I'm kind of a junky for deep quotes and stories of the wise to understand this world. But even though my bookshelf is packed with self-help books, I've learned the most basic life lessons through Halloween.
Homemade is always better.
My mother made every. single. one. of my Halloween costumes as a kid. Whether it was a pilgrim, a princess, a butterfly, a flower or an M&M's candy bag, she would glue, sew and decorate me into my costume. Do you think I would be able to recall my parade of costumes as a child if they were store bought? I doubt it. I have learned that the very essence of having a unique costume, stitched with love and made to my taste is why Halloweening was special. So take the time to do crafts, make a card, personalize a gift or do dinner from scratch (that last one would be for other people, who are not me), because homemade will always be better.
Don't overindulge.
Indeed you can have too much of a good thing. Every kid dumps their Halloween stash on the floor at the end of the night and digs in. Over and over and over again. And after a night with a sicky stomach, the candy never tastes as sweet. Halloween taught me not to overindulge and that moderation preserves the "goodness" of your favorite things.
Never compare yourself to others.
This is a big one. Even though I loved my costumes as a child (really Mom, they were amazing!), I would inevitable turn green with envy over other children's costumes. Somebody else would have a costume that was more clever, that they looked prettier in than me or was more extravagant. Comparing yourself to others is the absolute worst think you can do. There will always be someone better or taller or smarter or funnier. But by-golly, you in your handmade costume, you are one of a kind. Embrace it.
Don't let fear scare you.
I'm a scaredy-cat. During Halloween I would have terrible night frights about Jason and Mike Myers and that guy who asks the babysitter "have you checked the children?" in When A Stranger Calls. I would get so terrified of being stabbed or abducted or chased by a man who could walk faster than I could run, that I would spend the weeks leading up to Halloween in a state of paranoia. I would let my fear take over! I've learned though, that fear is often a fabrication of our own minds and is often far from a life or death (or even dangerous!) situation. If you let fear run your life, then you will miss out some extremely wonderful memories. Like trick or treating sans Mom and Dad with all the other fifth graders and being the "cool kids" in middle school for the next week.
Sometimes bad things happen to good people.
I hate this lesson, but it is the truth. Sometimes it does not matter how good, honest and caring you are. It doesn't matter that you truly only take one piece of candy from the bowl left out on your neighbors porch, even though all the other kids take a handful. Or that you compliment other children's costumes or say "Thank you!" at every door. Because the mean high school boy who zeroes in on you candy stash as you are skipping across the street doesn't care that you are nice, polite and good girl - he just wants your hard earned loot. Karma does not always work and unfair things will happen. And when that hooligan runs past you snatching your pumpkin pale, you'll learn that some times bad things happen to good people. But the optimist will believe that regardless of this lesson, tomorrow will be better, it is still worth it to be "good", and next year's candy will actually make it home.
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