… and other small signs that point the way.

I love tea. I drink it every day. Often. Many kinds, in fact. But I have a special place in my heart for those brands that offer a bit of ‘fortune cookie wisdom’ with each brew. Lately, I’ve begun drinking Dandelion Tea in the morning. (It’s good support for your liver, I’m told.) And the organic tea I choose is Traditional Medicinals. I got it at Whole Foods, in case you’re interested, not for its ‘medicinal’ designation, but simply because it was the only kind of Dandelion Tea they offered the day I was shopping.)

The next morning, I heated the kettle, poured the just barely boiling water over the bag, and let it steep the recommended 10-15 minutes (okay, just 8… I’m impatient!) As I was removing the teabag, I thought I’d take a look, just in case it had a message for me (I never really keep track of which brands do or don’t.)

As luck would have it, the tag read:

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”

Lao Tzu

Well okay then! Are you talking to me? Are you talking to ME???? Apparently yes, as I not only withdrew the teabag from the cup before the specified time, my busy day ahead was filled with hurrying from meeting to meeting. Trying to fit, as my mom might have said, “ten pounds of sugar in a five pound sack.” I’m pretty sure you know how that is.

I pulled the tag off, and carefully set it aside. Yes, this WAS the message I needed. Yes, I was the reminder that I’d keep taped to the kitchen cabinet for a few days, just so I’d see it and be reminded each time I passed. Reminded to Slow down. Give it time. It will all be accomplished, as it should. Thanks, Lao! (Gotta read more about that guy. Gal? Hmmm)

So I’m taking it as a sign. Not just about slowing down, but that I need to stop, look and really LISTEN when something catches my eye and speaks to my heart. Even if it is ‘just’ a tea bag.