Health & Fitness
Costumes and New Personas...Not Just for Halloween
Today is our chance to be someone new for the day....
Today is our chance to be someone new for the day.
I remember one day, many years ago, when my daughter was young and playing dress-up. On this day she was a princess. Involved in the game, I asked where my daughter had gone as all I could see was this lovely young princess. Terrified that she had truly disappeared, my daughter cried out she was here. It took a great deal of reassurances and gazing in the mirror for her to be sure she had not “changed into someone else.”
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My daughter no longer needs these reassurances. Each Halloween she dons a costume and enjoys the festivities without fear. Over the years, she has developed a firm understanding of who she is and what is important to her, her sense of self. As I think about Halloween and our chance to dress up and “try on” another persona for the night, I cannot help but think about how many of us would enjoy this opportunity in their real lives.
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Too often we believe that we are stuck in the lives and circumstances we have created or accepted. As I think about this magical night, I wonder what would happen if we felt free to explore different roles and guises throughout our lives. What would happen if the shy child should one day present himself as outgoing? What would happen if the peacemaker one day said, enough? What would happen if the bullies chose to be kind?
Why should this be a fantasy? Often, we enforce these roles ourselves. While our small towns make it harder to reinvent oneself, it is not impossible. If we do not buy into pigeonholed categories and labels, will others? If we choose to sincerely try something new, why shouldn’t those around us accept it?
Halloween is a day of masquerading, pranks and fun. We feel free to act in ways that completely contradict our public personas, but may reflect some aspect of our inner selves. Think about this the next time you wish you were or could be something or someone else. Don’t allow your past public persona to limit your future. Continue to find yourself and grow.
