Well, I’m FINALLY back!  We all live in a world where stress is almost unavoidable. And that the technology of today creates the expectation that we make ourselves available to others 24 hours a day. And on top of that, the balancing all our commitments and coping with stress seems impossible – at least for me.  I’ve been caught in a constant to-do list, that just kept growing and growing and growing and growing and growing.  Are you getting the picture?  I’ve been teaching at three different colleges – virtually of course and getting three presentations ready for the Chicago Tea Festival, which was this past weekend. My plate was not just overflowing, it broke in two!  The MAJOR stressor in my life has been trying to learn, the various technical platforms that I needed, to be successful in presenting all this “stuff” – Webex, Zoom, Pathables, etc.  Well, I’m not going to share with you all the problems that I had and the buckets of tears that were shed…But I’ll tell you just this- all I kept hearing was,” When you share your screen, all we see is black.” 

Well, my classes have ended until January and the Tea Festival has come and gone, so perhaps now, my stress, will be just like everyone else’s- simply trying to cope with our complicated and messy lives, coupled with dealing with COVID-19.

So, when I was searching for the nearest bridge, but at the same time, realizing that my family would miss me, if I went that route – a cup of tea was precisely what I needed to calm nerves and chill me out!   

Moments of Calm

Taking a mindful moment to sip did wonders for my mental state. My cup kept me calm and cool while still staying focused. I continually reminded myself that by sipping my cup mindfully, I was automatically giving myself and my brain a respite from the stressful busyness of my day-to-day, crazy life and at the time recognizing that my endless cups of tea were the best nerve-calming tonic possible.