Making tea is an art. A Japanese tea ceremony is an elaborate affair. The host sends invitations, prepares a room within specific guidelines, and creates a menu of yummy snacks. At the appointed hour, the hostess greets her guests, ceremoniously cleans the implements, makes the matcha, and all parties observe rituals that date to the 14th century.

Rooted in Zen Buddhism, the participants embark on an inner journey similar to meditation. Science upholds the idea, confirming the ceremony brings deep calm and even spiritual reflection to those who are involved. The specific steps engage all five senses and both sides of the brain. With each sense engaged, the mind works in unison. Living in peace and harmony, free from competing interests, we reduce our stress levels and relax. This intersection is where the world opens, and reflection runs deep.

When I take breaks, my goal is to reestablish balance. Mini vacations let me step away from my work. Alternate activities keep me occupied on one issue while allowing answers to another problem to find a home. But first, I need a cup of tea.

What rituals restore you and allow you to finish your projects?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Occasionally, you need to sit, put your feet up, pat yourself on the back, and offer yourself hearty congratulations on a job well done. Your time has arrived to acknowledge your achievements, appreciate the hurdles you have overcome, the milestones you hit, and say to yourself, “Damn, see what I did.” They have taught us not to express overt pride in our work. Best to appear humble, right? But is that the best strategy? What is wrong with a pure delight, a springing pep in your step, pumping your ego, and boosting your self-confidence when you have completed something you weren’t sure you could do?

Life is short. Do the unexpected. Pour a glass of champagne, draw a warm soaking bath, and luxuriate in the decadence of doing nothing. When you take a timeout, stop being hyper-productive, engaged, on task, and busy, what you notice might surprise you. Now that you are alone with your thoughts, where does your mind transport you? Perhaps you observe a cardinal outside your window, the color of the sky, the sweet-smelling air, or the breeze touching your skin. Do your loved ones appear in a fresh light? Does your perspective shift?

The calm moments carved from overbooked schedules for nothing, reveal massive amounts of information. They fuel my passion, set my next course of action, provide clarity that often gets lost in the daily onslaught of perpetual motion and endless opinions. I let the universe find me instead of striving for a slice of success, and generally, I discover my reward.

How will you spend your Sunday?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I don’t remember adding stress, frustration, and exhaustion to this week’s schedule, but they arrived anyway. We should be accustomed to the unexpected events by now, desensitized to surprises, immune to feeling. But they design roller coasters to elicit intense reactions, and those feelings can’t be suppressed — they must be recognized, felt, and expressed. The biggest attraction at any amusement park runs on big, scary, height-defying, G-Force inducing tracks. You know, the one it is impossible to miss. It draws everyone’s attention from the screams, hoots and hollers, and the laughter. They say you can board, white knuckle the safety bar, and wail in terror, or you can enjoy the ride.

I recognize the feelings and search for ways to express them. Sometimes, I work them out with bouts of cleaning, long walks or deep breathing, and yoga. Some situations demand I sing. It will be out of tune when I confidently belt out words at the top of my lungs, despite having forgotten everything except the chorus. On the days when I feel like crying, I dig deeper, find a fresh perspective, and I laugh.

Have you laughed today?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Being an introvert, I am predisposed. I don’t really enjoy interacting with people. It ranks as one of my least favorite activities and generates never-wracking, exhausting, annoying, and stress-inducing feelings. Humans are fallible, error-prone, imperfect beings. We make mistakes, experience lapses in judgment, and space out when we should be concentrating. That leaves ample opportunities to offend others because of our bone-headed moves. When we increase our number of daily interactions, we multiply the odds of someone making us angry.

It would be easy to obsess over their ineptitudes, rage against their thoughtless behaviors, hold grudges, and look for ways to get even. But that requires vast amounts of emotional energy. It is precious energy I could use in more productive endeavors. The choice is mine, and I choose to let those feelings wash over me, pass through me, and I release them. I take a deep breath, gather the pieces of stress and anger into a ball, and on my exhale, I push the goopy, ugly mess out of my body. With the next inhale, I imagine every wonderful and positive trait I want in my life. With the negative vibes gone, I concentrate on directing my energy to more important things.

How do you start your day?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

How many times have you heard someone lament they want to be free? What does that mean to you? Is it the ability to do whatever you what whenever your heart desires? Do you wish to act or change without constraint? The reality is so much more. Every action, each decision, has consequences, and any blame falls on our shoulders.

There is a secret to realizing the autonomy you seek. It involves taking responsibility and holding yourself accountable. Those two elements are inseparable and contradictory opposites, like Yin and Yang, darkness and light, young and old. Holding one requires you to maintain a balance with the other and attaining true freedom means exercising control. The powers that be do not automatically grant us our desires, but they are easy enough for us to take. We must use them with virtue, knowledge, and compassion. If we are lucky, those qualities transform into wisdom, and we can truly fly.

What will you do with your freedom?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer