The most inherently childish holiday might be the one grown-ups need the most.
“When I was a kid, fun felt really fun. Reading a book was completely immersive; chasing the dog around the yard was transcendent; running a fake restaurant with rocks as potatoes was the honor of a lifetime. The absolute peak, though, was Halloween. I can still recall bounding down the sidewalk in the cool October air, chuffed to be up late, drunk on the maniacal power that comes from knocking on strangers’ doors and demanding candy.”
Faith Hill writes in the Atlantic some important encouragement about enjoying the Holiday
“It’s not that, as an adult, I don’t do anything that could be called fun; it’s just that fun doesn’t feel quite the same as it used to. Getting dinner with friends is lovely. My little neighborhood stroll is nice. Standing around at a party and shouting over music to catch up with acquaintances is … fine. I just no longer experience the deep, whimsical joy that a rock potato could once bring. Still, I believe in chasing the ghost of my former lighthearted self. And if there’s one day when I might almost catch up, it’s Halloween: the most ridiculous, inherently childish holiday, and perhaps the one grown-ups need most.”
“Adults really do require fun. Studies have shown that play—something done purely for enjoyment—is linked to higher life satisfaction, boosted creativity, and improved cognitive health. It can help people cope with stress and facilitate learning, bonding, and communication. Some researchers warn of “play deprivation,” which can leave you tense and grumpy, like a Sim with a depleted fun meter. In real life, though, replenishing your fun meter is arguably more complicated than clicking for WooHoo or sitting in a rocking chair. Human adults have the baggage of grief, of responsibility, of higher priorities, like paying taxes or finding your life’s purpose. And trying to force fun on command can ruin the point, which is to do something pointless.”
It’s a great article and the spirit of it goes beyond this specific holiday.
Faith goes on in another section of her article: “To be fair, adult Halloween doesn’t always mean pure, wholesome fun; sometimes it’s associated more with, say, vomiting in the street. But at its best, it’s deeply sweet. When everyone is wearing a dumb outfit and surrounded by tacky decorations, you all withhold judgment together. You might even remember, just for a second, who you were as a young child: unencumbered by pretensions and insecurities, present and goofy and willing to take things as they are.”
Source: The Atlantic