Some Thinking and a Cup of Tea

I wrote this last night and sent it in an email to my friend and my parents so I could share my thoughts. She - my friend, who is much like me in some ways - commented that it would make "an AMAZING blog post", and asked me the URL for this blog. (Which, I'm sorry to say, I had forgotten about...my apologies. I'll make it up to you... Do you like chocolate??)

As I contemplated whether or not to add a minimal or a thoroughly enjoyable amount of honey to my tea, I began to think about the meaning of life (although that term is so generic and often used that I'd rather refer to what I was thinking about as my purpose).

It's nighttime, I'll be going to sleep soon, and I don't actually need to drink of cup of tea. It's not necessary to my existence or my welfare. (Yes, if it's tea with antioxidants that would be helpful, or if it helps with my digestive system, which even if it doesn't in fact, it does in feel.) But I want it. I dreadfully want to drink a cup of tea...so why shouldn't I? There's nothing harmful about it - except for the ingestion of a few more calories and substance into my stomach, neither of which are things I feel need to be foregone by avoiding a cup of pleasant tea. However, there are many people in places close and far away who don't even have an acceptable amount of food in a day, so why should I indulge myself. I have the opportunity, that's why. Instead of living on the edge, holding myself back from small luxuries, why don't I take advantage of the fact that I can have them? This is the thought I carry on my shoulders as I walk away from the kitchen holding my newly brewed cup of steaming strawberry pomegranate tea. With a moderate amount of honey.

So therefore, I'm enjoying myself. The question is: should I enjoy myself and take advantage of the pleasures made possible to me by my situation in life, or make do with the least I can, abstaining from little seemingly meaningless things while just trying to help others and do all I can with my life?

When I enjoy small pleasures, I am more likely to be successful and reach out to others, socially and charitably, as I will be excessively happy due to these treats (among other things), and have the ability to easily focus my attention on matters that may be not quite as likable or naturally done. The fact remains that it doesn't seem fair that I can enjoy these things, and have the choice whether or not to, while too many others cannot.

Just a little cup of ideas to think about. Hopefully this one does aid you and pleasure you. Hopefully you glance up at it with gleaming eyes as you read your other emails, wishing you didn't have to wait to take a sip of the thoughtful richness. It's food for thought, as some may say; but in this case I would call it: Tea for Thought.

Thank you for reading. Good night, sleep tight, and I hope you have pleasant, memorable dreams.