The calendar tells the story of a new season’s arrival. We
feel it in our bones with the falling temperatures and brisk winds. Before
long, we’ll admire colorful bursts of red and orange leaves while sipping hot
chocolate or tea. We’ll exchange flip flops and bathing suits for boots, hats,
scarves, and coats in anticipation of what comes next. Wait. Before jumping to
ahead to winter, let’s pause to crunch the leaves, savor fall’s natural beauty,
and hang on to the moment. It might feel like this:
Given those conditions, they better hold on to something solid
before they’re blown away. The wind plays a one-sided tug-o-war game and it’s close
to winning. A slightly stronger blast will send someone flying. If you feel
like unseen hands tug at your life, pulling you in directions you don’t want to
go, who or what would you put on the other side of that struggle?
With Christmas gone, most of us don’t expect any more
surprises until Valentine’s Day, but my family may get early surprises if they
find what I’ve hidden. Before I say what they are, keep these facts in mind. First,
I hate to waste things, and secondly, I appreciate aromatherapy. So, while
poking around the cabinets during the holiday vacation, I discovered a box of
expired teabags. Instead of throwing them out, I decided to use them as mini
sachets. I’m waiting for the complaints, frowns, and eye-rolls when they uncover
teabags hidden in nooks and crannies around the house. Not everyone appreciates
creativity. See if you appreciate this:
That’s not all. Apparently, tea bags can eliminate
household pests and soothe insect bites. The list of surprising uses is long.
And you thought I was saving useless trash by saving tea bags. What life experience
did you think was a waste, but time proved otherwise?
Regardless of which side you choose, I feel both parties deserve equal representation. Why does one side receive major media attention while the other is a blip on the scene.Businesses play a major role in advancing this brand of favoritism because of where they spend their money. This isn’t about politics, it’s about beverages and society’s obvious preference for coffee over tea.
Companies actually redesign their product lines and buildings to offer a latte this and latte that rather than focusing on the green, white, chamomile, black, fruity, mint and the other delicious herbal teas. How often do you see commercials advertising tea? Not very often. Although I drink both, I tend to believe that tea is healthier than coffee since many teas contain antioxidants and assist the body in fighting everything from high blood pressure to cancer. So, given that we’re such a health conscious society, why does tea seem to play second fiddle to coffee?
Let’s consider a theory that points back to us. Don’t we reach for coffee to rev us up and put pep in our step? Coffee reflects our fast-paced lifestyle and our need for immediate gratification. We smell coffee long before we see it, its flavor is bold and robust and it gives us the quick energy jolt we seek. On the other hand, we associate tea with illness and it’s the drink of choice when we’re feeling reflective and slowing-down to savor a moment. Listen to how these people feel about tea and coffee:
Aha, see there? I imagine they went a little deeper than you expected. I think the coffee vs. tea debate is a comment on our lifestyles. We live in a don’t-make-me-wait-‘cause- I-gotta-go-out-and-get culture. Settle down, enjoy a cup of tea. They say good things come to those who wait, I say anticipation is part of the journey. Tell us, who or what are you waiting for?
