​The International Day of Peace (or World Peace Day) celebrated annually on September 21 is devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. 

On Oct 27, 2019, at 2:15 PM, my life was completely changed. My mom left me. For the next two years, I have been deeply obsessed with reminiscence and trying hard to bring myself back to all the moments when mom was with me. My memory is filled with support, caring, and forgiveness for my mistakes. The memories are sweet and precious to me now and give me a deep understanding of why family is the most precious thing in life. 

Although the family bond is Inseparable, we still have to cultivate it. The more time and effort we put in, the stronger our relationship becomes. However, "when life is demanding we have a tendency to give our loved ones our leftovers rather than our best." (source) To avoid being pulled away from our family time, we have to put family activities on schedule.  I remember reading a story about 1000 pebbles. The story suggests having a family tradition such as getting togehter every Saturday morning. Then, save the memory as a pebble in a jar. The meetings can be brunch, outing trips, games, or discussions together. With a bit of rest each year, collecting 1000 pebbles can take around 20 years. If stones seem too bulky, we can create a family binder or notebook and fill it in with joy and love. 

Family love also means unconditional support. At the entrance of our house, we hung a decoration that reads, "Life takes you to unexpected places; Love brings you home." When we love each other, we forgive, and we help. However, we must still regulate our emotions to prevent turning our home into an emotional dumping ground.

Family represents safety. When we return home, we don't need to knock on the door. We can let our guards down and be ourselves. We can even establish our own favorite place at home  leaving behind the chaos of anxiety, hurry, and pressure.

When everyone talks about changing the world, I prefer to start with changing people around me first. Make them happy. This is my family. 

May your next precious family memory arrives soon. ​