Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to ... Happy Thanksgiv ... Merry Christmas!

I have a love-hate relationship with this time of year.Why?Because, as you can see by many of the store aisles already, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas have been mashed into a jumble of overly scary, yet full of sparkly lights waiting for the jolly ol' fat elf to squeeze down our chimneys, sprinkled with bits of cranberries and turkey on top. It's almost like a train wreck that you just can't help but gawk at and honestly, it's overwhelming.You walk down one aisle, filled with creepy, crawly ghouls and goblins, and halfway down, the creatures of the night fade into pudgy pilgrims sharing the first Thanksgiving feast. Signs blend between "Trick or Treat" and "Give Thanks."And then you turn and BAM, Christmas in all its Christmas-y glory smacks you in the face and you realize that there are only seven more Sundays before the big man comes - and you haven't even started your shopping yet!I hate that these three holidays, all of which I love in their own separate ways, are now becoming HalloThanksMas - with the emphasis on the "Mas."I don't remember two decades ago walking into a store and seeing these holidays mushed together on shelves - elves mingling with witches, turkeys and Rudolph playing reindeer games with the tricks and treats and lights ranging from the deepest purple to the brightest white sitting on the same shelves blinding you as you walk by.Each of these holidays are special so why are we stampeding over their toes to try and get through them all in one quick swoop? Why are we in such a rush to get to the dead-of-winter blues in January?In recent years, Thanksgiving has even had to share its day with Black Friday, the official start to Christmas shopping.Honestly, do we really need to stuff ourselves like turkeys then waddle off to shop until we drop just to save a few bucks? I know I don't see the need for it.Why are we becoming a society of overly rushed, underly caring people who feel we must get everything bought, baked and wrapped in 30 seconds flat?I dare you this year to do something different.Take a moment, step back, relax and enjoy each holiday season in its entirety because they aren't about how much candy you get, how amazing your pumpkin pie came out or how many gifts are left under the tree.It's about friends, family and making lasting memories - all things that no store can put a price tag on.