What Halloween taught me about contentment

Last night, as we were heading out to trick-or-treat, my daughter said, “I wonder what I should be for Halloween next year.” And so the planning begins. I reminded her gently, let’s be present with the current Halloween while we’re still in it.

For about 365 days, my kids dream up their costumes. Endless discussions about what to be, how to make it perfect, who to meet, and which route will yield the best candy haul. The anticipation builds for months, and when the big day finally arrives, there’s always a little disappointment and a few (or a lot of) tears. The costume doesn’t fit quite right, it’s too cold for just one layer, or someone else’s looks “better.”

Watching them navigate those moments has become one of my greatest teachers in parenting and in being human.

Disappointment is inevitable. We all feel it: with ourselves, with those we love, and with the world around us. The goal isn’t to avoid it, but to practice being present with it. To remember that true contentment doesn’t come from things going perfectly, but from how we meet the moment when they don’t.

We can’t control what others do or say, but we can take responsibility for our own thoughts, choices, and actions. It’s simple, not easy, and something I’m continually relearning.