Escaping into Someone Else
There are those who love Halloween and those who find it a ridiculous holiday, but regardless of what people think of its many traditions, for many there is an undeniable delight that accompanies dressing up in a costume. It affords one an opportunity to escape his or her own life and become someone else for a period of time. This can be fun, an intellectual experience, and/or therapeutic.
I challenge you to consider what persona you might want to "try on for size."
Consider the imaginative play of children. Youths pretend to be any number of things and people, using their imagination to experience different elements of life. Sometimes this is a fantastical journey through one's imagination, pretending to be things that do not exist in this world, or it is a chance to learn about life as it will manifest in the future by pretending to be a parent, running one's own household, or a variety of career options. Such games are made all the more delightful with costumes and dress-up accessories. For how much more enthralling is the experience of being a butterfly when a child has wings to flap and have admired?
It is not only the young, however, that benefit from putting on another persona for a span of time. Whether it is a specific movie character, or a more general character type, there are an abundance of "people" none of us will ever have the possibility of being in our own lives, although that does not mean that there is no benefit in temporarily becoming something different and exploring what that means. A person may use the occasion to get a taste of being something a little naughty — perhaps a pirate or mobster — out of one's system, or perhaps might just want to explore wearing clothing that does not fit in today's world. Regardless of what people choose to dress up as, or the reasons for choosing a particular persona, the experience affords them the possibility of considering life from a different perspective. This broadens people's minds, allowing them to become more compassionate and understanding.
While there are benefits to using your imagination, both for brain and personal growth, there are also psychological benefits to be found in escaping your life. We all do it daily, whether it be through reading, watching television, playing video games, or on more rare occasions, dressing up for a costume party. Life is difficult, and even if a person is just exhausted from the tedium of the commute home from work, the opportunity to escape allows one's brain to decompress, while simultaneously experiencing a different life vicariously. Although there may be intellectual benefits to such an exercise, it is also an important break for the mind. We can only do so much in our own lives, but in this way, we are given endless possibilities of experiencing more of the world and lives that are different from our own, while setting aside our own burdens.
Regardless of whether or not you enjoy dressing up in a costume, I challenge you to consider what persona you might want to "try on for size." You may be surprised at what you discover about yourself and your family and friends. Such conversations are another opportunity to escape into somebody else by discovering what each person thinks, feels, and dreams of, who each is, and who each would be given the opportunity.
Despite the fact that I have not dressed up for Halloween in many years, I took advantage of the opportunity this year to try out the country look for a day. While my choice may have been inspired by a friend and was much simpler than the elaborate costumes I am typically drawn to, it afforded me the chance to gain some appreciation for a different clothing aesthetic that is not nearly as high maintenance as my typical wardrobe selections. I discovered that there is something charming and fresh in the "country girl next door" look, so much so that perhaps I will even consider incorporating a bit more plaid into my closet — after all I already have the cowboy boots!
Happy Halloween! Happy daydreaming! And happy discoveries for all!