Unmasked

Halloween has never been something that I have celebrated. In fact, the first time that I ever went trick o’ treating was when I had children of my own – and only because it was a planned part of a school-friend’s birthday celebrations.

This year, my son’s school allowed the children to dress in costume for their classes on Halloween. While chatting with my son, I asked him what he was planning to wear to his class dress up.

“I told Miss that I’m going to go as myself”, came his reply with a smart, cool smile on his face.

I couldn’t help but smile in return.

I have always marveled at this child. In each stage of his life thus far up to his teenage years he has managed to master the art of being himself.

He wasn’t the slightest bit concerned that everyone else would be dressed up.
He wasn’t bothered that he might be the only one there without a mask.
It didn’t matter to him what everyone else was doing or wearing because he knew what he wanted,
what interests him,
and – perhaps even more importantly- what doesn’t.

His lighthearted quip prompted a moment of deep reflection for me that went far beyond the context of the Halloween festivities.

I couldn’t help but think of the very many times that I felt compelled to do something for the simple reason that it was an accepted norm. I may not have celebrated Halloween, but I have certainly worn masks, played a part and dressed myself up as someone or something that I am not.

And all at once, I wondered:

What would happen if, in a sea of masked faces, we went against the tide and decided to just be ourselves- completely unmasked?

What would it be like if we set aside the need to dress up as something we are not and, instead, show up boldly as everything that we are?

More importantly, what if we became so confident in our own stories, our own identity and our own worth that we didn’t see the need to be anything but our true, authentic, imperfect selves?

Well…

I believe that instead of amassing sweet treats that stimulate for a moment but fail to sustain, we would find deep nourishment for our souls.

Instead of meeting the urge to fit in to the roles around us, we would find true belonging exactly where we are.

Instead of playing the part that is consistent with the character we have chosen, we would choose to consistently build character through the process of becoming more and more ourselves.

And so, instead of encouraging my (not so) little love to conform, to ‘have fun with it’ or to get creative for his class dress up, I celebrated his decision with him. Because I know that as he continues to grow, there will be many, many voices telling him otherwise. But for now, I thank him for his strength and I, too, have decided that I’m going to show up
today,
tomorrow
and each and every day after that
as myself.