Halloween is such a fun day. And today is Halloween.
Over the years, I've gotten more and more excited about it. Some of my favorite memories are of taking my son trick-or-treating with friends, then heading back to someone's house for pizza and It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.
Then there's my annual tradition of going all out for my costume. Last year, I was Elphaba from Wicked. This year, I was Britney Spears with a little zombie twist. Going to Spirit Halloween with my son was a blast. Picking out the costume and putting it all together is part of the fun.
Halloween doesn't usually get us a day off work. We still have responsibilities. But it has become a day of celebration, a chance to bring a little excitement into the ordinary routine.
Yes, there's the scary side. The ghouls, the wickedness, the slasher movies. But there are also people dressing up, laughing together, and enjoying the chance to be someone different for a little while.
And then there's trick-or-treating. We spend so much time telling children not to take candy from strangers, and then we set aside an evening to do exactly that. Neighbors turn on their porch lights, open their doors, and give something away. Children show off their costumes. Parents walk together.
There's generosity in that. And fun.
I think we could use more of both. More excitement. More chances to step away from the problems of the day and do something different simply because we enjoy it.
The problems will still be there when the costumes come off. But for a little while, we can eat some candy, share a laugh, and enjoy the celebration.
So that's Halloween. And I'm glad we get to have it.
What celebration do you look forward to every single year?
Here, I made this. My gift to you, for taking the time to read.