I've been reading a book lately by a Korean author called 'Marigold Mind Laundry' by Jungeun Yun.

It's a calm and easy read, something that stood out to me while perusing the English book section at Kyobo with its bright cover and is now keeping me company on my one-day-a-week commute to work.

It's not a book you MUST go out and buy, but something nice to have that has sweet quotes sprinkled throughout that make you reflect.

Yesterday, one such sprinkle popped up yesterday about drinking tea:

'Drinking tea is about comforting the heart.'

'From brewing the tea to sipping it, the whole routine soothes our feelings.'

Reading this made me smile and also really made me want to drink a cup of tea.

I drink coffee every morning as a form of survival. Some part of my brain makes me think that 'no coffee = no worky'

I think this has been ingrained in me since childhood, thanks to all the characters in films and TV shows who told me so.

Seinfeld, Friends, Will & Grace, Frasier, Gilmore Girls.. shows that I grew up on. Each episode is really centered around people drinking coffee... if you take out all of the jokes and the personalities. Really, any of the characters from these shows could cross over into the universe of another show without much friction so long as they have a cup of coffee in their hand.

This all leads me to agree with a comedian who popped up during my doom scroll session the other day, talking about how coffee is a multi-level marketing scheme. I think he might be right.

But tea.

Tea is different.

Tea is ceremonious. Tea is a routine. Not like a 'hey here's what I do when I wake up at 4 AM to make sure the first hit of sunlight is injected the into my veins juuuust right' kind of routine. More like a slow and steady wins the tortoise race kind of routine.

I have a teapot, tins of different teas made with increasingly insane names, tea strainers, and a cup that I really like to drink tea out of. It's all part of a beautiful ritual that is akin to religious gatherings or team sports.

Do it solo, and you're in for a real slice of peace. Do it with company, and juicy stories and tales are about to be unfurled from their shackles of secrecy pacts. Spill the tea, and arrest warrants are issued, and lives are flipped upside down.

Tea really makes the heart sing.

I drew this picture and thought about what my heart would look like if I opened up my chest cavity in some non-invasive way for research purposes.

It would look like an enchanted forest where small creatures are all friends and gather around once a week to have their own tea ceremonies.

Carrots are in limitless supply for bunnies, and hedgehogs and dragonflies are best pals.

The theme song for this world is 'My Favorite Things' from the Sound of Music, and wearing overalls made from curtains is mandatory.

While the song doesn't include tea as one of the favourite things, we all know what those bright copper kettles are being used for.

Fraulein Maria was 100% a tea girly.

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That's all I've got for you today. Enjoy the rest of your day. I hope you set aside some time to pour yourself a nice cup of tea and a bikkie in whatever flavour your soul desires.

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