Steeping

for how long and how strong?

I love how words pop into my head while journaling, words that initially feel random until I realize they are not.

This morning  “steep” popped into my head.

I always follow one cup of coffee with a mug of ginger or ginger lemon tea.

Between sentences I was picking up the mug of tea for a  sip, the teabag still in.

And that’s when it happened – steeping.

There are always suggestions for how long to steep various brands of tea, some short, some longer.

I tend to ignore those directions and leave a teabag in until the tea is gone. The tea is never too strong for me whereas friends will dip their teabag out after a minute or less.

We tolerate different levels of steeping.

Writing whatever I was writing, I did not invite this question. The question interrupted and invited me.

 “What am I currently steeping myself in in terms of media?”

I started musing about the number of podcasts and YouTube videos I am tuning into.

Not only what I listen to or how many, but the question pushed me to explore my level of steeping, perhaps how long or how strong.

That was, indeed, a bit of a wake-up call.

More challenging questions came. The questions that invited me in were on a roll.

 “Are you compromising where and how you really want to be spending your time?”

“ Are you in alignment with who you want to be and how you want to be showing up for your day?”

“Are you steeping yourself in  increasing darkness or in light? In fear or in love? ”

“After all the listening, do you feel encouraged or discouraged?”

“Is steeping time outweighing other aspects of life?”

“Do you remember when you did not spend so much time listening to others and were more generous with time to listen to yourself?”

“Maybe you listen because of fear of missing out, but we ask you, what are you missing doing if you stay so deeply steeped in the voices and opinions and arguments of others? We even ask, who are you missing being?”

And on they continued.

I found myself just writing down the questions as they came.

All because of one word.

Steeping.

Now I get to start discerning my answers, though the truth is that I am quite sure of what they are going to be.

And, to the photo of a favorite mug, do I make sure to steep myself in ample joy?

How is your steeping going?