Blog-a-thon Day 26

I have recently discovered the joy of tea. I don't mean the type that comes in tea bags that you put in a microwaved cup of water.  I am talking about loose tea. Loose tea has always been a little mysterious to me. I had the idea that it was too complicated and time consuming for someone with my lifestyle. I was also a little unsure of how to prepare it.

A few years ago, a cute little tea shop (Souvia) opened at the end of the strip shopping center where I go to yoga. I have been in there a few times on and off picking up some ice tea or hot tea. I even did a book signing there once. But it has taken me a few years to decide to fully indulge and jump in with my tea cup. One day I found myself buying a tea strainer. I bought a couple of different teas to try and rushed home to boil water.

The water is supposed to be at certain temperatures for different types of tea.  I filled my old school teapot  and put it on the stove while I went about some kitchen business. Old school teapot as in a little white pot with simple blue flower on it- remember Corelle of the 70's. This is the one my grandparents gave me when I got my first apartment.  While waiting, I measured some tea into the strainer basket and sat it on top of a mug.

As I poured the boiling water through the tea strainer and into the mug, a wonderful aroma wafted up at me. The aroma informed me if I was patient, something subtle, but yummy was coming soon. Is this the right way to do it? I wasn't sure. 5-8 minutes later, my tea was ready. So many things to do in 5-8 minutes.. put in a load of wash, unload the diswasher, read something inspirational, write a grocery list.

The time flew by and my Almond Dream tea was brewed and ready. Inhale again. How does  tea smell so sweet with no sugar in it? This one sure did. It was even cool enough to drink right away. The steeping time served a duel purpose.

And the point is....

While sipping my tea over the last few weeks, it occurs to me that tea is a metaphor for practicing the art of  enjoying life. The process of preparing tea is about mindfulness and slowing down. And yes, it is a process that has a few subtleties. I'm sure I haven't learned them all yet. Tea preparation teaches patience just like a person with autism. Tea is subtle. It does not knock you over like some of its stronger sweeter counterparts. In fact, tea is often good with no sweetner at all.

Tea reminds me to slow down. It does not encourage guzzling. Tea reminds me to be patient with the process and also to enjoy the process. I am really trying to be patient with some other things in my life that are moving very slowly.

After all these years, it has been fun to discover something new. I guess you're never too old to become passionate about something else.

Life is short. Enjoy every cup.

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Blog-a-thon Day 25

Today is the 35th anniversary of my first date with my husband, Neil. We were out to dinner and talking about how his one decision to ask me out for "National Secetary Week" changed the rest of our lives. He was an appreciative boss, what can I say? Nowadays it might be considered harassment. Ha! Although is it still harassment if the female is consenting? I don't know. I have not been in an office work environment since the 70's.

But yes, that one decision changed the course of the rest of our lives. There are three human beings who would not exist today if it had not been for that first date. It's interesting to think about how some of our choices go on to affect everything. Usually at the time, we have no idea. What would have happened if we both had taken different paths? There's no way of knowing. Thank goodness we took the path we did.

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On another note:

My life's journey keeps taking me  to acceptance. Seems like I am often drawn to wisdom that points in that direction.

Acceptance

"If you are on a train, will you reach your destination quicker by running up and down the corridors? Some processes just need to take as long as they need to take. That's not easy when you feel a burning desire to get them over with as quickly as possible. Yet that's actually all the more reason to make sure that you don't waste your energy. Even if it means incurring the disapproval of people who do not understand, you need to pull back a little and pace yourself. Focus on what can be done, and become less agitated about whatever, for now, cannot be altered."

~~Cheryl Richardson

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And finally:

Today I got a phone call from the producer of "The Morning Scramble" here in Arizona. I am going to be interviewed on Friday morning. The show can be viewed online in real time or after the fact. I will be getting up at the crack of dawn to drive to Prescott, Arizona for the show. I have sisters-in-law up there too so it will be a two-fer. Grateful for my "thannie" who will be stepping in to do the morning Kyle duties so I can be "TV ready" to leave by 6 AM.

I will be on  between 8:45-9:30 AM (Mountain Time) on "The Morning Scramble" AZ TV 7 (Prescott AZ) or Cable 13 (Phoenix AZ) OR streaming LIVE online. http://www.aztv.com/category/195810/scramblelivestream.

Blog-a-thon Day 24

I'm wiped! It's been a long day, in a good way. Kyle has a lot of activities on Tuesdays, hence, I do a lot of driving.

I just asked Neil, "What do I write when I don't feel like writing?" He proceeded to give me a bunch of ideas on what to write about. I have the ideas, I am just too spent to write them. But I made a commitment to myself to stay on the blog-a-thon trail, so here I am.

Here's something inspiring by Dr. Rachelle Sheely, co-director of RDIconnect.

A Compassionate Stranger

"We have all had the experience of being in the supermarket with a difficult child, our discomfort exacerbated by the eye aversion of well-meaning adults. For parents of children with special needs, whether physical or neurological, this aversion of gaze can sometimes have the unintended effect of further isolation.

Recently I was talking to a mother whose 10 year-old with autism had a meltdown at the grocery store. He wanted the toy car, she said "no" and he threw himself on the ground, repetitively shouting. We can all relate to this mother's discomfort and many of us would have bought him the car just to curb our own embarrassment, even if we threw it away at home. But this mother didn't give in, even though she was aware of her spectacle; what she believed others were saying or thinking about her. What happened next, however, was not only a surprise but a compassionate moment from a total stranger. There was a light touch on her arms, she turned to see a much older lady standing next to her. "Stick to your guns, honey, you're doing great."

I was reminded of her encounter recently as I watched "What would you do?", a television show that sets up scenarios where people need to decide whether or not they will interfere in the lives of strangers who cross their paths. The compassion or avoidance of strangers is striking and understandable. However, for this mother, it was life changing and although she never saw the woman again, she says it seemed like an angel was sent, just when she needed her.

One imagines that the "angel" had interfered in people's lives many times over the course of her life. There were probably times when people responded as this mother did but there may have been rebuffs as well. For whatever reason, the woman remained compassionate-she wasn't judging this mother nor was she judging her child. She was a mother encouraging another mother. She didn't take over neither did she tell her what to do. She walked alongside her for a few seconds and the mother was no longer alone.

As you move throughout your day, we hope you feel and project compassion with your fellow sojourners...those you meet along the way."

Dr. Rachelle Sheely serves as the co-director of RDIconnect as well as the head of professional training and supervision. For the past fifteen years she has been a leader in the development and logistical implementation of programs for both families and professionals working with children, adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities.