Last week, my wife and I got an invitation to a Halloween party. A costume party with a theme. We haven’t been to a costume party for adults in over a decade.

At first, I laughed. Then I hesitated. I thought about the time, the effort, the theme. I thought about how competitive we are (there are prizes, after all ). So, I found myself resisting the idea of going.

Not because of the party, but because of the costumes. The process of it all.

Somewhere in the years of parenting, coaching, and life’s responsibilities, the idea of dressing up and stepping fully into something playful or bold felt unfamiliar. Vulnerable even. What if I look silly? What if it’s too much? What if…