Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. This year I get to spend it with my 18 month old granddaughter. She doesn't much like the monkey costume that my son (who's going to be a big banana) picked out for her, but it will still be fun!
I have been reflecting on why I find this holiday so energizing, and have come up with several reasons to keep the Halloween spirit alive even after we move our clocks back and flip our calendars to November.

On Halloween we can be anyone we want - a beautiful princess, a super-hero, a vampire, or even a silly monkey. Who would you choose to be the rest of the year if there was nothing holding you back? Would you be more confident, happier, more active, energized or more fun to be around? Decide what kind of person you want to be and then take the steps to be it!

Halloween is a day that we can have sweets and not feel guilty. What if we gave up the diet mentality the rest of the year? Allow yourself a special treat once in a while and thoroughly enjoy it rather than feeling guilty for eating something you "shouldn't." It has the same calories either way, and chances are you won't want that much if you eat it slowly and mindfully.

People are generous on Halloween. When else can you ring someone's doorbell and be greeted with handfuls of candy rather than suspicion or apprehension? What if you were more generous with others throughout the year? Someone in one of my workshops told me that whenever he flies, he brings bags of candy to give to the pilots and flight attendants. He knows that happier people are more engaged and he wants to ensure that his pilot and crew are on top of their game! Even if you don't want to carry bags of candy around, you can be generous in other ways such as smiling at the store clerk, listening to someone who has had a bad day, emailing a friend just to let them know you are glad they are in your life, or thanking someone for a service they provided. Practice giving treats throughout the year and both you and your recipients will be happier!

Halloween is a day to have fun. You can go to a parade or a party, play games or enter a contest. By giving yourself permission to "play" more often you will be more creative and energized in your work.

And finally, Halloween gives us a warm feeling about our neighbors and people in general. It is an opportunity to regain a sense of community, fellowship and trust. It reminds us of the goodness of people rather than all the bad things that we get accustomed to hearing in the news.

Happy Halloween!