My favorite tea, Yogi Green Tea, comes with a message on each tea bag.  I’ve collected lots of little white tags and have even written about some. (see new category) Today’s message, like most of them, was profound and thought provoking.  It read, “Recognize that the other person is you.”  This isn’t the first time I’ve seen this tag.  The first time I came across this quote was when I was having a disagreement with someone at work.  I opened the green little packet, read the tag and wondered if I was really the defensive one.  I felt my co-worker was defensive and dramatic, yet it was my defensiveness and drama that needed to be addressed.  I called her immediately, apologized for getting into an argument and realized I just needed to look in the mirror.

Today as I read the message again, I knew it was being repeated for a reason.  I was reminded if I place expectations on others; I will most likely be disappointed.  The only one I can expect anything from is me.   Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”  I think if I continue to learn, grow and am accountable to myself, I will see others and the world in a less disappointing way.  As a matter of fact, I may even see us all in the way we’re meant to be seen, as perfect, spiritual ideas.

As some of you know, I love to drink Yogi Green Tea, from Trader Joe’s, not only because it’s oh, so delicious but because each tea bag comes with a thought provoking quote.  I love to sip my tea while pondering the message.  Tonight, the quote was, “The universe is the stage on which you dance, guided by your heart.”  It made me think about my heart and my heart’s desires.  Sometimes in the past, my heart has led me down the wrong path and I wish I listened to wisdom and not my deceitful heart.  “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?  I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

In today’s pop psychology people are told “follow your heart,” “if it feels good, do it,”  but I believe things can “feel” great yet still be wrong.  I really love the idea of the universe being our stage, I love the analogy of dancing for living but if I were to improve this quote, I’d say be guided by Love, with a capital L, Divine Love.  I know for me Divine Love will never lead me in the wrong direction, God will “search me…and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts.” (Ps. 139:23)

The more I trust, the better I understand I’m being led or guided by the best “dance” instructor there is and yes, the dance is a beautiful one.

The Yogi Green Tea bag I used this morning, said, “Let good things come to you.” Wow, I thought to myself, as I ripped off the little tag to cherish and to use as a reminder. I forget to practice patience sometimes and this was an interesting way to say, “Be patient.” I was told once, that even though we hear things over and over again, until we stop and say, “Ah-ha, I GET IT NOW,” we’ll keep getting reminders. Several years ago, I found a poem, about patience, that really inspired me.  The tag from the tea bag, prompted me to find it.  I realized when I found it on the internet, that I had read an abbreviated version.  I was so grateful to discover the last section.  The entire poem is truly, divinely inspired.

“The Lake of Beauty”
by Edward Carpenter

Let your mind be quiet, realizing the beauty of the world,
and the immense, the boundless treasures that it holds in store.

All that you have within you, all that your heart desires,
all that your nature so specially fits you for -
that or the counterpart of it waits embedded in the great Whole, for you.
It will surely come to you.

Yet equally surely not one moment before its appointed time
will it come. All your crying and fever and reaching out of
hands will make no difference.

Therefore do not begin that game at all.
Do not recklessly spill the waters of your mind
in this direction and in that,
lest you become like a spring lost and dissipated in the desert.

But draw them together into a little compass, and hold them still, so still;
And let them become clear, so clear - so limpid, so mirror-like;
at last the mountains and the sky shall glass themselves in peaceful beauty,
and the antelope shall to descend to drink and to gaze at her reflected image,
and the lion to quench his thirst,
and love himself shall come and bend over and catch his own likeness in you.

I love Yogi Green Tea from Trader Joe’s. The first time I tasted it was at a writers’ group meeting. It was so yummy, I stopped buying Lipton’s Green Tea immediately and switched to this organic blend. I enjoy having green tea in the morning but especially love having it at night. It’s a cozy routine for me after I put my son to bed. The warm treat accompanies me while I’m write, read or watch TV.

 Each tea bag carries a quote and I’ve filled a corner of a kitchen drawer with little tags that have been especially inspiring. Hopefully, my photography skills will allow you to read the profound message on one that screamed, “Blog Me.” It read, “Travel light, live light, spread the light, be the light.” (Yogi Bhajan) Not only are these “Simple words of wisdom conveyed over a cup of tea,” they’re incentives. However, another wise teacher told me more important than “doing” is “being,” so the last verb in the sentence is really important “‘BE the light!”