ZM happy Tuesday. Today I’m taking a volunteer day and heading up to Hermon Mountain for my first ski patrol shift. It feels good to be back in that rhythm — local hill, early start, showing up for something that isn’t about output or metrics, just presence and responsibility. The ZAO energy today feels steady, grounded, like everyone’s closing the year with intention instead of urgency.

Today’s mindful moment comes from lesson 13 of Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff: becoming more patient. It landed softly but firmly. Patience isn’t passive — it’s active acceptance. It’s choosing not to let a small moment snowball into a story that steals your peace. Whether it’s traffic, interruptions, or plans moving slower than you’d like, patience asks you to open your heart to the moment as it is, not as you wish it were. When you see the innocence in situations — and in people — irritation dissolves, and gratitude sneaks back in. That’s the kind of inner quiet that lets you keep moving without burning out.

Slow down just enough today to let patience do its work.
– BetterCallZaal on behalf of the ZAO Team