At the beginning of the pandemic, I was a nervous wreck. I’ve come out the other side, but it took a lot more than just tea to get me where I am today. Now I am in a much better place, mentally and physically, than I was before the pandemic. Tea helps with daily relaxation and meditation and it makes me feel good too.

When we make tea, we are doing more than making tea. We are relaxing. It is important to take time to relax. Confucius said, “We have two lives, and the second one begins when we realize we only have one.” This quote means that once we realize that life is short, we start to live with a greater sense of purpose and appreciation for each moment. I love this reminder to live more consciously and make the most of the time that we have.

The act of making tea is a meditative practice. Tea enhances self reflection. It helps us to observe our condition more clearly. This act of reflective observation is similar to meditation and has the power to encourage growth.

One of my teachers in Taiwan who was responsible for getting me into tea was an acupuncturist. He was very skilled. He healed many people and word spread. As a result, he became very busy. He had little time for anything outside of work. He confided in me that he only wanted excellent tea because if he was going to go to the trouble of making tea he didn’t have time for anything else. This is how the saying, “Life’s short, drink good tea.” came to be.

Here is an assignment. Choose two times per day to make tea. I recommend one time in the morning and one time after lunch. Allow for twenty to thirty minutes to make and drink the tea. Not only have you done something healthy for yourself, you have also completed a mindful activity. The benefits of a mindful activity such as making and enjoying tea are stress reduction, improved mental health, enhanced concentration, and better decision making. Enjoy!