After band practice last night I wasn't hungry. I was craving something after such a long day, but I couldn't quite pinpoint my desire. I picked up one of the two books I have been reading, "The Miracle of Mindfulness" by Thich Nhat Hahn and realized all I wanted was a warm cup of tea. I love tea, but for some reason I haven't had a cup in a really long time. Maybe, it is because I have been in a coffee crazed mood. I decided I would practice my "mindfulness" with this cup of tea. My understanding of "mindfulness" is being in the present moment, enjoying what is happening in that very second, instead of what is going to happen in the future. Nhat Hahn states that if you are not "mindful" while drinking tea, "...we will only be thinking of other things, barely aware of the cup in our hands. Thus we are sucked away into the future-and we are incapable of actually living one minute of life." I have to admit, as much as I like reading his work, I am not very good at being "mindful." My brain is constantly going backwards and forwards in time and very rarely in the present moment.
However, I was "mindful" while I made and drank this tea, or at least to the best of my ability. When I went to boil the water I concentrated on the boiling water and my breathing. When I poured the tea and sat down to drink it, I didn't pick up a magazine, go online, or put on some music; instead, I sat and tried to live the moment of drinking a cup of tea. My thoughts did wander from time to time, but I acknowledged that they did and returned to my tea. This was by far one of the most relaxing cups of tea I have ever had to drink.
The tea I chose was The Republic of Tea's limited addition Cranberry Blood Orange. When I sat down with the cup of tea the first thing that hit me was the aroma. It smelled like a fruity/floral bouquet. An orange and black tea smell wafted into my nostrils and began to soothe me before my first sip. It was hard for me to distinguish the cranberry smell, but I think that is because I do not know what cranberries smell like. The first sip was scalding and I couldn't really taste much, I need to learn to be more patient. But, the second sip was almost perfection. I could clearly taste the black tea, along with hints of orange and cranberry that were not too fruity and overwhelming; but, I believe it was more the warm soothing feeling sliding down my throat that was the most enjoyable part. Usually, I prefer my tea cold and brewed for a long time. It felt good to have those five minutes drinking the tea in a "mindful" fashion. But, as soon as I put the mug in the sink, I quickly reverted to my old self. I checked my email and started worrying about the future. I guess I just need more practice. Also, today my gourmet of the day is not gourmet at all. Normally I do not buy coffee at Dunkin Donuts; however, today is FREE iced coffee day: https://www.dunkindonuts.com/ Free is clearly not gourmet. But, free is a treat, especially in this expensive city. I grabbed my free iced coffee, which was too sweet, and guzzled it down while walking to my eye exam. To be honest, I do not even remember drinking the coffee because I was so consumed by other thoughts. Clearly, I was not being "mindful."
I would suggest going to get your FREE iced coffee today and being "mindful" while drinking it, but I am not sure if I would have enjoyed it even if I was being "mindful." Rather, I challenge you to make yourself a nice cup of tea and try living in the moment while drinking it. Let me know how it goes. Also, if you are interested in learning about "mindfulness" check out the book I mentioned above or "Peace is Every Step" by Thich Naht Hanh.
No comments:
Post a Comment