Review: Big Sky Blend // Townshend's Tea
It’s been a rough month or two. No doubt you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Senseless shootings. Shocking mass killings. Attempted political coups. Strange political conventions. Divisive rhetoric... and endless media coverage.
To be honest, I think this is what it must feel like to have Dementors set loose. It seems like all the hope and joy has been sucked out of the world lately. Maybe they got out with that Brexit vote. I guess J.K. Rowling didn’t anticipate that one.
(By the way: If you aren’t a Harry Potter fan, I officially apologize for the confusion this article might cause you.)
Anyways, it honestly feels like a year’s worth of news has been crammed into the last month and a half. It’s hard not to feel overwhelmed at times with the negativity of it all. After all, negative events weigh heavier in our perceptions than positive ones. We give greater weight to critical reviews than to favorable ones. It is easy to fall into the darkness.
Given that there has been so much negativity lately, I guess we have to find a way to bring significantly more positive events into our lives to make up for the barrage of negative ones.
I re-listened to an episode of The Lively Show recently featuring Brooke Castillo where she talked about how to change our negative thought patterns and experience more positive emotions every day. It’s a really powerful episode about how the the world and our specific circumstances doesn’t cause our emotions. Our emotions are caused by what we think. By shifting how we perceive our circumstances, we can have a day full of positive emotions instead of a day full of overwhelm, frustration, anger…
I highly suggest listening to both of Brooke’s interviews: How to Change Negative Thought Patterns, and How to Experience More Positive Emotions Everyday.
But, since I can’t just play these episodes on loop, it’s probably wise of me to find other ways to bring positive, calming forces into my life.
Enter Big Sky Blend by Townshend’s Tea Company. It’s called a...
“Soothing and calming concoction of cacao nibs, chamomile, cinnamon, and lavender flowers”
I mean... nothing says “calm” more than chamomile and chocolate. Am I right?
Chamomile has been used for centuries as a calming force, a mild sleep aid, as a treatment for fevers, colds and endless other ailments. Plus chamomile plants look like daisies and we all know that daisies are the friendliest flowers.
And chocolate, well...
"The mood-enhancing properties of chocolate are well known in both the Muggle and wizard worlds. Chocolate is the perfect antidote for anyone who has been overcome in the presence of Dementors, which suck hope and happiness out of their surroundings. Chocolate can only be a short-term remedy, however. Finding ways to fight off Dementors – or depression – are essential if one is to become permanently happier. Excessive chocolate consumption cannot benefit either Muggle or wizard."
Description of the effects of chocolate, Harry Potter Wiki
I don’t think I need to explain this one. We all know the immediate relief a piece of chocolate gives even if, as noted above, the effects are temporary.
So, given all the information I have so plainly spelled out for you, back to the point of this whole post — the tea.
This is a lovely chamomile tea. Beautiful chamomile buds. Cinnamon and lavender to add some interest. Cacao nibs to give it warmth. I highly suggest it paired with a book and an entire loaf of challah bread.
It’s just the sort of calming force that will help guide you through a rough month or two. It brings a nice balance if you decide to turn on the news when you get home or open your CNN app. It’s what I would like to turn to at the end of a long day.
Sure, it’s effect are only temporary. We must find other ways to find off our Dementors. But, it certainly can’t hurt.
Lovely little things
I love the ceramics Suite One Studio creates and amazingly I found her wonderful porcelin plates at Anthropologie last weekend. Gotta love that gold.
Currently reading
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
