Trick or Treat—The Real Cost of the Candy
Halloween: The scariest monsters are the ones you feed.
Today’s Halloween. Once again, we dress up our children, send them out, knocking on doors, asking for treats. They’re dressed as monsters, witches, maybe even fairies—it doesn’t matter. The mission is the same: collect as much candy as possible. But here’s the real trick we play on ourselves—that candy? It’s not as sweet as it seems. It’s empty. And we’ve been buying into that lie for years.
But it’s not just about the kids, is it? We do the same thing in life. We wear our own masks—fear, doubt, complacency—and knock on doors, hoping for a quick win, a shortcut, some validation. But what are we really getting? Just like the candy, it feels good for a moment. But it’s shallow. A sugar high that crashes. And every time you settle for less, you’re feeding the monster inside—the one that whispers you’re not enough.
We all have that monster. Maybe it’s the fear of failing, of putting yourself out there, of being judged. But here’s the thing: the monster only has power because you’re giving it the candy. Every time you play small, every time you avoid the hard things, you hand it another piece.
The real treat? It’s on the other side of taking off the mask. It’s stepping up, knocking on the doors that scare you, and asking for what’s real. Something that lasts. Something that feeds your growth, not your fear.
Because the truth is, when the sugar rush fades, all that’s left is regret—and the monster you’ve been feeding all along.