When October rolls around, I know that Halloween is just around the corner. For some, it’s a time for costumes, horror nights, and parties. But this year, for me, Halloween has fallen right in the middle of midterms—the peak of assignments piling up and when grades start to feel overwhelming. In the middle of all this chaos, I need a way to unwind, to step back from the whirlwind of to-dos and the pressure of finding that perfect costume.
Tonight, baking pumpkin cinnamon rolls feels like just the right thing to do.
As I gather my ingredients for pumpkin cinnamon rolls, I take comfort in the familiar rhythm of baking. Each ingredient becomes a symbol of how I feel: anger, sadness, numbness, and anxiety. I try to ground myself by stepping out of my mind for a bit and focusing on the baking. The butter softens as I breathe a little easier, and the cinnamon and sugar swirl together as if they’re mixing away my worries.
As I stir the batter, my mind wanders through the day, the heavy moments, the things I could have done differently. Each step, from stirring to kneading, brings a quiet release as if I am folding away the stress one turn at a time. The warm scent of pumpkin fills the room, and Hocus Pocus plays softly in the background, taking me back to simpler Halloweens when I was a child.
For a while, it feels like everything else fades away. There’s no pressure, no deadlines, just the warm glow of the oven and the simple pleasure of creating something for myself.
As the rolls rise in the oven, I realize Halloween doesn’t have to mean going out. For me, it’s about finding comfort through the simpler things. A quiet night, a cozy kitchen, and a treat that feels like a little slice of peace are all I need this year. This Halloween isn’t about costumes or crowds; it’s about carving out my own joy, one roll at a time.