Taking Back Halloween
There’s nothing wrong with feeling anxiety, in fact it’s a good thing. Anxiety can drive adaptation. The difficulty comes when we let that anxiety stop us from enjoying life. Even Halloween.
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There’s nothing wrong with feeling anxiety, in fact it’s a good thing. Anxiety can drive adaptation. The difficulty comes when we let that anxiety stop us from enjoying life. Even Halloween.
We lost lives, and that grieves me. We lost lifestyles, which hurts as well. But what remained and what grew in light of what science says we could have lost makes me grateful now and keeps my hope stoked for the future.
he world is re-opening and with that comes a wealth of opportunities. Also, if my clients and social media are any indication, comes an increasing amount of stress and anxiety. Many of us have become comfortable over the last fifteen months. While life is not lived in the comfort zone, it is also not to be lived in constant stress. As we re-emerge, to do so with the most health and joy, we need to keep one thing in mind: We are still in charge.
2020, a year that no one expected, warrants closure. This one took many drafts and more thought than some, and may take more unpacking as well, but, in the end, for me, it fits. I truly encourage you, try it this time.
“If I were to skip one, this is not the one to skip. This is maybe the most important one,” Jon said, then shocked himself into silence. He came to grips with his answer in pauses. “I need to think about that for a while. Yeah, maybe this is the most important—I don’t want to set the bar to high, Jeez,” he said, smiling at himself.
At the center of Samhain was one crucial dynamic: Letting go to that which has passed away so they, and we, can move on. What better time to let go of some of our COVID-19 losses than Halloween? What better way to honor the festival which has changed so much over the centuries than to return to its roots amid our current changing culture?
On the other side of this virus will be a new, and better culture but only if we make it so. We can’t go backward, as much as I would wish it, but we can go boldly forward based on shared values, and into a tomorrow that is safe, connected and joyful.
Understanding and harnessing our growth, not living in the prior trauma, is key to crafting a Yellow life that is safe, enjoyable, and sustainable. Using two other trauma counseling tools; Gradual Exposure and Narrative Therapy we can craft that Yellow life in just three steps.
I believe that we will come through this better than we came in. Each of the resources I shared today had that theme in mind. They each have right now positive, fun help to provide but they also build for the future. Now is the time to start emotional, physical, spiritual and self care practices. Now, when there may be a few extra, quieter minutes in the day. I believe that we will reconnect, return to work and to school. Let's use these resources to start training for that time
We must forge a new enjoyable life in the present COVID19 reality. Face it and embrace it—not just endure it—for that lifestyle will foster balanced mental health, a strong immune system and build a better post-COVID future right now.