We all know that for families like ours, October came in carrying a fair amount of baggage. The political tension, Medicaid uncertainty, budget cuts, and the approaching midterm elections. Everywhere we turned, headlines screamed, gas prices rose, and so much demanded our attention.
So, in the interest of Shining Beautiful, we decided to offer a counter-narrative. Somewhere between the political debates and the falling autumn leaves, we decided to have a Halloween party.
A really fun Halloween party.
Because sometimes, when the world gets a little too serious, the best thing you can do is put on a costume, invite your friends over, and create your own world.
A Little Halloween Magic
Mikelle has never let the troubles of the world interfere with a good party. Fortunately, neither have her friends, neighbors, nor her support team.
Our Halloween celebration was just what we needed. An opportunity to gather, enjoy one another, and set aside the worries of the day. There is something wonderfully refreshing about watching people simply have fun together. The food was great: pumpkin tea cookies, pozole, chips and salsa, bruschetta, and some good drinks to cheer with as we dodged spiders, ghosts, and brightly colored balloons.
And isn’t that what community living is supposed to be about?
We spend an enormous amount of time advocating for services, supports, funding, and policies that allow people with disabilities to live in their own homes and participate in their communities. Those things are critically important. But sometimes we forget to talk about what all that work makes possible. Everyday life celebrating long-lasting traditions like a Halloween party, friends dropping by and laughter filling a room. A life filled with ordinary, wonderful experiences. That is what we are working to protect.
Boo at the Zoo!
Of course, one Halloween celebration wasn’t quite enough.
Mikelle headed out the next day toBoo at the Zoo, another opportunity to enjoy the season and the wonderful community around us.
There is something about Halloween that brings out the child in all of us. The decorations, the costumes, the excitement, the unexpected surprises. It gives us permission to be a little silly, to step outside our routines, and to experience something just for the fun of it.
And I think we need more of that.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about how important creativity and play are, especially when life gets complicated. Whether we’re enjoying art, attending the theater, listening to music, or celebrating Halloween, these experiences stretch our imaginations and remind us that there is more to life than the problems we are trying to solve. We love some serious fun.
It is part of what keeps us going.
Meanwhile, Back in the Real World
Of course, the political world didn’t take a holiday while we were celebrating.
The midterm elections are upon us, and the conversations surrounding Medicaid, disability services, health care, and the future of community living remain very much on our minds. For families like ours, public policy isn’t an abstract discussion on the evening news. It lingers in the morning even as we smell the coffee and shake the sleep out of our eyes.
Mikelle and I have spent decades working alongside families, professionals, policymakers, and people with disabilities to expand opportunities for community living and employment. We have seen remarkable progress. We have also learned that progress requires ongoing attention, collaboration, and a willingness to speak up.
As we prepare for the midterms, we are reminded that democracy is not a spectator sport.
It asks us to pay attention, learn about the issues, listen to different perspectives, and participate in the decisions that shape our communities.
And when the election is over, our responsibilities as citizens continue.
There will still be meetings to attend, relationships to build, questions to ask, and solutions to develop.
Choosing Joy Is Not Ignoring Reality
I’ve been reading about the Great Depression and thinking about Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and others who faced extraordinary challenges during their lifetimes.
One thing keeps coming back to me.
The people who helped move their communities forward understood that despair wasn’t much of a strategy. Forward thinking, partnerships, community, and that familiar “stay strong and carry on” kept working. The lessons we are focused on are to keep imagining possibilities and to find a way to win.
And I suspect they also understood the value of a good laugh now and then. Mikelle certainly does. She doesn’t spend her days worrying about the next budget announcement. She is interested in what we are doing today. Who is coming over? What are we creating? Where are we going? Is there a party? And, most importantly, are we having fun? And, selling six bracelets are Boo at the Zoo! Who does that?
Her enthusiasm is contagious.
That doesn’t mean we ignore the challenges. It means we refuse to let those challenges become the whole story.
November Is Knocking
An election is in three days. We still have difficult conversations to have. Our Back Office has work to do as we help aging families prepare for their futures. And there is the everyday work of keeping Mikelle’s life moving forward, one creative adventure at a time.
But October reminded me of this.
- We don’t have to choose between being serious about the future and enjoying the present.
- We can do both.
- We can care deeply about public policy and still throw a wonderful party. We can worry about Medicaid and still find delight in a trip to the zoo. We can prepare for uncertainty while celebrating the people who make our lives richer.
And perhaps most importantly, we can keep coming together. A crisis can bring us together even more than the good times. It’s what helps carry us through when times are difficult.
So here’s to October. To Halloween parties, Boo at the Zoo, good friends, creative adventures, and the wonderful reminder that joy is still very much alive.
And here’s to November.
We’ve got some work to do.
But first, let’s start the coffee.