It's almost the time of year that everyone excitedly awaits. It's finally socially acceptable to start showing your holiday spirit, even though you secretly celebrate all year; it's okay, we all bust out our holiday music in July at some point. And though it's a time of year when everything seems jolly and bright, some people actually dread the holiday season, and for good reasons. Especially if they work in retail.

I never dreaded December coming around until I worked in retail. It's absolute chaos, and a month of sheer stress. Opening takes an additional hour with the extra signage for all of the sales, early morning shipment shifts don't get done until close to evening, and closing the store takes hours because everything was tore to shreds throughout the day. Put all of this on top of dealing with many hostile customers, and you've got yourself a Grinch in the making.

When I complained about this, many people told me that I didn't have to work in retail. That's true, but as a 17-year-old fresh out of high school, what else was I supposed to do? And just because someone chooses to work in retail doesn't mean that they should be expecting to be cussed out or have things thrown at them on a daily, weekly, or even yearly basis. Nobody should.

So when you're angry because you read the sale sign wrong, please don't take it out on your cashier or any other worker. Please consider how they are being worked to death while many people are on vacations. Remember that they want to be celebrating the holiday season, too. And don't go to the 3pm sales on Thanksgiving day.

Fortunately for me, I don't work in retail anymore, but I think of those that do during this time of year. When I do my holiday shopping, I'm as polite and patient as I can be because I know that makes their day a little bit easier. Don't be an asshole this holiday season, and if you are, then you probably forgot what this season is all about.