Trick-or-Treat: Halloween a TCK holiday

Today Halloween is observed with candy exchange all across the USA. People dress-up in ghoulish costumes and other outfits of fancy. It makes me wonder why. As a TCK, I find myself looking in on this tradition from the outside the culture. Growing up in Ghana we didn't celebrate Halloween.

I've done a little research into Halloween and it seems the tradition has it's roots in the Celtic past. History.com has quite an interesting piece on how we in the States have come to observe his day.

Halloween is a mix of traditions built upon one another. (Celtic mysticism, Roman paganism, & Christian traditions.) Different cultures have shaped its practice and meaning.

Halloween and how it as evolved is a great metaphor for what makes a TCK a TCK .

So... will you Trick-or-Treat this Halloween?

Sharing our stories Sharing Life.

The thing that draws us all together is the common thread of your multi-cultural childhoods. The experiences of multiple firsts, the first time we set foot in a new continent, new locations, schools, churches, surrounded and immersed in a new language, and always new customs to navigate. How did you do it? What did you learn in the process? I encourage you to share the good and the bad.
I've found that I became good at being passive, letting life happen to me and "going with the flow" worked for me while I was growing up. As a child my life was dictated to me; where I went to school, where we lived, when we moved, were all pre-determined. The idea that faith or "(fate?)" determines who I am and what I will be has governed me. The "when one door closes another door will open" acceptance of circumstance has now outgrown it's usefulness to me. I need to grow out of that childhood tactic and replace that passivity and "survival" mode with responsibility and belief that I can dream and achieve the things I desire.

The lessons we learned as kids are powerful in our lives but they can be changed. I believe an old dog CAN learn new tricks. At least that is what I thought I'd learned from my childhood. I came away with the assumption that I was good at learning new things, adapting to new places, meeting new people, and developing new relationships no matter the culture.
Yet the weariness of all the transitions, the losses, and gains, without an outlet, kind of shut me down from moving forward from taking on those new tricks. I came to believe the LIE that I had to carry all my burdens and joys ALONE because everything will changes and no one else understands or cares about my life.

If you have ever felt like this know that you are NOT ALONE! Reach out and lets connect.

I've felt like a kid in a man's body, in a man's world.
Yet I'm starting to feel alive again. Hope is returning!
Thanks for listening. What is your story?

The Connecting Bridge Social Network

Hi Guys, I've decided to add a new dimension to this blog. It's a new social network for Connecting Bridge. It's a space for you to call home if you want. Create your own page and interact like you would on other social networking sites like Facebook. However, I think there is more potential for interaction and creativity on the Connecting Bridge Network. That is because there is a lot more freedom to customize your page and space and add your own apps. It is FREE to join. You will need to sign up and log in and it's FREE to do so!

My hope is that it will facilitate real connections that encourage and strengthen the TCK relationships in your lives!

See you on The Connecting Bridge Social Network!

A plug for TCKID and plans for a podcast

Today I was doing some research on other resources that help TCKs (Third Culture Kids) to connect with TCKs. As a an avid Facebook user I came across TCKID and decided to check it out. Tckid.com requires one to sign up so I did. As I surfed around the site, I updated my personal profile, commented on one of the many great forum threads and was pleased to see that it is quite an active site with many great resources. If you haven't checked it out I'd encourage you to do so.

It is quick and painless to sign up with TCKID and I heartily encourage everyone to do so.

I've begun to ask myself it this spot is redundant after taking a look at TCKID and what it has to offer. There is a lot of information out there about the life of a Third Culture Kid/Adult, however, connecting with who we are and where are are is the real challenge for us multi-culturally complex individuals.

So my question for you is...
What do you want to connect about?

I've been talking to a few friends and they have given me some great topics that I'll be presenting here and as soon as I get all my podcast kinks worked out, I'll be posting a monthly podcast here. Please feel free to tell me what issues you connect with, would like to hear discussed and addressed on this site.

Blessings,

Isaac

My dream to make this blog a resource for TCK's has been revived. Life has a way of putting the best laid plans on hold. You see, in the intervening years since I first thought I'd write some things on here of substance of help to others (you the reader), I found that my own life needed some attention and focus. Well, I've decided now is the time to pick up the pen and post what I can...

I hope you are encouraged, inspired, enlightened and strengthened to find your way through your multi-cultural upbringing (that TCK heritage that you may love and hate!).

My goal is to share what I know from my TCK journey with you and I ask you to share yours here with me. The idea is to connect with every part of what makes us who we are.

On here you will read my musings and I'll post links to people and groups that have enriched my journey.