Life is really something sometimes, yanno?

It’s been a long hard slog in many respects here and sometimes, I just can’t do it. Yesterday was like that. This morning too. I just wanted to shut the blinds and hide in bed. Regardless, I forced myself up and out today, though I have to admit, it was an extraordinary effort.

This is the tea that I brought with me.

Once I was out in the world, some lovely happenings happened.

Someone gave me two delicious home baked toffee cookies.
Another extremely shy someone gave me his email and suggested I keep in touch after the group that we were both in ended.
Someone else invited me to a religious service that was by chance being set up in the restaurant I was in. (I didn’t stay for it, but it was nice to be asked.)
Someone else told me that I was the most fun ever dancing partner in our cohort.
And the weather was warm and a bit wonky and humid ( but it was definitely not winter).

All of these interactions, and this tea too, were gentle and kind. Most excellent when one is feeling particularly fragile.

And as they say, tomorrow is another day.

Kittenna

Those are such lovely things!

Kawaii433

Really great post about good people. Hugs <3

derk

Extraordinary rewards for extraordinary effort. Cheers.

Martin Bednář

This post is what I needed. So wholesome, I felt so similar recently. Shut down blinds and hide. And cry. Or at least being alone. But I can´t usually. I have to wake up and do things. Unfortunately I haven´t met so nice people as you did.

Probably I need to explore the world more. Or at least step out of my routine. Really thank you for this!

mrmopar

Everyone needs a day like this. Helps us all to refocus and see the world for the good points it has.

Evol Ving Ness

Thank you, Everyone. <3

I’ve been taking a meditation course recently and meditating regularly. A remarkable thing is that you truly feel the difficulties, regardless of how much you try to hide from them, AND you really notice and experience the good things too, however small. Highly recommend.

Big hugs to all y’all.

Evol Ving Ness

My comment made perfect sense when I typed it and now on reflection, I am not so sure. Anyway, I will leave it for now. It is certainly not meant to diminish anything I or anyone else has said.

tea-sipper

yep, appreciating little things helps the crap sometimes. Everyone take care!

Kittenna

@Evol – Your comment makes perfect sense to me :) This was a beautiful and inspiring note.

Evol Ving Ness

Thank you, Kittenna. <3

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Comments

Kittenna

Those are such lovely things!

Kawaii433

Really great post about good people. Hugs <3

derk

Extraordinary rewards for extraordinary effort. Cheers.

Martin Bednář

This post is what I needed. So wholesome, I felt so similar recently. Shut down blinds and hide. And cry. Or at least being alone. But I can´t usually. I have to wake up and do things. Unfortunately I haven´t met so nice people as you did.

Probably I need to explore the world more. Or at least step out of my routine. Really thank you for this!

mrmopar

Everyone needs a day like this. Helps us all to refocus and see the world for the good points it has.

Evol Ving Ness

Thank you, Everyone. <3

I’ve been taking a meditation course recently and meditating regularly. A remarkable thing is that you truly feel the difficulties, regardless of how much you try to hide from them, AND you really notice and experience the good things too, however small. Highly recommend.

Big hugs to all y’all.

Evol Ving Ness

My comment made perfect sense when I typed it and now on reflection, I am not so sure. Anyway, I will leave it for now. It is certainly not meant to diminish anything I or anyone else has said.

tea-sipper

yep, appreciating little things helps the crap sometimes. Everyone take care!

Kittenna

@Evol – Your comment makes perfect sense to me :) This was a beautiful and inspiring note.

Evol Ving Ness

Thank you, Kittenna. <3

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A monk sips morning tea

A monk sips morning tea,
it’s quiet,
the chrysanthemum’s flowering.

- Basho

(1644-1694)

Note to self—-you do not actually need any more tea.

My real tea obsession began in February 2015.

Not, sadly, when I had been living and working in China, though I very much enjoyed sampling a variety of teas during my travels there as well. No, no, that would have been far too sensible.

I am a reformed coffee drinker. I still enjoy a long double espresso with a good quantity or milk or cream from time to time, but for now, tea is my thing. All day.

*note—this is way out of date, so if we are doing a swap and you are checking to see what I like and dislike, mostly never mind what you find below. One of these days, I will update this. In the meantime, check what I’ve been drinking and use your own judgement. I like all the teas. Well, I am open to trying all the teas.

I tend to drink black, green, or oolong tea in the morning to early afternoon. Rooibos or
Honeybush or herbal in the evening. And perhaps some sort of sleepy-type tea in the wee hours.

This year, I’ve been discovering flavoured teas, so it may look like that is all I drink although that would provide a false impression.

Not a big fan of chocolate or mint in teas, but I will try them and, from time to time, have been pleasantly surprised. Also, usually I dislike a prominent cinnamon flavour, if untempered with other things, in teas. Again, I say usually, because there are exceptions.

Also, please note that haven’t quite gotten into the habit of updating my tea cupboard on Steepster, and it is unlikely that I will do this on any kind of regular basis.

I drink my tea black and unsweetened. If there comes a rare moment that I add something to it, I will mention it.

Finally, while I thank large and successful tea companies for tantalizing and beckoning me to the world of tea, I prefer to support independent ventures with real people, real enthusiasm and commitment, and real dreams.

Currently, I am researching monthly tea subscriptions. Perhaps it will keep me out of tea shops.

And here is Shae’s rating scale— which I am using with permission, of course— which more or less describes the way I have been rating teas. I am going to make more of an effort to stay very close to these parameters now.

Rating Scale

1-20: By far, one of the worst teas I’ve tasted. I most certainly will not finish my cup and will likely “gift” the rest to my sweet husband who almost always enjoys the teas I dislike (and vice versa).

21-40: This tea is not good but if I mix it with another tea or find another steeping method I might be able to finish it.

41-60: This one is just okay. I might drink it again if someone were to give it to me, but I probably won’t be buying more for myself.

61-75: This is a consistently good tea. It’s reliable but not necessarily special.

76-90: This one is a notch above the rest and I would gladly enjoy a cup of it any day of the week. I’ll likely be keeping this in my cupboard, but it isn’t one of my all-time favorites.

91-95: One small change and this tea would be perfect. I’ll definitely have a stash of this in my kitchen if you come over for tea.

96-100: No words can describe this tea. It’s an experience, an aha moment. Closed eyes, wide smile, encompassing warmth. Absolutely incredible. Perfect.

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Mostly, but not always, Toronto, Canada.

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