Leadership Thought #237 – How You Approach Halloween May Be Indicative Of How You Approach Life
Another Halloween has arrived, and I always find it interesting how people approach the day differently. After some reflection, I’ve realized that how you respond to a holiday like this is a good reflection of how you approach life in general.
The first group of individuals are the “Non-Participants.” They go to the trouble of behaving like they are not home. It irritates them that the holiday exists at all, and they vehemently decide not to participate. It is all just a marketing gimmick for someone to make money and/or get free stuff. They keep the porch light off, sometimes hide in a part of the house where they won’t be seen, or purposefully stay out during regular trick-or-treat hours. Sadly, some even take pleasure in debunking the holiday in front of kids.
The second group of people are the “Passive Compliers.” They participate and do what they are supposed to do, but do so begrudgingly with little or almost no effort. They feel compelled to celebrate for their kids (or the kids of friends) but don’t really enjoy it. Costumes and treats are often thrown together at the last minute with little or no thought. It’s simply an additional burden or responsibility, a box to tick on the life calendar. They are happy when the night ends and they’ve done their duty. When their children reach adulthood, they find relief in ceasing to participate.
The third group of people are the “It’s About Me” crowd. They often act like kids themselves. Instead of being home, interacting with children, and handing out candy, they dress up, go to parties, and try to relive their youth or some adult version of it. They tend to focus on their own feelings rather than doing something for someone else. They have a tough time growing up and accepting that roles and circumstances change.
Finally, there is the fourth group of people who are the “Embrace the Moment” crowd. Instead of seeing Halloween or any other holiday as extra work or expense, they revel in the experience and strive to make it special for their own kids and/or other children. They circle these dates on the calendar as something to look forward to. They enjoy decorating and the whole vibe around the celebration. For the cost of a small treat, it transforms into a community event where you get to interact with other families and brighten the faces of kids you don’t even know.
In life, you can decide whether to be an active participant or not. You can appreciate being part of the community and enjoying a shared experience, or instead decide to isolate yourself from others. You can go about thinking everyone has an agenda, or be more open-minded. You can act like a crank or try and make other people (especially kids) happy. You have the option to spend your time ticking off tasks and fulfilling your expectations, or you can fully embrace the moments and make them unforgettable. You can grow up and act like an adult or hold onto the threads of childhood through childlike behavior. You can make everything about you or take into consideration the feelings and needs of others. You can enjoy the passage of time and the milestones that occur throughout the year, or not.
Happy Halloween!
Related articles
- Everything You Need to Know About Trick-or-Treating and Halloween Candy (And Then Some) (business.time.com)
- Have A Spooktacular Halloween Celebration In Your Apartment Complex | The Shared Wall (rent.com)
- Create a frightfully fun environment for trick or treaters this Halloween (personalcreations.com)
- Halloween Decisions (wonderyearsof2.blogspot.com)
- 13 Halloween Facts (secondwindpub.wordpress.com)
