The Sound of the Genuine
"There is in every person something that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in herself."
- Howard Thurman
gen·u·ine
/ˈjenyəˌwīn/
adjective
truly what something is said to be; authentic.
You know "The Genuine," don't you.
(I know you do.)
You are:
Drinking this tea.
Reading these words.
This E-Love-Letter is not A.I. generated.
This tea is not artificially flavored.
"Your heart of hearts knows the genuine." -Richard Rohr
"The Genuine" Sounds Like...
"The Genuine" Sounds Like a Number: One
"Our authentic creative expression is so unique to us that if you don't learn or find a way to express your uniqueness, it will never be seen in the world."
Reflections of Life "Stop Hiding: The Power of Authenticity to Find Your Worth"
Hi,
My name is Shannon.
I'm and herbal tea farmer, entrepreneur, musician, artist, poet.
And, who might you be?
"What is your name - who are you - and can you find a way to hear the sound of the genuine in yourself?"
-Howard Thurman
What does "The Genuine" sound like?
It sounds like a number.
What number?
How many herbal tea farmers?
How many of you?
One
Me.
You.
The fewer there are...
The more precious and valuable "The Genuine" becomes.
"The Genuine" Sounds Like Contribution
"The sound of the genuine is flowing through you."
-Howard Thurman
“Maybe there is no such thing as rain; there are only raindrops, each with its own story.”
It is each raindrop, contributing to the earth that makes my fields flourish.
It is each ingredient, contributing to the hot water in your teacup that makes a cup of tea.
It is each of us
Contributing our Genuine
That makes life flourish and creates richness
"The Genuine" Sounds Like Mattering
"Every person is asking me: tell me, why do I matter"
-Jennifer Wallace, How Mattering to Yourself and Others Can Change Your Life
Look at this cup of tea...
Within, there is:
Peppermint (genuine)
Chamomile (also genuine)
Pear (yes, really, pear)
The cup:
Hand-made, love-gifted.
(you guessed it, genuine)
The setting:
Listen. The sound of the river.
(nature: as genuine as it gets)
For this moment to exist:
Every element is valuable.
Every part is real.
Every member matters.
"The Genuine" sounds like the recognition that every member matters.
"You are the only you that has ever lived;
If you cannot hear the sound of the genuine in you, you will,
all of your life, spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls.
Cultivate the discipline of listening to the sound of the genuine in yourself."
-Howard Thurman, The Sound of the Genuine
Dear Tea Drinker,
My blessing to you this month: May we learn to better discern the Sound of The Genuine.
Remembering the "The Genuine" sounds like.
A Number: One. It is rare. And in its rarity, valuable, precious.
(Like this Love Letter to you. Like this tea. Like you.)
Contribution. It is through each one's expression that makes life flourish and creates richness.
Mattering. The genuine is made up of many members. Each of which matters.
As always:
Thank you
I'm honored to be your herbal tea farmer.
Be well,
Shannon