The Many Masks of Halloween.

Boo! Some call today a pagan holiday, others treat it as a time to play dress up while others look forward to going door to door receiving treats. October 31 is a day like any other day, but for some reason it holds special significance to just about everyone regardless of their religious choices, fears, or excitement. To watch the scary little creatures ring your doorbell and shout "trick or treat!" is all in all fun to participate in. When you see these little ones dressed up all scary and walking up to your porch, do you run and hide? Are you afraid? Of course not. Why? Because you know like we all do that they are only wearing a mask of fright and that is not really who they are. They are just children who have been told that if they wear something scary and knock on a bunch of doors tonight then they will be rewarded with candy. What little boy or girl could resist that? Not all of them dress up to frighten, some dress up as little dancers, fairies, cowboys, and firefighters to name a few.
Is all of this restricted to one day a year? Hardly, every day we put on our masks as we go through life. We choose the ones that benefit us at the moment. A work mask, a competitive mask, a fear mask, an aggressive mask (which is usually a mask on top of the fear mask,) a happy mask, and it goes on and on. Wouldn't this be a good day to take our masks off while everyone else is putting one on? To be who you are no matter what. To accept yourself unconditionally, wouldn't that be something? Once I started writing my book I knew I was going to expose my thoughts and beliefs to the world. I was going to have come out of the shadows and tell others my philosophies and beliefs no matter how contrary they appeared to some of my friends. What I found was amazing. Some friends I had we became much better friends, why? Because they finally got to know the real me. The me that had been wanting to "fit in" all these years, resigned from that job. Other friends I've known for many many years, didn't like the "new" me and in time we grew apart. I spent too many years living behind the mask and now that it is off, it feels really good. Fear kept the mask on, and finally I was able to face those fears of rejection and move on. When we start putting our own best interest ahead of what the crowd demands is when we begin to live the life we have chosen. Is this selfish? Absolutely? Is there something wrong with that? Absolutely not. Once you understand that you are not weak, unworthy, or whatever you have heard before you will see that Divine Spark as it resonates inside you and everyone else. You will begin to see life as not in how much money can I make and who can I impress, but what can I do to bring greater happiness to myself, knowing that if everyone pursued those dreams then maybe, just maybe we would have the happiest planet this side of the Milky Way.
So when your little ones come home and take off their masks, take yours off too and then give them a big hug for seeing them for who they really are.

Nameste'

Barry Brown, Author
"A Journey to Balance - Making Sense of It All"