By
Lorraine Glowczak and Nicole-Raye Ellis
Halloween
brings out the ghosts and goblins in all of us. Whether we are of the miniature
ghoulish variety who knock on doors pleading for candy or of the larger type
who honor their inner child by donning costumes no matter our age, this holiday
is all about having fun.
However, that’s not always been the case. Halloween was
once a grim event where dressing up in menacing costumes was taken seriously.
According to History.com, Halloween originated with the
ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in) when people lit bonfires
and wore costumes to ward off ghosts. Celts believed that on this night, the
boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. In
addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence
of spirits made it easier for Celtic priests to make predictions about the
future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these
prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long,
dark winter ahead.
Although we’ve come a long way from the time of the
ancient Druids, the volatile aspects of everyday life still exist, and we seek
sources of comfort as we face the daunting, and sometimes terrifying events
that knock on our doors and enter our lives.
In my recent interview with the new Project Coordinator
of Be The Influence (see front page), I had asked Nicole Ellis what advice she
could give students on making wise choices using drugs/alcohol during our most difficult
and scary times. Below are the words she offered as a source of direction.
Although meant for youth, her wisdom can also be heeded by adults, no matter
the situation:
Serve others: Try to make it a
goal every day to serve others, whether that be helping a friend, a teacher, a
stranger in some small, or even, big way. Serving others gets us out of our
heads and enables us to feel good about ourselves.
Stay connected
with family:
As much as teenagers don't want to be around family, preferring to be around
peers, it is crucial we take time to spend with family. Although they can drive
us crazy, families also provide a larger perspective. Try not to discount their
advice prior to even hearing it, as it’s their advice that may be exactly what
you need to hear at the moment.
Develop real
friendships:
Most importantly don't succumb to the pressure to fit in or be “normal.” True
friends, the ones that will still be in your life years from now, will never
ever pressure you to do something you don't want to do.
Dare to be
different:
Sheep follow their shepherd even if it’s leading them to the wolves because
that is the only shepherd they have to follow. Don’t be a sheep. Be a shepherd
and walk in your own direction in your own way.
And,
I’ll add one more thing - don’t let the unknown scary stuff frighten you,
whether it is real or otherwise. Much like finding our way through a haunted
maze, while we may not know what is going to happen next, it can be an
adventure of discovery.
Happy
Halloween!
No comments:
Post a Comment