Life is not Tea (and that’s ok)
Let me start with a confession: I love tea. Like, really love it. I drink it daily, and not in a casual, “I guess I’ll have a cup” kind of way. It’s more of a ritual, a comfort, a quiet anchor in the middle of life’s noise.
But here’s the thing, as much as I adore tea, life is nothing like it.
You see, a cup of tea starts off hot, sometimes too hot to sip. But give it a moment, and it mellows out into this cozy warmth. It soothes you. Life, on the other hand? Not so much. Life can feel like it just keeps getting hotter, more intense, more overwhelming, more unpredictable. And instead of cooling down, it often throws another boiling moment your way just when you thought things were settling.
So, how do we deal with that? Honestly… I don’t have a perfect answer. I’m in my late twenties, currently curled up in bed, about a month into living in a brand-new country. I’m overwhelmed, underprepared, and figuring it out in real time, probably just like you are.
When Certainty Is a Luxury
I’m someone who finds comfort in plans, order, and knowing what’s coming. But if there’s one thing life has taught me (sometimes very rudely), it’s that certainty is a rare luxury. You can plan until your Google Calendar looks like a masterpiece, and still, life will laugh and throw you a curveball.
Since I was a kid, I was told to “always be prepared.” But how do you prepare for the unknown? You can be responsible, save money, have a backup plan (or five), and life will still find a way to surprise you. Money helps, sure, but it doesn’t buy peace of mind when you’re deep in the chaos of the unknown.
My brain is like a hamster on espresso , constantly running, thinking, planning. But lately, I’m learning that sometimes, it’s okay not to know. It’s okay to stop spinning. It’s okay to just be.
The Teabag You Didn’t Choose
Another reason life isn’t tea? You don’t get to pick your starting blend.
With tea, you choose your flavour: mint, chamomile, spicy chai. With life, you’re handed a family, a culture, a set of circumstances, and told to make the most of it. Some people are lucky to be born into healthy, nurturing environments. Others? Not so much.
But here’s where things shift: you’re not stuck with your “original blend.” You might not choose your beginnings, but as you grow, you do get to decide the kind of person you become. You get to rewrite patterns, heal what was broken, and choose your own ingredients.
And that in itself is a powerful thing.
If There’s a Secret, It’s This: Adapt
The best advice I can give, and the hardest to follow, is this: be adaptable.
It sounds simple, but trust me, I’m a planner. A recovering overthinker. A proud colour-coder of Google Calendars. If there’s a spreadsheet to be made, I will make it. I say this as someone who clings to structure like it is a life raft. I love routines, familiar spaces, and predictable outcomes. But life doesn’t care about that. Sometimes, it wants you to pivot. Other times, it demands you stay still when all you want to do is move.
Adaptability doesn’t mean having no direction. It means adjusting without losing your sense of self. You can change your job, your city, your hairstyle, or your plans, but still stay grounded in your values, your boundaries, your purpose.
So… Maybe Life Is a Bit Like Tea After All?
Okay, maybe I was too harsh on the tea metaphor. Life might not cool down the way tea does, and it definitely doesn’t follow a comforting brew time. But just like choosing your favourite teabag, you do get to choose how you deal with life’s chaos.
Define who you are. Decide what matters. Surround yourself with people who support the best version of you. And yes, adapt when life calls for it, but don’t lose your flavour in the process.
So no, life isn’t tea. But in the middle of its heat and messiness, you can still carve out those warm, soothing moments, and that’s what makes it worth it.