Some People Just Won’t Appreciate You Until You’re No Longer Around

They can’t even see that they have a preoccupation with recognizing what’s absent; it’s simply in their nature to do it. You can give and they’ll usually take, maybe you’ll even get a “thank you,” but at the end of the day, there’ll be a desire for more. You give a hand, they want an arm. You give a day’s time, they want a week. You give the earth, they want the entire galaxy, and you wonder if you’ll ever do enough. If you’ll ever be enough. You know deep down you won’t, but you’ll continue to try, because maybe eventually they’ll see what they have.

When you look out, you see a large yard with the potential to be the greenest, healthiest, most beautiful lawn in existence if cared for. You feel excited but when you try to show it to them, the look of disappointment worn on their face quickly brings your emotional high down. The anticlimactic unimpressed look in their eyes crushes your soul — how can they not see what you see? You begin planting a garden on the side, mowing and watering the grass, doing your best to make your vision of a picturesque, utopic lawn come true, because maybe then they’ll start to see what you see. 

Maybe then they’ll see what they have.

Sometimes people won’t see what they have. They see what others have and want that. They see others’ filtered pictures in high definition, under a fancy tint and they want that moment of stunning beauty that was captured in a still shot, but they want it every second of every single day.

 If you can’t give it to them then they’ll find it elsewhere because if it were meant to be, you’d provide them with what they want and you’d do it immediately, with minimal error.

Sometimes people can’t see what they have. Maybe they’re overlooking, ungrateful, or need glasses in the form of a wake-up call. Sometimes people can’t see what they have until it’s gone, and unfortunately, that means you won’t be appreciated until your efforts cease to exist. 

What you’ve given must be taken away, or at the very least the supply of affection must be cut off. Sometimes there’s no other way. You’ll be an artist who wasn’t cherished until after their death or the luxury of running water, an amenity unrecognized until nonexistent. Sometimes people can’t see what they have, and it’s simply impossible for you to show them before it’s too late, because ‘too late’ gives everyone a 20/20 vision.

   
   Original Article/Source: https://thoughtcatalog.com/timmy-parker/2013/05/some-people-just-wont-appreciate-you-until-youre-no-longer-around/    

The First Two Steps to Creating Resilience

  

When life is shaking us up and we’re feeling stressed … it can be tough to feel resilient. Resilience helps us to deal with the chaos and moments of frustration, but how do we create it when we feel like we’re underwater? 

The first step is to remove things that are adding unnecessary stress. The second step is to do things that help us feel replenished. 

Those two steps won’t get us all the way to full resilience, but they’re a huge huge start.

Remove Extra Stress

Some stress is inevitable — wishing for a life where we feel zero stress is just going to add more stress. But if we are flooded with stress, removing some of it can help us to clear the space to create even more resilience. If we don’t remove the extra stress, we’ll never do the things we need to take care of ourselves or to train our minds to be more resilient.

So removing unnecessary stress is the first step. Some examples:

• If you’re working late into the night, creating a stopping point earlier would be a big help, if possible.
• Cut back on your workload a bit, if you’re able to.
• Stop saying yes to everything, and take fewer meetings.
• If you’re fighting a lot with someone, refrain for a bit. Take a breather and let yourself settle.
• If you’re watching things or playing games late into the night and getting little sleep, cut back on that.
• If you’re watching the news or reading things online that really get you angry, stop that for a while.
• Cut out social media if that gets you anxious.

And so on. Removing these stressors will help you catch your breath.

Then Replenish Yourself

I don’t mean that you have to take a spa weekend (though that would be great!) … I mean doing little things that help you feel more recharged and settled.

These things fill you up so that you can better take on the world.

For example:

• Go for walks out in nature.
• Create space for reading, having tea, taking a bath, journaling.
• Talk with someone regularly, in person, or over the phone.
• Take naps.
• Get better sleep.
• Take a weekend off.
• Get some sunshine, if there’s anywhere you are.
• Take moments of stillness and deep breathing during your day.

These little things can make a huge difference.

You won’t get all the way to resilience with these two steps — but you’ll have given yourself what you need to take the further steps of shifting your thinking patterns and practicing resilience.

10 Questions with Cancer Survivor and Small Business Owner of Natasha’s Teas

What is your Education and Work Experience? I graduated Highschool. I have about 10 years of retail experience, 5 years of call center/administrative experience. 

What are your favorite quotes?  

“Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” -Bruce Lee 

“A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong it is until it's in hot water.”

-Elenora Roosevelt  

“Tea is the only simple pleasure left to us.”

-Oscar Wilde 

 

Can you tell us a little bit about your business or the work you do? 

Natasha's Teas provides healing tea blends, Hair rinses, and tea baths to help you reach your health goals. I have a multitude of healing blends.  I also do one-on-one consultation to create a personal blend to assist with a health goal or a tasty blend you want to create for pleasure.  It's important to understand that some do not have access to healthcare, I  have partnered with several food kitchens and nonprofits organizations that will donate my healing blends to the communities in need.

What ignited the spark in starting a business venture or make any significant changes to an existing business? I was diagnosed with cancer and once it was removed from my body my doctor at the time advised me to continue to take my herbs, continue to do my yoga, and stay stress-free. I wanted to share the blessing tea has changed my life. 

What brings you the greatest joy? When I am able to assist a client with reaching a health goal and when I have an inventory of the herb needed for a client. 

What is the best advice you've been given? Allow yourself to rest. Sometimes we become so engulfed with work that we forget that we are to take care of ourselves. It is vital that we rest and take care of ourselves as well. 

What accomplishment are you most proud of? Starting NaTasha’s Tea. When I was diagnosed with cancer, the company I employee with wouldn't allow me to have time off to have my surgery to remove my cancer. I was forced to quit. As I was recovering, I decided that I could do it! I could open my own business as I have always wanted. It was a time where I could have given up or become depressed, but it helped drive my passion to start this business, to help others.  

What is one thing you wish you knew when you were younger? I wish I knew to have the confidence I have now, knowing I can do anything I put my mind to. Whether it be to start a business, heal myself, or believe in the healing of my clients, I can do anything. I’m blessed to have the support of my community. 

What is on your bookshelf? Oh, which one? Lol, I currently have about 5 bookshelves. I am a nerd from way back. My genres range from fiction, Biographies, Textbooks, Medical studies, Healing herbs, Classic Titles, Encyclopedias, Spiritual Texts, and more. 

If you could talk to three people, who would they be and why?  

Erykah Badu – Because when I met her years ago, I was in awe to the point I couldn’t speak, and I wanted to ask what her fav tea and honey are.  

Alice Walker – to discuss anything with the person who created Temple of My Familiar and The Secret of Joy would be bliss. 

My Grandmother Frankie who passed. We shared a birthday, I would love to know her and know if we were alike in any way. I wish I could have known her better, I would love to hold her hand again, to hug her. 

Do you have any advice you would like to leave with the reader? Make sure to discuss new herbs with your medical advisor. And, never waste food and water. 

 Email Natasha directly at NaTashas411tea@gmail.com to schedule a consultation for a personal blend!

 

Where else can you find The Tea?

Shop Natasha's Tea at Ledhealthy.com

Shop Natasha's Tea locally at Thyme and Bloom in Tampa Florida

4202 W. Waters Ave Suite 5 Tampa Fla Thymeandbloom.com

Shop a community of Holistic Healers at Madame-Sirena.com

Website: NaTasha's Teas 

Twitter:  NaTasha's Tea (@tea_natasha)

Talk Less to Listen More to Learn More

Photo by August de Richelieu from Pexels

Think carefully before you speak.

‘The older I grow the more I listen to people who don’t talk much.’

German G Glien

Your words can hurt other people’s feelings. They may influence others, encourage them to do something they wouldn’t normally do. Don’t just throw around whatever you have in your mind. Because words have power to change people’s lives. So, use your words responsibly.

Listen more before jumping to conclusions. Consider all possible arguments, both for and against, no matter if you like those arguments or not at the very beginning. Look at the bigger picture, analyze every single piece of information, take your time to come up with personal judgments. Don’t act on impulse. Slow down.

Limit yourself to what’s important. Speak when necessary. 

There is so much noise in the current world already. Focus on what you’re trying to communicate, and find balance. If you narrow your speech down to what you’re really trying to say, people will listen. If you speak too much, they’ll fall asleep.

Get to know others better. You’ll never learn about other people, if you don’t let them talk, introduce themselves, share their successes and failures.

Photo by Startup Stock Photos from Pexels

Every person has its own unique life story. We all have something to say, no matter how important or trivial our speech is going to be. The question is, how much you’re willing to listen to get to know other people.

When you speak less, you do more. Actions speak louder than words. Some people tend to show off how many great products they bought, or where they spent their last summer holiday.

But, shouldn’t we ask, if they created something on their own, or they just bought souvenirs manufactured by others? Because creating has bigger value – it helps us to grow, discover new stuff, fail, learn from own mistakes.

For those of you who don’t like talking, try writing to express yourself. Maybe, some of you feel like nobody understands you, or you’re just being misunderstood. But, quiet people usually tend to observing others, analyze different situations, judge the world.

And then, they prefer to write because it’s easier for them to show who they really are. 

 Source Link: http://www.lifetobe.net/2019/12/15/talk-less-to-listen-more-to-learn-more/

The Art of Creating a Ritual for What Matters Most

“Your sacred space is where you can find yourself again and again.” ~Joseph Campbell

The Elements of Ritual

So what would a ritual contain? It’s an art, so you can make it however you like. However, some elements to consider:

• Create your environment: A ritual might have an altar, a temple, incense, etc. But your ritual doesn’t have to have these particular elements — the important thing is to consider what environment you’d like for this ritual, and how that environment will affect the practice. By taking care to create the environment, there’s an element of mindfulness and intention that is missing from most of our actions. An example might be to have flowers and music and sage as you do your yoga practice, or to eat dinner with phones off, a candle burning, and silence in the room.
• Intention: As you start, set an intention for the ritual. What would you like to practice during this ritual? How do you want to show up? Set the intention, and then carry that intention throughout the ritual.
• Bring presence: A key part of ritual is to be as fully present as you can. This is another element missing from most of our daily actions, but if we elevate something to ritual, it can increase our presence.
• Deep appreciation: Ritual is about bringing full appreciation to the act. A daily shower ritual is appreciating your body for the miracle it is. Daily eating rituals is appreciating not only the nourishing food, but the people who put their life energy into growing, transporting and preparing the food. A daily writing ritual might be an appreciation of your connection to your reader. We often take things for granted — ritual brings the appreciation for life, the world, others and ourselves back into our lives.
• Contemplation: Ritual can be a space for contemplating what’s important to you, what you are afraid of, what your aspirations are, and more. Again, this isn’t something we normally make space for, but what if we created that space?
• Connection to aspiration: What do you want to create in the world? Who do you want to be? How would you like to show up, to shift yourself, to serve others? Ritual is a way to connect to these aspirations, so that we can be more resolved to live them.
• Lift to sacredness: We take the ordinary things in our lives for granted, but what if we lifted the ordinary to sacredness? This doesn’t require a belief in The Most High (though it can) … it’s imbuing a power into an action. The word “sacred” comes from  the Latin “sacrāre,” which means to consecrate, to dedicate. That usually has holy connotations but can simply mean to be devoted to something that has power. What if we could see the mundane as powerfully sacred and magical?
• Close in gratitude: A ritual has a closing, which might be simply gratitude for whatever you just did, how you practiced, or what you are devoted to. Give a small prayer of thanks to yourself, to the world.

Rituals to Consider

Any act that you do each day, that’s important to you, can be considered for something to turn into a ritual.

For example, some that I’ve been experimenting with:

• Start of your day: How would you like to start your day? Can it be with intention, gratitude, reflection? With aspiration and appreciation? With meditation and quiet?
• Getting ready: When you get yourself ready for the day, will it be a rushed affair, or one of slowing down, appreciating your body, taking care of yourself, loving yourself?
• Writing or other work: Whether your work be writing or phone calls or building a house … you can elevate that to ritual by creating intention around it, appreciating what you’re creating, pouring yourself into the act, bringing mindfulness to it. How can you elevate it to ritual?
• Email & messages: We normally just dive into checking email and messages, but what if it became a sacred ritual of connecting to others, of carefully considering issues, of crafting language? Can we elevate the act to one of deep presence and appreciation?
• Eating: With eating, we can simply fuel our bodies and put food down our throats, phones or TVs distracting us … or we can elevate the eating to an act of nourishing and loving our bodies, connecting to others and the earth that has provided for us, connecting to loved ones’ hearts.
• Exercise: We can rush through exercise, just trying to get it over with. Or we can bring it to the realm of the divine, letting it be an act of love for our bodies, an act of connection to our environment, an act of full presence and highest purpose.
• Yoga: Is it just exercise and stretching, or can it be a ritual of full devotion and surrender, of practice of our highest selves?
• Meditation: We can sit there, waiting for the final meditation bell to ring, or we can let it be a ritual of practice for what we’d like to train in. Or simply a ritual of full appreciation for the moment.
• Sleep: Is sleep a matter of being on devices until we’re so tired we can’t check another thing on social media? Or a time when we reflect on our day, prepare for our time of rest, slow down and appreciate our lives?

I have to confess that I have not perfected the art of creating ritual for all of these things — I’m still learning, still experimenting. I have a lot of growth to do here. But when I do it, I’ve found it absolutely profound.

Elevating What Matters Most to You

What is important to you? If it’s in your life, you must care enough about it that you’ve included it. Our hours are precious and limited, and we can take care to only place the things that matter most into that limited space.

So what you’ve included in your life must matter tremendously. Why not craft a ritual for this thing that matters so much?

If you care about checking social media, messages, email, news, blogs — why not make this act into ritual?

If you care about your relationship with someone, why not create a connection ritual where you fully connect with them?

If you care about reading, why not make a reading ritual?

If you care about your meaningful work, why not create a ritual for practicing with that work?

I invite you to create ritual around the deeper practice of your meaningful work with my latest creation.