
Where do you find your Zen? Where do you find your get up and go, your positive outlook, your zest for life?” Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Coffee Cup – Free photo on Pixabay |
Question posed by Angie of King Ben’s Grandma |



Do you have any questions you would like to ask the readers and have displayed in the Wildlife Greetings series? If so drop me an email with your question/s and they will be published in the series on a Thursday morning. Rory Matier The Autistic Composter Coffee Morning Question Time theautisticcomposter@gmail.com |


Hello Rory, good morning to you.
Zen and zest are equal opposites, aren’t they? I didn’t go looking for them; I was simply born that way. I liked that old 70s gag about a bloke who went in search of himself, failed and went home; then he realised he was there all along.
I think for zen, it helps to be at ease in your own company. For zest, a bias for optimism in outlook. I don’t honestly know if you can learn these attitudes, from books or by coaching; maybe a little bit; it helps if you come already equipped.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey Ian, personally l would say it all comes down to personal interpretation.
Some find comfort with keeping their motivations upbeat with the mindfulness of zen, whilst others find their motivations arrive in the form of zest.
My zen is my zest. For me my mindfulness and calm is when l am at my most busiest and for others they need the calming inspirations of nature and quiet. I too love nature but l don’t need it to be peacable, and yet gardening, composting working ot with the worms provides my zen.
Zest could be interpreted differently by others as to how one attains calm, reflection, introspection and so on and l would understand that – l just see it differently.
LikeLike
There are better words to use, I think. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nature helps me enormously! Things like the Parrots visiting my Pecan Tree at sunset last night give me great joy. My Zen was found within myself. Finally accepting, truly accepting that the ONLY thing I have control over is my own actions.
I don’t let all the drama that seems to follow me ruffle my feathers. I do what I can and talk to the birds and watch the sunrise and sunset.
I notice you changed the question for today… why?🤣🤣🤣🤣💌💌
LikeLiked by 1 person
How did l change the question? The question was how do you find your Zen?
The bit underneath is a further introduction to that question – for some their motivation is found in zen and others zest. I do not have zen that motivates my positivity and calmness – l have zest.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Regarding the question change, you had originally told me that my question “Why?” was going to appear today. 😂 Admittedly, this is a better question, so I understand the substitution. I was just pulling your leg about the change. 😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes, why?
I wonder where that is in the line up?
Why appeared back some time ago didn’t it? Was it not the first or second question asked? piqued my curio, will search now.
LikeLike
Found it – Monday 26th September – next week 🙂
LikeLike
Well, I had the days wrong. See? The memory ain’t what it used to be🤪
I rarely know what day it is, or year for that matter😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Who are you again ……. Oh yes of course Howdy Bob 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey, Rory! I find this an interesting question, because at first I thought I didn’t have anything to contribute today and now, after thinking it over, I do. 😊
What strikes me most is that I find if I had been asked this question 7 years ago, before my daughter died, my answer would have been completely different. Whether because of my age difference, or the loss of a loved one – I can’t say for sure.
I turned 83 this year and have to admit I don’t have a lot of what I feel the word zest implies, anymore. To me, zest means passionate energy – the fire behind the drive and ambition that leads to success in life.
I have always lived inside my head and find my zen there still, but up until the time I was told my daughter was ill, I spent my life in service to others and had great zest for it. When she left, that fire went out.
However, now, upon reflection, I find that I have a certain zest for zen. 😊 For, I cannot think, feel or desire anything more fervently than to be in that state of zen where one is centered in the peace and tranquility of love/light/All that is. 💞
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hey Betty 🙂
I agree, l think it comes down to a personal interpretation also – some call it zen – the inner mind for calm and others call it zest – for me a zest for energy and that energy awards me my zen. I need to be focused and passionate and busy for me to feel calm and yet to others they would say l am fidgetty and frantic and l am not – l can’t stand being still and calm which is zen like for others.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, yes, i can understand that, Rory. My oldest son is like you in that he finds his zen in hard physical labor. My youngest son is like me in that he finds his zen in contemplation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey Betty – good morning to you 🙂
That’s exactly it – l think many have this one sided view of zen that it should be calm and pea ceful and l do get that – mbut one person’s ying is another person’s yang.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And that’s exactly it, Rory – the yin and yang of it all. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 Yep 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had to think about your question Rory. I think I have acquired my zen over the years by accepting things as they are. Not fighting with what is has bought me peace. As for the desire to get up and go, this has to depend on how I’m feeling physically. The better I am, more is my desire to get going. Be it physical exertion or just social interaction, all have to have me feeling well enough to do it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey Sadje, l tend to agree with the finding of zen, l don’t think it is a behavioural style that just happens l think it occurs over time when you have landmarks to base things against.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, true. Mostly age settles us and brings calmness to our demeanor.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, age brings wisdom.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If we are lucky
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well I’ve always had zest for life – but after having been through everything and almost losing life couple times, losing family and experiences in losses of life … I understand how precious life is and how much should cherish
I see many things and that totally drills in my head everyday – how precious life is
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes very much so, life’s just way too short for some things.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah and you have to make most of the time you have how you have 😊❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person