Halloween is far more than costumes and festivities.

For centuries, Halloween has been associated with the idea that, on this night, the boundary between the human world and the unseen world grows thinner. It is a time that evokes memories of those who have passed away, the changing of the seasons, light and darkness, life and death. It also invites us to explore the mystery that lies within our fears and the possibility of new encounters waiting just beyond the familiar.

Perhaps it is precisely because Halloween falls during the season leading up to Christmas that it carries a deeper meaning: an opportunity to reflect on the mysterious world beyond our everyday lives and the wishes hidden deep within our hearts.

And I believe Halloween has another important purpose.

It is an opportunity to bring people together, to hold back the goodbyes that might otherwise come, and to restore bonds that have begun to fade.

As autumn deepens and the nights grow longer, we sometimes find ourselves reflecting on the people who are always by our side and the preciousness of the everyday moments we may have taken for granted.

People we have drifted apart from amid the busyness of life.

People we want to talk to but no longer know how to approach.

People who remain in our thoughts, even though we have lost touch.

And people we hope to meet again, wishing we could reconnect and share a moment of genuine understanding.

There is something mysterious about the relationships we form with others. We sometimes feel that our encounters happen for a reason. Yet goodbyes can also arise from the smallest misunderstandings or from feelings we never found the words to express.

That is why I believe it is so important to recognize the value of someone before a goodbye comes, rather than only realizing how much they mean to us after they are gone. Perhaps what matters most is taking the time to look into each other’s hearts once more, before the distance between us becomes too great.

Halloween offers us a night that feels a little different from ordinary life, a night filled with imagination and enchantment. We can become someone different, exchange words we might not normally say, and take a step we might otherwise hesitate to make.

That small moment of courage may be enough to reconnect people whose bonds have begun to weaken, open the door to new encounters, and create a special memory that remains in someone’s heart long after the night has passed.

And beyond Halloween, Christmas awaits.

Christmas is a season that symbolizes love, hope, gratitude, and the precious time we share with the people who matter most to us. The journey from Halloween to Christmas is more than simply the changing of the seasons. Perhaps it is also a time when our hearts begin to move away from fear and loneliness and toward warmth, compassion, and love.

If Halloween encourages us to look inward, toward the wishes hidden deep within our hearts and the possibilities we have yet to discover, then Christmas is a time to share those wishes with someone special.

Perhaps the weeks between these two occasions offer us a meaningful opportunity to reconsider our relationships, draw closer to those who have begun to drift away, and find new reasons to continue walking through life together.

Of course, we cannot prevent every goodbye. But some goodbyes may be avoided when we find the courage to reach out and speak from the heart. Sometimes, a single reunion can become the beginning of an entirely new story.

I want to see the mysterious power of Halloween as something more than a source of fear or fascination with the unknown. I see it as an opportunity to awaken something within us and open up new possibilities in the connections we share with others.

Our imagination about the unseen world can inspire us to show greater kindness to the people right in front of us.

A chance encounter can become a bond we treasure for a lifetime.

And when we finally recognize what we cannot bear to lose, we may find the courage to reach out and face someone once again.

From Halloween to Christmas.

It is a journey from darkness to light, from loneliness to connection, and from the fear of losing something precious to the hope of discovering something new.

My hope is that this extraordinary season will bring new encounters into your lives, deepen the bonds you share with the people you cherish, and inspire you to carry your wishes forward into the future.

May this be the beginning of new connections, renewed bonds, and wishes that find their way toward becoming reality.

心晴れるまで

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心晴れるまで

土屋梨沙