NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER
Autumn- A Magical Season for Mindfulness!
by JOHNNY TAN
Happy October, everyone! The yearly Harvest Full Moon always reminds me of what my mom, Nyah, taught me when I was a teenager about the different seasons we go through in life. Besides her, my other moms also share their nuggets of wisdom about how autumn is a magical season for mindfulness.
Growing up in the rice fields of Melaka, Malaysia, Nyah enjoys using farming analogies whenever she wants to share her message in a fun, storytelling, and entertaining way. Starting from a farming perspective, she said,“ We have the plowing season, the planting season, the watering season, and the harvesting season. How well we plow the land will determine the type of crop we can plant on it, and how well we water the crop will determine the size and bountifulness of the harvest.”
Her idea of mindfulness is focusing on the present moment. She emphasizes that each year, we naturally go through different seasons of life. How well we prepare internally influences the goals and desires we pursue, and how we nurture them determines our success. Recognizing that unexpected challenges will always arise during the seasons of plowing, planting, and watering helps us make informed decisions. These choices will definitely impact the outcome of the harvest.
Timing is everything. When we adopt this approach, it enables us to make the right move at the right time, ensuring predictable success. Our ability to look beyond today and seize the present moment can turn every setback into a turning point for a remarkable comeback. Nyah continued by saying,“ When we pay attention to the small voices within us and rise to act at the right time, and when each task becomes a labor of love performed with creativity, then we are seizing the opportunity to propel ourselves to the next level of excellence.”
Speaking of storytelling, I recall using an autumn analogy early in my career as a young Chief Operating Officer to convey my message of mindfulness during a quarterly corporate meeting attended by 35 middle and upper management members. As a storyteller, my presentations have always been expressive. I use everyday, relatable anecdotes whenever possible
4 | Inspirations for Better Living • October 2025