CELEBRATE OR NOT

Where will you spend Halloween?
Will you put on a disguise like
a witch, a skeleton, or a ghost?
Go to a haunted house
to see the frights?
Or carry a trick or treat bag?

Not for us survivors!
We have seen our share of
witches, skeletons, and ghost.
Right here in this support group we have unmasked
some people in our past that fit those
outfits you wear.

Disguises are not uncommon for us.
We have spent most of our lives
putting on whatever mask we were told to
We did this so often and so good
no one really knew who we were.

We come here
And work at taking off the mask
that we have so faithfully worn.
Finally exploring just who we are
without any cover-up.

Why would we go to a haunted house?
We lived in a house that held
enough fear for all our days.
Opening any closed door in itself
could hold an experience one would wish to forget.

Carry a trick or treat bag?
We have had many tricks played on us
to many to fit into a small bag.
We would be glad to have a bag of treats.

What a strange holiday to celebrate.
There are others out there like us
afraid to be left in the dark.
Or walking very softly not to be noisy
for fear of the response it might bring.

Everyone deserves a safe place.
A place to laugh and cry
telling their fears without worry.
May we help others
find what we have found.

Trick Or Treat

These three little words are spoken many times during the course of Halloween. Kids want to be treated to sweets. Adults want to be treated to fright houses. But the big thing is they all want to have a fun time that they can share with friends. Kids brag about how much candy they got to eat before they went to bed. While adults tell of the scary spook house they went to or the one they made. All will laugh and have a good time. I have never quit understood the joy of Halloween. I think it is because I lived in a house with a monster, which mistreated me many times. I was tricked into believing that I created the monster therefore the spooky house was of my making. That is an awful trick to play on someone. Don't let anyone trick you into believing that their bad behavior is your fault. Have your tricks and treats be great one that people will enjoy and talk about for a long time. Have a great safe time.

Why Wear A Disguise?

Halloween is just a special time of the year that people get to dress up and pretend to be someone they are not. If you stop and think about it children do it all the time from being a dog and cat to a rock star. Wanting to be someone we are not just seems to come natural. As we get older our disguises just seem to change, people don't even know that we are wearing them. There are times we are not satisfied with who we are therefore we try to be who we think people want us to be. We might go as far as dress and speak like we assume someone else wants us to. WHY do we do that? We want to be accepted by other people. A great fear could be if they really know who I am they would not like me. Also we could not be real happy with who we are. If you not pleased with whom you are than change what you can. The rest learn to expect and capitalize on it make it work for you. You might be surprised at how great you really are. Am I saying never wear a disguise
not at all but I am suggesting you save them for special occasions. Let the real you shine out for all to see.

What or who am I going to be?

What or who am I going to be? This is the dilemma that faces many children and adults this time of the year.  Kids usually have an idea before Halloween ever gets here. Some have been thinking about it since last year because they like to pretend they are someone else. Adults like hiding behind mask so no one will know who they are they like to keep people guessing, the scarier the better for some people. It is interesting to see what children chose but I find it even more interesting to see what adults do. It tells you something about the person. Watch this year and see if you can figure out who is hiding behind the mask. Also think about what disguises you might see every day as you face the people you come in contact with. Come back next week and let's talk about why wear a disguise.