Speaking of Spirituality...

As I was sitting here drinking my morning coffee I was reminded of something I once read (if anyone knows who originally posted this please let me know in the comments, I would love to credit them) about tea and spirituality. I believe this is just as true for coffee. They wrote that drinking tea (or coffee) is one of the most spiritual morning rituals. The tea itself represents earth (as it is made from earthy things), which you add to water, and heat with fire, which creates a delicious steam (air), which, when you drink, nourishes you mind, body, and soul (spirit). While we may not think of our morning tea/coffee as actual ritual, it really is a mini ritual that is quite important to a lot of us. Think about how that first sip makes you feel, or how "off" your day feels if you miss it. Now, not every hot beverage you drink is going to help you feel this way. I believe that in order to tap into this amazing elemental energy you must treat this experience with mindfulness*. Be "in the moment" and really enjoy it. However, I think our days would all be improved on a mental and spiritual level if we started each day this way. If we took the time to breathe in this nourishing energy and set good intentions for the day, before heading out into the hectic world where who no knows what awaits us. Not just a good morning ritual; being able to take even 5 minutes during the stressful times in our day (on a lunch break, after work, before bed, or after a difficult meeting/customer) could change the tone of a "bad day" or stressful situation. 
This also made me think about all the other things we do throughout our day that, if we did them mindfully rather than mindlessly, they could improve our mental/emotional state. Things like eating, setting up our work space, saying good morning/goodbye to your kids/pets/significant other,  and even breathing; if done mindfully and with appreciation, can help set a tone of good intention for the day. 
How much more joyful and calm would our lives feel if we added even a small amount of spirituality to our otherwise mundane every day tasks? How might our lives change just by apprecitaing those little moments, rather than rushing through to get that next thing done? How might those little changes in you affect others around you in a positive way? Only way to find out is to try it. If you already do this, what changes have you seen?

*Practicing mindfulness has been shown to help the body better respond to stress. Chronic stress, as you may know, impacts a person in many negative ways, on different levels (physical, mental, and emotional). A little mindfulness can go a long way.