Life is Like a Tea Bag
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Several years ago, acting upon the advice of my dear sister, I began writing a "Happiness Journal". I started out by listing at least three things a day that would reflect positive thoughts, happy moments, and good things.
Before long, I encouraged some of my friends to join me in keeping a similar journal. We would get together weekly and share our "lists". There were always things that made us laugh, and occasionally there were even things that made us cry.
Amazingly, we soon discovered that what might have seemed at one time inconsequential and ordinary became incredibly important. Perhaps it was observing creation, watching an orange or purple sunrise or sunset, pink puffy clouds, receiving flowers, stopping to smell the flowers, observing a rabbit hopping in a field, talking to family members and friends, traveling, the change of seasons, noticing the brisk scent of pine trees and the sounds of laughter. And on a lighter side, Fridays and pay days and shopping.
Eventually, the journal took on a new name. It became the "Thankfulness Journal". There were some days when, instead of listing three things I was thankful for, all I could do was write three words: "I am thankful". But I continued to write.
In keeping the journals, my friends and I learned many things. We learned that overcoming negative thoughts is an ongoing process because "while the difficult takes time…the impossible just takes a little longer". We learned that the brightest stars shine in the darkest night. We learned to look for the good in people and the good in things, no matter how small. We learned to be thankful for each day and the beauty therein. We learned to laugh.
I still have the journals. Occasionally, I look back over them and pause and reflect on the lessons of happiness and thankfulness each day brought me, and I am deeply moved.
My gratitude extends beyond creation to the Creator Himself and to the words of Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brothers, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
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About the Book
“Tea Bag”: Noun
A small porous sack holding enough tea leaves to place in boiling water to make an individual serving of tea
The tea bag was invented around 1904 by Thomas Sullivan, a tea and coffee merchant from
That is how our lifestyle has become. We want everything easy…we want everything convenient…we want everything now!
We paid a price for the convenience of the tea bag: quality and flavor. Likewise, we are paying a price for our rush-rush lifestyle: loss of values and loss of friendships, broken homes, mixed-up priorities, and the list goes on.
It’s time to get back to the simple life. Here’s hoping this journal will inspire you to do just that. Sit back, relax, grab a pen and write. Or just have a cup of tea with me…it’s the most consumed beverage in the world.
About the Author
Faye Fitzgerald, a native Floridian, is an avid reader who, quite simply, enjoys words.
She loves to learn, write poetry, study language, collect antiques, travel, and entertain.
She loves the land with its majestic trees, and yet she has a fondness for the barren desert.
She inherited her love of hot tea from her father, but it was her mother who taught her that if
Southern hospitality could be "bottled", it would be in a glass of sweet iced tea.
She enjoys sharing that love of tea with others by giving tea parties.
She is a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and aunt.
To those who know her, she is a good friend who was once described as a "heart" because of her love for others.
Last but not least, she is a survivor with a sense of humor.
She lives in