NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER

by JOHNNY TAN

Happy October, everyone! As we celebrate the start of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, it’ s hard to focus on what’ s“ Good” because of the many distractions we’ re experiencing in our global community. From the ongoing wars causing tremendous destruction, loss of human lives, and stress on humanity, to the extreme weather abnormalities that have caused massive wildfires, severe heat waves, and catastrophic flooding, depending on where we live. Fortunately for me, I learned long ago from my various moms how to find the silver lining in the clouds and focus on the opportunities that always seem to appear when I look at events, situations, and people through the lens of“ Mindfulness.”

My Cajun mom, Ginger, a honeybee keeper by day and a ballroom dancer by night, was the most positive and jovial person I have ever known. Her bubbly personality always draws praise from everyone she meets. Ginger believes humor is essential in our daily lives because it brings balance and humility when we face challenging situations or demanding people. According to her,“ With humor, we can always look and find the lighter side of things to be positive, regardless of whatever we encounter.” She always begins every piece of consoling advice with her signature phrase,“ And The Good News Is …” followed by her biggest, most confident smile! Somehow, Ginger can see the silver lining in all the difficult and arduous experiences I share with her.

Thanks to her,“ Mindfulness” is more than being in the moment for me. It is how I can use the past as a point of reference, not a guide, to cultivate renewed hope that inspires the future. Ginger’ s

4 | Inspirations for Better Living • October 2026