Cody Elms

The crisp air of the darkened mornings now whirls around a palette of orange, red, and yellow leaves that are just days away from their descent. The warmth of summer seems like a distant memory, while the anticipation of the first snowfall is building. We are immersed in the aroma of apple cider and pumpkin spice virtually everywhere we go.

For some, this time of the year, is what they consider the “sweet spot” between summer and winter, where everything just seems perfect. We get to take a moment to relax and catch our breath before the pleasurable madness of the holiday season. However, caught in the middle between the dog days of summer and the winter wonderland of Christmas, lost in our relaxation and anticipation, is Halloween. We tend to overlook and perhaps perceive Halloween as nothing more than a day when our children run around like maniacs in crazy costumes just collect a lot of candy, that we’ll instantly regret them having for the next couple of weeks. Yet, by doing so, we are missing what may be, the utmost marvelous holiday we celebrate.

Children are inherently given the gift of imagination. We see it when they play, when they watch their favorite movies, when the draw, and in almost every facet of their lives. They have the ability to create an imaginary universe that, as adults, we have a hard time even fathoming. Therefore, when Halloween comes around, it is no surprise that children are unsurpassed.

This is the one day of the year, that we not only encourage them to live out their imaginary worlds, but we reward them for it. To us adults, we see kids being kids. They pick out a superhero, princess, monster, or any other miscellaneous character, and pretend to be them for a couple of hours, and then it’s all over. But that isn’t how children see it.

If they dress up as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, they are not just wearing a green costume. No, they are protecting April O’Neil from the Shredder and the evil Foot Clan. Or if they are a mermaid, they’re not just a fish out of water; They are a beautiful tranquil creature diving in the depths of a coral filled ocean surrounded by a vast array sea-life.

To them, this is their world. We are kidding ourselves if we don’t think children have stresses and worries in life, but what separates them from us, is their ability to encompass the world they are in and transform it in their minds into some greater. They don’t see their issues as doors, but rather gateways to live out their dreams.

It is sometimes depressingly comical how much we have forgotten in our path to adulthood. We have lost that feeling our children have when they put on that costume. Now, it is evident that we can’t in fact be Rocket from the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, but that doesn’t mean we have to lose that sense of freedom that they achieve with a simple outfit and mask.

Possibly, what we need to do this Halloween is not see our children zig-zagging through the streets as little candy collectors, but rather as inspirational representations of their imaginary worlds that are ever expanding. By doing so, we may re-educate ourselves on how to use that lost imagination to escape our own issues in a healthy natural way. Rather than social media, television, and sometimes even more dangerous methods. If anything, the fury of our children’s spirited holiday, has shown us that the magic of Halloween is something more than the nightmare before Christmas. It is the encouragement that maybe a day-dream a day, might just keep our troubles at bay.