👻Embracing the Spook: Staying Present This Halloween👻

A web comic about cherishing my favorite holiday season and the value of being present, rather than worrying it will be over too soon

All year, I eagerly await the arrival of spooky season—the decorations, the crisp fall air, the endless lineup of horror and horror-comedy movies. I live for it. But as Halloween week rolls in, a bittersweet feeling creeps up on me. There’s that familiar “panic” to squeeze in every last spooktacular activity before the magic fades, racing the clock to make the most of the season.

But I don’t want to let the fear of missing out steal the joy from the present. When you’re too focused on the end, it’s easy to overlook what’s right in front of you, to miss the chance to fully appreciate something special. So this week, I’m choosing to be here, to be fully present in this state of spook, savoring every eerie detail, shadow, and scare.

This is a lesson I don’t want to leave behind in October, either. Too often, I over-stack my to-do list and get caught up in self-imposed expectations, even in the moments meant to be enjoyed. So, this new approach to Halloween spirit — I’m going to do my best to help it stick around.