It's 3am in the morning, and I can not get back to sleep.

At 2 o'clock the alarm had to be set to give my baby an antibiotic. The sound of alarm shook me to the core. And now I am awake. This usually happens if I've gotten at least two hours of sleep.

After tossing and turning for nearly an hour, I decided to go downstairs and put on a pot of tea. I looked in the pantry and found exactly what I was searching for:

There are three tea bags left.

On the back of the box is a quote by Diane Loomans, author of The Laughing Classroom: Everyone's Guide to Teaching With Humor and Play from another one of her books, Full Esteem Ahead. Looman says:

If I Had My Child To Raise Again

If I had my child to raise all over again, I'd finger paint more, and point the finger less.

I'd do less correcting, and more connecting.

I'd take my eyes off my watch,
and watch with my eyes.

I would care to know less,
and know to care more.

I'd take more hikes and
fly more kites.

I'd stop playing serious,
and seriously play.

I would run through more fields and gaze at
more stars.

I'd do more hugging, and less tugging.

I would be firm less often,
and affirm much more.

I'd build self-esteem first,
and the house later.

I'd teach less about the love of power,
And more about the power of love.

Now that was worth getting up for. So was the tea.

May Diane Loomans' words and Celestial Seasonings' blend of chamomile flowers and spearmint leaves inspire you to live more fully and sleep more deeply.

On October 6th, 2005, Celestial Seasonings, now a brand of The Hain Celestial Group, celebrated their thirty-fifth year in business. Here's to thirty-five more. Long live Boulder, Colorado's wild herbs and those who blend them.

Inspire & Be Inspired.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, "finger painting, connecting, watching, caring, serious playing, affirming and tea sipping" living!

~ Jennifer Carolyn King, Rugged Elegance, LLC