Happy Halloween?

Can we please just take a moment and enjoy Halloween. Yes, I know it has passed. But here’s the thing. I can recall seeing Christmas decorations in early September. Don’t get me wrong, I do love Christmas. Especially as I get older. But to rush through 3 months, is not living in the present moment. It is not honoring where you are currently. The day before Halloween, I saw 3 Christmas specials on TV. We haven’t even gotten to Halloween. It is one thing not to celebrate Halloween. But to totally jump 2 months ahead seems a little off. Like today isn’t good enough for you.

I often see this scenario play out in my practice. It’s all too often we say, I’ll be happy on the weekend, vacation or when I retire. I totally get it. But what about the time in between all those marvelous things? Do they not account for anything? Can there not be beauty, magic, and good times in the ordinary life? The mundane life. Because life can be mundane. Is it not what we bring to it? Besides, not all weekends are good. Not all retirements are pleasant. Learn to honor where you are at this very time and place.

Let us enjoy Halloween before we jump ahead to Christmas. So many of us are moving so fast that our bodies can’t catch up with our brains. Slow down. Everything becomes so much clearer. When we are constantly one step ahead of where we truly are, we are not respecting time, space, and the people that we are with.

I am reminded of simpler times growing up when we all sat down to dinner. Just dinner. No phones in our hands. We simply talked to each other. It was a bond that we had no idea was forming. It was what made our families close. We actually talked about our days, not glanced at each other’s FaceBook feed. It didn’t matter what was on the plate. It mattered who was at the table.

I fear that we have gotten off track. I fear that we are rushing through life collecting moments, not memories. And if that suits you, beautiful. But in my experience, many are chasing the next idea, job, relationship or holiday. There was literally a holiday that just passed. Some honored it. Others did not. The point is the present moment.

Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas or life. Let’s us just be thankful for the day. Let us celebrate the day. There is nothing wrong with looking forward to the next holiday or event. But let’s not dishonor where we are in this moment. Because that is all life is. Where we are now.