Mental Clarity Sleeve

She says
I’m opening
a convenience store
Well, that’s what it looked like, anyway
When I got my first sleeve
of Mental Clarity
Yogi Tea
delivered last week
with next-day shipping

Look, I tried
to do right
let my conscience be my guide
stop ordering
from a place of longing
Seems
I step out of one river
then flow on to the next
baskets filled, floating
down the Yangtze

Unfortunately
the local store's stock
ran out - shelves, emptied
I asked, if there were more in the back
No…
but perhaps, that
had something to do with
my developing
this new, spontaneous habit
all-at-once over the last few weeks

I’m reminded
of long carton
cigarettes
packed, neat
the kind
that nestle together
up high, out of reach
Jenga blocks slide, make space
- that was way too easy -
another brick
falls down into place
effortless, it was no great feat, really
the daily machine
of self-healing masonry, without mortar
calling out, squeaking
loud
in silent, coded language
signaling, up-chain
somewhere, far away
keeping tabs and tally
of where, what, and how many
are in need

replenishment bounds, without a sound
don’t worry, Dear
we heard you
loud and clear
a new sleeve
is already on the way

Back of the Page

Now, for my second cup of Mental Clarity Tea…

This Post was not sponsored, and I usually bristle at brand naming. But, in this case, things happened this way, and I may be developing an addiction. We’ll see.

When did we get convinced to optimize everything?

We’ll buy 10 for $10 instead of one for $2.50, then

Keep the other 9 for later - these are things we just might need!

The appeal of convenience

Saving us Trips Down the Road, next week

You thought we were out? There’s 24 in the pantry…

Every time I’ve tried to optimize, prematurely

I’ve learned a new lesson from Greed.

or Self-Protection

Telling myself stories of What I Want and Need

The new job, the new home, picture frames of future Me

There’s something calm, washing over

as they blink out, one by one

Suddenly, I’m free…

Lately I’ve been trying to feel “nowhere else” more often. Not in a creepy void type of way, but more in a “being here” kind of way.

With all the things going on, it’s easy to try and optimize the Next Step toward Goals, Visions, and Dreams. Or trying to prevent the Worst from Happening, with questions like “Should we do X, Y, or Z?”

I’m starting to realize that every time I leap out to optimize or prevent, ahead of time - the Universal Supply Chain seems to take that as a message that I want more. Maybe that I haven’t learned my lesson, yet.

So, now, I’m trying to let the optimizations rest, and trust my response in the moment. Making space for “Let’s see…” But for now, I’m still living with a reminder: this 6-box sleeve of Mental Clarity tea.

🍵