I bought 10 Halloween costumes this year.
Not for a party. Not for a video shoot.
For my mom.
Every week, I’ve been dressing up as something new and running around the corner of the house to surprise her—just to make her laugh. A dinosaur one week. A huge chicken the next. And next week is the two-person wiener dog costume. I’m so excited!
And let me tell you—the dinosaur outfit was the best $50 I’ve ever spent on Amazon.
You see, many people know my mom has Alzheimer’s. Part of my commitment during this journey is simple: make her feel safe and loved.
Because at its core, that’s what trust really is. It’s the space between us where we feel safe enough to be ourselves—to act silly, to speak up, to try new things, to just be. And loved enough to know that, no matter what’s happening, we’re in it together.
That’s what my mom teaches me every day.
Trust doesn’t live in grand gestures—it lives in the micro-moments where people feel seen, valued, and protected.
Funny enough, this week a client sent me an email that started with:
“In the spirit of transparency…” They went on to share something vulnerable that would impact an event contract. My response was simple: “I love that we have the kind of relationship where we can just be real with each other. We’ll figure it out together.”
That’s trust in action.
That’s what happens when safety and care show up in the same room.
So, here’s my challenge to you this week:
👉 Do the people in your life—at home or at work—feel safe and cared for in your presence?
Because that’s where trust lives.
Not in titles. Not in results.
But in the moments where someone feels both secure and seen.
And if it takes a dinosaur costume to remind us of that…
well, I’m happy to lead the charge. 🦖
TRUST TAKEAWAY
Real trust happens when safety and care show up in the same room.
When people feel safe, they stop performing and start connecting.
When they feel cared for, they stop protecting themselves and start opening up.
That’s when real conversations, real healing, and real partnership begin—whether it’s with a loved one or a client.
That’s the kind of table every person deserves to sit around this holiday season.
YOUR TRUST CHALLENGE
Use Halloween as your excuse to make someone laugh or feel seen
Compliment the neighbor’s decorations. Hand out candy with extra kindness. Tell the corny Halloween joke to kick off a meeting. It’s not about the gesture. It’s about reminding someone they’re safe, cared for, and not alone.
If you read this far then you deserve to see how crazy I look as a chicken 😂
WATCH JUSTIN: KEYNOTE SPEAKER ON TRUST
Justin Patton is a trust keynote speaker, leadership coach, and founder of The Trust Architect Group. Through his trademark motto Trust Starts Here™, Justin helps leaders build trust in themselves, with others, and across their culture — so they keep people coming back for more. Learn more at justinpatton.com.
