Your Happy Place

“Everyone has a happy place, the scene that comes into view when you close your eyes and let your mind transport you to the dot on the globe where life is cozy, safe, warm.”

― Sarah Jio, Goodnight June

He Grew Up in Nazi Germany

And Benedictine Monk, Brother David Steindl-Rast says:

"I wouldn't trade it for the world."

"I remember when one of our teachers gave us homework saying 'This is for next Thursday.'
And the whole class burst out laughing.
'Next Thursday?! We don't even know if we will be here tomorrow!'
We had to live in the present moment."

In his TEDTalk, Brother David says his three simple keys to finding your happy place are:

Stop
Look
Go

As I listen, I realize:

Our happy place is at hand every single day.

All around us.
Let me show you.

Stop: The Man With the Violin
"The man with the violin sways this way and that.
   His fingers move quickly.
      His bow dances across the strings.
Then the music slows and the man's eyes close as if the music is carrying him from the bustle-bustle-bustle to somewhere far-far away.
         'Please mom can't we stop?'

 'Not today.'"

-Kathy Stinson, The Man with the Violin

Stop. Says Brother David.

Stop. Says the little boy in the children's book "The Man with the Violin" about when violinist, Joshua Bell, played his Stradivarius violin in a Washington DC subway station.

Stop. Says the man who visits my farm to pick strawberries.

Where is my happy place?
I could have missed it if I didn't stop.
Ask.
Welcome.
And when I did... 
The Man with the Violin shared his music with me.

Look: Jane Goodall in the Denver Airport
"Nature is always filled with things to look at."

-Jane Goodall, Famous Last Words: Dr. Jane Goodall

Look. Says Brother David.

Look. Says Jane Goodall as she recounts watching two sparrows in the Denver Airport.
"Just as one little bird tries to grab a crumb for the other bird, someone looking at their cell phone goes by and scares the little bird away." 

Look. Says the hummingbird in my field as it gathers morning nectar from flowers.

Where is your happy place?
"Open your eyes.
Open your ears.
Open your nose.
Open all your senses.
For this wonderful richness that is given to us."

-Brother David Steindl-Rast

It is all around you.

Go: Exchanging Blessings of Peace on my Farm
"Every small act of peace contributes to the greater good." 

-Bhikkhu Pannakara, Walk for Peace Speech, Washington DC February 11,2026

Go. Says Brother David.

Go. Says Bhikkhu Pannarkara on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial after a 2,300 mile walk for peace.

Go. Say I.
As I welcome a different group of peace-promoting monks to bless my farm.
And I play my harp music in return.
As a blessing to these humble, peace-promoting humans. 

Where is our happy place?
"Happiness is found when we open our hearts.
To make others happy.
Because nothing makes us more happy...
Than when all of us are happy."

-Brother David Steindl-Rast

It is in our open hearts.

Dear Business Partner,
My blessing to you this month: May we remember that our happy place is always at hand.

When we Stop. Pause. And ask. What does this moment have for me?
When we Look. Enjoy. With all of our senses. 
When we Go. Follow our inspiration to share our happiness with others.

As always: 

Thank you 

I'm honored to be your herbal tea farmer. 

Be well,
Shannon