Here's the THING, aka the dichotomy of November and December, in a nutshell:
November is in the extreme end of creation. You live ascetically. You work all the time and waste no second in pastimes. You eat according to a strict, bland diet, so that food gives you neither pleasure not comfort. You don't consume entertainment. You burn the candle at both ends for 30 days.
December is in the extreme end of life. After living in extreme creation for 30 days, you're at a breaking point, so December comes at exactly the right time. In December, you let go of any and all principles you spent November living by. You don't work, only relax, enjoy yourself, spend time on entertainment, eat any foods you desire. What's more, you feel no guilt doing this because you've earned this relaxation through an entire month of discipline and suffering.
After 31 days of December, you've grown tired of all this living, and want a break, at which point, January couldn't come at a better time.
This is probably why I like November more than December, even though I'm a hardcore Christmas person: I like the wait. I like the swing of the pendulum. And there can't be a swing if you don't first push the ball to the extreme creation end.
Granted, December 1st is probably my favorite day of the year. Just imagine - after a month of depraving yourself of all pleasure, entertainment, and delicious food, you get to have it all at once, before you get sick of it.
It's glorious.
And I appreciate what makes it possible: the price I pay beforehand.
