Trick-or-treating isn’t just for kids

Last Halloween, something unexpected happened.

My kids did the usual trick-or-treat circuit—costumes, candy, a few giggles—and then they turned in early. I figured that was the end of the night. But on the last stop, at Fatima’s door, the delicious smells drifting from her kitchen practically knocked me over. I jokingly asked “What’s for dinner?” and before I knew it, she invited me to come back after I dropped the kids off back home.

When I arrived back at her doorstep, she handed me a freshly made dinner pancake with garlic and onions harvested from her garden.

While there, Riley from a couple houses down waved me over. Next thing I knew, I was sitting by a driveway fire pit with a glass of wine in hand, chatting with neighbours I usually only wave at while hauling garbage bins.

And at Steve’s house? He didn’t even blink before sending me home with an adult-sized chocolate bar and a tall can of beer. He even had non-alcoholic varietals on hand just in case. Now that’s hospitality.

Turned out the real trick-or-treating was just beginning…for the adults.

It struck me that night: food, generosity, and a welcoming spirit are some of the simplest, most powerful ways to create belonging. An aromatic kitchen, a fire pit that invites conversation, a treat that says “you’re included”—these are the things that turn our neighbourhood into a community. (And yes, a warm October night helps too.)

🪄 Belonging doesn’t need a big stage. It grows from tiny sparks: an extra seat, a warm plate, a smile that lingers. What spark could you light this week?

Rachel
at The Connection Lab 🧠♥️