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Equanimi’tea … life composure

My hot black tea is sitting here steaming, and I am taking a moment out of my day to do what I encourage everyone else to do, take a tea break for your soul. Take 5 minutes to reflect, focus, recenter, whatever it is you need to do, and breathe.

I haven’t posted anything in this blog for a very long time, and I was drawn to write today as I reflected on this last year, and the challenges and life intensities that so many of us have endured.

The concept of equanimity has been prevalent in my life for many years, and it means having mental or emotional stability or composure during times of difficulty, to enable  clear, focused, non-reactive decisions or choices to help us move forward coherently.

Many of our business leaders will practice the art of equanimity to help make effective decisions, whilst inspiring and motivating others to do the same. Meditation and heart focus breathing help to build that equanimity. It becomes a daily practice of self-work, especially important during times of peace and calm so we can build our inner reserves to tackle life challenges when they arise. For me, equanimity is about being able to move through all the ups and downs of life being constant and available, but not drained.

However, as we all know, especially after this year’s tumult of environmental disasters and political unrest, it is not always easy to stay in that place of equanimity and calm when everything is falling apart, and sometimes all we can muster is a super quick immediate tool, to help us calm down and feel nourished.

I know everyone laughs at the British ( I am a Brit) for drinking tea during times of difficulty, death, challenge, stress … ‘put the kettle on, let’s have a nice cup of tea and talk about it’… is a common phrase heard at work or among many households, but they do have a great point.  What they are really saying is ‘breathe, stop and just listen’.  When we do this, it becomes easier to re-evaluate, revisit or perhaps see new options around a difficult or fearful situation.

Drinking my KeeMun black tea from China with its delicious somewhat bitter notes mixing with the lemon and a tiny ting of honey sweetness, reminds me of home in London, my Mother’s stories of drinking tea during the Blitz in World War II, happy times with tea, cake, and friends, birthdays, so many good memories, as well as drinking tea after my Dad passed away when I was young.

Tea helps us to take a moment, a meditative pause, recollect our equanimity and help others to do the same, by just listening.

 

 

 

 

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Creativi’tea

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I have to be honest, with all the fabulous teas on the market I am still sipping traditional English Breakfast tea in the afternoon… with a biscuit … or a cookie… traditions die hard I guess… and the tang of the tannins on my tongue (quite a tongue twister) invigorate and inspire me to write this blog today.

I want to share something with you. Something that has been threading its way through my consciousness as a result of the work my clients have been doing to reveal their unique brilliance, life purpose in the world.

Building your pallet of experiences in life is like creating a tapestry of opportunities for discovering your true self, painting your life story, and at the same time gaining the opportunity to rediscover forgotten parts of yourself.  True creativity is about coming home to who you really are, despite the struggle and the challenges, in fact, once we understand why we are struggling, with some help, we can take gigantic leaps forward in our personal growth as all the keys start to fit in the locks and we begin to ‘see’ more clearly how our stories are shaping us to meet our destiny, our legacy.

You are designed to want more, (its not selfish, its just being human …) if we didn’t want more, we wouldn’t be able to put men on the moon and shoot them into orbit to Mars… and it is your right to creatively express yourself … as you send ripples of creativity into the world … they impact others.

Fulfill and enjoy your creativity, discover your brilliance, LOVE your purpose.

Warmly, Nicola

 

 

 

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Festivi’tea

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There is a magic in the air … despite the frantic dashing about to put up holiday lights, host parties, attend parties, purchase gifts, send holiday greetings .. there really is a magic in the air.

The other night my friend Voula was working very hard on yet another unusually cold evening in LA to put up her Christmas lights, on her own, a massive job with large polar bears, reindeer and sleighs, fir trees and stars, icicles and candy canes … we were both wearing hats, gloves and puffy coats. Bulbs were fusing, the fake snow had gone missing, extension cords were needed as we put as many plugs as we could into one outlet praying there wouldn’t be an explosion. Ladders, screw drivers, hammers, Christmas music belting out of the radio in the garage… all life had been put on hold for the sake of the reindeer and the Christmas tree …

“Why are we doing this … tell me one more time?” I asked sipping my peppermint tea.

Voula grinned.”I love doing this” as she hung from the ladder swinging a hammer in the air. I ducked. “Why?” I asked.  She laughed, “haven’t you seen how many people smile when they pass by here and see all of this? People smile, these lights bring joy. I like that. I feel like I’m giving something back and  that makes me happy!”

Exactly! All of this business with the lights wasn’t because she had to do it, or impress the neighbors, Voula’s holiday gift to herself was that she wanted to make people happy. How does that song go?

” Make someone happy. Make just one someone happy.And you will be happy too….”

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Sending you much love and light always.

Nicola

www.nicolasalter.com

Festive Tea Recipe from ‘Hot Water for Tea’

Cranberry Gin Mar’tea’ni

Take one cranberry tea bag and steep it for 3 minutes, then remove the bag and freeze the tea for 20 minutes.  Take a cocktail shaker and add ice, gin, a squeeze of lime and orange juice, add the tea and shake.  Serve in a chilled martini glass with a curl of lime zest and enjoy! (for added sweetness, use cranberry juice instead)

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Connectivi’tea

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I stepped off the plane at Charlotte Airport and was late for my connecting flight to LA.  As I nimbly ran dodging the world and his wife to find my gate, I decide to chance my luck even further with my tardiness  by diving into a nearby restroom.

Chances of course were that is would be super busy and it was,  there was a line.  As I patiently crossed my legs waiting, praying that the plane would indeed wait,  I heard a delightfully rich female voice bellowing through the restrooms, directing everyone to nearby waiting stalls that had just become available for use.

As the line very quickly began to melt away, a very stately African American woman came around the corner, slightly salted and peppered hair, wearing the airport uniform and grinning from ear to ear. She was the air traffic controller of the ladies restroom, or powder room as she preferred to name it.

I didn’t have to speak with her long to discover that this lady, Gloria, absolutely loved her job. She was quite a joy to listen to as she proudly showed me her basket of peppermints, rolled up fresh hand towels and her words of encouragement as she moved all of us swiftly through the restroom so we wouldn’t miss our connections. There was an air of lightness as we all jostled through chatting with each other and waiting for our turn, Gloria all the while, directing and admonishing us like a group of school girls as we all hooted with laughter.

“I see the world here” she grinned, “I don’t have to go far and I love it. Every night I go home with a new story, new adventure, new people I have met. I am proud of this restroom, I see to it that everyone enjoys their visit …”

I sat on the plane (thanks to Gloria) and pondered the heartfelt scene I had just experienced. I work with many people from all walks of life to help them discover their unique brilliance and true nature for being here, supporting them as they redefine themselves. I mentor them to create better lives.  Here was Gloria, who was so connected and switched on that she had already discovered that being of service brings true fulfillment, freedom and success in whatever field you choose.

More than that, she had listened to that spark within her and followed her heart. Each and every woman who passed through that restroom received full on Gloria attention and whether they knew it or not, she was sparking in them motivation, fulfillment, grace, kindness and humility. She was showing them that it is not about the job you do, its how you do it, and then how you become it…. as I added more lemon to my green tea, I felt my heart smile.  Thank you Gloria.

http://www.nicolasalter.com

 

 

 

 

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Spirituali’tea

17542096_xxlI am sitting here sipping my chilled hibiscus tea, loving it with a dash of lemon and a peppermint leaf daintily placed on the top of the ice.  It needs more honey, but I feel so quiet and peaceful I really don’t want to break the moment by moving to the kitchen.

‘Life is short, make it sweet’, Sri Kaleshwar once said, and he’s right. Savor those moments of stillness and peacefulness in your life to listen to your soul, that inner voice that reveals your true essence and all of those inspirations that come to you, or Ah Ha moments … Your personal tea ceremony for a few moments each day can become the moments you use for inner contemplation and and inspiration.  A tea break away from the rush of the day provides the opportunity to look at your life and perhaps create some new realities or life changing events for you to truly experience the freedom and adventure that your life wants to offer you.

For divine inspiration and perhaps opening more to a greater understanding of your life’s journey, the bigger perspective that your challenges and gifts bring you to help you connect with your life’s purpose, I like to drink green tea matcha.  Just as the Buddhist monks drink matcha to help relax and yet focus for 6 hours of meditation in one sitting, we can drink it to help us tap into our deeply creative states and sustain concentration. Even ice blended on those hot summer days will help to relax and create space in your brain.

Create the space, stretch into the moment of making your cup of tea and stretch time in your day for a few more minutes at least. These are the best of times11914866_xxl

In good health. Nicola

I hope to see you at the World Tea Expo in Long Beach, CA on Friday 8th May, I will be giving at one hour lecture at 12.30 pm on the Beau’tea of Tea.. see you then 🙂

Hot Water for Tea. An Inspired Collection of Tea Remedies and Aromatic Elixirs9781480802476_COVER.indd