Thursday, September 10, 2009

My Secret Weapon...

"In my own hands I hold a bowl of tea; I see all of nature represented in its green color. Closing my eyes I find green mountains and pure water within my own heart. Silently sitting alone and drinking tea, I feel these become a part of me."

When I woke up this morning, I felt absolutely gutted. The day hadn't even started yet. I just looked around and felt completely drained. I think this happens in the midst of a big purging. Everything seems to be at its worst – splayed open, crudely tossed into piles and hopelessly without a home. The end point is just far enough that the light can't be seen at the end of the tunnel. To add fuel to the fire, all the little things that need to get done start to come into painful focus: bills, laundry, dishes, deadlines, and most obviously... the strangling mess towering all around!

On these such days, my beloved coffee is just not enough. It's too harsh, too quick, and far too routine for me. What I needed was my secret weapon! What I needed was a cup of matcha green tea!

With all the little things that need to be done, it might seem counterproductive for me to take time out for enjoying this emerald treat, but in reality – taking time for the things we love is important. It's perhaps the most important thing. Preparing the matcha was a reminder of this. Measure, sift, whisk, and indulge.

It was like opening a window to a stuffy room. The five minutes it took to prepare the bowl of tea and the ten minutes or so to really savor each sip resulted in hours of productive, efficient work. With each nutty, creamy sip, it was almost as though I was drinking down a walk in the woods with light filtering through a canopy of green. I felt energized, awake, and aware.

The kit from Matcha Source was all I needed. It includes a traditional bamboo spoon, a fine metal sifter, a tea bowl, a delicate bamboo whisk, and of course the beautiful matcha green tea. Matcha Source has a full range of utensils, bowls, and of course matcha! Their website contains helpful hints, health benefits, and inspiring recipes that I'm dying to try. It is my secret weapon to fight off the daily doldrums, get work done, and feel creative! When coffee doesn't cut it, I turn to an age old tradition as rich and rewarding as the tea is tasty!

After I finished my mini-vacation from the harsh realities piling up around me, I easily breezed through my tasks. Unlike coffee or other quick-fix pick-me-ups, matcha green tea is a balanced beverage loaded with antioxidants, amino acids, fiber, and chlorophyll. It has the same caffeinated verve as coffee, but without the jitters and shakes most people complain about. I crossed so much off my list, that I had time to whip up a bracelet. I had time enough to create – another important essential for me. I was inspired so much by the rich, earthy color of the matcha green tea powder, that I couldn't help but make my Ode to Matcha Tea.

The Ode to Matcha Green Tea bracelet is made up of coin and potato-shaped pearls from Talisman Associates Inc., serpentine and gaspeite from Bead Trust, ceramic rounds from Keith O'Connor, daisy-stamped silver from Na Bo Row, and a shibuichi toggle and fine pewter leaf link from my family at Green Girl Studios. I think the quote on the back of the link honors the message of matcha green tea perfectly: Love life.

14 comments:

mairedodd said...

how awesome that in the midst of the chaos, you were able to get to the core of yourself and recognize what you needed... wise of you to care for yourself... and you are right, it is critical to take time for the things we love... thank you for that reminder andrew... going to look into that tea... my nighttime green tea is a needed destressor... beautiful bracelet!

Patti C. said...

Very nice post, Andrew.

Unknown said...

Purge on! Lovely bracelet!
xox

kvk said...

Pretty amazing that such an ancient tradition is still valid and continues to function and inspire and evoke essential wisdom. And then there's nothing finer than a well crafted Japanese tea bowl. Thanks for the tea links.
blessings - kvk

Unknown said...

Andrew ...
you inspire me to be better..

thanks for reminding us that we need to take care of ourselves in order to be creative and give back.

have a great weekend ...
mona & the girls

Cyndi L said...

What a great tribute to tea! Maybe you can't see the light quite yet, but it is ever moving closer :-)

Azure Accessories said...

Well done...I strongly believe we need to "take time for the things we love".

You've just proven with you post...taking the time to do things we love rejuvenates and revitalizes us so we can carry on...sparks our creative instincts...wonderful bracelet!

Cheers

James Whittle said...

Beautiful post: I highly recommend organic matcha which you can purchase online from www.living-qi.com.

Cynthia Thornton said...

Your matcha looks greener than the tea I ordered from Lupicia. Maybe I'm not adding enough....anyway, that tea set looks nice! I love my tea too! I just made a bunch of tea infusions for cold tea: melon oolong, milk caramel green and Azalea's favorite, strawberry vanilla green.

Shai Williams said...

I want to thank you Andrew. I have been haunted by this wonderful Oolong tea. Now I know that I just need to make a necklace in Ode to it.

Unknown said...

delightful

ClickNCamera said...

My favorite chia use to take me "there" too...but not so much now. I'll be checking into your green tea. And I love the serpentine...pretty bracelet!

Marcia DeCoster said...

you write so beautifully and with such potent advice....I enjoy coming here.

Jeannie said...

I know from reading your blog you're a person who is present for every moment and very grounded.
I'm a master yoga teacher and I speak and work with people everyday who are not in their own bodies and are never present.


I enjoy reading your blog. You're like a breathe of fresh air.