Welcome, glad you dropped by, I have my tea brewed & tasty treat at hand. Have you got yours, so we can begin our time of reflection together…you do…let’s continue…

I have one of my old favorites today, a mug of exotically spiced Chai tea brewed on lactose free milk & sweetened with just a dash of honey.

My treat is a small gluten free apple & passionfruit cupcake topped with lemon icing. I am sitting under our front pergola, overlooking the bush reserve  (tall Eucalyptus trees, native shrubs & grassed hilly area) opposite our home.

I first tasted Chai tea when I was a student in New Delhi, India

Researching & observing the amazing medical work of an NGO working with Leprosy. The street vendors made their Chai tea on sweetened condensed milk, served in small glasses, very sweet.

It was warm & revitalizing, just as it is today, although mine is not as sweet as that first cup but still an explosion of spicy deliciousness upon my tongue. I can taste cinnamon, cardamon, cloves, ginger & the peppery taste of black pepper corns mixed in a base of black tea in each sip.

It is a curious blend for a tea mix. Pepper is normally used for seasoning the savory but here it is used for a sweet spicy tea. Very curious! But it creates a harmoniously balanced & exotic blend that is particularly delicious! I pondered this…

Positive verses negative

There is a lot of banter around today about positive verses negative, especially in my profession. That we need to always be positive & avoid the negative.

Yes, having positive aspects in our lives is very important without doubt, but we also need the balance of the negative to highlight the positive! Just like the pepper corns in amongst the sweet spices, it makes for a harmonious balance.

There can be extremes in these of course, too much positivity can become unrealistic, too much negativity can be very oppressive for the soul, neither extreme is healthy. Though, I have come to appreciate those who can see pitfalls ahead.

I can paint you a personal picture of this. I live with a lovely husband who has a temperament that sees potential obstacles ahead & so prepares extremely well beforehand.

This wife’s temperament is…

Let’s go have an adventure & work out the pitfalls as we meet them. I try & look at life through best case scenario lenses but this is not always wise as there can be dangers ahead that need solid preparation to overcome.

Conversely, too much preparation or analysis of potential obstacles can become overwhelming, leading to procrastination & emotional paralysis.

So, what might be classified as negative by some & seen as a dampener upon enthusiastic plans can be in actual fact a wise analysis, this mixed with the blend of a positive adventurous spirit, leads to a harmonious balance for a fun & safe life adventure together…

It’s wise to reassess our perceptions & perspectives at times & look from different angles or view points…you may be pleasantly surprised in what you find like pepper in sweet spicy tea!

My mug is now empty & only a few crumbs remain of the delicious cupcake…

Until our next cup of inspiration together dear friend…

Jennifer

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