degree weather. Although the beginning of winter does imply that Christmas is only a few days away, thinking about the brutal cold associated with it is definitely cringe-worthy.

2. Family Gatherings

Family gatherings are always a good time. However, when you go away to college and are unable to see your family regularly they bombard you with questions whenever they get the chance to see you. No grandma, I don't have a boyfriend. And no everyone I still don't know what I'm doing with my life, I'll make sure to inform you once I figure it out.

3. FOOD

Food, in my opinion, is the best part of the holiday season. However, if you are one who loves to stay in shape and eat healthy, this may be a problem. Everywhere you turn, at least in my family, food is being shoved into your face. You even have to take breaks from eating at the dinner table otherwise you may in fact explode. Make sure you always wear your stretchy pants; jeans on holidays are not worth it.

4.Quirky Family Traditions

If your family is anything like mine, they are kinda weird. Every family has its own traditions, things that you do every year without fail. However, sometimes your parents don't realize that you have grown out of some of these traditions, and they make you do them anyways....Sorry Mom, I do not want to make turkey paintings out of my hands anymore, I'm in college.

5. Holiday Music

I don't care what anyone says, after Halloween, it is completely acceptable to start blasting Christmas music. Some may say it is too early, but you only get two months to jam out to Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You"....so might as well take full advantage of it.

6. School Breaks

Okay, I'm not quite sure how you could possibly cringe at the thought of being off of school for a whole month, but hey I'm not judging...(actually I am, and if this doesn't make you super excited than something is definitely wrong with you).

7. Decorations

Everyone knows the neighborhood folks who immediately after Halloween have their Christmas decorations up. I love sight seeing and looking at houses all decked out in the holiday spirit. However, some people would like to get through Thanksgiving before they see Santa in their neighbor's front yard.

8. Shopping

The holiday season is the busiest time of the year for retail. Shoppers are ruthless, and it is inevitable to avoid the crowd because there always is one. If you are a retail worker, the thought of working at 3 a.m. on Black Friday makes you want to cry. However, if you are a avid shopper, these deals make you jump out of your seat and go wait in line for five hours until the store you need to go to opens. Or, if neither of these apply to you, you get to spend the day still digesting your Thanksgiving dinner from the night before, lucky you.

9. Winter Activities

Although winter can be excruciatingly painful, there are some benefits that come with it. If you are a fan of winter sports, this is the beginning of your favorite time of the year. Ice skating, ice fishing, skiing, snowboarding, and many other fun activities can only take place in the winter. Enjoy them while they last!

10. Snow Days

In my opinion, the only bright side to numbingly cold days is the possibility of classes being canceled. Nothing is better than waking up to a call or email saying you don't have to leave your heated blanket and nice cozy room and there will be no repercussions for it. Back to bed you go.

I know that winter is still a ways away, but with Halloween occurring and Thanksgiving right around the corner, Christmas and the beginning of winter will be here faster than you know it. It is an exciting and wonderful time of the year. Enjoy it, despite the aspects that make you want to cringe.