Nancy Ping Living with Zen

  The chance to start over again is a beautiful thing. Sometimes, we need that new beginning. Maybe we plan a new start or, sometimes, it's given to us unexpectedly. I am thankful for the "do-over."  Life is full of twists and turns. Very rarely do we have a path that is smooth and trouble-free. If I'm having a doozy day, something that always makes me feel better is a quick moment to close my eyes and reboot. Something simple like a 5-minute break or, even better, a nap. Whatever I can manage is always appreciated because it's seriously like a "daytime do-over." Other "do-overs" happen when relationships change, careers change, and children leave, just to name a few. We find ourselves starting over. New beginnings happen at any chronological age, and instead of sadness, consider the time to reflect on memories made, experiences lived, and wisdom earned. Let's fill ourselves with positive energy and celebrate life's next chapter. 

  I am thankful for the extra hour of sleep that we all had this morning. I enjoyed it so much that I felt it was noteworthy.  I know many would like to stay one way or another, but honestly, as long as we are springing forward and falling back, I LOVE falling back.  Something about that extra hour of time snuggled under soft blankets brings a smile to my face. The only time that I didn't enjoy falling back was when I was a cocktail waitress in college. We repeated the 2 am hour which was not my happy hour. Patrons were already happy enough and needed to go home. For the most part, falling back is fantastic and I am always on time not fashionably late.  Luna Pearl and Maui love that extra hour of snuggles too.  Do you like springing forward or falling backward? 

I am thankful for my family.  Family is like a tree with roots that are deeper than others.  Some families are blood-related, while others are not. Some families go back many generations, while others comprise a network of close friends who are closer than blood relatives.   I am thankful for my family.  I have deep roots and many  branches of relatives and close-knit groups of friends who watch out for me and Maui. Whether family is blood-related or not, all families share special moments that become time-honored traditions passed down through the seasons and the years. Family creates that sense of belonging. November is the birth month of two close family members who have passed away.    Nonetheless , their role in my upbringing helped to shape part of who I am today.   Generations pass on in all families, and it is up to the next generation to "carry the torch" of tradition and wisdom. One tradition in my family is the Bad Santa game at the end...

Thankful for Stolen Moments Today was the first day of the month of Thankfulness. I invite you to join me in your "Journey of Thankfulness" as we take a moment each day to reflect on what we appreciate. I am "Thankful for Stolen Moments." As many of you know, I have been sharing my transition in life as my not-so-wee one prepares to graduate high school. I realized that he and I are both going through transition. We are knee-deep in the school year with the usual full load of academics and lacrosse. He added football to the mix a couple of months ago, and of course, we're sending out the college applications and communicating with coaches for the next chapter of his life. Since I last wrote to you, we have been in our usual whirlwind, with the added bonus of two hurricanes. Maui and I hunkered down during Helene with special hurricane treats and food and were blessed not to lose power. We watched movies, worked on the computer, and sat on our wall of couches f...