...let's just sit, and have some tea.

Join me if you would, just a simple cup of tea... needn't be too fancy. Forget about all the the things calling for your attention, just for a few moments, let your whole self be present with the simple, elemental expression of tea. Leaves infused with the spirit of nature, mingling with water, charged by fire, drawing your awareness back to the present with each sip.

---

Some people have a meditation practice, for me it's the way of tea, or cha dao*, I haven't written much about my tea practice, but perhaps I will devote more time to this topic in coming posts as I'm recently rekindling my love of sharing tea.

---

12 days ago I set out to write a bit of a rant that has been kicking around in my head, but instead, I ended up writing a prelude to the rant I really wanted to deliver, and indicating I would soon deliver its conclusion. Well fear not, that rant is still brewing... In the meanwhile, however, let me not flounder in the vastness of all things.

---

I am not a specialist.

Though sometimes I envy them! – Can you imagine, bending the whole of your existence towards the pursuit of perfection in a single art or science? Amazing... I am way more of a generalist, there is so much to explore! For me what is so rewarding is discovering where the different disciplines connect, how synergies occur between them, and how they fit together to create a whole picture.

So one thing I have always been somewhat perplexed by with respect to writing here on Steemit is that I have such a wide array of interests, I often find myself trying to imagine my readers going from posts about blockchain, to travel, to musings on tea, videos, or storytelling, and wherever my curious muse leads me. Being that inspiration strikes when it will, on each particular topic, and sometimes in the most inscrutable sequence... it's a mystery even to myself how so many interests and ideas can simultaneously inhabit one mind!

My eighth-grade creative writing teacher would often say "better done than perfect", which is still some of the best advice I could possibly imagine... especially for the latent perfectionist.

That same advice comes to us from the idea of Wabi Sabi, which @darkb4dawn reminded me of during a conversation we were having the other day.

"Wabi-sabi nurtures all that is authentic by acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect."
–Richard R Powell, Wabi Sabi Simple

I hope you find that as comforting as I do.

It's a reminder that gives me permission to proceed in my explorations with courage, good faith, and not worry about writing or expressing the perfect thing... for whatever I do is subject to these three simple realities. I figure that's either really terrifying or really liberating, depending on your perspective. For me, it's most definitely liberating. What do you think?

---

---

Some updates

So, almost two weeks ago, after some hijinks with the airport, my beloved @wolfcat set off on her adventure to bike around Cuba! I hope she is having an amazing time and taking great photos...! Since she's been gone I've been picking up the pieces of my current nomadic existence and contemplating what's next for me.

I've been travelling pretty much non-stop since September, and now back in Minnesota, I finally have a chance to let the mud settle a little bit.

Thoughts of roaming off to Moab, or Seattle, or Northern California to visit friends keeps coming back to me, but recent indications point more strongly that I should stay put, and pay attention! So for the moment, I will work on that.

+ While I was in Colombia, all my camera gear was stolen.

I know you're probably thinking, well of course... Colombia. But that's not how it went down.

I left all my gear behind in Minneapolis, because I didn't want the huge camera slowing @wolfcat and I down, and it was meant to be more of a vacation with Spanish lessons and yoga instead of video production. Well long story short, my Canon c300 and lens, + audio recorder, mic, etc... Stolen out of a friends car in Minneapolis. :| They smashed the window and took everything while he was inside a cafe for 15 minutes.

Well, it's mostly been covered by my renter's insurance, thank heavens, but I still haven't replaced the camera, or any of the gear... it was such an undertaking putting all that together to begin with. No, for now I'm planning to finish editing up the footage I do have, and then think about the new camera in a bit here.

I have two interviews in the works... one with @shla-rafia, and one with @wolfcat.... both filmed while we were in Portugal.

There's so much more to be said... but I have to turn my attention towards a few other urgent matters right now.

Before I sign off for the moment though I just want to say...

My serious respect
to the pioneers of fortune
who daily ply their skilful imaginings
in the full-tilt attention economy
of the Steem ecosystem.

And a very special shout-out to @kommienezuspadt

...for outpacing me to 3,000 followers by a landslide, and being a fount of creative energy around which the Caffetto incubator here in Minneapolis fairly hums. We had a little friendly rivalry going, just for the sport of it... but he's just soooo prolific! I think, let's set the goalpost at 5,000 for the next round... ;) You know, just to give me a chance to figure out what I'm doing here.. :P

I wish you all a wonderful day!
Take some time for tea, and don't forget to breathe!

Peace, and @lovejoy

---

*_{edit: gongfu cha (tea prepared with skill & leisure) replaced with cha dao (the way of tea)}