10/28/2025
Hey friends,
Tell me which restaurant you know me fromāwas it Koto Japanese steak houes (permanent closed )or Manna Asian Cuisine,or Kaiju Sushi&Ramen Bar, or Smoking Monster BBQ &Sushi Bar? Two years ago, for various reasons, I chose to step back from the restaurant business and return to my family as a full-time mom. Thatās why you rarely see me at the restaurant these days. And if you do spot me there, Iāll almost always have a little one by my sideāmy youngest daughter Harper.
For the past few months, Iāve kept hearing the same question: āHas the Manna restaurant closed down?ā At first, I didnāt think much of it, but now it genuinely surprises me. Manna in Salisbury has always been openāwe never closed. Iām not sure why people are saying we shut down. I truly hope competition remains fair and positive.
Iāve always enjoyed working at the restaurants. Even though it may not be my ultimate dream job, it has helped support my family in countless ways. Iāve been in the food and beverage industry since 2010, and while itās been exhausting, it has also brought me joyābecause it made me feel valued. Yes, Iāve faced failures and even thought about giving up, but life doesnāt always go the way we want.
When I first transitioned into being a full-time mom, I felt so anxious and irritable. I didnāt know how to cookāyes, Iām Asian women, but I didnāt know how to cook. As a child, Iād always watch my mom prepare meals. I wanted to help, but she never let meāshe was afraid Iād make a mess of her kitchen.
During those early days, my mind was constantly split in two: one part worrying about the restaurantāwhether we were busy, if orders were made correctly, if customers were satisfiedāand the other part preoccupied with my kidsāwhether their clothes were too short, if homework was done, what supplies the school needed, pick them up and drop them off from 7:30am-7:30pm non stop.Little by little, I grew more anxious and impatient.
Now, two years have passed. Iām slowly growing into this new role, though I still worry about the restaurants . After finishing all the household chores, I often sit down at the computer to organize restaurant documents, sort through inventory, and keep track of accounts and staffs schedules.
I think many of you are like meādoing your best to keep life going while still searching for your own direction. Thank you for reading this far. Thereās no one ārightā way to live in this world. Letās learn to accept our ordinary selves without giving up on our dreams and beliefs. Letās cherish lifeāweāre all on our own paths. And perhaps what matters isnāt what lies at the end of the road, but the journey itself. I wish everyone I know, and even those I donāt, a life that truly feels like your own!
Best wishes,
Nicole Lin
