I’ll admit it — I love being scared. Not actually in danger scared, but the kind of fear that comes with haunted houses, horror movies, or that second right before something jumps out. It’s weird, right? We spend all year trying to avoid fear, then October hits and suddenly we’re paying for it. But the truth is, there’s something about fear — the safe kind — that makes us feel more alive.
When you walk through a haunted house or sit through a scary movie, your body goes into alert mode. Your heart races, your hands get cold, your brain floods with adrenaline — but your brain also knows you’re safe. It’s like a controlled roller coaster for your emotions. You feel the rush without the real danger. For a few minutes, you’re not thinking about homework, deadlines, or chores — just pure instinct: “What’s behind that door?”
And honestly, fear brings people together. You ever notice how much easier it is to talk and laugh after everyone screams through a jump scare? It’s bonding. You get scared together, you laugh about it after, and you instantly feel closer. That’s why haunted houses, scary games, and ghost stories are more fun in groups — fear becomes shared excitement.
I think part of why we love getting scared is because it lets us face something unknown, and we come out the other side. Even if it’s just a movie, that feeling of overcoming fear — of saying, “okay, I handled that” — feels good. It’s like reminding yourself you’re braver than you thought.
So yeah, fear’s not just for monsters and thrill rides. It’s a reminder that we’re human, that we can feel big emotions and still be okay. Maybe that’s the real magic of Halloween — not just ghosts or costumes, but the shared rush of being scared together.
