Tea Bag Wisdom

I was making iced tea the other day using tea bags from the Salada Tea Company. You know, the one that adds those clever little sayings on the tags. I always look forward to reading them.

It’s a simple pleasure, but there’s a surprising amount of wisdom in those tiny slips of paper. Take this one: “An egomaniac is someone who is hard of listening.” That one made me pause. There's a lot of truth in it, real listening takes humility.

Another read, “Not all closed eyes are sleeping, nor open eyes seeing.” What a gentle reminder that appearances often deceive. Then there was a third: “It is foolish to work up a head of steam unless you know what is cooking.” 

That one brought a chuckle and a thought. How often do we get fired up over things before understanding the full picture? But the tag that struck me most deeply said, “Dreams don’t work unless you do.” 

The quote is from leadership author John C. Maxwell, a man who has spent his life helping others realize their potential. Maxwell’s work centers on intentional living promote choosing your actions with your purpose in mind.

Then putting in the effort required to turn vision into reality. That quote hit home, especially when thinking about retirement. You see, retirement isn't the end of dreaming.

If anything, it can be the most meaningful time to pursue the dreams that got left behind while life was busy happening. But here’s the catch: dreams still don’t work unless you do. 

Retirement is a doorway, not a destination. If you want it to be more than just rest, if you want it to be a new season of purpose, fulfillment, and even legacy, then it requires more than sitting on a couch. It requires intention, effort and a vision.

Maybe your retirement dream is mentoring others, launching a small business, traveling with purpose, writing, volunteering, or even going back to school. Whatever it is, it won't happen passively.

You'll need to listen deeply to your inner calling, to see with more than just your eyes, and to get your "head of steam" up for something worth cooking. The beauty of retirement isn’t in stepping away from purpose.

It’s in finally having the time and freedom to step into it more fully. Take a lesson from a tea bag, read the wisdom, sip the moment, and don’t be afraid to put in the work to make your dream steep into reality.

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