Since my “Days of the Week” review was such a hit, why not keep it in the same ballpark? Today, it’s a review (and ranking) of the months of the year!
12th: February
Let me be clear- this has nothing to do with Black History Month being in February. I’m the biggest Black History Month fan out there, even sent my entire school board an email about it! LINK.
This has everything to do with February being cold, dark, and miserable. This is a month that feels hopeless. Christmas has long passed, and spring seems so far away. You wake up to darkness, you leave work in darkness. February makes you really understand why bears hibernate.
As for pros in February, there’s Black History Month of course. There’s Groundhog Day, but that’s only a positive until you discover the truth about it. LINK. Valentine’s Day is alright, unless you’re single and/or hate commercialism. These are probably the two biggest perks of February:
- Super Bowl. Unfortunately, this happens so early in February and then signifies the end of football.
- Winter Olympics. Sadly these only happen every four years and only are worth your while if the timezone that they’re in makes sense for your lifestyle. For example, does anyone actually remember the 2018 Olympics in South Korea?
At this point, I’m sure you’re aware that I am not a big winter fan. You can probably guess what’s next.
11th: January
Perks of January- NFL Playoffs every single weekend. That’s actually huge. Also, New Year, New Me is something that I’ve believed in for many years now. I’m going to go to the gym, I’m going to read more, I’m going to be a better person! That typically lasts through January, making the month filled with some hope.
Beyond that, there’s not much. Like February, it’s miserable. Also, it sucks for movies. I became a movie guy last year, went to the theatre quite a bit. Then January came around, the time when you need a pick-me-up the most, and all the movies sucked!
To go from the Christmas Holidays into the darkness of January is brutal.
10th: November
For my many American readers, keep in mind that Thanksgiving in Canada is in October. That leaves November without much joy. That’s right when the clocks fall back, bringing darkness way too early in the afternoon. It’s also a scary month weather-wise. If you get that November snow that sticks around, you know you are in for a long, miserable winter. Like I said, not a winter guy.
If that bad weather holds off, though, November is that last gasp of outdoor time. A nice fall November walk hits, honestly. And then there’s Christmas prep. As a big Christmas guy, whenever November becomes dark and gloomy, I just tell myself that at least it means Christmas is getting closer. How sad is it that one of the November perks is something that happens at the end of December?
9th: September
I would say September marks the first month on the list that I enjoy more than I dislike it. There are plenty of September perks, with one massive negative. Let’s start with the bad- school starts. I used to literally cry on Labour Day, knowing that I was back at school the next day. So, what did I become as an adult? A teacher. Go figure.
If we remove that from the equation (which obviously we can’t), September is quite nice. It’s one of the better weather months of the year. I’m a heat guy, but I understand people that don’t like it. It’s the same way I don’t like the cold. You want to know what type of weather no one complains about? September weather. It doesn’t end there, though. It’s the start of the NFL season, and the end of the MLB season. All in all, it’s a good month ruined by the start of school.
8th: October
What’s better than the start of the NFL and the end of the MLB season? How about the NFL continuing, the MLB playoffs, and the start of the NHL and NBA? That’s October for you! As mentioned, us Canadians also get Thanksgiving, and of course October is finished off with Halloween. Halloween is one of the cooler holidays when you think about it through the years- you’re a trick-or-treater (awesome), you’re a partier (awesome), you’re a candy-hander-outer (decent), you’re the parent of a trick-or-treater (awesome).
Weather-wise, October cools a bit but it’s not quite yet miserable, snowy, dark, I don’t want to leave the house weather just yet. And I’ll just say it, I like pumpkins. Pie, drinks, carving them, I’m just a pumpkin guy.
7th: March
We have now entered the months that I thoroughly enjoy, through and through. March is like a veil being lifted off of you. All of a sudden you can see the sun. You can go outside. I’ve actually been a little startled at times, seeing myself in the mirror and this time of year and realize how ghostly and pathetic I look. That’s what January and February do to you.
Let’s talk sports- March Madness, NHL, NBA, start of MLB. There’s St. Patrick’s Day, and of course, for us teacher’s, March Break. The downside to March is that it’s fake spring. It gets me every time, too. The weather warms, the snow starts to melt, and then bam, a big snow storm. March to the months is like Thursday to the days of the week- the weekend is close, but not quite there yet.
6th: April
April, however, is when the good weather is here to stay. Usually, at least. I’ll never forget having a snowstorm ruin my birthday party when I was 10. I wanted to go mini-putting. Keep in mind that my birthday is April 28th. Why do I live here?
Anyway, that was the exception to the rule. April is when the snow melts for good. It’s time for the NHL Playoffs, too. MLB is going strong. This is when my baseball season would start when I was growing up. Take a look outside in April, you know what you see? People! The winter hibernation has ended. It’s time to finally enjoy life!
Also in April, if you so please- April Fools Day, and (usually) Easter.
5th: May
May is just a better version of April. It still has NHL Playoffs, just further along. It still has the MLB, just further along. There is (almost) no chance of a winter snow storm. In fact, every now and then you get those scorchers in May which is a sign of the summer to come.
May long weekend often feels like the start of summer. This is when the day’s really start to feel nice and long. I don’t have much more to say, May is lovely.
4th: June
And of course, May leads into June, which is just a better version of May. NHL Playoffs are still going on, the MLB is even further along. I’m a heat guy, and this is when the beach days start to happen. This is also the end of school. The last month is just about having a good time, really. This is where I’m big into extended recess time.
For me, June is Friday. Yes, I’m still working, and yes, the best weather days aren’t quite here yet (again, I’m a heat guy) but my gosh are we getting close!
3rd: December
This is the one curveball on my list. I’ve been rolling off good weather month after good weather month, only to slide December into my Bronze Medal Month position. The reason? Christmas of course. I love it! I love everything about it! The movies, the decorating, the buying of the presents, the receiving of the presents, the family time, the time off work. Everything about Christmas is how life should always be.
Think about it. The weather has started to suck. It’s dark too fast and cold too often. And yet none of that matters because Christmas time trumps all! Honestly, putting Christmas at the end of December is a lifesaver. Imagine going through November until the end of February without it?
2nd: August
Listen, I know my list will be questioned by others, but how could I have anything other than August and (spoiler) July in my top 2 given my lifestyle. Number 1, I’m a teacher. Number 2, as I may have mentioned, I’m a heat guy.
The calendar makers really looked out for me by giving me 31 days in my favourite two months of the year back-to-back. I spend my month of August smiling, the whole time. Well, maybe every now and then the start of school will enter my brain and I’ll freak out a bit, but for the most part, I am in my happy place. It’s hot, I’m outside, I’m off of work, life is great.
I did one time have a teacher put it perfectly- if July is a Saturday, August is a Sunday. Well wouldn’t you know it (and you should know this if you read my other article LINK), Saturday and Sunday are my top two days of the week.
1st: July
So, what puts July ahead of August? I literally never think of work. It’s so far away, in my head anyway. I have the whole summer to enjoy, starting off with Canada Day! What does the rest of July have to offer? Literally anything I could want! This is when I start to get the golden skin going. I’ll go for runs just about everyday. Any chance to jump in the water, I’m there! July is literally perfect to me. I love July, and I don’t care who knows it.
I LOVE JULY!
