October 2024, Anyway…
In the writing Autumnal Tints by Henry David Thoreau, he says “the autumnal change of our woods has not made a deep impression in our own literature yet. October has hardly tinged our poetry.” Of course at this point he was cursed to be living in a world not yet graced by the wide knowledge of the works of Thoreau (himself), nor could he foresee how much autumn would play a role in the Americana aesthetic. There is so much attachment of the American landscape and experience to those orange leaves and bountiful harvest seasons, that it is hard to imagine fall elsewhere.
That said, the cultural consciousness concerning the month of October specifically is overshadowed by a more sinister sensation. No, not an election; that is in November. I am speaking of ghouls, witches, and blood sucking vampires. Again, it sounds like this is about the election, but it isn't. I am talking about Halloween.
Why would a celebration like all-hallows-eve be so prevalent in society; so ubiquitous? What purpose could it serve for us? Isn't it just cheap plastic costumes and decor along side tooth rotting candy and obligatory door answering? I don't think so. I think there is something more important that it is supposed to represent and provide; something healthy and human. When you strip away all the window decorations and dollar store costumes and childish affects, Halloween is, in my opinion, about one thing: the acute stress that comes in the form of FEAR.
Most of us think of stress in it's low-grade yet chronic form. This can be the ongoing stress from work, school, crippling self doubt, that sort of thing. This version of stress is generally bad for you and can lead to all sorts of health problems over time. But recent studies show that it is quite the opposite for acute stress. This is that fight/flight/freeze response you get when there is a sudden disaster, or you get in a fight, or you spin your car out on the black ice, sending you careening into the nearby corn field (I suspect...). This type of stress has been found by many studies to be quite healthy to experience from time to time, helping with blood pressure, mood regulation, and many other things.
Several options are available to get a regular dose of adrenaline and cortisol; public speaking, riding go-carts or roller coasters, bungee jumping, or (for some of us) talking to new people outside the house. While any of these could get you that healthy heart-pounding reaction in the endocrine system, only one day per year seems dedicated to that very feeling and associating it with fun and socially acceptable shenanigans.
So don't be a shut-in this year with an undecorated porch darkened and asking for an egging. Instead, go do something that scares you a bit. Get startled. Watch a horror flick. Ask for that raise. Visit a haunted house or scary hay-ride. Leave the house without your phone. Whatever it takes to get that heart pounding (while still being safe, of course). Learn to enjoy that acute stress, and reward yourself afterword with some treats. Happy Halloween. -Sero
