Hear me out here.
I went trick-or-treating on Halloween (seemed like the most appropriate night to do so) and found it was scary as an adult! People look at you funny if you’re over the age of, oh, let’s say 14. And you can duck your head all you want, but they know you’re a little older than 14 (by 20 years).
But I did it anyway.
On this night, I was quoted as saying:
“Oh, I’m a big girl.” (To which my husband continues to mock with “Yes you are!”)
“Yes, I hear children, but I can’t see them.”
“I’m just with her.”
The first and third were when people tried to give me candy and I chickened out. Dude, they totally looked at me weird. (Never mind that I looked weird.)
The second was idle chitchat that made NO sense because I was so nervous. You’d have thought I was trying to pull a bank job, not just be a kid for the night!
I learned a few things, especially when I saw my daughter’s bucket was almost full and mine was almost empty.
1 – Step boldly to the front door (into life).
2 – Shout your intentions – TRICK-OR-TREAT! – like you mean it (I am going to be the best damn writer you ever did see!).
3 – Hold out your bucket to receive (you can’t give or receive if you cross your arms into yourself) and LET others give (help) so that you can learn and then do the same.
4 – Own your costume! Embrace who you are! Don’t cower because you don’t fit the standard age! (Be you. Don’t be ashamed of being you. Don’t try to be anyone but you. Own YOU. YOU are awesome!)
5 – Say thank you! (This should be done all the time, everywhere in life. Thanks to family and friends, thanks to coworkers, thanks to teachers, thanks to people who give of their time and talent, thanks to God!)
I had a really great time that night, but the reflection afterward was even more valuable. I encourage all of you to go out into the world and embrace life without fear and without boundaries!
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